You have a medium or regular load if the drum is around half full, for a large load you'll have to fill it until three-quarters full, and if you have even more laundry to do, fill it up until you can fit your palm between the wall of the drum and your clothes.
If you overload the drum, there will be less water available for the detergent to dissolve in as the clothes will soak this up. We therefore recommend that you leave a hands width gap at the top of the washing machine drum when loading. This roughly equates to filling 3/4 of the drum.
The perfect load is if you can't fit anything else in the drum, just your hand and your laundry. If you can't fit your hand into the drum, then your load is too big. That isn't the only way of overloading, though. Washing machine drums also have a weight limit.
Generally speaking, while the number of clothing items in a load will vary, a medium or regular-sized load of dirty clothes weighs around 6 pounds. Large loads of laundry weigh about 11 pounds and extra-large loads about 21 pounds.
When you overload your washing machine, you're not just risking a bad wash (we're talking suds everywhere and stiff, itchy clothes) but potentially damaging the machine itself! Strain on the Motor: When the drum is overloaded, the motor is forced to work harder, increasing the risk of overheating or early failure.
If your machine is overloaded, it can force small items down the drainage line. As annoying as those things are, overloading can also damage your washer. When that mountain of laundry gets wet, the extra weight can damage the components and strain the motor to the point that it might need a repair.
To give you an idea of how much a typical load weighs, the following items all together weigh about 10 pounds: Seven pairs/sets of underwear. Seven pairs of socks. Five short-sleeve T-shirts.
The drum should be filled so that you can fit your hand in at the top and then be able to turn your hand 90°. It's best to leave some room for clothes to move; the agitation caused by the different clothes rubbing against each other is part of the washing process.
Too many towels washed at once won't get clean, but too few means greater agitation for quicker wear and tear. Most front-loading washing machines can fit seven standard-size bath towels; top-loading washers can fit around nine or ten.
Too Much Laundry
Your washer and dryer can do a lot, but overstuffing tends to cause bigger problems than forcing you to do a second load of laundry. Overloading the machine means the washer can't clean your clothes properly, and the dryer won't be able to generate air flow to dry clothes evenly.
You can wash most blankets weighing up to 20 pounds in your household washing machine on a gentle cycle with cold water and a mild detergent. Avoid using bleach, which can damage the blanket's fibers over time, and fabric softeners, which may create a buildup that gives your blanket a scratchy feel.
Perfect is if you can fit nothing else in the drum, just your hand and your wash. If you can't get your hand into the drum, then it's overloaded. That isn't the only way of overloading, though. Washing machine drums also have a weight limit, so be careful not to overdo that.
If your hand fits between your clothes and the wall of the drum, then you have the perfect load size. If not, it's best to take something out. If you find you've got even more space in there, you can add more clothes to save more water.
A medium load of laundry is when the tub is approximately 1/2 full or 2 pounds of laundry per cubic foot of the washer's capacity. A large load of laundry is when the tub is approximately 3/4 full or 3 pounds of laundry per cubic foot of the washer's capacity.
The verdict: As a general rule, you should launder your bath towel (or swap in a clean one) at least once a week. The same goes for hand towels. And your washcloth? That needs replacing more often — at least a couple times a week.
Another question that commonly gets asked is: “can you break a washing machine by overloading it?” Unfortunately, the answer is “yes”. And this can mean needing to have your washing machine repaired or in the worst case scenario, having it replaced altogether. All this can be costly but is also easily avoidable.
If you have to do laundry for just yourself, you can probably get away with two or three loads a week, making the average cost of laundry per month for one person roughly $30 to $60 if they're using a service. For a family of four, that number could reach $200 a month.
Stuffing too many items into the washer can cause excessive friction among clothes. This can lead to pilling, fading, and even tearing of fabrics. A heavy load of laundry, especially if you mix it with bulky comforters and blankets, can cause the fibers to rub against each other more aggressively.
For the best washing results, aim to load your machine to approximately 75% capacity. Another way to determine this is by leaving a hand width empty at the top of the drum. When the drum isn't overloaded, your clothes can move freely during the wash cycle.
The average cost of doing laundry at home can range between $0.50 to $2.00 per load, depending on your utility rates, the efficiency of your appliances, and the type of laundry you're doing. Washing Machine: New, energy-efficient washers can cost around $0.15 to $0.30 per load for water and electricity.
While overloading a washing machine is terrible for your washer, underloading can also cause problems. Above all, it is a waste of energy, detergent, and time. Furthermore, smaller loads knock the machine off balance during the spin cycle.
Sometimes laundry day cannot come soon enough and carrying around a lot of dirty laundry will add unnescesary weight to your luggage; the dirt and oils from our skin and sweat make the clothes heavier.