Stop wasting laundry detergent: using too much is a common mistake many make

Doing laundry and ending up with clothes that are not soft or sometimes even smelly - this can happen from time to time. A root cause behind both of these problems is the excessive use of laundry detergent.

Many believe that increasing the soap dosage will result in cleaner, more fragrant, and softer clothes. However, this is a mistake, as exceeding the recommended dose has the opposite effect. When soap exceeds the prescribed amount, it is not rinsed away properly by the water. As a result, there is an excess of foam, which hinders the proper washing of the clothes.

The ideal dose of laundry detergent

Creativo

The proper detergent dosage for each load is probably much less than what many believe. As a fist step: you should absolutely not fill the detergent caps/lids, even when there are many clothes to wash.

Considering a normal load - which is around 3.5 kg of clothes - the recommended dose is about one tablespoon of liquid detergent. This is about one finger's worth in the cap/lid that  come with detergent bottles. If you are dealing with larger loads (around 5 kg or more), then you might use 2 tablespoons. This double tablespoon dose is also recommended when dealing with stubborn stains. 

Much also depends on the detergent's formulation: some are milder, while others are more concentrated ("high efficiency" or with the label "HE"). With the latter, it's understood that even less detergent is needed per load. So, one tablespoon is usually sufficient!

Furthermore, you need to consider the washing machine: some are high-efficiency and consume less water. This means that if you use too much detergent, it won't be rinsed away completely. So, it's always best never to exceed two tablespoons per load (and only one if the detergent is a concentrate).

Did you use too much detergent? How to fix this

Freepik

One method suggested by some washing machine manufacturers is to use white vinegar. You should fill a basin with warm water and add a glass of vinegar for each liter of water used. Immerse the smelly/hard clothes in the solution (making sure to check that the fabrics and colors can be immersed in vinegar without damage), and scrub where you see stains left by excess detergent residue.

Let the clothes soak for an hour before running them through the washing machine again.

Another possible method is soaking the clothes in warm water along with baking soda. The process is the same as for vinegar, but you can extend the soaking time a bit.

In summary, reducing the amount of detergent will benefit both your clothes and your wallet!