How much powder should I put in my washing machine?
At first glance, the question of how much detergent to add to a washing machine may seem silly. But don't jump to conclusions, because in reality, it's not that simple. There are a number of factors to consider. There are also myths that don't affect the amount of detergent you need for your washing machine. Let's take a closer look.
What determines the amount of washing powder for a washing cycle in an automatic machine?
A good housewife knows that the amount of detergent used affects more than just the quality of the wash. That's why it's important to consider all the factors that determine the appropriate amount of detergent for a washing machine cycle.
- The degree of soiling of the laundry and the presence of stains. Washing powder alone isn't always enough to clean items, no matter how much you use; stain removers and other products may still be needed.
- The hardness of the water used for washing. It's common knowledge that soft water produces better washing results, so detergents containing water softening agents are used to soften the water.
Water softeners will also help keep your machine parts free of limescale, especially if you prefer to wash at high temperatures.
- The amount of laundry in one wash cycle.
- Water consumption of a washing machine per wash cycle.
- Washing cycle and fabric type. This factor indirectly affects the amount of detergent used, as the washing cycle affects the amount of water consumed. The washing cycle has a greater impact on the quality of the detergent. For delicate items, as well as silk and wool products, you need to use a special powder, You can read about this in the article about How to choose washing machine powder.
Degree of contamination of items and water hardness
The easiest way to figure out how much detergent to put in your automatic laundry detergent is to read the instructions on the detergent packaging. On average, most well-known detergents, such as Tide, Ariel, Myth, Persil, Sorti, Ushasty Nyan, and others, list the following amounts:
- for light contamination, add 150 g of powder;
- for heavy contamination – 225 g of powder;
However, if the water is too hard, then it is necessary to add another 20 g of powder in each case.
However, you shouldn't rely too heavily on such instructions. It's in the manufacturer's best interest to inflate the dosage so the detergent runs out faster, forcing the consumer to buy a new bottle. In fact, it has been found that 1 tablespoon of detergent (25 g) is sufficient for washing 1 kg of dry, soiled laundry. Therefore, for a 4 kg load, only 100 g of detergent is needed.
To remove stubborn stains, you need to pre-treat them or soak them; more detergent won't remove the stains. And if your washing water is too hard, You can add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda to the powder, which will soften the water and allow the powder to dissolve better in water.Just don't use baking soda when washing silk and wool.
Water consumption per washing cycle
It's crucial to consider the amount of water your washing machine uses per wash cycle. The concentration of detergent affects the wash quality. However, this doesn't mean that more is better. Excess powder may leave streaks on clothes.We need to find a "golden mean".
In different models of washing machines water consumption Water consumption may vary. This depends on the complexity of the programs and the capacity of the washing machine. On average, a standard washing machine with a 5-7 kg load consumes approximately 60 liters of water. Information on water consumption for different wash cycles can be found in the machine's manual. Let's look at water consumption using the Bosch WLK2016EOE washing machine, which has a maximum load capacity of 6 kg, as an example.
This table shows that the amount of water consumed varies between 64 and 40 liters for different washing modes. Let's assume we'll be washing bedding weighing approximately 3 kg in the "Cotton 60" mode.0"C", how much detergent will you need? Based on the weight of the laundry, you need to add 3 tablespoons of the detergent, as per the information in the previous point.
However, let's consider the amount of water consumed. Whether washing 3 kg or 6 kg of laundry, the machine will use 64 liters of water. After all, the machine can't weigh the laundry and adjust the water intake based on the load. This means that adding 3 tablespoons of detergent to this amount of water may result in poor washing.
Therefore, in such washing machines, you need to add detergent based on the maximum load of laundry. In this case, for the "Cotton 60" cycle0C" you will need 6 tbsp (150 g) of the product, and for the "Synthetics 40" mode0C" - only 3 tbsp. (75 g), regardless of the amount of laundry in the drum.
Important! In a weighing washing machine, you can add detergent based on the actual weight of the laundry, not the maximum drum capacity, as water will be added based on the weight of the laundry.
Washing technology and detergent consumption
Modern washing machines are equipped with the most advanced technologies that help save on water, energy, and detergent consumption. These technologies include:
- Eco Bubble;
- steam washing.
The Eco Bubble washing principle is that the detergent is stirred into the water in the foam generator by the bubbles before it enters the drum. This eliminates any undissolved powder particles that could remain on your clothes. Under the action of bubbles, well-foamed powder penetrates better into the fabric fibers and washes away dirt.
Users of washing machines with this feature note that they can use almost half as much washing powder without affecting the quality.
Steam washing technology involves applying steam to the garment. Steam breaks down stubborn stains. Steam helps detergent dissolve in water, resulting in more effective washing; there's no need to add more detergent or pre-soak the garment. The wash water is heated to the temperature you set. Steam washing disinfects items, killing over 90% of allergens.
Here are some examples of washing machines with similar functions:
- The Samsung WF1802XEC is a front-loading washing machine with EcoBubble technology and a load capacity of up to 8 kg. The heating element has a ceramic coating that prevents limescale buildup.
- The LG F12U2HCS2 is a washing machine with a steam wash function and a load capacity of up to 7 kg. It features a load weighing function and automatic wash settings.
- Daewoo Electronics DWD-UD2413K is a washing machine with an air-bubble wash function and a laundry load capacity of up to 10 kg.
The ratio of dry and liquid laundry detergent
In conclusion, I'd like to say a few words about laundry detergent. Today, it comes in a variety of forms, including powder, gels, tablets, and capsules. How much laundry detergent to use is more or less clear. You can use a tablespoon or a measuring cup with markings and pour in the required amount.
With tablets and capsules, everything is also more or less clear, 1 capsule – 1 wash cycleWhat about liquid detergent? In this case, you can follow the instructions on the packaging and use 75 ml to 100 ml of gel per wash, but this way, you'll be working for the manufacturer by purchasing their product. In fact, experts, including repair technicians, say that one tablespoon of liquid detergent is enough for one wash cycle in soft water. For hard water, you need 2 tablespoons of powder.
There is no need to pour more than 2 tablespoons, as this will not improve the quality of the wash, but the consumption and frequency of buying powder will definitely increase.
To summarize, before using your washing machine, you should carefully read the included instructions at least once. If you don't have one, be sure to find one online. Only then will you know exactly how much detergent to add to the machine for a given wash cycle and setting.
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Thank you!
Thank you, this instruction was very helpful!
Useful information!
Even 150 grams per measuring cup of powder is too much. I use less. For top-loading machines (semi-automatic ones), you only need a tiny bit of powder.
So how much should I pour in the end?