Are You Using Too Much Laundry Detergent?

To wash clothing effectively, you need to factor in the size of your machine, how much clothing you are laundering, and your detergent type. Also, consider how dirty your clothes are and your water hardness. Read on to learn if you are using too much laundry detergent and gauge how much you should be using.

How Much Laundry Detergent to Use

The right amount of laundry detergent to use varies based on the detergent's concentration (2X, 4X, or 10X) and whether you're using a standard or high-efficiency washer. One teaspoon of 2X detergent is enough to clean a normal-sized load of clothes in high-efficiency washers, and 2 tablespoons of 2X detergent is enough for standard washers. Using less detergent should not affect the scent of the clothes. A normal-sized load of clothes generally weighs about 6 pounds. For a large load of clothes, use no more than 2 tablespoons. Never fill up your detergent's measuring cap or cup, which is significantly too much detergent for most washers.

The size of the load, the soil level of your clothes, and the hardness of your water supply can also influence how much laundry detergent you should use. If you are pre-soaking a load of clothes that are heavily stained, use the same amount of detergent you would use for a full load of clothes. If you are soaking only one garment, use one teaspoon of liquid or powdered detergent per gallon of water.

Signs You're Using Too Much Detergent

If any of the following problems relate to your laundry, then you might be using too much detergent.

• Traces of detergent residue are left on your clothes
• Laundry feels soapy or sticky
• Clothes feel stiff and scratchy
• Colored clothes look dull and white clothes look grey
• Your high-efficiency washer smells musty or really, really bad
  

How Much Detergent to Use In High-Efficiency Washers 

Whether you have a front-load or top-load high-efficiency washer, you are using much less water per load than a standard washer. Without all the extra water to distribute the detergent and then rinse it away, you must use less detergent. Even if you religiously purchase and use a product with the "he" symbol, you must still be careful about overdosing.

• The optimum amount of 2X liquid laundry detergent for a high-efficiency washer is two teaspoons; 4X liquid laundry detergent: one teaspoon; 10X liquid laundry detergent: 1/4 teaspoon for a 12-pound load of laundry.
• If you have soft water in your area, use even less. For hard water that is untreated, use about one-fourth more product per load.
• If you are using a pre-measured packet, use only one per load. Follow label usage directions to the letter and the packet should dissolve and disperse correctly.
• For exceptionally soiled clothes, you will be much better off pre-soaking the load than adding extra detergent. If you do decide to use more detergent, add only 50 percent more per load.
• If you have an extra-large capacity washer (some can hold up to 25 pounds of laundry) and you routinely fill it completely with soiled laundry, double the optimum amount of detergent suggested here. However, if you only do "regular-sized" loads (12 to 15 pounds), use less detergent.
• For washing with a high-efficiency powdered commercial detergent, add two tablespoons directly to the drum before loading clothes. Do not use an automatic dispenser, the powdered detergent needs maximum exposure to the water to dissolve completely.
• If you make your own homemade laundry detergent, there are no ingredients that cause excessive sudsing. Use two tablespoons of liquid or powdered homemade laundry detergent per load.

How Much Detergent to Use In Standard Top Load Washers 

Depending on their age, standard top-loading washers use between 26 and 40 gallons of water in the wash/rinse compared to the 13 to 17 gallons a high-efficiency washer uses; so overdosing with laundry detergent, while still possible, causes fewer problems. The biggest issue from overdosing is wasting money.

• To save money and still achieve clean laundry, use only one-half of the amount recommended by the manufacturer. For 2X liquid laundry detergent, this is usually two tablespoons or one-eighth cup. Use a standard measure or mark the correct amount on the detergent bottle cap with a permanent marker to prevent overdosing.
• If you have soft water, use less—about one and one-half tablespoons of liquid laundry detergent. For untreated hard water, use the full amount.
• Use only one pre-measured packet per load.
• For heavily-soiled clothes, pre-soak or spot-treat stains with a bit of liquid detergent rather than add extra detergent to the entire load.
• Use 1/4 to 1/3 cup commercial powdered laundry detergent.
• Use 1/4 to 1/3 cup powdered homemade laundry detergent and 1/8 to 1/4 cup liquid homemade laundry detergent.

How to Remove Detergent Buildup From Clothes

In the event that you use too much detergent and find it on your clothing, it is simple to remove detergent buildup. Soak your garments in a vinegar and water mixture (1:1) before re-washing. If you don't have any vinegar on hand, you can also try dish washing soap.