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

[gelaundry4ever]

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.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

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

 

[gelaundry4ever]

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]

 

[cleanteamofny]

I do not know if this was ever posted here:
It's interesting, but I am unsure if it lives up to the hype.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

how washers work

So now people are just figuring out how washers work? I thought they'd know by now.

 

[ryner1988]

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

 

[gelaundry4ever]

to Ryne...

I do the same with Persil Ultra pacs advanced clean. I follow the directions based on load size and soil level. My dark load is the largest, followed by lights, then whites.

 

[combo52]

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

 

[gelaundry4ever]

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.

 

[qsd-dan]

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.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

selling with more money

I've heard people say that detergent manufacturers want you to use more so they'll sell you more for money and an ounce is adequate no matter what or how filthy your clothes are. I've learned that not even the recommended amount is good enough for the filthiest loads, and some clothes loads need soaking.
Also, what happens when you have set-in stains like blood? I use Persil advanced clean ultra pacs and they do much better than Tide. Very little or no suds are present.

 

[hoover1100]

Detergent dosage

I have experimented with different dosages but have always found the recommended dosages on the pack are necessary.

We have fairly soft water here, 3.4dh, but I still find with any products I need to use the dosage for medium water to get best results.

Is blood a difficult stain to remove? Presumably it was before detergents had enzymes in them, but I have never had even bad, dried in blood stains not be completely removed first time even in a short wash with cheaper detergents. I have never needed to pre-treat a blood stains, just wash as usual.

 

[suburbanmd]

Why would detergent mfrs tell us to use too much

…when it’s sold by the number of loads in a package? A 113-load box of Tide, say, would be smaller and cost less to make if they lowered the dose. I know that legally speaking it’s sold by weight, but I think number of loads is what most consumers look at.

 

[me]

Reply#32

I was going to say the same thing. There's not much brand loyalty these days, many people shop for detergents on cost per wash, so it is in manufacturer's interests to give good advice and they test their products in washing machines to ensure it is accurate.

Recommending a larger dose than needed would cost manufacturer's sales, and advising to use too little would give poor results and could put people completely off the product. The one way it could be said manufacturers cheat in the UK is the dosage count given on the packet/bottle is still based on a 4 - 5kg machine, so with modern machines 8kg+ exaggerates the number of washes per packet.

I follow the detergent manufacturer's dosage guide for my machine size, water hardness (mine is 340ppm so pretty hard) and the soiling level, and follow the care label on the clothing for the most delicate item I put in the wash for wash type and temperature - usually 40°C medium (synthetic) wash for most clothing and I always add an extra rinse because otherwise I can feel the detergent residue and it brings me out it a rash, modern machines don't do enough rinsing by default.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

proper cycle

On top of that, I use the proper cycle for the best results. Most times, I'll use the normal cycle or heavy duty cycle for my everyday loads if the normal cycle is an eco cycle. If it's the real normal cycle, then I'll continue to use that cycle. Time is not my issue. Results are.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

to hoover1100

Cycle is important too. I always use the recommended cycle per load, not what a so-called "laundry expert" says who knows nothing about washing. No wonder why most people blindly follow his advice which leads to more laundry problems down the road.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

whitest whites

I'd use the whitest whites cycle when washing whites last. If it does take over 2 hours as he claims, I'd use the turbo wash if available. I'm not that in big of a rush. GEEZ!

 

[mark_wpduet]

I had been using powder for the longest time until recently switching to liquid... Now that I'm using liquid...I figured the manufacturers recommended amount would be way too much, right? But I decided to be good on my first use and measure what the recommended amount was....even though the lines on the cap are basically invisible without a flashlight. It's amazing how LITTLE detergent that is...and that's the manufactuers recommended amount... Honestly, I couldn't fathom using any less than that.

 

[gelaundry4ever]

recommended amount

I couldn't fathom using less than the recommended amount either. Seriously. It's not pure soap for crying out loud! And the reason why all these cycles are present on new machines because the manufacturer has different recommendations for different fabrics you're trying to wash. If I want to use the whitest whites cycle that takes allegedly 2 hours, fine! I can transfer the whites into the dryer the next morning when I wake up. Is it really that hard? And whites would be the last load I'd do with bleach! If my dad found out that I used just 2 tablespoons for a filthy load on the express cycle like that, he'd chew me out in a minute! Not in my house. It's extra heavy cycle or soaking. Period. And that was with my previous GE.

 

[Chetlaham]

Other than the possibility of itch with scented detergents I've never had an issue with over-dosing, but have found under-dosing leads to poor wash results and would imagine over time that grime would build up in the machine.

 

 

I've heard for years that those heaping doses of detergents in advertisements are meant to get people to buy more detergent, however I'm beginning to realize there may be truth to the pics.