ASKO, a leading brand of kitchen and laundry appliances explains how you can get superior wash results.
Do you wonder if you’re using too much or not enough detergent when washing your clothes?
It seems that most of us always add that little bit too much. Usually it’s because we think extra detergent makes our clothes cleaner. That’s not always the case. In fact, too much detergent can make our clothes less clean! If we use too much detergent it stays behind on our clothes and they will end up feeling gunky and heavy. Not only that, our clothes can look less bright and feel slightly slimy.
Did you know that typically, even after rinsing, there’s still enough detergent left in your clothes to wash them again? That goes to show that even a small amount goes a long way.
So how much laundry detergent do you need to use for a load of laundry?
The answer does depend on a wide range of elements. How many clothes are you washing? How dirty are your clothes? Have you been working with grease? What type of detergent are you using? How big is your washing machine? Are you washing light or dark clothes?
It’s surprisingly easy to use too much laundry detergent. If you’re in the habit of just throwing in a heaped scoop (or even two!) there’s a good chance that you’re using more detergent than you need. Modern washing machines with good energy ratings use less water than older appliances, so if you’re just putting a capful of detergent regardless of the type of cycle you’re using, you may find your clothes feel gunky when you pull them out.
This results in wasted money and technically can make your clothes less clean. Talk about money down the drain literally! The easiest way to save money is to just simply use less.
Reading the directions on your laundry detergent is a good place to start, but you’ll need to make logical decisions depending on the state of the clothes. Extra dirty clothes, for instance, will obviously need more detergent. You’ll also want to use slightly more than the recommended dose if you’re washing machine uses hard water. If you’re using a cycle that uses less water, like the delicate option, you’ll want to lower your detergent dosage.
The key is more likely to use less than you think. If you’re living a low-tox life, you’ll know that fragrance is simply not important when washing clothes. Fragrance does not make your clothes cleaner, often it’ll make your clothes gunky and heavy. So next time you’re washing clothes, read the back of the box, or just use a small scoop! You’ll be doing your wallet and your clothes a favour.
Words: ASKO Kitchen Appliances & Laundry Products Australia