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

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Ultramatic

Ultramatic

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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...
 
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....
 
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]
 
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]
 
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]
 
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...
 
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. 😊
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
quite certain i load up the dispenser right from my scoop if its powder, or if its liquid, poured right from my jug, and the laundry gets clean without ever needing an extra rinse or washed all over again without <span style="text-decoration: underline;">any</span> detergent from it being too soapy, so i am doing it right!

 

end of story...

 

 

 

-- dave
 
Dave...

Can you just imagine how the laundry evangelist's clothes would look if he had blood clothes washed like that? Using an ounce of soap at the express cycle doesn't cut it at all. Blood stains require soaking and a long wash cycle coupled with a reasonable amount of detergent. He must be high on drugs to think his suggestions work for ALL loads regardless even when stained with blood.
 
Never bleed, or have had enough of a good many of anyone who bleeds really, but a solution is using a solution called hydrogen peroxide would help if being applied for the most part...

And a realistic amount of laundry soap, put in that dispenser or rubbed on those garments, along with a stain remover, (which he seems to abhoard any use of) by far...

Now let's read and discuss a few more probably similar "soap box rant articles down below about doing other things wrong"...

-- Dave
 
doing things wrong

I don't think I'm doing anything wrong. Can you just imagine how he'd react if he found out how we did full loads of laundry and dishes? How does he expect tough stains to come out in 30 minutes or less? He only advocates using soap, not detergent. I'm sorry, but I'm convinced that tough stains like dirt, grass, blood, etc. will still be there. No thank you. I'm doing my laundry right. End of story! Detergents need enzymes to work properly! Thank you very much![this post was last edited: 9/3/2024-11:52]
 
For measuring detergent, I just follow the damn manufacturer's instructions. There is so much division online about this issue from so-called experts and laundry enthusiasts alike that I feel like the best way to go is just follow what the maker of the product says to do. So, with Tide, that's up to line 3 for a large load, which is what I wash 90% of the time.

Now, with something like a front loader which uses substantially less water, I might have to revise this method, but for now it works.

Ryne
 
Are people using too much detergent?

Not very likely there’s a much greater tendency to not use enough detergent. You should use what the manufacturer recommends and make adjustments for how dirty the clothes are how hard your water is and the temperature of the water you need more detergent for cooler, water, dirtier clothes, and harder water.

Many detergents recommend using less in a front load or high-efficiency washer, the only thing I council people to Do is to use adequate amount of detergent and if you have a front loading washer, I generally recommend using one extra rinse at least.

On full fill Top load machines you should not ever use an extra rinse unless your water is totally soft. Once you rinse away all the detergent properties you start rinsing minerals back into your clothing and also leaves a mineral buildup in the machine which can be damaging to seals, etc..

John
 
I still don't get it...

I still don't get it. How do you expect the dirtiest clothes to get in an express cycle with just 2 tablespoons of detergent? Suppose if you work in construction or play tough sports like football where you get scrapes and there's blood or you get smelly. I guess the laundry evangelist fails to comprehend and take it into consideration. Instead, he recommends real soap.
 
It's easy to overdose detergent in a front loader, I'll agree with that. However most are probably not using enough in a top loader, especially in hard water areas.

Everybody is using too cold water temps otherwise there would be no complaints of odors and no market for washing machine cleaners.
 

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