Too Much Detergent… or too Little?

[carlstock]

Hi!

I know some members believe that detergent manufacturers get us to use too much detergent for each load, but what do others think?

My main reason for asking is that I have this near loathing for suds (hehe ), but my Persil non-bio tablets, even though they are not necessarily the best performers, clean well for us and leave very little suds and lots of clear water at the end of the rinses.

We always use two tablets. However, I know some members use just one, even in hard water areas. What I would like to know is whether other members do the same with their detergents, be they tablets, powder, liquid or liquitbs/capsules? Do you believe we are using too much detergent? And why is there so many suds left by many detergents?! Grr! ;-)

Another strange thing relating to this is that on Ariel packaging in the UK, it suggests using two tablets for soft water areas. However, go to their UK website… and it suggests just one tablet! LOL This is the case for all soiling levels – light, normal and heavy – but suggests two for ‘filthy’. On this basis, considering Persil tablets suggest the same doses on their packaging as Ariel tablets, can I use just one Persil tablet for most soiling levels? I know the formulations are quite different, so I do not assume this will necessarily transfer, as it were. Don’t worry, folks, if you don’t like reducing detergent doses – I’ve not done it yet!

Many thanks, and take care. It’s pretty warm and sunny here today!

Regards,

Carl

 

[kirk280980]

Hi Carl,

Try reducing the dosage and see what happens, there's very little to lose. You might be pleasantly surprised, and find that everything comes out just as clean as it does now. The worst that could possibly happen is that you'll need to rewash the load, and stick to the recommended amount of detergent in future.

I live in a moderately hard water area, and find one Unilever or P&G tablet to be sufficient for everyday small to medium loads, two for large or heavily soiled loads. In the case of powders and liquids, I start off somewhere in the middle by using the dosage recommended for medium water hardness. Once I've seen what the sudsing level and wash results are like, I can then increase or decrease the amount used for future washes if needed.

Personally I'm a big fan of the prewash option, and use it regularly. Rather than adding the full dose of detergent to a single wash, I much prefer to divide it half and half between prewash and main wash cycles instead. Effectively this means that the main wash itself begins with a clean change of water, and therefore needs less detergent in order to do its job - which, in turn, makes subsequent rinsing easier.

Cheers,

Kirk

 

[bpetersxx]

I am curious as well

Am using Wisk HE detergent

If I use it in the Haier FL it washes clean and rinses out clean

If I use it in the Calypso it suds locks

Using the same amount measured carefully