Can you wash shower gel in the washing machine?

Sometimes you suddenly run out of detergent mid-wash, and your eyes inevitably fall on shampoo or shower gel. The latter is especially appealing, as its scent and texture are reminiscent of a delicate detergent. Moreover, the liquid is formulated for the body, meaning it cleans well, eliminates odor, and is hypoallergenic. But is it safe to machine wash or hand wash with shower gel? Housewives and experts share their opinions below.

Will the clothes be damaged?

Shower gel is a scented liquid soap, enhanced with various fragrances and skin-softening and toning ingredients. It lathers richly, smells delicious, and often has antibacterial and mild whitening properties. It seems perfectly acceptable to add it to your washing machine or wash basin as a detergent. However, this is not the case—using it for laundry is strongly discouraged.

Washing with shower gel is unsafe for several reasons. Both your clothes and your washing machine will be at risk.

1. Foam. Laundry detergents always contain defoamers, which reduce foaming. Regular gel detergents don't contain this component, which poses a risk to the machine and your laundry. Firstly, excess foam "spills" out of the drum and floods the control panel. Secondly, heavily soaped laundry isn't rinsed thoroughly.
   
2. Active formula. The basis of shower gel is liquid soap, which is not capable of thoroughly cleaning an item in a short cycle. The powder has a carefully crafted and balanced formula with enzymes, activators, bleaches, fabric softeners, and other cleaning ingredients. All of this helps not only remove tough stains but also reduce water hardness, leave laundry smooth, enhance color, and protect fabrics from re-soiling.
3. Hazardous ingredients. The gel contains many substances that are hazardous to both your clothes and your washing machine—fragrances, dyes, fragrances, exfoliants, and rejuvenating ingredients. Oils and creams are often added to the liquid, which are difficult to rinse out and can leave residue on the machine's components.

Shower gels, unlike powders, foam heavily – the soap will not rinse out completely and will start to flood the washing machine.

It's no coincidence that manufacturers distinguish between cosmetics and household chemicals. Most shower gels and shampoos, despite their similar consistency and pleasant scent, are not suitable for machine or hand washing. It's best to look for a special detergent, or if you don't have one, use liquid soap or dishwashing gel.

We use it in the machine

Pouring shower gel into the washing machine is too risky. But if there's no other option, after weighing the pros and cons, you can try your luck. Just remember to follow a few important rules:

• add the gel to the largest compartment of the powder receptacle, marked “B” or “II”;
• monitor the dosage of the product;
• do not pour liquid directly onto clothes (it is better to splash it onto the bottom of an empty drum, rinse with clean water and load the clothes);
• Do not wash heavily soiled clothes with the gel, as it will not cope with old and difficult stains;
• avoid using gels with dyes if you are washing white and light-colored laundry;
• additionally use bleach, stain remover and water softener;
• choose a long program with water heating from 30 degrees (delicate, cotton, synthetics);
• Turn on a double rinse to wash the detergent out of the fibers;
• After washing, run an empty, quick cycle to remove soap scum from the washing machine parts.

The shower gel does not rinse out well, so it is necessary to rinse again.

When washing with gel, it's best to stay close to the washing machine and monitor the foaming process. If excessive foam leaks out through the door, stop the cycle immediately and start the rinse cycle. Avoid allowing water and soap to come into contact with the machine's control panel, as this will damage the system.

Is shower gel effective?

Machine washing with body wash is a bad idea. However, for a quick hand wash, it's perfectly acceptable, especially if you just need to freshen up your clothes. In this case, the soft, pleasantly scented texture will do the job perfectly.

The use of “body” gel is also justified when washing delicate fabrics. Wool and silk items do not like aggressive powder cleaning, but an abundance of foam, on the contrary, will more gently remove dirt and odor.

Gels containing dyes are suitable for washing colored items. Just make sure to match the dye to the shade of your clothes and remember to use a temperature no higher than 40 degrees Celsius.

Each detergent has its own purpose: powders are good for whitening, while shower gels guarantee gentle and pleasant cleansing of the skin. Swapping one for the other is risky.

   

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