How Much Laundry Detergent To Use per Load

The great thing about laundry detergent pods is that you don't have to think about the dosing, plus there's no messy measuring liquid with a plastic jug. However, we should consider how much laundry product we use in general.

Too much detergent has negative consequences for your bank balance, your clothes, the washing machine, and the planet.

Let’s look at how much liquid detergent to use per load and some new laundry products that help with this dilemma.

How Much Laundry Detergent Do I Need per Load?

The answer to this depends on the quantity of garments being washed, how heavily soiled they are, and the fabric type.

High-efficiency (HE) machines use half the amount of detergent as a regular washer – that's 50% less water – and rinse garments using high-pressure sprays. If you use too much soap, you'll have a broken machine.

Check the manufacturer's instructions if you're concerned about the machine's operation.

Your detergent bottle will also advise on how much liquid to use per load, but this guidance is often too high or just plain vague, and doesn't always factor in your type of machine.

How Much Laundry Detergent Should You Actually Use?

The golden rule is to use as little detergent as possible for economy, regarding power and water usage, and your household costs. Smaller doses will also preserve and protect your clothes.

However, there are a few key factors to consider, which could mean the amount of detergent you use differs every time.

Key Factors To Consider

Size and Load Type

Large loads are probably going to need more laundry detergent rather than less. You'll also need a bit more soap if you wash very dirty garments like work clothes or sports kit. But more soap doesn't always equal cleaner clothes.

Washing Machine Type

High-efficiency machines use 50% less water than regular washers, so you should reduce the detergent amount in line with this.

Washing Quality

Hard water doesn't lather as efficiently as soft water, so some people increase the soap amount to ensure enough suds. If you live in a hard water area, you'll regularly use more detergent.

Detergent Type

Different detergent formulations require varying dosages depending on their specific job.

Dirt and Soil Levels

It makes sense that the dirtier the clothes, the more detergent you need, but this doesn't always follow. Grimy garments can be soaked before going into the machine, or you may choose to wash at a higher temperature and not necessarily increase the amount you use.

How Much Laundry Counts as a "Load"?

How long is a piece of string? Unless you weigh your laundry, most people rely on different and imprecise methods to determine what constitutes a 'load'. Here are some of the most popular.

The Eyeball Method

As the name suggests, this method isn't a visual calculation but refers to the load's number and type of items.

A medium load would comprise six adult T-shirts, two adult sweaters, three pairs of pants, a couple of skirts, some underwear, and three pairs of socks.

In contrast, a large load comprises around 12 T-shirts, two sweaters, three skirts, five pairs of pants, four pairs of underwear, and six pairs of socks.

The Armload Method

The clue’s in the name. This description is based on how much washing you can carry in one arm. A large load is a full armload, with anything less than that classed as a medium load.

Drum Fullness

It's almost obvious to base load size on how much space it takes up in the drum. If the drum is half full, then that's a medium load. A full or large load is when the drum is three-quarters full.

Signs You're Using Too Much Laundry Detergent

• After a large load, you do a service wash and observe how much soap remains in the drum.
• Your laundry feels starchy or stiff when it comes out of the washer.
• You can see detergent residue in the compartment drawer, the drum, and the gasket.
• The washer, or worse, your clothes, smell of mildew or mold, also caused by soap residue building up in the machine and acting as a reservoir for germs and bacteria.

Laundry Sheets: Making Measurements Easier

Laundry detergent sheets are taking American households by storm. It's not just that they’re free from harmful ingredients, although that's undoubtedly a positive; dosing is easier and saves people from overusing detergent. That means protecting your clothes, your washer, and your household budget.

Our laundry detergent sheets are pre-dosed and tearable, so you’ll use less detergent and can easily adjust the dose to load size, handwashing, or soaking stained garments. Try doing that with a laundry pod.

Using the correct dose of detergent is part of the Freddie commitment to protect the planet. Plus, Freddie laundry sheets don't contain any harmful ingredients. Everything about laundry sheets, down to the compact, sustainable packaging, is designed to be simple and easy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 1 Cup of Detergent Too Much?

One cup of detergent can be too much even for a large, family-sized load; it's certainly too much for small washes and delicates. Overusing detergent will damage your clothes and your washer, leaving a sticky residue. Using more doesn't get the clothes cleaner.

Do You Really Only Need 2 Tablespoons of Laundry Detergent?

Yes, so right now you're probably shuddering to think how much is in those pre-dosed laundry pods or swilling around in your plastic jug. Good cleaning is also about much more than just how much detergent you use; it includes separating garments to protect dyes and washing clothes at the correct temperature.

Final Thoughts

Figuring out how much laundry detergent to use per wash load is not something most people give a lot of thought to, especially since the advent of pre-dosed laundry pods. However, the problem with pods is that you can't adjust the dose.

You should only use detergent based on a few key factors, like the load size and how dirty the clothes are. Soap use should not be indiscriminate, as it can cause serious problems for your clothes, your health, and the environment.

Laundry sheets tackle all these problems in one hit. You don't need to worry about harmful chemicals, and because they're pre-dosed, all the legwork is taken out of how much to use. You can even tear them to adjust the dose.

Try Freddie laundry sheets and use less detergent every time you wash.