The One Huge Laundry Mistake You Think Is No Big Deal

In the past, I’ve been more of a guesser than a measurer when it comes to laundry detergent. And I never really had a reason to change my ways, at least until I learned about all of the drawbacks that come along with “detergent overdose!”

In today’s post, we’ll be exploring exactly what detergent overdose is and why it’s important to avoid. Whether you use a store-bought detergent or a homemade laundry detergent, by the end of this post you’ll understand exactly why it’s so important to use the correct amount!

What Is Detergent Overdose?

Detergent overdose occurs when you use more than the recommended amount of laundry detergent based on factors like washing machine type, load size, and soil level. It’s a surprisingly common problem, and more people are guilty of it than you might think!

Back in 2010, as part of an ad campaign for its new ultra-concentrated pump-top laundry detergent, Method reported that that 53% of people who used liquid laundry detergent did not use the recommended amount for their wash loads. According to this 2010 article from the Wall Street Journal, Method representatives claimed that the major detergent brands were encouraging detergent overdose to increase sales by deliberately making their dosing lines inside the detergent cap difficult to read.

While representatives from major detergent brands denied such claims, the reason for detergent overdose is ultimately beside the point. Because what matters most is that detergent overdose can have very real consequences!

6 Drawbacks To Using Too Much Detergent

1. It Wastes Money

When you use more detergent per load than you actually need, you’re going through a bottle of detergent faster than necessary. That means you’re buying more detergent in the long run, and that means you’re wasting your money!

Detergent overdose can also cost you money when it comes to your water bill. If your washer detects there are too many suds in the drum, it will trigger more rinses to compensate, and that increased water usage will show up on your next water bill.

2. Your Laundry Doesn’t Get Rinsed Properly

Using too much detergent can make it impossible for your washing machine to rinse it all out. If your laundry isn’t fully rinsed, it will retain detergent residue that can cause colors to fade and even attract more dirt.

3. Bad Odors In Your Washing Machine

Detergent residue isn’t just an issue that affects your clothes and linens. If your washer itself gets bogged down with detergent residue, it can start to develop an unpleasant odor over time. (If is possible to clean your washing machine to eliminate residues and odors, but you’re better off avoiding the problem in the first place!)

4. Sopping Wet Clothes

Another thing that can suffer due to an overabundance of suds is your washer’s spin cycle. Too many suds can prevent the spin cycle from reaching full speed, which can easily reduce the amount of water that gets expelled from your clothes. No one wants sopping wet laundry that takes forever to dry!

5. Front Loader Leaks

Those with front load washing machines have more reason than anyone to be vigilant about their detergent use! Using too much detergent can produce such an abundance of thick, foamy suds that it may start to leak out of the door gasket. (I’ve heard of foam parties before, but I doubt anyone wants to discover an impromptu one happening in their laundry room!)

6. Wear And Tear On Your Washer

And last but not least, there’s the added wear and tear that detergent overdose will place on your washing machine. Between the impacts of suds on the spin cycle, the extra rinsing, and the potential for residue buildup, using too much detergent makes your washing machine work harder than it needs to and ultimately shorten its lifespan.

How To Avoid Detergent Overdose

So now that you know all the bad things that can happen when you use too much detergent, you may be wondering how to avoid it! Luckily, it’s easy to avoid detergent overdose, and all you need to do is follow the dosage instructions on your bottle or package of detergent.

And while I can’t do much to make those nearly invisible lines on the detergent cap any easier to read, I do have a few useful tips to share that can help you get around them! :-)

Tip #1: Use A Different Measuring Cup

Start by using the cap to measure out how much detergent you should be using per load according to the instructions (even if you need a flashlight and magnifying glass to find the right line!) Then pour the detergent from the cap into a small glass measuring cup, and take note of the actual measured amount.

Then you’ll be able to use the glass measuring cup to measure out your detergent in the future. No more guessing, no more squinting, and most importantly, no more overdosing!

Tip #2: Use A Soap Dispenser

Another option the makes it easier to use the correct amount of detergent is to put it into a soap dispenser bottle instead. Once you figure out how many pumps it takes to dispense the correct amount of detergent for your machine and load size, you’ll know exactly how much detergent to dispense in the future without having to measure it!

How do you measure your laundry detergent?