How much laundry detergent?

7 years ago

I feel like I have to learn how to do laundry all over again. We recently put in a whole house laundry softener. I have a Maytag 8200 front load washing machine. This soft water has me stumped.
How much powder or liquid do you use?

Featured Answer

Rolando Z

7 years ago

I'd Switch an Ultra Laundry Powder like Tide, Gain, Cheer, All, etc.

You'll wanna use about 3 Tablespoons per load of powder, and add it directly into the drum with the clothes. You can verify that this is the right dosage, by letting the machine fill with water, tumble for a couple of minutes, and then pausing the cycle to open the door. If the water feels slippery, you've added enough detergent. If not, add a tablespoon more, and keep at it until it's right.

HE Machines like yours do better with Powder, but since you have a softener, you need to keep dosing on the low side, so your clothes have a chance to rinse. I wouldn't add more than a 1/3 a cup of ANY detergent you buy or use.

Like I said, get yourself some powder detergent. And try using 3 tablespoons. :-)

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Comments (7)

User
7 years ago
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Mike Shaughnessy
7 years ago
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dadoes
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
MommyOfTwoLittles ... I assume you mean a whole-house water softener. Dosing detergent with softened water is much more tricky. 100% softened water largely feels "slippery" by itself, or takes very little detergent to get that effect. The tricky part is that a very scant dose may not result in enough enzymes and cleaning agents in the wash water to effectively handle stains. Some people say they use little as 1 teaspoon of liquid detergent. I can't imagine that's enough but experience with results is your guide.

Liquids tend to generate more suds than powders, especially when running a high-temp cycle such as Sanitary if the washer has an onboard water heater. Powders are, unfortunately, slowly dropping off the market so that's another tricky aspect. The current Cheer powder is very low sudsing in my experience.
mommyoftwolittles thanked dadoes
mamapinky0
7 years ago
Dadoes hit the nail on the head. Mechanically softened water does feel slippery which makes the standard**feel the wash water** difficult to go by. For you it's going to have to be trial and error. Just make sure you use enough detergent that your getting enough enzymes and other goodies to clean the clothing.
mommyoftwolittles thanked mamapinky0
mommyoftwolittles
Original Author
7 years ago
You're right, a WATER softener.

Thanks for your wisdom. I've been using one-fourth to one-third cup.

Right now I have Tandil liquid from Aldi and Arm & Hammer powder.
mommyoftwolittles
Original Author
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
My next question is how to get red dirt out of whites. Our soil is very red here and I had the misfortune of getting it on some white laundry. Plus white socks always look dreadful.