Here we go again. Are we using too much detergent?

[Ultramatic]

 

 

<h1 class="headline"><span style="font-size: 18pt;">This Is How Much Laundry Detergent You Should Actually Use — And Yes, It's Shocking</span></h1>
Unfortunately, we have some bad news for you: You’re probably doing your laundry all wrong.

 

This Is How Much Laundry Detergent You Should Actually Use — And Yes, It's Shocking

Unfortunately, we have some bad news for you: You’re probably doing your laundry all wrong.

www.huffpost.com

 

[kalanikaau1]

Persil

I use Persil pods exclusively for all my laundry, I simply toss a pod into my Speed Queen top loader and let the detergent and machine do it's thing.

Growing up as a kid, my Mother would use Rinso Blue powder exclusively, it produced copious amounts of suds in our GE Filter-Flo machine, a characteristic which I equated to clean laundry.

The Persil pods generate very few suds, if any at all, however my laundry is outstandingly clean.

Times have sure changed...

 

[henene4]

I mean no wonder, if you only wash on the Express cycle, much more than a minimal dose won't rinse off.

And if you really think EVERYTHING is always right on Express, you just know plain nothing about washing.

What about wool? Delicates? Your pillows?

 

[mrboilwash]

Are those people getting payed by environmental authorities for spreading BS like this?

That would be the only logical explanation I could think of. LOL

 

[angus]

The guys writing the article are using that Patric Richardson as (a/k/a "The Laundry Evangelist" or something like that) their "expert". I believe his name has come up in another thread before and he was spouting the same nonsense. If I recall correctly, he was advocating using cold water, minimal detergent and "express" cycles for almost everything. Far as I am concerned, he has zero credibility but knows how to market himself. But I'll say no more....

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Persil Pods

I use however many Persil pods are required according to the load size even 3 pods for the biggest and dirtiest loads, particularly at super. This is according to the directions on the package. 2 for large and 1 for small to medium loads. 3 is for super or full loads.[this post was last edited: 9/2/2024-13:55]

 

[gelaundry4ever]

Oh Dear...

It's that so-called "laundry evangelist" again! Somebody save us! I use heavy duty for everything. As for the Speed Queen Commercial Washers at my apartment, I use the equivalent normal cycle combined with heavy soil and I get the best performance. This stupid idiot knows absolutely nothing about laundry.
Where did they find this guy? What the heck? There's no dedicated heavy duty cycle, so the normal cycle + heavy soil setting will suffice as that is the equivalent. That's how I'd get deep rinse. Patrick Richardson must be high on stupid or something because he has no idea on what he's talking about. I could just shutter thinking about his "suggestions" that do nothing.[this post was last edited: 9/2/2024-14:26]

 

[gelaundry4ever]

to Angus and henene4...

Don't forget about heavily soiled and stained laundry. No way will the express cycle clean that filthy load with a tiny ounce of detergent. He recommends soap over detergent. No thank you. I'm sorry, but growing up watching my family doing laundry taught me this. Anything that's smelly and dirty needs a long cycle that a washer has available. I especially did this when I and my dad did laundry. We have always used the extra heavy cycle on our GE model T we had. Normal/fast speed combo was the preferred setting, and we typically did super sized loads with the proportion of detergent necessary. Sometimes, we'd use auto soak 30. 2 tablespoons for the toughest loads... give me a break! This is why I! DO! MY! OWN! LAUNDRY! Perhaps I'm getting cranky over this nonsense. No wonder why most average people are walking around looking like stupid crap. But us on the other hand, we cannot be fooled! Maybe I'm failing to understand how that tiny amount will do anything. Today's washers are more advanced than ever and have different cycles for every need. I only use express for EMERGENCIES! It's not for EVERYDAY use! I'm done! I must say no more...[this post was last edited: 9/2/2024-14:21]

 

[appnut]

Yeah, I caught this yesterday. At least they advocate using warm water wash and not cold all the time. Also, my "express" cycle has no interim spins and doesn't spin until last rinse. Unacceptable.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

to appnut

I don't want carryover of dirty water and laundry detergent going into the fabric softener rinse water. I want it spun out before the final rinse. This is why I'd use normal on my LG front loaders 99% of the time. Maybe even 100%. Dirty water must be spun out, period. It's just shameful that we have to put up with this mess. He's lucky I'm not doing his laundry, or else...

 

[appnut]

Jerome, other than delicate, my washer spins after main wash and each individual rinse for all cycles. .

 

[foraloysius]

I think we established before that the Laundry Evangelist gives bad advice. This only confirms this. BTW, evangelist? I suppose he likes to convert us to his beliefs.

I will stick to the facts. Fact is that liquid detergent can not contain oxygen bleach. Powder can. I will only use powders for whites. My whites show that. And my neighbours can confirm that.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

foraloysius...

Well, if the so-called laundry evangelist is thinking about trying to convert me, think again. It won't work with me. The reason why my clothes feel so great as good as they look is because I use common sense. Others notice me. And I use the correct cycles according to what I'm washing. Same with temp and soil level.

 

[me]

Well, his advice might be good for filling a few column inches, but I certainly wouldn't follow his guidance on getting laundry clean!

On UK washing machines at least quick cycles are pretty useless, they are only intended for a few items at the very most, that aren't really dirty, something like a shirt you've had on once and just needs a quick freshening up.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

warm water

I think he says that warm water is at 80 degrees fahrenheit. That will not remove any tough stains or bad odors. Seriously, what the heck did he do? Where are his experiments? I think his clothes are still filthy looking doing laundry like that.
How are you going to remove any sweat smells from somebody who played sports or was working outside on a hot summer day if you wash like that? It's not going to work in any capacity. You need to use the recommended amount of detergent and a longer wash cycle. That's what common sense says. Speed wash is for emergency loads that are very small and lightly soiled. It's meant for refreshing laundry. No wonder why people have dingy laundry following this guy's advise. I've never seen a washer with bulky or sanitary until the 2000s. I'm disgusted reading that link about what he said. A full cup of detergent would be useful for even the worst of the worst loads with the most set-in stains especially in a top loader with a dual action agitator that fills up completely. Persil Advanced Clean oxi+odor is where it's at. Or in my case, the ultra packs in the same variant. I'd use 3 at the most for the toughest and biggest loads.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

to appnut

Mine does too. The cycle I'd use for everyday use is the cotton/normal.

 

[mattl]

Not that I have any faith in this "expert", but I do only use 2TBS of Persil liquid in most medium sized loads and stuff comes out clean. I have to say I use the express cycle about 75% of the time on my Duets.  But they let me add 10 minutes to the cycle so it does a  good job overall.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

old school

I'm old school, so I'd rather do things according to the label and common sense after doing my own laundry since I was 7 years old. I use the machine's proper cycles based on load content, not on whatever an "expert" says. I find that doing things the proper way yields the best results. Call me old school, but I know what works. It has yet to fail me. The Speed Queens at my apartment complex always do the job provided I use heavy soil on the normal cycle, which I always use anyway. There's no residue behind, even when using softener. It just mixes through completely. You can call me old school. I know how doing laundry should get done. Maybe I'm set in my ways but I'm not impressed with this "expert". Some things are better left unchanged.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

for everyday loads

I just use the real normal cycle for everyday loads. In the case of the Speed Queen Classic, I'd use heavy duty and treat it as the normal cycle. My apartment complex has the commercial equivalent and I always select heavy soil on the normal cycle for a deep rinse. I stay away from light and medium soils because they only provide a spray rinse. I'm a stickler on how laundry should get done.