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Thread Number: 31848
OK --- How much detergent do you use in your front loaders? |
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| Post# 480234 , Reply# 1 12/8/2010 at 00:14 (4,888 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia) | ||
There....
....are many factors that will influence how much you will use such as:
- capacity of the machine - how full it is - how hard the water is - how dirty the laundry is Choice, our consumer magazine, ran a one-off test earlier this year when testing powder detergents. Using their standard test method (Machine filled to stated capacity, 'cold' - 20c wash, normal/cotton cycle) they retested the top performing front load detergent, OMO for Front Loaders which is part of the Lever (Persil...) family, at reduced doses to see how it would clean. - At full dose it scored 86% - At half dose, it was still strong on grass/tomato...though no score is available but I remember reading at the time it was still the top performer. - At quarter dose, it scored 80% which put it in third place (second scored 81%...4th 79%) Their comment below is very valid and would go someway to improving the rinsing many complain about: 'Comparing our data over the past two decades, the amount of water used by front-loaders has halved, and while the recommended detergent dose has also reduced, perhaps it hasn’t reduced enough for today’s exceptionally water-efficient washing machines. This could be partially to blame for detergent residue on clothes. While we tested only one detergent at one-quarter dose, you may find similar results with your favourite detergent' Personally, I very rarely dose at 100% with high end detergents and generally use 1/2 the recommended amount. I have never had an issue with either performance of product or appliance... As someone who has never had a 'washing machine smell' (and I DON'T use bleach), I will give you this suggestion.... USE POWDER only and use 1/3 the quantity of fabric conditioner watered down (if you must use it) Scrud (grey waxy buildup...smelly and often mouldy) is actually mentioned in Fisher and Paykels manuals here...it is caused by cool/cold water washing, liquid detergents and fabric conditioners...remove the first and reduce the last and you should never have an issue.... | ||
Post# 480236 , Reply# 2 12/8/2010 at 00:18 (4,888 days old) by rp2813  (Sannazay) |
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About the only time I fill the scoop to the upper line with Tide powder is when I'm doing a large load of heavily soiled clothes.
Most of the time I use about half a scoop. It also depends on how much extra water I will be adding manually. With more water, you get a lot more suds. The combination of a full scoop and additional water can result in a thick sudsy froth all over the window, and I've read many posts here about too much suds ruining spider arms. | ||
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Post# 480253 , Reply# 4 12/8/2010 at 03:37 (4,888 days old) by Frigilux (The Minnesota Prairie) |
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I use about 4-6 tablespoons of UK Persil Bio powder for loads of greatly-stained kitchen whites in conjunction with liquid chlorine bleach.
For other loads, I use liquid Tide HE with Bleach Alternative (or whatever it's called this week), usually filled to the line for "average" loads. I still use Amway's SA8, usually on loads of bath towels, as they are lightly soiled. It rinses out better than Tide, but isn't as expensive as Persil. I use a scant 2-1/2 tablespoon scoop per load. | ||
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Post# 480254 , Reply# 5 12/8/2010 at 04:15 (4,888 days old) by logixx (Germany) |
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| Post# 480268 , Reply# 6 12/8/2010 at 06:18 (4,888 days old) by mrb627 (Buford, GA) | ||
Follow ... | ||
| Post# 480272 , Reply# 8 12/8/2010 at 06:50 (4,888 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia) | ||
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I've always..... | ||
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Post# 480275 , Reply# 9 12/8/2010 at 07:04 (4,888 days old) by RevvinKevin (Tinseltown - Shakey Town - La-La Land) |
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 I have a water softener even though our water is not nearly as hard as other parts of the country. I use Kirkland (Costco brand) h.e. powder in the red box and use between 2 and 4 Tablespoons depending on how dirty the load is, what the load it (i.e. less for towels to prevent over sudsing) and the water temp. Kevin | ||
| Post# 480296 , Reply# 11 12/8/2010 at 10:11 (4,887 days old) by mysteryclock (Franklin, TN) | ||
2tbs Persil Megaperls (Color or Universal) + 1tbs STPP for "normal" wash, 3-4tbs + 1tbs STPP for profoundly nasty stuff. I do pretreat with Persil Color Gel as required so I don't have to blast the whole load with what would otherwise be a "normal" dose of Persil (85ml, or 6tbsp+) just for a few bad spots.
