Where to pour conditioner in a washing machine

Using fabric softener is not a necessary step when washing clothes. Some people are wary of it, some are allergic to it, and some don't even know where to put it.

It's great if everything in the car is intuitive and the manufacturer has taken the time to label the compartments of the detergent drawer. But what if it isn't? So it's worth understanding what goes where, and more specifically, which detergent should be added where and when.

Detergent drawer in a washing machine

In most front-loading washing machines, the detergent drawer is located at the top left of the machine, or in rare cases, on the right. The detergent and fabric softener compartments in top-loading machines are located directly on the inside of the lid. As a rule, all trays consist of three compartments, differing in size and sometimes in color..

• Powder compartment Main wash compartment. This compartment is the largest. It holds the bulk of the powder or liquid detergent. It is usually labeled II or B.
• Pre-soak detergent compartment. This compartment is slightly smaller than the previous one. It holds the pre-wash detergent. It is labeled: I or A.
• Fabric softener compartment. This is the smallest compartment in the laundry tray, often blue. The fabric softener container is removable from the tray itself. Its design ensures that the fabric softener is not washed away during washing. This compartment is marked with a flower.

You should add fabric softener to your washing machine at the beginning of the wash cycle. Turn on the machine, load the laundry, place the detergent and fabric softener in the appropriate compartments, and start the wash cycle. If you forgot to add fabric softener, you can add it immediately before the rinse cycle or after the machine has rinsed out the detergent and started the wash cycle.

Some people may wonder if it's okay to pour fabric softener into the washing machine drum. Yes, but it depends on the situation. If you need an extra rinse after a full wash cycle, when the machine has turned off, you can add fabric softener directly into the drum. Don't pour it directly onto your laundry; use the dedicated detergent container. Otherwise, it may not rinse properly and leave stains on your laundry.

Don't pour fabric softener into the drum before washing. It won't have any effect, as it will be washed out by the water.

Tray features in different washing machine models

Different washing machine models have unique ways of dividing the tray into compartments. Let's look at some models with unusual trays.

• ELECTROLUX EWW51486HW is a mid-range washing machine with a three-compartment detergent drawer, the far right one of which is for rinse aid.
• The Bosch WOT24455O is a mid-range top-loading washing machine. The drawer is located on the lid, and the rinse aid compartment is in the center.
• The Indesit Wiun 105 (CIS) is a front-loading washing machine. This machine also has three compartments, the one on the right is for fabric softener.
• The Samsung Eco Bubble WF 602 is a washing machine with bubble wash technology. This Samsung machine's detergent dispenser has three compartments, the bottom right of which holds rinse aid.
• The Zanussi ZWY is a top-loading machine. The detergent drawer is divided into four compartments. The one on the far right is for fabric softener, and the compartment next to it is for bleach. The other two are for washing powder for the main and additional wash cycles.
• Siemens – washing machines of this brand have detergent drawers, in which the conditioner compartment has a lid with a flower painted on it.
• The Miele WDA 100 is a luxury washing machine with a three-compartment detergent drawer. The one on the far left holds the fabric softener.

Having looked at all the powder dispensers of washing machines, we can say that, in general, they are similar. To avoid mistakes in where to pour the rinse aid, you need to read the instructions for the machine. If there isn't one, it's easy to determine by running a test wash without laundry and pouring fabric softener into one of the compartments. If the fabric softener rinses out after the first run, that's the detergent compartment. If not, that's the correct compartment.

A few final tips

Whether or not to use conditioner during rinsing is a personal decision. But if you prefer to use conditioner, then It is imperative to adhere to the dosageEvery washing machine's fabric softener compartment has a mark indicating the maximum amount of rinse aid that can be added. Do not exceed this mark.

Please note! Reducing the amount of mouthwash is also not recommended, as you will not notice any effect.

When using fabric softener, pay attention to what type it is, namely, concentrated or regular. Concentrated rinse aid is poured in 3 times less than usual. To better wash it out of the tray, you can dilute this conditioner a little with water.

Another tip: after using fabric softener, thoroughly rinse the detergent drawer and the openings through which detergent enters the drum. Failure to do so will result in detergent remaining in the drawer and not being able to reach the drum.

As for which fabric conditioner is best, there's no definitive answer. Most are generally universal and suitable for all fabric types. However, there are fabric conditioners designed for wool and silk items, black items, and other fabric conditioners, as well as fabric conditioners for baby clothes. These conditioners should be used as directed to avoid disappointment in their effectiveness.

So, we hope it's now clear where to pour fabric softener in your washing machine. It's simple—into a special compartment in the detergent drawer. This compartment is usually marked with a flower. It's hard to confuse with the others, just be careful!

   

19 reader comments

1. November 29, 2016 at 6:00 AM

   Victor:

   Thanks for the information! Very clear and to the point, I quickly figured out what to upload where.
   My Bosch Maxx car has some rather insidious markings—even after a fairly thorough inspection, I couldn't find them. Only after learning what to look for from this article did I figure it out.
   Thanks again.

   Answer
2. February 16, 2017 at 10:46 AM

   Nina:

   Thanks a lot!!

   Answer
3. March 9, 2017 at 4:23 PM

   Anna:

   Thank you!

   Answer
4. March 22, 2017 at 2:50 PM

   Salta:

   Thank you

   Answer
5. July 13, 2017 at 12:50 PM

   Anonymous:

   Thank you

   Answer
6. October 13, 2017 at 10:15 PM

   Daria:

   Thank you)))

   Answer
7. November 13, 2017 at 5:59 AM

   Ira:

   Thank you

   Answer
8. November 19, 2017 at 5:42 PM

   Day:

   Thank you, it turns out everything is simple!

   Answer
9. November 23, 2017 at 2:39 PM

   Ami:

   Thank you, you helped a lot!♥

   Answer
10. January 30, 2018 at 8:02 AM

    Rune:

    Thank you very much 🙂

    Answer
11. March 2, 2018 at 11:40 AM

    Baby:

    Thank you

    Answer
12. March 26, 2018 at 8:11 AM

    Natasha:

    Thank you.

    Answer
13. April 11, 2018 at 1:56 PM

    Lesya:

    I have a flower! 🙂

    Answer
    • July 4, 2023 at 11:41 AM

      Alla:

      I also have a flower in my German Hansa washing machine.

      Answer
14. November 14, 2018 at 8:49 PM

    Alexander:

    Clear and understandable, thank you!

    Answer
15. January 14, 2019 at 6:56 PM

    Dan:

    Thanks for your help.

    Answer
16. February 18, 2019 at 3:28 PM

    Alexey:

    You helped, thank you!

    Answer
17. February 7, 2020 at 2:33 PM

    Ruslan:

    Thank you! You helped me understand this thoroughly.

    Answer
18. August 20, 2020 at 1:19 PM

    Yaroslavna:

    You helped! Thank you)

    Answer