Should liquid detergent go in the drawer or drum?

Author: Myron Thompson  |  Last update: Friday, June 6, 2025

Adding it to the drum may result in an uneven wash and oily residue. When adding liquid laundry detergent to your washing machine, it is best that it goes into the drum directly rather than into the drawer for an even wash.

Is it better to put laundry liquid in drum or drawer?

Yes it does matter. It depends upon a liquid detergent you're using. If you use persil small & mighty , you should put the detergent into the drum inside the dosing ball . Other liquid detergents may need placing into the detergent drawer which is usually separated into 3 compartments.

Can you put liquid detergent directly in the drum?

Just fill it as per the instructions above and place it directly into your washing machine's drum, on top of the laundry. Dosing directly into the drum helps you to achieve outstanding results.

Where should I put liquid laundry detergent?

Never pour the detergent on the clothes. Always pour it at the bottom and fill the washer and then add the clothes.

Should I pour liquid detergent directly into the washer?

Always before. The pump on a washer pulls the water from the bottom to the top. This way the detergent will circulate into the clothes more quickly.

Is it OK to put detergent into the drum of your washer? 

Which compartment for liquid detergent?

Main wash compartment

The main wash compartment is (you've guessed it) the main section of the drawer. It's generally located on the left and is the most frequently used compartment. It's also the largest compartment. This is the place to put your regular washing detergent - either liquid or powder.

How to use liquid detergent in a washing machine?

How to use liquid detergent
  1. Pre-treat stubborn stains with a small amount of liquid detergent applied directly the the fabric and rubbed in gently.
  2. Add your clothes to the machine and measure liquid detergent with the dosing ball.
  3. Place the dosing ball on top of clothes in the drum.
  4. Select your wash cycle and temperature.

What happens if you put detergent in the wrong compartment?

Don't put detergent in the fabric softener drawer

For one thing, it would miss the actual wash cycle. Putting detergent in the wrong compartment can also result in detergent residue remaining on the fabric, which can cause skin irritations, according to the IKW.

Can I put liquid detergent in the drum of he washer?

Can you pour your liquid detergent directly into the drum? Yes, you can put your detergent in the drum, but in a certain procedure such as using a mesh or dosing ball. However, there is no reason for you to pour your detergent directly into the drum if you have a detergent dispenser.

How do you use liquid laundry detergent without a dispenser?

The short answer to your question is simply put a cap full of liquid detergent in your washer as it's filling up with water. The caps on liquid detergent plastic bottles are made precisely for that purpose. Just fill the cap from the bottle and dump it in.

Where to put liquid detergent in GE top load washer?

Proper Use of Liquid Detergent

Add the manufacturer's recommended amount of liquid detergent to the top of the load once all of the clothes are loaded into the wash basket.

Do you put liquid detergent in the drawer?

The symbols on your washing machine drawer can be confusing. Here's what they typically mean: "II" or main wash symbol: This is where you put washing powder or liquid detergent for the main wash. "I" or pre-wash symbol: Use this compartment if you're running a pre-wash cycle.

Is it better to use liquid laundry detergent or pods?

Liquid Detergent Leaves Behind Less Residue

Even if hard water isn't an issue in your home, liquid detergents are less likely to leave residue on clothes and linens than other formulas. It's possible that pods and sheets won't fully dissolve in the washer, creating stubborn detergent stains on fabrics.

Do you put surf liquid detergent in the drawer or drum?

If you prefer Liquid Detergents, then fill the measuring device to 35ml for standard loads (4/5kg) and place in the drum. For heavy loads (6-8kg) use 52ml (1-1/2 caps), in hard water areas or for heavy soiling. If you prefer Surf capsules, then simply pop one capsule into the back of the drum!

Where do you put liquid detergent in a top loader?

We've put together a guide to help you but here's a tip: you won't go wrong by adding the detergent to the bottom of the drum before you add the dirty laundry.

Where do you put liquid laundry detergent in a front loader?

If you wash a particularly dirty load, we recommend putting the washer through a RINSE cycle once the cycle has finished and the load has been removed, to clean out any residue from that cycle. Detergent is added to the main wash compartment on the left side of the dispenser drawer marked with a .

Can I pour liquid detergent directly on clothes?

Although this can vary a little depending on the type of washing machine you have, or sometimes the type of liquid detergent you're using, more often than not liquid detergent works best when applied directly to clothes, says Hugo Guerrero, certified cleaning technician.

Does it matter which compartment I put detergent in?

1 Main wash compartment: Detergent for the main wash, water softener, pre-soaking agent, bleach and stain remover. 2 Softener compartment: Fabric softener (do not fill higher than the line indicated by MAX). 3 Prewash compartment: Detergent for prewash or starch.

Is liquid laundry detergent bad for your washing machine?

Using too much can harm your washer – When used correctly, liquid laundry detergent is safe for your washing machine. However, when you get in the habit of using too high of a dose in your laundry loads it can negatively affect your washer, causing buildup that can harbor mold and clog pipes.

Why are my clothes still dirty after washing?

A full or partial blockage in the filter or pump will affect your washing machines ability to drain water from the drum. This will lead to poor rinsing results and poorly washed clothes as a result. Before you start a programme, clean the filter and remove any foreign objects which could be blocking the impeller.

Can I put liquid detergent in the drum?

When using the drawer on your washing machine to add detergent, liquid and powdered detergent go in the same main compartment. The difference arises when it comes to adding detergents to the drum. Liquid detergent can go into the drum with no problem, but this should be avoided with powder.

When to put liquid detergent in a washing machine?

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.

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