We're using way too much laundry detergent, and here's why
- Thread starter Ultramatic
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I guess I'm missing the point -- if there was one. He never states that following the manufacturer's dosing recommendation is wasteful, and the people he spoke with appeared to be using less than a full scoop or cup, which sounds like the right thing to be doing.
Out the manufacturers if they're telling us to use more than we should. That's what I was expecting this clip to do. I was additionally expecting some advice on the correct amount to use.
There doesn't appear to be a "print" article that might contain a fuller story, so I'm left wondering how this guy thinks interviewing people who all tended to use less detergent than recommended backs up his claim that we're all wasting the stuff.
Maybe the Yahoo news department has infiltrated The Post.
Out the manufacturers if they're telling us to use more than we should. That's what I was expecting this clip to do. I was additionally expecting some advice on the correct amount to use.
There doesn't appear to be a "print" article that might contain a fuller story, so I'm left wondering how this guy thinks interviewing people who all tended to use less detergent than recommended backs up his claim that we're all wasting the stuff.
Maybe the Yahoo news department has infiltrated The Post.
Admittedly I have been guilty of this from time to time. It's just a habit from back before powder detergents were concentrated, and a full measuring cup of powder was needed. Somewhere in the back of my head I don't trust a tiny scoop of detergent to thoroughly clean a full load of wash. However, I don't really deviate from my detergent choices too much, I always keep a couple of particular detergents that I use for different things and I know exactly how much I need to use in my SQ top loader to get a clean wash and a single clear rinse. I like a few suds floating around and get concerned when I don't see them, again I know detergents don't necessarily work like that anymore, but I'm not having to battle great white frothy lather from overdosing either.
joeypete
Well-known member
It's very true though...reality is you only need a small amount of modern detergents. With any detergent, if I followed the package directions, I would have major sudsing. That was true in my HE machine and in my GE FF. Like Persil for example...the directions say to use 1/4 cup for regular loads and about 1/3 cup for large or dirty loads. I can't even use 1/4 cup most of the time, it gets way too sudsy. I find about 1/8 cup is perfect in my FF.
for one thing, most of the dosing caps are hard to figure out where the lines are...it might be a bit easier if they were highlighted.....
what most people fail to realize is the recommended loads per bottle is for 'medium' size loads......yet they are washing over size loads....considering less is more, they might be right on track....
when it comes to detergents like Gain and Tide, in a FLer, I find a shot glass to be the perfect dosage for every load....just easier to measure that way, plus I leave the shot glass in the dispenser to clean it as well....
most concentrated liquids are so thick, you can't rinse out the excess stuck inside the cap as you would with a TLer while it's filling....
what most people fail to realize is the recommended loads per bottle is for 'medium' size loads......yet they are washing over size loads....considering less is more, they might be right on track....
when it comes to detergents like Gain and Tide, in a FLer, I find a shot glass to be the perfect dosage for every load....just easier to measure that way, plus I leave the shot glass in the dispenser to clean it as well....
most concentrated liquids are so thick, you can't rinse out the excess stuck inside the cap as you would with a TLer while it's filling....
I was a bit heavy-handed with detergent, too. I'm amazed at how little detergent is automatically dosed by the Maytag front-loader at the soft water setting for an average 8-lb. load. Clothes are clean, so no complaints.
In Other Detergent-Related News: My Hy-Vee grocery store has stopped carrying Persil 2-in-1. Noticed only a few jugs of it left at Walmart last time I was there. Every other version of Persil is stocked in abundance at both places. I'm still a Tide Ultra Stain Release guy at heart, but stockpiled a few jugs of Persil 2-in-1 in case they become extinct out here on the prairie.
In Other Detergent-Related News: My Hy-Vee grocery store has stopped carrying Persil 2-in-1. Noticed only a few jugs of it left at Walmart last time I was there. Every other version of Persil is stocked in abundance at both places. I'm still a Tide Ultra Stain Release guy at heart, but stockpiled a few jugs of Persil 2-in-1 in case they become extinct out here on the prairie.
mamapinky
Well-known member
Speaking of Persil 2 in 1 it just beat Tide in CR again this year. Cheryl
I'd venture a guess
that we all get a feeling for how much is the right amount over time.
