When we step into a laundromat for the first time, we are all a little uncertain about how to use the washers. There are so many different brands, sizes, and styles. We don’t know which slot the detergent goes into, or the softener, or the bleach. We have to take a few extra minutes to figure it out or ask the attendant for some help. Once we figure out how the machines work, the next question is how much detergent we should put into the machines, especially if the machines do multiple loads at once. At The Dutchman’s Drop off Laundry service, we offer 2, 4, 6, and 8 load washers which can cause confusion about how much detergent to use in the big machines. If you are used to using a top load washer at home and then use the laundromat’s front load washers it can also cause some confusion about how much detergent to put in the machines. The rule of thumb for frontload washers is to always use half of the recommend amount. For instance, if the detergent bottle recommends a full cap full for extra-large loads in a top load washer, you would want to actually use half a capful in a front load washer. If you are using one of our large 4, 6, or 8 load washers, which are front loaders, you would only want to put the equivalent amount of detergent in for 2, 3, or 4 loads of laundry per the detergent’s recommendations. If you are using one of our 8 load washers, you would not want to put in 8 caps full of detergent. This would result in a machine filled with white suds that you cannot even find your clothes in. Simply put in enough detergent for 4 loads of laundry when using our large 8 load washers.
Most folks know to cut detergent in half for front load machines since they are becoming more common, but they may not know the reasoning why. The main reason is because of the suds. A front load washer is a high efficiency machine that uses less water than a top load washer; therefore, the detergent will create a lot more suds in a front loader versus a top loader. If a front load washer over suds, it could damage the machine, or cause it to shut down halfway through a cycle. If someone
puts in too much detergent, the machine will over suds and not be able to complete the rinse cycle because of too many suds. If a washer over suds, put fabric softener in the softener dispenser, and that will help to reduce the suds and allow the machine to finish the rinse cycle. If you are in the laundromat, you can also feel free to ask the attendant for help.
When it comes to choose the best detergent for dirty clothes, many folks have thought that more is better… detergent that is. Well, I hate to say it, but that is not the case. Doubling the amount of detergent in a washer for really dirty laundry can actually damage the washer and will leave soap in your clothes because the detergent is not able to rinse out entirely, no matter if it is a top loader or front loader. We want to use just enough detergent to get the dirt out, but not so much that our clothes still have detergent in them even after completing a full cycle. If your laundry has a lot of stains or dirt, pretreat the areas with stain remover or other laundry treatment so you can avoid the risk of too many suds.
The best part about using less detergent is that it can save you money on your laundry! Detergent is expensive, so learning how to conserve it is beneficial. We hope that these tips help you have a good experience the next time you visit The Dutchman’s Laundry! Thanks for reading!
