Here’s Why You Should Stop Using So Much Laundry Detergent

There’s a good possibility you’re using too much laundry detergent if you’ve ever reached into your dryer expecting to remove a load of downy-soft clothing only to discover a pile of stiff, starchy clothes.

It goes without saying that laundry detergent removes dirt and stains from your clothes, but if you use it too much, you risk making a new mess. This is due to the detergent residue that hasn’t been thoroughly rinsed out.

It can make your formerly soft wardrobe crunchy, scratchy, and uncomfortable to wear a load of clothes. According to the Tide website, using too much Detergent can also produce an excess of suds that prevents your clothes from rubbing against one another, which is a key step in releasing trapped dirt from your clothes.

The more Detergent you use after a certain point, even though it sounds contradictory, the dirtier your clothes get.

How Much Detergent For Washing Should You Use?

You should use no more than 2 tablespoons per load to effectively clean your garments, which only applies to large loads weighing 12 pounds or more.

According to senior staff writer Liam McCabe and staff writer Sarah Bodgan, 1 tablespoon is sufficient to fully clean an ordinary load, typically weighing around 8 pounds. And Sarah says to use even less if you’re washing your hands. “A little goes a long way regarding laundry detergent.”

While the recommended amount of Detergent varies significantly between brands, you should be aware that the back of your bottle may instruct you to use more than 2 teaspoons for each load.

Sarah cautions about laundry stripping in a Wirecutter video: “Some detergent manufacturers are going to lie on the label.” But remember that they are selling something and want you to buy more of it.

Using high-efficiency (HE) Detergent, which is created from high-concentration, low-sudsing formulae and may be used in both conventional and HE machines, can worsen the situation.

The concentration of HE detergents is at least two times greater than that of conventional detergents, according to Liam and Sarah. A high-efficiency washer uses less water than a conventional washer to clean your clothes, leaving you with even less water to hydrate the Detergent.

Since liquid Detergent has already been dissolved, Wirecutter simply suggests using it. Pre-portioned pods are practical, but you have less control over the dosage.

This can soon result in a buildup of cleaning solutions and chemicals that stiffen your laundry. We also advise against using powder detergent because it sometimes doesn’t dissolve and can leave clumps in your washing.

How To Get Rid Of Detergent Residue Effectively?

You must get rid of the accumulation of Detergent ingested into the fibers of your wardrobe to bring it back to its former splendor. Whirlpool suggests soaking dirty clothes in a solution of vinegar and water.

Pour 1 cup vinegar and 1-pint water into a large sink or bathtub before adding the dirty laundry. Rub the affected area of the garment against itself to release any apparent detergent accumulation if there are any stains.

The clothing should be soaked for up to an hour, according to Whirlpool, and then put through a typical wash cycle in the washing machine.

Recently, laundry stripping, a similar technique for removing soap buildup, has grown in popularity on TikTok. The purpose of this technique is to get rid of any extra laundry detergent, fabric softener, body oils, and hard water minerals that have accumulated in your clothing over time.

A tub of hot water, a cup of borax, a cup of washing soda, and a small amount of Detergent are the particular chemicals that go into it. Make sure all of your laundries is soaked in the tub before adding it and mixing it all up. After four hours, thoroughly wring out your clothing and wash and dry it as usual.

Although our experts do not necessarily believe that stripping makes your laundry visibly softer, this does not mean that you shouldn’t give it a shot if you want to remove all of the trapped items from your clothes. Sarah advises, “Go for it.” “I’m afraid you won’t realize that your towels are softer. It’s okay that you will just be aware of how repulsive you are. We all are!