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| Post# 480321 , Reply# 12 12/8/2010 at 11:38 (4,887 days old) by hoovermatic (UK) | ||
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I have very soft water and have always used half the dose of powders, liquids and softeners. I have never had an issue with stain removal, rinsing or smells. | ||
| Post# 480342 , Reply# 13 12/8/2010 at 13:04 (4,887 days old) by labboy (SD, CA) | ||
Our water hardness is about 14gr. In the LG front loader I use 3 tbsp. Persil Universal Megaperls with 1 tbsp. STPP for whites or light clothes. For dark colors, I use 1 oz Tide HE liquid with 1 tbsp. STPP.
It's interesting how the liquid detergent cup in the detergent dispenser has it's "normal" fill line set at a point where it requires use of much more liquid detergent than necessary. Throughout the manual (which no one reads except people like us) there are warnings about using only the proper amount of HE detergent yet the cup design encourages overdosing. I can see how it would benefit detergent manufacturers to have people overuse but you would think appliance manufacturers would want to encourage correct use to help reduce customer complaints (washer smell, etc.) | ||
| Post# 480348 , Reply# 14 12/8/2010 at 13:23 (4,887 days old) by jameseyboy (uxbridge, london UK) | ||
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where i live just outside london we have very hard water and i always use a coffee mug full of detergent no matter what brand i use j x | ||
| Post# 480367 , Reply# 15 12/8/2010 at 14:50 (4,887 days old) by ronhic (Canberra, Australia) | ||
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i always use a coffee mug ..... | ||
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Post# 480392 , Reply# 16 12/8/2010 at 16:19 (4,887 days old) by nurdlinger (Tucson AZ) |
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After Five Years
with the 3.5cf Frigidaire/KM machine, I have settled into this scheme:
I use kitchen measuring devices, never the scoops from the products. I always use powder, never use liquid detergent or fabric softener. For HE products like Sears and Tide, I will use 1/8 cup. For normal-strength products like Persil and Fresh Start, 1/4 cup. If I've been lax in replenishing the salt in the water softener, I will add a similar quantity of White King. I usually run smallish loads, a weeks worth of shirts for example. Nothing is ever greasy/muddy/stained. So far, that works for me. | ||
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Post# 480395 , Reply# 17 12/8/2010 at 16:21 (4,887 days old) by brisnat81 (Brisbane Australia) |
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3/4 of a scoop of Drive works for most loads with no additives. It rinses well and everything comes out bright and clean. Only if it's really greasy will I use a heaped scoop and do a prewash with 1/3 of the detergent. | ||
| Post# 480464 , Reply# 18 12/8/2010 at 23:41 (4,887 days old) by retropia () | ||
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We've always used HE liquid detergents with our front-loader and typically follow package instructions to use the amount they recommend for load size. We've never had any odor problems. When shopping for detergent, I usually rotate between Gain, Wisk and All. | ||
| Post# 480511 , Reply# 19 12/9/2010 at 08:32 (4,887 days old) by mayguy (Minnesota) | ||
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When I did use Tide HE powder, I used 1/2 or 1/4 of a scope. The Norwex I use now is 1/2 to 1tsp. | ||
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Post# 480568 , Reply# 22 12/9/2010 at 16:06 (4,886 days old) by DADoES (TX, U.S. of A.) |
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Post# 480679 , Reply# 23 12/10/2010 at 00:46 (4,886 days old) by rinso (Meridian Idaho) |
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We have a water softener. Never have to use more than 1 or 2 tablespoons of either liquid or powder in our Electrolux IQ. | ||
| Post# 480719 , Reply# 24 12/10/2010 at 07:24 (4,886 days old) by northernmary (Huddersfield - West Yorkshire) | ||
Persil Bio Small and Mighty | ||
| Post# 480735 , Reply# 25 12/10/2010 at 08:29 (4,886 days old) by zanussi_lover (Nottingham, UK) | ||
My Detergent | ||
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