How much detergent to use at the Laundromat?
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dirtybuck
Well-known member
Liquid or powder detergent?
Try the amount specified on the washer's instruction plate.
And on the topic of laundromat behavior, have you noticed that most of the women don't measure but dump in the detergent by eyeball (usually WAY TOO much)? One woman closed the front loader, pulled out the detergent drawer and watched through window until the liquid detergent began dribbling into the drum.
It's the bachelor dudes who actually read the instructions on the detergent box or jug and measure with the precision of a lab assistant. So why the stereotype of men being too stupid to wash clothes without flooding the laundromat with suds?
And on the topic of laundromat behavior, have you noticed that most of the women don't measure but dump in the detergent by eyeball (usually WAY TOO much)? One woman closed the front loader, pulled out the detergent drawer and watched through window until the liquid detergent began dribbling into the drum.
It's the bachelor dudes who actually read the instructions on the detergent box or jug and measure with the precision of a lab assistant. So why the stereotype of men being too stupid to wash clothes without flooding the laundromat with suds?
. Drives me nuts. No instructions on the machine for detergent amount (Wascomats or Speed Queens).The laundry here has signs that says how much to use for each size for regular detergent and also for HE detergent. For the 50 pound machines it is 3/4 cup of regular detergent and 1/4 cup for HE. They have it in english and spanish. But like others I have seen people just dump in the detergent and I have see foam running out the tops and down the front. These machines are all Wascomats.
arbilab
Well-known member
There isn't much sebum on a comforter. Sebum (skin oil/wax) is what detergent really has to work to remove. Consider a comforter "light soil".
A 50# machine is going to use a LOT of water, probably equal to 2 standard TLs. So soap it for 2 TLs and light soil.
These machines allow adding while running? Could always start with one scoop, wait and see what happens, add as needed for light standing suds. Use HE, it's a FL isn't it?
A 50# machine is going to use a LOT of water, probably equal to 2 standard TLs. So soap it for 2 TLs and light soil.
These machines allow adding while running? Could always start with one scoop, wait and see what happens, add as needed for light standing suds. Use HE, it's a FL isn't it?
Yes, FL Speed Queen. I usually use 3x as much (since there are 4 wash basket icons - indicating that it will hand 4x the amount of a standard washer)...and didn't have any issues, but wanted to pick everyone's brain to see what others would do.
considering a comforter, and light soil....probably 1X to 2X as much as a normal FL washer
for normal clothes and soil level.....its a basic formula of single, double, or triple loader.....as to one cap measurement for a single, 2 for a double, and 3 for a triple......
but using todays HE is best.......some guys can get mounds of suds from SearsUP, I cannot, but the advantage for me is chemical concentration......even in my Neptunes, for a heavy, greasy, grimy load.....I can add anywhere up to 5 scoops, and not worry about oversudsing......and clear rinses
for normal clothes and soil level.....its a basic formula of single, double, or triple loader.....as to one cap measurement for a single, 2 for a double, and 3 for a triple......
but using todays HE is best.......some guys can get mounds of suds from SearsUP, I cannot, but the advantage for me is chemical concentration......even in my Neptunes, for a heavy, greasy, grimy load.....I can add anywhere up to 5 scoops, and not worry about oversudsing......and clear rinses
I like suds
Danny Boy...........
I freakin luv suds, I pour it in until I see suds. I love watching suds in the front loaders at the laundromat!!!!!!! If I use too much, (which I always use) then I add fabric softener to the second rinse.....YOU'LL KNOW WHEN I AM IN THE LAUNDROMAT BY THE OVERWHELMING SMELL OF SAUVITEL LOL!!!!!!
Mike
Danny Boy...........
I freakin luv suds, I pour it in until I see suds. I love watching suds in the front loaders at the laundromat!!!!!!! If I use too much, (which I always use) then I add fabric softener to the second rinse.....YOU'LL KNOW WHEN I AM IN THE LAUNDROMAT BY THE OVERWHELMING SMELL OF SAUVITEL LOL!!!!!!
Mike
rooftoppigeon
New member
My Local Laundromat Advises To Use 4-oz. Of Detergent.
My Local Laundromat Advises Too Use At Least 4-oz. Of Detergent; In Washers 30-Pounds (and) Larger. No Matter if it's an Liquid (or) an Powder. They Recommend 4-oz. Of Detergent in Washers 30-Pounds (and) Larger.
