Your laundry results depend on the liquid detergent you choose and how you use it. Small mistakes, like too much soap or the wrong spot in the machine, can leave clothes dull, streaky or still dirty, which is frustrating.
Even people who have done laundry for years make these mistakes. For instance, many machines have a dedicated detergent drawer, yet some people pour detergent straight onto the clothes to save time. The drawer is designed to release the detergent into the drum at the right moment, so using it usually gives better results.
To use liquid detergent, measure the dose on the label using the cap, a dosing ball or a measuring cup. Pour it into the detergent drawer in a front-loader, or into the drum under running water before adding clothes in a top-loader. A dosing ball goes directly in the drum with the clothes. Use less for small loads and HE machines.
This guide covers how to use liquid detergent, how to measure it, where to add it in different machines, and how to use dosing balls.
How to Use Liquid Detergent
Liquid detergent is a popular choice. The different forms of detergent are not wildly different, but each one affects clothes and machines in its own way. Liquid dissolves easily, including in cool water, which makes it a good fit for automatic washers.
It is also convenient for pretreating stains, because you can apply it directly without making a paste the way you would with powder. It works especially well on greasy stains.
Liquids are generally gentle on colored clothes, too. Look for a formula made for colors if you want to protect their brightness.
Whichever form you choose, the amount of detergent matters as much as the brand. Below is how to measure and use liquid detergent correctly.
Why Measure Your Detergent?
Measuring is important with any detergent. The right amount depends on the size of the load, how dirty the clothes are, how hard your water is, and the type of machine.
Brands are formulated differently. A dose that works for one brand may be too much or too little for another, especially with concentrated formulas. If one brand needs a full cap for a small load, another brand might need half a cap or a bit more.
That is why you should read the directions on the bottle to see how much to use, and use the cap or dosing tool the manufacturer provides.
What Happens If You Use Too Much or Too Little Detergent
Adding the right amount of liquid detergent is as important as adding it in the right place. The amount determines how well your clothes get cleaned, and too much or too little can cause problems.
Detergent creates suds. More detergent means more suds, and heavy suds that linger can interfere with the machine’s rinsing and drain cycles. This is a particular problem with high-efficiency (HE) washers, which use little water.
Using too much detergent can also cause residue buildup in the machine, and in some cases may be considered user error if it leads to a service call. Check your warranty and manual for details.
Excess detergent also leaves residue on clothes. Fabrics can look dull, feel stiff or smell strongly of detergent, and residue can trap dirt and cause marks.
On the other hand, too little detergent will not clean well. Clothes may come out dingy or smelly, since dirt and body oils are not fully removed.
Pouring Detergent Directly on Clothes
It is best not to pour liquid detergent directly onto dry clothes in the drum, and there are several reasons.
Concentrated detergent can sit on one spot of fabric and leave a stain or spot, particularly on dark colors. It also does not dilute as well when it lands on top of a pile of clothes, so the cleaning is less even.
Uneven distribution can leave a film on clothes that dulls their color over time.
If you do pour detergent on clothes by mistake, rewash them as soon as possible. Fresh spots usually rinse out easily, but detergent that dries on the fabric can be much harder to remove.
Read More: Do You Pour Liquid Detergent on Clothes?
Using Liquid Detergent in a Front-Load Washer
Front-load washers use less water and energy than many other machines, which is why they have become popular over the past few decades.
High-Efficiency Washing Machines
High-efficiency washers arrived in the market around the 1990s. Many front-loaders are HE machines, but some top-loaders are HE too, so check your model.
HE washers need HE detergent, which is formulated to make fewer suds. It comes in liquid, powder and other forms. Regular detergent can create too many suds in an HE machine.
Even with HE detergent, measure carefully. Too much creates excess suds that can overflow or confuse the machine’s sensors. Follow the manual.
Read More: Does Liquid Detergent Damage Washing Machines?
Parts of a Front-Load Washer
Front-load washers from different brands have similar parts. Most have a drawer on the top or side of the control panel with compartments for detergent, fabric softener and, on some models, bleach. The labels or symbols on the drawer show which compartment is which.
