Are You Using Too Much Laundry Detergent?

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

How Much Laundry Detergent to Use

Here are some quick guidelines to help you figure out how much laundry detergent to use:

• A normal-sized load of clothes generally weighs about 6 pounds. Use no more than 2 tablespoons of detergent for a larger load of clothes.
• Never fill up your detergent's measuring cap or cup, which is significantly too much detergent for most washers.
• If you are pre-soaking a load of heavily stained clothes, use the same amount of detergent you would use for a full load of clothes. 
• If you are soaking only one garment, use 1 teaspoon of liquid or powdered detergent per gallon of water.

Signs You're Using Too Much Detergent

If you have any of the following laundry problems, you could be using too much detergent.

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

Factors Influencing Recommended Dosage of Detergent

Several factors influence how much detergent you should be using, including:

• Detergent concentration level: Adjust the amount of detergent used based on how concentrated the detergent is (2X, 4X, or 10X). You'll need less of a highly concentrated detergent.
• Load size: A small load will need about half the amount of a large load.
• Soil level: Add extra detergent for loads that have heavy staining.
• Water hardness: Use less detergent if you have soft water, as it will suds up much more in soft water than in hard water. Additionally, it's harder to rinse suds off of clothing in soft water, so it's important to use less detergent.

How Much Detergent to Use In High-Efficiency Washers 

A front-load or top-load high-efficiency washer uses much less water per load than a standard washer. Without all the extra water to distribute the detergent and rinse it away, you need 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 2 teaspoons; 4X liquid laundry detergent: 1 teaspoon; and 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 untreated hard water, use about 1/4 more product per load.
• If you are using a pre-measured packet, use only one per load. Carefully follow label usage directions 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 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 routinely fill it with soiled laundry, double the optimum amount of detergent suggested here. However, use less detergent if you only do "regular-sized" loads (12 to 15 pounds).
• For washing with a high-efficiency powdered commercial detergent, add 2 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.
• DIY homemade laundry detergent rarely causes excessive suds. Use 2 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 19 or more gallons of water compared to 7 gallons of water used by a high-efficiency washer. So, overdosing with laundry detergent, while still possible, causes fewer problems. The biggest issue of overdosing is wasting money.

• To save money and achieve clean laundry, use only half the amount recommended by the manufacturer. For 2X liquid laundry detergent, use 2 tablespoons or 1/8 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 1 1/2 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 DIY laundry detergent.

How to Remove Detergent Buildup From Clothes

Remove signs of detergent buildup from your clothing by soaking your garments in a vinegar and water mixture (1:1) before re-washing. If you don't have any vinegar on hand, try liquid dishwashing soap.