What amount of detergent weigh to wash clothes

By Dr. Kyle Muller

Recently, a new survey has been made public that ensures that the consumer, on average and usually uses more detergent than recommended. This is, unfortunately, a widespread practice that we carry out by ignorance or false myths (or simply due to carelessness or lack of interest) and that is very polluting for the environment, deteriorates the quality of our garments and also results in an unnecessary expense for our pockets.

Maybe we have never stopped to think if we are also throwing, in each wash, the right amount in our washing machines, but there are solutions to be sure that we do not waste. Do you wonder What amount of detergent weigh to wash clothes? In the following Ecologiaverde article we explain it to you.

Problems of an over -desire

This trend comes from the popular belief that, the more soap we put, the cleaner will be our garments or the better they will smell. Today we disassemble this myth because it is totally false. Moreover, the most normal thing is that it causes the opposite effect. A Excessive dose of detergent causes the machine to have difficulties To clarify the garments, which endangers our washing machine and probably leave a fatty residue in our clothes that will make it smell bad and attract dirt more. It is important to understand how the detergent works to be sure that our environmental behavior is adequate and obtain clean and free clothes.

Besides that your clothes may not leave clean if you have put an excess of detergent and that you will have to invest much more money per month in your casts, there are additional problems. First, as always that we waste a product, we cause a unnecessary and useless damage to the environmentin this case we are especially polluting the water, but we are also jeopardizing the health of our washing machine. The residue of an excess of soap that remains when we do this practice will often stay in the box and other parts of your washing machine, so you may soon have to get your savings and buy a new one, instead of taking care of this machine that can last for many years.

How much detergent use to wash clothes - problems of an over -designed

Signs that we are putting too much detergent

“The majority of our customers are surprised when we tell them that their machine has broken by using an excess of detergent, which is not a factory defect,” explains in an article Krystle McConnel, a professional from an appliance repair store. According to him, the problem is that the machine uses more water to duty to rinse so much soap and this ends up breaking, in addition to the residue that is harmed.

Some clues that you They will indicate that you are happening with the detergent is:

  • A strong smell when opening the washing machine.
  • The clothes appear with a slight fatty touch or is stuck once ironed.
  • You have noticed the appearance of small spots at the drum door.
  • The detergent box is always dirty after each washing, remains are left.

How much detergent wear to wash clothes - signs that we are putting too much detergent

How much detergent use in the washing machine

There is no correct dose. It depends on the detergent, the washing machine, the manufacturer, on the years that the machine has, and so on. But in addition, it also depends on the hardness of the water in the area where you live and the degree of dirt that the garments you are washing have. But it will not be difficult for you to calculate it.

The law obliges manufacturers to indicate in their package the Recommended product dose that you must use. It will be easy for you to measure it because most detergents come with a meter that indicates milliliters (in case of liquid detergent). You will only have to throw a little more if you are washing extremely dirty clothes (with mud, grass stains, wine …), so we recommend you separate dirty clothes from that which only needs a short cycle Washing. The first step to do well is to know what type of water there is in your area. You will need to use a greater amount if the water is hard because soaps do not work so well if the water has many natural minerals.

Also It depends on the efficiency of your washing machine. Consult in the instruction manual of the same and you can surely guide you about the type of detergent and the amount you must throw. If it is an efficient washing machine, you will need much less.

“Usually, under normal conditions, a dose of 50 milliliters in liquid detergent is sufficient For a 4.5 kg laundry, “explains the expert.” It is also important not to saturate clothes to the washing machine so that it does not break. Nor make empty cycles, but not put more weight than recommended, “he adds.

What amount of detergent wearing to wash clothes - How much detergent use in the washing machine

Always measure the amount of detergent

Although, after decades, we can think that we are experts, it is difficult to calculate the exact amount and “not pass” if we do it by eye. It costs nothing Pour the amount of detergent into the plug or meter and, thus, make sure that we are not saturating from soap to our garments and spending unnecessarily.

The meter that comes with your soap, even if it includes the measurements, is usually up to 10 times larger than the amount we actually need. Many people, for ignorance, fill it (poor clothes!) Or pour the liquid or detergent halfway, without worrying to read the instructions recommended by the manufacturer. According to the same study, more than half of the people recognize that they โ€œeyeโ€ the detergent. This is a common mistake, an oversight that contributes to deteriorating our planet.

If the clothes are not very dirty, select a pre-laboled and extra clarified mode and a short cycle In your washing machine to save.

Think that the more detergent we use, more materials, packaging and transportation we are needing. And, of course, your washing machine will have to suffer more and spend more water. Something as simple as starting to use the correct detergent dose for your casting is contributing to save the planet. And, in addition, with savings, we can invest in other things that make us more illusion to buy than washing machine detergent.

Where to put the detergent in the washing machine

It seems a complete nonsense, but many times the washing machine can suffer damage and the power of detergent not to be so effective if we do not put it in its corresponding box. Some brands, especially with powdered soap, allow to put the detergent both in the box and directly with the clothes, inside a capsule. Although in the models it can vary, there are usually three, indicated thus with I and II:

  • Yo: The first is usually used for the pre-talled, we will only wear it when we go washed extra dirty clothes.
  • II: Normally, unless in your washing machine’s instruction book says otherwise, here we will put the detergent in liquid. Remember to measure always!
  • The third compartment It is usually for softeners, which we don’t need to always use. Like the detergent do not throw more than the appropriate one. It is better not to use anything than too much.

We give you a Ecological Council. Put your very dirty clothes before in a sweep with warm water and a tablespoon of bicarbonate and vinegar. If it is white, it also adds a slice of lemon. It drains well before washing it. This will make the next day, when the machine wash, the stains will be minor and you will be giving an important respite to your washing machine. You will not have to use more recommended soap.

Natural solutions

Now that you know how not to waste detergent, we can take another step and start making casting with ecological detergent or totally natural and effective solutions. Some of the natural options for washing clothes are:

  • Buy totally ecological detergent, fleeing chemicals.
  • Prepare our own homemade detergent with a pill of Marseille soap, essential oil for clothes to smell as we want and a glass of sodium bicarbonate. In less than an hour we can prepare it and use it for months. Economic and ecological solution!. In this other ecology article, we give you another ecological option; Learn how to make homemade soap for the washer without oil.
  • Replace the softener with a little apple vinegar and essential oils. Vinegar not only serves to season salads, but has a high power to soften tissues.
  • Use natural soaps, from those of a lifetime.
  • Avoid the use of bleach.

How much detergent use to wash clothes - natural solutions

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Kyle Muller
About the author
Dr. Kyle Muller
Dr. Kyle Mueller is a Research Analyst at the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department in Houston, Texas. He earned his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Texas State University in 2019, where his dissertation was supervised by Dr. Scott Bowman. Dr. Mueller's research focuses on juvenile justice policies and evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing recidivism among youth offenders. His work has been instrumental in shaping data-driven strategies within the juvenile justice system, emphasizing rehabilitation and community engagement.
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