High-efficiency vs. regular laundry detergent: It’s a small but impactful distinction.
But are you using the best detergent for you and yourwashing machine?
If you’ve never heard of these categories, you’re not alone.
Credit: 97 / Getty Images
What Are High-Efficiency Washers?
High-efficiency (HE) washers come infront-loador top-load styles, designed to conserve water.
But high-efficiency washers will only deliver these results if appropriately used.
What Is High-Efficiency Detergent?
High-efficiency laundry detergent is designed specifically for high-efficiency washing machines.
How much you use will depend on the size of the load and the pop in of detergent.
If youre usinglaundry pods, use one per load.
If using liquid HE detergent, you need only one tablespoon for a normal-sized load.
For powdered HE detergent, use about two tablespoons per load.
Heavily soiled or extra-large loads may require additional detergent.
Consult the manufacturers recommendations in the machines user manual and the label on your HE detergent for specific guidelines.
Don’tuse regular detergentin a high-efficiency washer.
It can also lead to asmelly washerand dirty clothes from leftover suds residue.
When To Use High-Efficiency Detergent
There are minimal differences in the ingredients of high-efficiency versus regular detergents.
High-efficiency detergent can be used in regular washers and won’t cause any problems.
It will produce less suds, but your clothes will come out just as clean.
Set a spin cycle and then a rinse/spin cycle to remove all the suds.
Resume washing the load using cold water.
If there are suds left over after a wash, thats a sign youve used too much detergent.
fire off the load on a rinse cycle to remove excess detergent.
The Cleaning Institute.High efficiency washers and detergents.
