You May Be Using Too Much Laundry Detergent
When you load especially dirty, sweaty, or smelly laundry into the washing machine, you may be tempted to add a little (or a lot) more than the recommended amount of detergent. Theoretically, this makes sense: laundry that is dirtier than usual probably needs extra detergent, right?
No, not at all. Not only that, you are probably using too much detergent in your normal daily wash. Here’s what you need to know.
What happens when you use too much laundry detergent
Believe it or not, using too much laundry detergent can leave an extra layer of dirt on your clothes or bedding. This is because the more soap, the more suds that your washing machine’s rinse cycle is not designed for.
In addition, the additional detergent makes the laundry especially slippery, which in turn prevents the items from rubbing against each other, which partially helps to remove dirt from their surface .
Result? Detergent residue that harms your laundry and washing machine.
Using too much detergent requires more water from your machine, which should be avoided if you are paying for water and also for environmental reasons.
Residue that remains on your clothes is also a problem for your washing machine as it builds up over time, especially in all the nooks and crannies and crevices which provide ideal conditions for bacteria and mold to grow and can eventually lead to nasty stains. smell. “clean” linen .
How do you know if you’ve used too much detergent?
Here are some of the signs that you have used too much detergent in your laundry:
- Laundry feels slimy or sticky when it comes out of the washing machine
- “Clean” and dried laundry feels crispy or scratchy and uncomfortable to wear
- Colored clothes or linens are dull or faded
- White clothes or linens become off-white or gray
- People with sensitive skin may have a reaction to wearing clothes.
- Unpleasant, possibly moldy, smell on “clean” laundry
How much detergent should be used?
The amount of detergent you need to wash your laundry depends on a variety of factors, including the size of your load, the type of detergent you use, and whether or not you have a high-efficiency washing machine. However, as a general rule, laundry professionals generally recommend using one tablespoon of liquid detergent or ¼ cup of laundry detergent to load laundry into a traditional washing machine.
And, as Sarah Bodgan points out in a video for Wirecutter , take the recommendations on detergent labels with a grain of salt: “Some detergent manufacturers are going to lie on the label. But remember, they are selling a product and they want you to buy more of it.”