How to Use and Dose Guide for Powder Detergent

We all have seen white residues on our clothes after washing and thought... “I’ve used too much detergent in that load!” Well, that’s not entirely true! Despite the evidence, the chances are that you’ve actually put too many clothes in the load rather than too much detergent!

Today’s energy efficient washing machines use less water. Too much Laundry will soak up all the water so there isn’t enough to completely dissolve the detergent.

If you want to get the most from your detergent, you’ll need to make sure you are using it correctly.

How to Dose Powder Detergent

To start with, you need to use the right amount of powder laundry detergent. There are a few things that affect how much detergent you need to use.

  • How dirty is your laundry?
  • How much laundry do you need to wash in one cycle?
  • Is it a semi- or fully-automatic washing machine?
  • Is it a top or front loader washer?
  • Is the water in your area hard? Water hardness will vary throughout the country, and you’ll need to use more detergent if you live in a hard water area to get the best results.

Always check dosing instructions on the pack and measure out the right amount.

Just like using too little detergent does not give you the required cleaning, too much detergent is also bad for your clothes. If you find traces of residue from your powder, your clothes have a soapy or sticky feel, there’s a musty smell on your clothes, or if you find your colors have turned dull or your whites grey, then you may be using too much detergent. This is why it’s important to follow the instructions on the pack to get the dosage right.

Get the laundry results you want by following simple steps so you get clean and fresh clothes.

Where to Put Detergent in a Washing Machine?

The detergents today come with instructions whether they are for machine or hand wash. Machine wash Detergent is a lot more powerful and concentrated than what you will have for hand washing, so you will need to know where to put laundry detergent in the washing machine to best clean your clothes. Just follow the directions on the label.

  • If you’re using a top loader or a semi-automatic washing machine, dose detergent directly into the drum before adding clothes.
  • If using a front loader, add the powder detergent to the drawer.
  • Once you’ve added the detergent, place the clothes in the drum.
  • Choose the cycle based on the recommendation on the fabric care label and press start.
  • Make sure you always keep the detergent out of reach of children.

Never place laundry detergent directly on to your clothes in the drum – this strength of the detergent is enough to discolor and damage your fabrics.

For semi-automatic machines, before you add your clothes, add your detergent, allowing it to dissolve in the water fully before adding your clothes. The question of where to put detergent in a washing machine that is top loading is a little bit easier – add the detergent into the main drum with the clothes, and then begin your chosen wash cycle.

Overloading the machine

To prevent this from happening, for front loading machines, if you can fit your palm into the top of the drum, you’re fine. If it doesn’t fit, then take out some items until it does. For top loading machines, the level of dry laundry should not exceed the level of the inner tub.

A washing machine works by immersing the laundry in a solution of water and washing detergent and tumbling it. Modern, low water fill washing machines are designed to use less water, so owners of these should be particularly careful not to over fill. For the best possible results, there has to be enough water for the detergent to dissolve and enough space for your clothes to move around. If the gap between the top of the drum and the laundry is less than a hand’s width, your machine is probably too full. If this is the case, the laundry may soak up so much water that there isn’t enough left to dissolve the detergent!

You should be aware that more delicate fibers and faster wash cycles require a smaller load to give the garments more space to move around.

Always follow the fabric care label on your clothes to make sure you choose the right program so you see outstanding laundry results every time.

Types of washing machines

All washing machines have the same purpose – to wash clothes – but when you get into the details about the types of washing machines on the market, such as the difference between top load and front load washing machines, things get a little complicated. Find the right one for you!

What are the differences between top load and front load washing machines?

The main difference between the two washing machines is the way the laundry is placed in them. In front-loading, the lid is in the front and the laundry is placed from the side where in top-loading the lid is on the top and laundry is placed from there. Apart from the location of the door, there are some differences between the models.

The main differences are:

  • Structure. In front-loading, the basket is placed in the horizontal direction with no use of agitator. There are paddles on the side of the basket which helps move the clothes and stir water while the basket rotates. The paddles help remove dirt from the clothes by creating friction meaning that front load washing machines are generally gentler on your clothes than top load ones.
  • If you have a top load machine with an agitator, then this takes up more space, so front load often can take larger loads. . It saves time if you have to do several rounds of washing.
  • Electricity. Since you can do a larger load in a front load washing machine, this means you will need to do less washes and the front-loading takes less time to dry the clothes transforming into shorter drying rounds and ultimately saving electricity.
  • Water. Front load machines usually use less water to wash the clothes than a top load washing machine.
  • Price. You’ll find top load machines come at lower prices on the market than front load ones.

