How much liquid detergent to use?

[SawaSun]

I have a mid 1990's TL Amana extra large capacity washing machine with a stainless steel tub made by Raytheon--which I've read is equal to a Speed Queen of the time. I use liquid laundry detergent, mostly Purex and All, wash clothes on the cold/cold and regular/fast setting and have soft water. I know what the instructions say regarding filling to a certain line for large loads, but what kind of washing machine (TL or FL) are they using for their baseline, how many cu ft, hard water or soft water etc?

I most often fill my washing machine with the most clothes I can without it getting out of balance and use the extra large load setting for water. Since I have a large tub, I psychologically fill the cap to the top even though the manufacturer's highest level is lower because I don't know what the detergent manufacturer's meaning of a large load is etc?

Do you all use a full cap with large loads or do you fill to the highest number on the cap?

 

[dustin92]

Well, first of all, you need to use at least warm water. Body soil (the stuff you remove from your clothes when they are washed), will not dissolve in cold water with ANY amount of detergent. I wash whites, towels, and bedding in HOT water, and pretty much everything else in WARM. The next step is the agitation- you are trying to stuff as much in the machine as possible without throwing it out of balance. Try loosely dropping clothes in the machine up to the top row of holes in the tub, don't pack them down. How dirty are the clothes? If they aren't very dirty, you can most likely use the recommended amount of detergent for a "regular" or "medium" load, provided the machine is loaded properly and you are using at least warm water, and you can set the wash time for "normal" which is usually 10-12 minutes. If you have heavily soiled clothes, use more detergent, increase the temperature and wash time. You have 3 variables that determine how clean your clothes get- Agitation, Water temperature, and Detergent. If you decrease one, you have to increase the other 2. By washing in cold water, you need to increase the wash time and detergent, which really doesn't save any money. It costs more for detergent, and more for electricity to run the washer.

 

[DADoES]

 
Non-HE detergents base the dosage on deep-fill toploaders.  HE detergents are for both frontloaders and HE-style toploaders which both take less water (although the same size or larger loads), so typically using an HE-formulated detergent in a non-HE washer requires a little higher dosage than the label directions so as to get an effective concentration of cleaning agents in the larger volume of water involved.

Use enough detergent to make the water feel "slippery."  The exact amount varies depending on local water conditions, size of the load, and level of soiling in the load.  Start with the *lowest* measuring line and add more as needed.  A smidgeon more over the slippery-amount may be reasonable for heavy soiling or stains so there's enough enzymes (if you're using a product that has enzymes) to deal effectively with the stains.

 

[sel8207]

you don't say if yours is a TL or FL

The guys at work often put the same amount of detergent is the front loader as they do with their top loader at home; result foam suds pour out of the top of the machine. Front loaders always use a lot less as they use less water. I actually use a very small amount of homemade detergent (1 bar zote soap, 1 cup of borax, grate in 3 gals warm water, then dilute into 7 more gals of water.) You have 10 gals of detergent. I use at most 4 oz in full load, cold water (my water is softened), 2 oz white vinegar plus 2oz. water in softener and there you go. I have heard the slipperiness (is that a word?) issue come up before but don't know from where it came from. If you wash your hands with my water it's hard to get that slippery feeling to go away. les

 

[abcomatic]

I don't use liquid, I use powdered detergent.

 

[washdaddy]

Most liquid detergents will have graduated markers inside the cap telling you how much to use. For the most part they don't say fill to the top for a large load. It's normally one of the other marks inside the cap. If they are extra dirty, just go up one step on the cap. All detergent's aren't the same. So if you tend to switch around on your detergent's be sure to check for what they recommend. Too much detergent can make your laundry look dingy also.
Take into consideration what Dustin mentioned earlier about temp.'s and soil levels. Also, packing the machine like a sardine can is not a smart idea either. Place the clothes in the machine don't pack them down to fit more. Laundry needs the ability to move around easily and they will last longer. You will get better results. Too much excess in the machine puts unneeded stress on the machine and shortens its lifespan.

 

[mich]

The Reason...

One would actually want the Wash Water to feel "slippery" is, it means the Detergent has properly softened the water, and has activated. If one feels like the water isn't slippery, one could assume that they have under dosed detergent. 

 

One has found that Cold Water is just about useless, and leaves clothes soured with the "Fresh Mildew Breeze" scent peeps seem to love. I prefer Clean instead..

 

Doesn't it cost like .34 cent more to fill the tub with Hot, even less for Warm? 

 

[DADoES]

 
I suppose slippery-feeling water is not such a good indication of sufficient dosage if the water supply has been mechanically softened.

 

[yogitunes]

I know this falls on deaf ears.....but

the idea to save energy with a TLer is always a good thing, so I have always dubbed down to WARM or Cooler/COLD washes, not wanting to, but to save my energy bill in the past.....

when I got my first Neptune in 98, I was now able to wash effectively, and economically....I felt I had the best of both worlds....in that I could wash in HOT/WARM water, plus a gas water heater, and using a GAS dryer was saving as well....and never looked back....

with this small amount of heated water used, there is no reason for anyone not to wash in higher temps....even if an electric water heater is in use...

for anything, the money you save in COLD only washing, is being used to replace you machine a lot sooner than if a Warmer temp is used, that has been proven over and over...

you will use more hot water in a dishwasher, or taking a shower, than in one hot wash load....

I have yet to experience mold/mildew issues ever.....and any machine that has come to me with such build up, is gone in no time with continued use of warmer washes...I don't leave the door/drawer open for ventilation...

and I have never tried a washing machine cleaner, or ran one of those cycles...

I do a heck of a lot more laundry in a week than most of you guys....and most likely, my utility bills are cheaper as well.....not to mention my machines lasting longer....

but thats OK....keep washing in COLD, it guarantees us more FREE machines to fix, and get plenty more years out of!....

 

[mich]

Water...

Normally by its self, doesn't fill slippery, however, it starts to get that feel when a Synthetic Surfactant<span style="font-size: 14px;"> or Base is added. My advice, unless everything is heavily soiled, one really only needs enough detergent to soften the water and have a small, but visible, whitish residue of Suds on the top of the Water Fill. </span>

 

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[retropia]

My confusion is that when using an HE detergent, ideally there aren't any suds, correct? So there isn't any visual way to tell if the detergent dosage is correct.

For example, I'm currently using Kirkland's powdered detergent, and it claims it is suitable for both HE and non-HE washers. It doesn't create suds in the toploader, whether I use a little or a lot.

The only way I've been able to determine what I think is appropriate dosing, through trial and error, is by feeling if the wash water is slippery on my hand.

Detergent dosing instructions are inadequate, in my opinion, because a "large" load in one washer can use a vastly different amount of water than a "large" load in another washer. Even comparing only HE washers, there can be a substantial difference in the amount of water used for a similar sized load.

 

[mich]

My personal idea..

of ideal conditions, is this.. (esp in a HE TL)

 

 

 

[yogitunes]

you have to find what works for you....no two people, or machines react the same...

offering an opinion for myself....

using a shot glass = scoop....per load.....TL or FL
Sears UltraPlus........2 scoops
Tide Powder w/Bleach...1 scoop

works everytime.....for anything that needs an extra kick, add one more scoop of either....

I can't get past the mental picture that one tiny scoop of anything is enough, wether in a TL or FL washer....and feel better knowing there is enough with this formula to clean just about anything, the first time!.....

but you have to experiment, and find what works best for you...