My Local Laundromat Advises Too Use At Least 4-oz. Of Detergent; In Washers 30-Pounds (and) Larger. No Matter if it's an Liquid (or) an Powder. They Recommend 4-oz. Of Detergent in Washers 30-Pounds (and) Larger.
Launderettes / laundromats don't really feature much in my life but on the few occasions I've had to use them while on holiday (vacation) I've noticed a lot of clueless use in Europe too.
The worst I've ever seen was in Paris. A group of young backpackers (not going to name the country, but they weren't from the US anyway) who clearly had never been away from 'Mommy' before had absolutely no idea how to do laundry. One of them was trying to put detergent into a tumble dryer, which she was referring to as the "big washing machine". She had actually put dirty clothes into the dryer and started it - having put laundry pods into the dryer! Luckily I stopped her and she got them out before the pods broke apart.
They had basically one bag of washing and used 5 machines. One of them put all the black/blue things into one machine, other colours into another machine, light blues into yet another machine and then whites into another machine and then they had wool items in yet another machine which they wrecked by using normal detergent on a wool cycle and then started trying to complain about the Miele washer which apparently was "broken".
Several of the machines were over-sudsing as they'd added multiple detergent pods to each wash. In one case one of them put at least 3 Ariel pods into a regular sized front load Miele little giant type commercial machine, which was taking forever as it went into some kind of suds-control rinsing. I had to actually explain they needed to add a cap of fabric softener to de-foam the machine.
It was absolutely unbelievable stuff and there were a lot of of really grumpy looking local apartment dwelling Parisians getting fed up with the antics as they were holding up half the laundrette with washing about 4 socks in one washing machine. One lady gave them an absolute lecturing about their environmental impact and told them they needed to 'grow up' and learn how to be adults.
I'd say doing one relatively mediocre bag of laundry cost them about €35 as they'd used so many machines and the amount of detergent that went down the drain to do a relatively small amount of washing was absolutely scandalous from an environmental point of view.
What really annoyed me even more was they'd been at a climate change event in Paris and were talking about how they were trying to reduce their carbon footprint by using trains while in Europe, but at the same time had basically used 5 washing machines and 3 dryers and pretty much half a box of Ariel pods and a half bottle of fabric softener to wash basically a basket of clothes.
All I'd say is: Parents - teach your teenagers how to use a damn washing machine and how to be somewhat environmentally friendly with your laundry habits.
I've seen the dumping of HUGE doses of detergent into machines a few times in laundrettes here too before in other contexts too - I definitely remember seeing people just pour liquid or shake huge quantise of powder into the machines dispensers.
I'd actually advocate in launderettes they should just sell pods/tablets and advise that only ONE should be used per cycle. That or have auto-dosing machines with some detergent options.
The worst I've ever seen was in Paris. A group of young backpackers (not going to name the country, but they weren't from the US anyway) who clearly had never been away from 'Mommy' before had absolutely no idea how to do laundry. One of them was trying to put detergent into a tumble dryer, which she was referring to as the "big washing machine". She had actually put dirty clothes into the dryer and started it - having put laundry pods into the dryer! Luckily I stopped her and she got them out before the pods broke apart.
They had basically one bag of washing and used 5 machines. One of them put all the black/blue things into one machine, other colours into another machine, light blues into yet another machine and then whites into another machine and then they had wool items in yet another machine which they wrecked by using normal detergent on a wool cycle and then started trying to complain about the Miele washer which apparently was "broken".
Several of the machines were over-sudsing as they'd added multiple detergent pods to each wash. In one case one of them put at least 3 Ariel pods into a regular sized front load Miele little giant type commercial machine, which was taking forever as it went into some kind of suds-control rinsing. I had to actually explain they needed to add a cap of fabric softener to de-foam the machine.
It was absolutely unbelievable stuff and there were a lot of of really grumpy looking local apartment dwelling Parisians getting fed up with the antics as they were holding up half the laundrette with washing about 4 socks in one washing machine. One lady gave them an absolute lecturing about their environmental impact and told them they needed to 'grow up' and learn how to be adults.
I'd say doing one relatively mediocre bag of laundry cost them about €35 as they'd used so many machines and the amount of detergent that went down the drain to do a relatively small amount of washing was absolutely scandalous from an environmental point of view.
What really annoyed me even more was they'd been at a climate change event in Paris and were talking about how they were trying to reduce their carbon footprint by using trains while in Europe, but at the same time had basically used 5 washing machines and 3 dryers and pretty much half a box of Ariel pods and a half bottle of fabric softener to wash basically a basket of clothes.