Whether you choose a top or a front load machine, in the end it really depends on your needs.

What is the difference between a fully-automatic and semi-automatic washing machine?

The main difference between semi-automatic and fully-automatic washing machines is that the latter does everything you need at the touch of a button. The semi-automatic washing machine may require you to move the wet clothes from one tub to another for spin drying, for example. But the main pros and cons between the two machines are:

GETTING A NEW WASHING MACHINE?

Purchased a washing machine a while ago, and thinking about swapping it for a newer model. New Generation washing machines have so many more options and features, and can really make a huge difference to how people do laundry.

Today, we’ve got the choice of waterless washing machines, washing machines operated by smart phones, and a huge range of advanced features that may seem like they’re from the future.

Don’t panic. If you don’t know what features to look for in a washing machine, we’ve got all the information you need right here.

The Latest Washing Machine Features

Reload Function

Older washing machines tend to be very inflexible when it comes to interrupting the wash cycle – once it’s started, you need to wait for it to complete before you can manually change any aspect of the settings or load.

One of the most important washing machine features of newer models is the reload function. Simply press the button, and the machine will automatically pause the setting when the water levels become low enough that you can open the door without flooding your kitchen. This allows you to add any extra clothes, without having to wait until the next load.

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Air Dry Function

Washing machines now can act as tumble dryers, which mean that washing machines are now able to remove as much excess moisture from your clean clothes as possible, so they only require minimal drying afterwards. Like air dry function, which you can switch on and off as you wish, which opens the vents in the machine during the spin cycle.

The vents draw warm air in from your home, and circulate it around the drum which gently warms your clothes and helps to evaporate the water. This is great for thick, heavy fabrics that take a long time to dry naturally, and for households who are trying to save energy by not using the tumble dryer.

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Smart Rinse

This feature complements the standard hand wash setting, giving you more control than ever before over how your laundry is treated during the wash cycle. A smart rinse option allows you to specify how much water to use during the rinse cycle.

If you suffer with sensitive skin, with skin irritations such as eczema, or have young children at home, you can increase the water used to make sure that all detergent residue is removed, leaving clothes that are fresh, soft, and won’t trigger flare-ups or allergies.

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Memory Wash

Still manually adjusting the settings on your washing machine before each use? Well, now you don’t have to! Washing machines are now able to remember the settings you used for your last wash, and apply them to the next load of laundry. If you tend to wash a lot of the same types of clothes, then this clever setting can be a real timesaver, and can also make sure you don’t make any mistakes.

Some machines wll even allow you to program in a number of different cycles, making laundry as simple as pressing just one button! For the Overactive Mums who can never find enough hours in the day to get everything done, this feature is just priceless.

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These really are just a few of the new and exciting features that the latest washing machines include - there’s plenty more, including self-cleaning drums, waterfall technology, and even weight indicators so you can be sure you’ll never overload your machine again.

How to Clean a Washing Machine — and Yes, You Need to Do It

If your clothes are looking unclean, we know why.

Even your Washing machine needs cleaning to maintain peak performance. To take care of your washing machine, follow these six simple steps researched in the world. If you do, every load will come out smelling fresh.

1. Remove clean clothes promptly.

As soon as a wash cycle ends, empty the machine to prevent a smell from developing in the washtub, which may then be transferred to your clothes and linens.

2. After you finish a cycle, prop the door open to air it out.

After each use, lift the lid or keep the door slightly open to allow air to circulate and dry out any remaining moisture. Don't forget to remove any water or fabric softener gunk from the dispenser drawers, too. For help on how to clean them out, check your washer's manual.

3. Clean your machine monthly.

A monthly cleaning can eliminate any odors that do develop. Many newer models have a special washer cleaning cycle. If yours doesn't, add liquid chlorine bleach to the dispenser and run a normal cycle with hot water. Or you can use a specialty cleaner, like Whirlpool scalegon or Dettol Washing Machine Cleaner. If you have a front-loader, be sure to wipe the rubber gasket. If you are still confused check out the video here

4. Clean the inlet hose filter.

The inlet what? This is the filter that keeps minerals and debris in your water from getting inside your washer and polluting your cycle. But over time, the filter can become clogged with said minerals, which prevents water from flowing into your machine for a fresh cycle. To clean your filter, turn off the water supply, then disconnect the hose and remove debris from the opening of the hose.

6. Don't forget to wipe down the exterior.

Use a soft damp cloth to clean up spills. Never use an abrasive cleanser or solvent, which can scratch and damage the surface on that lovely appliance you spent so much money on.