Before, During, or After...?

[danmantn]

I'm curious as to how people add detergent to their washers. I think I've seen the best results with adding it before clothes or water like my Speed Queen and Whirlpool washers recommend. One SQ laundromat sign said you MUST put detergent in first (in bold print on a TL).

I guess my question is...why? For years I sprinkled it on top of the clothes, or as the wash filled so that it would make bubbles...I thought if I put it in first, it would just wash down the drain hose. Apparently this isn't the case and seems to work well adding it first. But I wonder why? Perhaps manufacturers recommend that so that the detergent will have a chance to disolve prior to agitation.

Also, I always put all the clothes in (after detergent but before fill) so I can properly gauge the load--if it's filling as I'm adding laundry, I tend to over fill the washer. I've also seen clowns at the laundromat fill up the FLs, begin washing and THEN add their chemicals. Not sure if that would work, perhaps so.

I think I'll stick with what I'm doing -- seems to be working, but what's your method, and why?

 

[petek]

Mostly I just pour the detergent into the tub, add my clothes and then turn the washer on.
Perhaps some of those detergents with bleach required you to have water and clothes in first to dilute it, dunno?

 

[whirlaway]

It really Doesnt matter?

I sometimes put it in while it is filling.All depends on what your washing it can get stuck in crevices if you overload it. Bobby

 

[danemodsandy]

Detergent Goes In...

...The bottom of the tub, along with Oxy-Clean. Other additives go in their dispensers.

 

[toggleswitch2]

When I had a top-loader I'd add detergent after the clothes and while the machine was filling.

Disolves better.

 

[iheartmaytag]

In the old Filter-Flo days the detergent went in the top mount filter. With my Maytag TL I usually put the detergent in first, or if not sure how big the load would be I woudl add the clothes and then add the detergent by moving the clothes away from center and dumping to the botom. I have also been known to add a little after the cycle starts if I noticed that the water wasn't "silky" enough when really dirty clothes were being washed.

With my new FL machine everything goes in the dispenser after I load the clothes so I know how big the load is and can judge the dose I need to add. The machine does the mixing and adding to the cycle.

I

 

[petek]

Poppycock, dissolves better. LOL

 

[petek]

referencing my previous thread above.. I really only wrote it because I wanted to use the word poppycock

 

[rickr]

I load the clothes, then fill the machine, then add the Foca powder.

Boyfriend on the other hand, adds the Foca, then fills the machine, then adds the clothes.

I feel that some of the detergent goes out the holes in the inner tub to the outer tub, but I can't tell Timot anything.. Even though they are my machines, I let him do it his way. Keeps the peace. I still call the shots on the stuff that matters though. <:

 

[whirlaway]

Hellooooooo!

It doesnt matter it dissolves in the inner-tub or outer tub all of the water is in the same tubs.At least in my Kenmore it is and in the others also I would bet.

 

[may63]

If using a liquid detergent, I add the clothes first. Any stained clothing is added last and away from the fill flume. Then I pour the detergent on the stains so the detergent soaks into the stains.

If using Sears Ultra Plus powder, the directions specifically say not to let the dry powder touch the clothes. So I fill the tub about 1/3 full, sprinkle the detergent around the agitator base, let it dissolve for a sec, then add the clothes.

I'm not sure if allowing either liquid or powder detergent seep directly into the outer tub ultimately prevents it from contributing to the wash, but I take measures to prevent it.

 

[perc-o-prince]

Sears Ultra powder (free version) in the dispenser of the new FL.

Chuck

 

[crevicetool]

Poppycock....

Say! That is fun!

Top loader; liquid detergent; before clothes; while filling so I can rinse the cap out.

Rick

 

[yogitunes]

I often wondered if placing the detergent in first, which sifted down thru the bottom holes, then turning on the water, if it got disolved and mixed in....so while I had the kenmore DD opened up with the plastic outter tub, I watched, and the detergent stayed there caking up...even after the drain and rinse, it still left a sludge on the bottom, this could lead to poor rinsing too, being detergent residue is left behind...

So, if its a top loader, I start the water first, selecting WARM wash, when it reaches the bottom row of holes, I add the detergent, if the machine allows I swish the water with the agitator to disolve, and then add clothes, then I select COLD wash if wanted.....

the main idea to add first, is to make sure it disolves, some detergents cake up or stain clothing (I seen this all too many times), and allows the sudsy water to work on the stains while its filling....

GE FF are probably the best dispensers, considering the detergent is mixed well with water, and then flushed onto the clothing with a continuous stream not allowing detergent to settle on the clothing and cause damage...Kenmore use to have a detergent dispenser that only operated for 2 minutes throwing the detergent on top of the load, never really disolving it first and then continuous flushing to prevent deposits.....but this is just my opinion of what I have witnessed....your mileage may vary

one advantage some machines have like the calypso, oasis, or the catalyst machines is that they mix the detergent with water in the outter tub and then thru the pump where it is lathered up and spread across the load ready to start working before agitation begins....auto temperature control is another advantage to make sure detergent is disolved in cold water thereby enhancing its function

 

[appnut]

Dan, when I had my 1986 Lady Shredmore, I did exactly the same way you do for all the same reasons. Drives me nuts to to have too much water or too little water for a wash load. With my Fridgemore, I simply put it in the drawer. Vintage Frigidares, always down the pulsator column. My GE Filter-flo, in the fileter pan. Maytags with agitator filters--remove the filter, pour the detergent in the center of the agitator base that's left, and replace the filter and then put softner in the softner cup.

 

[rickr]

In some of the machines I have restored, I have found caked up sludge at the bottom of the outer tub during the restoration.

 

[mrb627]

Never in dry tub

I would never add detergent directly to a dry tub when washing in a belt drive kenmore/whirlpool. The initial start of the was discharges a quantity of wash water which could very well carry some of your undissolved detergent with it.

Pour between agitator and clothes when the tub was a little more than half full.

Since I have never been an overloader, should dissolve almost immediately at start of agitation.

Malcolm

With a FL, add to dispenser and immediately start the machine.

 

[kenmoreguy64]

Yogitunes and Malcolm are right....

On a belt-drive Kenmore/Whirlpool, a certain amount of water does discharge before the machine engages agitate, and with one of the high-volume pumps, the amount can be substantial. I have always felt that detergent that is already on the bottom of the basket/tub would flush right down the drain, so I add it after the washer is running. I don't want full-strength detergent soaking into my clothes as the machine is filling. It takes about 30 seconds for the water to get fully mixed, as can be seen and felt in the two manual filter models I am using right now. I don't use a fabric softener dispenser for the same reason.

As to detergent residue on tub bottoms - this very much can happen. It usually forms a cement like coating on tubs if allowed to build up. In some cases that's good for tubs because is can prevent rust, but I'd rather not have it there. Once there though, it's like the bottom of a pool - NOT coming off and won't interfere with rinsing, etc.

 

[whirlaway]

Not Much!

When I took the inner tub out of my 55 there was very little sludge,When the machine washes water is forced through the holes in the innertub.It actually could be the type of water your machine is washing with,some hard or soft may not be dissolving the detergent as well as others.Alot of your washing action and turnover is on the sides of the inner-tub so I would think as small as the holes are they would provide a powerful current in the outer-tub.Also fabric softener may suspend leftover soap in the machine because of its clinging agent. Thanks Bobby