well....
I remember back a few years ago before all detergents went to ultra super concentrated, my mom would buy the huge bottles of Sun laundry detergent, either the tropical or mountain scent(which both smelled really nice) and she would use half a cap for a load of laundry in cold water in her Speed Queen top loader. Well I did laundry and put the clothes in, opened the bottle of detergent, and hoping it would be enough to get the clothes clean and make them smell good, turned the bottle upside down and poured about 2 cups of it in... and started the washer. it didnt overflow but the clothes did get clean! well i think my mom said something about where the laundry soap went... I was about 12 at that time so i didnt really know any better.