All I'd say is: Parents - teach your teenagers how to use a damn washing machine and how to be somewhat environmentally friendly with your laundry habits.
I've seen the dumping of HUGE doses of detergent into machines a few times in laundrettes here too before in other contexts too - I definitely remember seeing people just pour liquid or shake huge quantise of powder into the machines dispensers.
I'd actually advocate in launderettes they should just sell pods/tablets and advise that only ONE should be used per cycle. That or have auto-dosing machines with some detergent options.
The worst
I saw at the launderette was by the operative herself at a local laundrette.
Like iej mentions - in the U.K/IRL it's very rare that anyone would need to go to one.
But when my dryer broke a couple of years back. I decided until I got my new one, to go to laundrette and get the washing done.
I went in. Was a small one with around 5 washers and 4 dryers, with one single lady operative who was working her way through "service washes" (this is where customers bring a bag of dirty laundry in and the launderette will wash dry and fold the laundry ready for the customer to collect later - saving them hanging around and doing it),
I decided to stay and do mine myself (just as well)
Anyway I was talking to her and watching her work her way through these washes and she was dosing the detergent cup she was using full to the brim with powder. She was using the standard issued P&G detergent scoop, anyone familiar with these will know they are large scoops - taking 210ml (7.3oz) at their highest measure - which isn't even the full cup, so god knows what her measurement actually was. It was absolutely fascinating to watch and I was just questioning to myself how quick they were getting through powder,
Pic attached of said detergent scoop
I saw at the launderette was by the operative herself at a local laundrette.
Like iej mentions - in the U.K/IRL it's very rare that anyone would need to go to one.
But when my dryer broke a couple of years back. I decided until I got my new one, to go to laundrette and get the washing done.
I went in. Was a small one with around 5 washers and 4 dryers, with one single lady operative who was working her way through "service washes" (this is where customers bring a bag of dirty laundry in and the launderette will wash dry and fold the laundry ready for the customer to collect later - saving them hanging around and doing it),
I decided to stay and do mine myself (just as well)
Anyway I was talking to her and watching her work her way through these washes and she was dosing the detergent cup she was using full to the brim with powder. She was using the standard issued P&G detergent scoop, anyone familiar with these will know they are large scoops - taking 210ml (7.3oz) at their highest measure - which isn't even the full cup, so god knows what her measurement actually was. It was absolutely fascinating to watch and I was just questioning to myself how quick they were getting through powder,
Pic attached of said detergent scoop
May well be
To compensate for usually short wash times (most laundromat washers have main wash times < 12 minutes or so), operator is following standard wash pie advice. That is increasing amount of chemical used to ensure proper results in short period of time.
To compensate for usually short wash times (most laundromat washers have main wash times < 12 minutes or so), operator is following standard wash pie advice. That is increasing amount of chemical used to ensure proper results in short period of time.
Probably
Correct, I can't remember exactly how long the washes were (want to say 25 mins), but in any case MUCH shorter than we're accustomed to over here.
I just really couldn't help but think how much soap is left in the clothes after cycle was done. But something is going to give when turning around washing that fast I suppose.
Correct, I can't remember exactly how long the washes were (want to say 25 mins), but in any case MUCH shorter than we're accustomed to over here.
I just really couldn't help but think how much soap is left in the clothes after cycle was done. But something is going to give when turning around washing that fast I suppose.
SQ front loaders at local laundromat do a "Normal" cycle in < 31 minutes. OTOH my AEG Lavamat shortest "Cottons/Easy Cares" cycle is about one hour. Only ten minutes is allotted for heating water, so you're still left with nearly 50 minutes.
Thing one does not like about laundromat washers is inability to adapt cycles.
Seeing suds in second, third, or even final rinse is common on this side of pond. Sat sitting in wonder at people who pour tons of detergent into washer at start of cycle (quick three minute pre-wash), even after main wash, and several rinses there is still a thick visible layer of froth. For those that use liquid FS, it going into final rinse kills much of the froth, but that detergent residue is still there.
Really only use laundromat now for things that just are too big/bulky for any of my machines.
Thing one does not like about laundromat washers is inability to adapt cycles.
Seeing suds in second, third, or even final rinse is common on this side of pond. Sat sitting in wonder at people who pour tons of detergent into washer at start of cycle (quick three minute pre-wash), even after main wash, and several rinses there is still a thick visible layer of froth. For those that use liquid FS, it going into final rinse kills much of the froth, but that detergent residue is still there.
Really only use laundromat now for things that just are too big/bulky for any of my machines.
