How Much Laundry Detergent Should You Use?

Most people use more laundry detergent than they need. It seems harmless, since more soap should mean cleaner clothes, but extra detergent doesn’t rinse out. It stays in fabric and in the machine, and causes many of the problems people blame on the detergent itself.

Signs you are using too much detergent

• Clothes feel stiff or slightly sticky after drying.
• Towels get less absorbent over time.
• Darks show white or gray streaks.
• Clothes smell musty soon after washing, because residue holds onto odor.
• Suds are still visible in the drum during the rinse.
• The washer smells, or the door seal has slimy buildup.

Why people use too much

• Big caps. Measuring lines are hard to see, and a full cap is often far more than a regular load needs.
• Guessing. Pouring straight from the jug almost always overshoots.
• Habit from older machines. HE machines use much less water, so they need much less detergent.
• Dirty clothes. The instinct is to add more, but heavily soiled loads need the right dose and room to move, not double.

What extra detergent does to your machine

Excess suds cushion the clothes, so they rub against each other less and come out less clean. In HE machines, too many suds can trigger extra rinses or make the machine stop to let them settle. Over time, residue builds up in the drum, the door seal and the hoses, which is where washer smells come from.

How much detergent to use

Start with the smallest dose the label recommends for your load size, then adjust for three things:

• Load size. A small load needs less, a large load more.
• Soil. Lightly worn clothes need less than muddy work clothes.
• Water hardness. Hard water needs a little more, or a detergent with a water softener in it.

With sheets, the dose is already measured. Here is how to scale it:

Dosing in shared or coin machines

In a shared laundry room you can’t tell how much detergent the last person used, and residue from an overdosed load can carry over. Running your load at the right dose helps. If a machine has visible suds before you start, run a short rinse cycle first. Carrying pre-measured sheets also means no jug to carry down the stairs and nothing to spill in a laundry bag.

How to fix clothes with detergent buildup

1. Wash the affected items in hot water (if the label allows) with no detergent.
2. Add half a cup of white vinegar to the rinse.
3. Repeat once if fabrics still feel stiff.
4. Then go back to a measured dose.

For the machine, run an empty hot cycle with a washer cleaner or two cups of white vinegar, and wipe the door seal.

Frequently asked questions

Does more detergent clean better?

No. Past the right dose, extra detergent doesn’t remove more dirt. It stays behind in the fabric and the machine.

How much detergent for an HE washer?

Less than you might think. Use the label’s smallest dose for a regular load, or one sheet.

Why do my clothes smell after washing?

Detergent residue and an overloaded drum are common causes. Use less detergent, wash smaller loads and clean the machine.

How many laundry sheets per load?

One for a regular load, half for a small load, two for a large or heavily soiled load.

Stop measuring: Toss & Go sheets are pre-measured, up to 100 loads per box.