Use a standard measure or mark the correct amount on the detergent bottle cap with a permanent marker to prevent overdosing. If you have soft water, use less—about one and one-half tablespoons of liquid laundry detergent. For untreated hard water, use the full amount. Use only one pre-measured packet per load.
5 ounces of laundry detergent for high-efficiency machines and 1 ounce for traditional machines. If you're using a pre-measured detergent pod or pack, these are already optimized to standard laundry loads, so just use one per load and follow the instructions on the product label.
As staff writer Sarah Bodgan and senior staff writer Liam McCabe say in our guide to the best washing machines, 1 tablespoon is enough to thoroughly clean an average load, which usually weighs around 8 pounds. And if you're hand-washing, Sarah recommends that you use even less.
So, how much detergent are you actually supposed to be using? This may come as a shock, but just 1 to 2 tablespoons is more than enough for your entire load.
Signs you're using too much laundry detergent
If you think you may be getting a little detergent-happy with your laundry, take a look at a just-washed load. If your wet clothes feel a little slimy, sticky, or soapy, you're probably sensing detergent residue. It's a telltale sign you're using too much product.
How much detergent should I use? As a general rule of thumb, you should only use about a tablespoon of laundry detergent per regular load size.
As detergent builds up, it can leave behind an invisible layer of film that can trap dirt and hard water minerals, giving clothes a dingy or faded appearance.
The washing powder scoop perfectly measures out 110ml, while the dosing ball measures 35ml. It's important to remember that these dosing guidelines are just that – guidelines! Nothing is set in stone, and you may find that different manufacturers recommend different amounts of product.
Add 1 teaspoon of regular liquid or powder detergent for each pound of clothing you wash. (Neil Lant, a research fellow at Procter & Gamble who is focused on fabric care, said that on average three items of adult-sized clothing weigh about a pound.)
Too much detergent is actually harmful to your garments, but we'll get to that in a second. Per the usual 8 pound load of laundry, the amount of detergent needed to clean clothes is only one tablespoon. Double that for loads weighing in at 12 pounds or more. Reduce it for the days when you're hand washing.
On the other hand, adding too little detergent can also be problematic. As a result, your clothes may not come out as clean as you'd like, especially if you're dealing with stubborn stains or heavily soiled items.
If you're using too much laundry detergent, your clothes will carry an odor and wear down the machine. The laundry detergent you use can affect your clothes in many ways. For instance, if too much is used it could stain or mark up the clothing which may have an effect on how they look and smell.
A pre-wash is normally a cycle that is selected in addition to the main wash cycle. Think of it as its own separate starter wash. The washing machine will fill with cold water, add the detergent present in the I - 'Pre wash' compartment, tumble and then drain, ready for the main wash.
How much HE detergent should you use? When using HE detergent in a regular washer, you'll need about 1/4 cup for a normal-sized load. There might be fewer suds, but you'll still get a good clean. For a normal-sized load in a high-efficiency washing machine, the recommended HE detergent amount is usually 2 tablespoons.
If you have a regular top-loading machine, it's best to fill your washer with water first, then add your detergent, then add your clothes. This helps evenly distribute the detergent in the water before it hits your clothes. Remember that the nicer you are to your washer and dryer the longer they'll last.
Use a standard measure or mark the correct amount on the detergent bottle cap with a permanent marker to prevent overdosing. If you have soft water, use less—about one and one-half tablespoons of liquid laundry detergent. For untreated hard water, use the full amount. Use only one pre-measured packet per load.
However, if the detergent bottle does not give the concentration, it can be easily calculated. Just divide the package size in fluid ounces by the number of loads. Then refer to the chart below to find the concentration. If you do not get your desired cleaning results, try using a lower concentration number.
Most brands of concentrated HE detergent will show the level of concentration on the bottle. However, if the detergent bottle does not give the concentration, it can be easily calculated. Just divide the package size in fluid ounces by the number of loads.
Too much of a good thing is a bad thing, so don't use too much detergent as this could cause your sheets to wear faster. Typically, a quarter-cup of liquid is sufficient for a regular-sized load. If sheets are unusually soiled, you may want to add a bit more soap.
The amount of soap you use depends on how big of a load you are washing, but you should never need to use more than two tablespoons of soap. If two tablespoons aren't enough, you're overloading your washer.
Detergent that doesn't get washed away dries up as residue inside your machine. Repeated overuse of detergent causes residue to build up, which eventually leads to blockages. In turn, these blockages force water to back up into places where it shouldn't be, like the control panel or your floor.
In the GHI's detergent tests, powdered laundry detergent almost always out-performs liquids and gels when it comes to stain removal. But it also comes down to personal preference and your budget.
Too much detergent
It makes sense that not using enough detergent won't sufficiently rid your clothes of odor-causing bacteria, but going overboard could have an equally pungent result. More soap means more bubbles, and that buildup of suds can actually trap the bacteria in the fabric.