How much detergent should I use?

[NRHGL]

Hi

After recently noticing extra suds in my wash, I'm wondering if I'm dosing my detergent correctly. My detergent's dosage instructions give two measurements, based on soiling, load weight and water hardness. My water supplier states that my water is "moderately hard" and I tend to do loads of 4kg or under (particularly if a specific wash) that are not heavy soiled.

The detergent has one measurement for light soiling, in soft/medium water, for 4-5kg of clothes and another measure for heavy soiling, hard water, up to 8kg. I've always though of my water being hard (but now not sure) and I regularly do under 4kg, not heavy soiled loads.

I appreciate this may not be an exact science, but also appreciate over longer periods the usage of detergent can impact on the machine and clothes etc. The physical properties of the clothes I'm washing seem to indicate a smaller measure, but I am wondering if the water hardness indicates the larger measure. I may use white boosters, stain removers too, and am questioning the use of these too. My machine is a washer dryer, although only occasionally used for drying on a very short drying programme. 

Thanks in advance

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Hello. Yes over time the dosing of detergent can have an impact on the washing machine, particularly if not enough is used. Many people try to use as little detergent as possible and are seemingly content with the wash results.

However, over time a build up of horrible grease, slime and limescale can ruin a washing machine and cause unpleasant smells. Water hardness is the key thing because the detergent contains water softener. If there isn't enough detergent to deal with the level of water hardness you will get a build up of limescale on the element and inside the machine. I would dose for hard water if your water is reported as moderately hard. Ironically, if you under-dose you can get something that looks like suds but isn't.

A good way to check your machine is to look underneath the door seal at the lip of the drum to see if there's any gunge or limescale building up.

Read more about it here - what causes washing machine smells and gunge?

[NRHGL]

Hi, thanks for your reply.

I have actually been using the larger dose, particularly as I though larger loads were on the heavier side - however after actually checking, even these larger loads seem to weigh in for the smaller dose, I'll carry on using the larger dose.

You comment about "suds" associated with under dosage is something relevant, I've been using the larger dose but will smaller loads, but often don't see much in the way of suds...?

[Whitegoodshelp (Andy)]

Detergent for automatic washing machines shouldn't have many suds. People complain about it because they associate suds with cleaning but suds actually interfere with efficient cleaning by overly cushioning laundry from each other.Ideally some suds should be present but not too much. It may vary depending on what wash cycle is used as drum agitation levels vary, what temperature and how long it washes etc.

[NRHGL]

Hi, thanks again Andy