In Munich, I used a zeolith based water softener and Persil Mega-Perls.
Worked great.
Here, I use TSP or STTP and one of a variety of enzyme based name brand no-scent detergents (can't stand strong scents) and double the washing time on everything. Wash at 145F, of course as the bullshit about cold water washing is total nonsense.
Everything comes out just as clean as it did in Germany and, in both cases, I use the normal amount of detergent for the quantity of clothing being washed.
My mom, who was an early enzyme adopter, lets her FL fill with warm water (120F, not 75F), tumble for five minutes and then resets the start to delay by one hour. Everything comes out clean as a whistle and she uses the recommended amount of whichever Persil is on sale.
that we all get a feeling for how much is the right amount over time.
In Munich, I used a zeolith based water softener and Persil Mega-Perls.
Worked great.
Here, I use TSP or STTP and one of a variety of enzyme based name brand no-scent detergents (can't stand strong scents) and double the washing time on everything. Wash at 145F, of course as the bullshit about cold water washing is total nonsense.
Everything comes out just as clean as it did in Germany and, in both cases, I use the normal amount of detergent for the quantity of clothing being washed.
My mom, who was an early enzyme adopter, lets her FL fill with warm water (120F, not 75F), tumble for five minutes and then resets the start to delay by one hour. Everything comes out clean as a whistle and she uses the recommended amount of whichever Persil is on sale.
I figured out, after getting my front load washer, that I didn't need much detergent and was amazed at just how little I needed. In addition the amount of detergent and suds seem to also be related to the type of clothes and water temperature and thus I now adjust my detergent dose accordingly. Hotter water seems to yield higher suds for the same amount detergent than in cold water. Larger loads of heavier fabric seem to yield less suds than lighter loads. Now I measure my detergent dose using a table spoon.
jerrod6
Well-known member
I bought my FL in 2002 and started using it in February 2003. At that time there were no low sudsing detergents made for FL in the USA, so I started using German Persil. I got use to the instruction panel provided on the box. The panel gives you different dosing levels for soft normal and hard water, and also for how stained the clothes are.
This is still the way I dose today. I vary the dose depending on how soiled each load is and how many clothes are in each load. I also adjust the dose down if i use higher temperatures or adjust it up if I use warm or cold water.
I don't believe in this vague imprecise language used on most of the packages sold in the USA. This "fill to line one for normal loads, and line two.... and use more if ...." I stick to dosing based on soil level, size of each load and water temperature being used. This is why I don't like detergent Pods...no matter how convenient it is to just hurl it into the machine. One pod for small loads and one pod for loads with more clothes - can't be correct.
When I first try a detergent I ignore the dosing instructions on the package and use the least amount of detergent that can get the load clean. It may take a few tries to get it right but once that happens I know how much to use for each load, so I basically ignore what the instructions say and figure it out for myself.
I have no problems with oversudsing and everything comes out clean.
This is still the way I dose today. I vary the dose depending on how soiled each load is and how many clothes are in each load. I also adjust the dose down if i use higher temperatures or adjust it up if I use warm or cold water.
I don't believe in this vague imprecise language used on most of the packages sold in the USA. This "fill to line one for normal loads, and line two.... and use more if ...." I stick to dosing based on soil level, size of each load and water temperature being used. This is why I don't like detergent Pods...no matter how convenient it is to just hurl it into the machine. One pod for small loads and one pod for loads with more clothes - can't be correct.
When I first try a detergent I ignore the dosing instructions on the package and use the least amount of detergent that can get the load clean. It may take a few tries to get it right but once that happens I know how much to use for each load, so I basically ignore what the instructions say and figure it out for myself.
I have no problems with oversudsing and everything comes out clean.
