If I put too much laundry detergent in my washing machine, will it damage the washer? The same film that can coat your clothes if you use too much laundry soap in the washer can affect your appliance as well. Detergent build-up can clog hoses, valves and other components, preventing water from draining properly.
Some of the signs that you've used too much detergent in a load of laundry include: When the laundry comes out of the washer, it feels slimy or sticky. “Clean” and dried laundry feels crunchy or scratchy and is uncomfortable to wear. Colored clothes or linens are dull or faded.
The first sign that you're using too much detergent will show up in your clothes. Stiff, starchy, scratchy clothes—instead of the expected soft and fresh results—mean that there were too many soap suds in your washing machine during the cycle.
The optimum amount of 2X liquid laundry detergent for a high-efficiency washer is two teaspoons; 4X liquid laundry detergent: one teaspoon; 10X liquid laundry detergent: 1/4 teaspoon for a 12-pound load of laundry. If you have soft water in your area, use even less.
Liquid detergents tend to be more effective on greasy or oily stains. However, it's easy to use too much per load in your washing machine. Powdered detergents are typically the least expensive and very effective on mud stains or ground-in dirt. If you use cold water to wash clothes, powder may not dissolve completely.
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.
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.
Give laundry a sniff.
If you notice a mildew scent or oily residue on your laundry post-wash, it was not effectively cleaned. "Musty smells indicate that mold is growing, and therefore, laundry was not properly washed," explains Lauren Simonelli, a cleaning expert and the co-founder of ThreeMain.
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.
An allergic reaction to laundry detergent can cause an itchy, red rash to appear after wearing newly cleaned clothes. An allergic reaction to ingredients in your laundry detergent may develop suddenly, even if it's a brand you've used for years.
If you're not measuring or don't know how much you're using, you're probably using too much. The two-tablespoons rule applies to high-efficiency and standard top-loading washers.
While your healthcare provider will always provide you with the best guidance for your skin health, in many cases, an adverse reaction to laundry detergent will present itself in the form of an eczema-like rash; dry, red, itchy, scaly, and overall uncomfortable.
On the flip side, if you have a small load of delicates, you're limited to the amount of detergent already in the pod, which is likely too much. That can sometimes lead to buildup of chemicals on your clothes. You also can't pretreat stains with pods like you can with liquid detergents.
Pour detergent in the dispenser or, if there isn't one, directly into the tub before adding clothes. Always follow the instructions on the packaging when measuring. If your washer is High-Efficiency (HE), only use HE detergent.
Use a gentle, nontoxic soap or detergent in every load of laundry and boost the cleaning power as needed by adding 1/2 cup of borax. This naturally occurring mineral has antiseptic, antibacterial, water-softening, and whitening properties.
Shirts and blouses: after 1-2 wearings. Dress pants or slacks: after 2-3 wearings. Jeans: after 4-5 wearings. Sweaters: up to 6 wearings, if worn with an undershirt; 1-2 wearings if worn without an undershirt.
For example, if your clothes were not too dirty, and you washed them at higher temperatures, there is a good chance they will be spotless as you may not need surfactants to clean them. However, if they are oil-stained, sweaty, or otherwise dirty, you can't expect them to get totally clean without using a surfactant.
Clothes often smell after they have been dried incorrectly or left in the washing machine for too long, or in other words - when they are left damp. During the summer, there are more opportunities for this: "If possible, try to identify what causes your clothes to stink in the first place.
The odor you perceive is bacteria, mold, and mildew. The bacteria is what causes the odor and can result from moist laundry, detergent build-up, the residue of softeners, a dirty laundry machine, and more.
Wrong Amount of Detergent
If you use too much or too little detergent, your clothes won't smell clean. Too much detergent creates an opportunity for dirt and mold to stick to the fabric and cause an odor. Too little detergent doesn't adequately clean the dirt off the fabrics.
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.
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.
Liquid detergent is better for your washing machine. It does not usually clog your machine and doesn't cause your clothes to stain. In fact, liquid detergent also doesn't fade your clothes. Powder detergents often contain bleach which is damaging to your clothes.