Measure the detergent with the cap or a measuring cup, and follow the label for your load size. The amount differs by brand and concentration. For example, some concentrated HE liquids call for only a couple of tablespoons for a normal load, while others need much more, so the bottle’s directions always win.
Never add detergent without measuring it first. Pour it into the correct compartment, below the fill line, close the drawer and start the cycle.
The machine releases the detergent at the right time during the cycle. Start it correctly and the machine does the rest.
Using Liquid Detergent in a Top-Load Washer
Top-load washers are easy to use, with fewer settings, and many people with back problems find them comfortable because you do not need to bend over. Front-loaders are more popular today, but top-loaders are still widely used.
Read More: Where Do I Put Laundry Detergent? (Front-Loader/Top-Loader)
Parts of a Top-Load Washer
Many top-loaders have no drawer. Some have a small dispenser, for example a fabric softener cup, in the agitator. Check your machine for any dispensers. If there is not a detergent dispenser, you add the products directly into the drum.
How to Add Detergent to a Top-Loader
Start the machine and let it fill with water. Pour in the measured detergent while the water runs, and let it mix well. Then add the clothes.
Adding detergent to the water before the clothes lets it dilute and spread evenly, which avoids spots and stains.
Add fabric softener to the dispenser or at the rinse cycle rather than at the start of the wash. In the wash, the softener is washed away before it can do its job. Bleach also goes in at the right time, using the bleach dispenser if there is one. Never mix bleach with other cleaners.
Dosing Balls for Liquid Detergent
The cap on a liquid detergent bottle is a common way to measure, but it is large and hard to read. A measuring tool can help. For liquid detergent, a dosing ball is a simple option.
Pods are pre-measured, and powders need a scoop. For liquids, a dosing ball does the job. If you want to see more laundry tools, read about dosing devices and laundry detergent accessories.
What Are Dosing Balls?
A dosing ball is a small, round plastic container you fill with liquid detergent. Many hold roughly 35 ml, but sizes vary by brand. Dosing balls help you measure accurately, so you avoid wasting detergent or under-dosing.
They work in top-load and front-load machines. They are also a handy way to control how much detergent you use, which can save money.
How to Use a Dosing Ball
Open the ball and fill it with detergent according to the label and the size of your load. Close it tightly and place it in the drum. Put it at the back of the drum in a front-loader, or at the bottom in a top-loader, before adding the clothes. That helps the detergent spread through the wash.
Start the cycle and let the ball do its work. Check that the ball is closed securely, and do not overfill it.
You can also use a dosing ball to hand-wash. As a rough guide, about 17 ml of liquid detergent (half a ball) works for 5 liters of water, but check the detergent label for your product.
Quick Tips for Better Results
- Pretreat greasy or heavy stains by dabbing a little detergent on the spot and letting it sit for a few minutes before washing.
- Use less detergent for small loads, soft water and lightly soiled clothes.
- Use more only for large or heavily soiled loads, and only up to the maximum on the label.
- Wipe the detergent drawer and cap regularly so dried detergent does not build up.
- Keep detergent, dosing balls and caps out of reach of children and pets.
If you are unsure whether you are using the right amount, run a test. After a normal wash, check for lingering suds in the drum and a soapy feel or smell on the clothes. If you see either, cut back your dose a little at a time until the laundry rinses clean.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a dosing ball in any washing machine?
Yes, it works in both top-load and front-load machines. Place it in the drum with the clothes, not in the drawer.
How much liquid detergent should I use?
Follow the label. The amount depends on the brand, concentration, load size and soil level. When in doubt, start with the lower end of the recommended range.
Do I need a different detergent for an HE washer?
Yes. Look for the HE symbol on the bottle, because HE detergents produce fewer suds.
Conclusion
Liquid detergent is popular because it dissolves easily, works well in automatic washers and is convenient for pretreating stains.
Front-loaders almost always have a detergent drawer, so measure the detergent and pour it into the right compartment. Top-loaders usually have no drawer, so add the detergent to the water before the clothes.
For accurate measuring, a dosing ball is a useful and inexpensive tool. Whatever method you choose, follow the label and your machine manual for the best results.
Not sure how much to use? The Detergent Dose Calculator adjusts the dose for your load, water and washer.
