The short version

  • 2 tablespoons of HE detergent per load.

  • Never more than 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons, about 60mL)

  • No pods.

  • See suds? That was too much.

 

Why so little

These are high-efficiency front-loading washers. They use far less water than an old top-loader, so they need far less soap.

Independent testing [1] has found that 1 to 2 tablespoons of HE detergent gets a full load clean. More soap does not make clothes cleaner. It makes foam, and soap that never rinses out.

 

What too much soap does

  • Foam fills the drum. The washer reads it as a fault and stops.

  • Your clothes are left soaking wet, sometimes locked inside until the error clears.

  • Soap stays in the fabric.

  • The washer is out of service for your neighbors until I can clear it.

  • It is not refundable. Too much soap is the most common reason these machines stop.

 

I’m a fan of the Polygons Folding Spoon, because it’s easy to clean.

How to measure

  • Best: A measuring spoon or scoop. 2 level tablespoons. A standard coffee scoop holds about that much.

  • Good enough: The cap, filled no higher than the lowest line. Or a detergent bottle with a valve in the cap to dispense the correct quantity.

  • Never: a full cap. That is several loads’ worth, and well past the limit.

If you have been filling the cap, you are not alone. About half of the residents I ask tell me they do. It’s also the first thing to change.

Powder works the same way: 2 tablespoons. Add soap to the labeled compartment of the dispenser tray.

 

The suds check

A few minute into the wash, look through the door. You should see wet clothes tumbling and little or no foam.

If you see suds, that was too much soap. Use less next time.

 

HE detergent only

Every machine I operate requires HE (high-efficiency) detergent. Look for “HE” on the label. Most detergent today has it.

Regular detergent, dish soap and hand soap make far too many suds for these washers. Don’t use them.

 

No pods

Pods are not permitted. A pod is a fixed dose made for larger home machines, and you cannot use half of one.

 

Truly pilau laundry

More soap is not the answer. Pretreat instead: mix a little of your detergent with water, soak the clothes in it, then wash it with the usual 2 tablespoons.

 

Scent boosters

Go easy. Too much won’t dissolve in the wash, and whatever is left in the machine is yours to clean out.

 

Find out what works for your laundry

Start at 2 tablespoons. Every household’s laundry is different, so some experimenting is worth it.

  • Clothes clean and no suds: you’ve found it. Try a little less next time if you like.

  • Not clean enough: before adding soap, try pretreating, a smaller load, a different cycle or a warmer temperature.

  • Trying a new detergent: start at 2 tablespoons again and watch for suds.

Stay under 1/4 cup, and let the suds tell you when you’ve gone too far.

 

If the washer stops

Wait 30 minutes. Most errors that lock the door clear themselves. Then text or email me a photo of the display. My number and email are posted in your laundry room. Don’t force the door.

 

Citation

  1. Richardson, P., & Miller, K. B. (2021). Laundry love: Finding joy in a common chore. Flatiron Books.