When laundry day rolls around, the last thing you want to do is add an extra step to the dreaded chore of washing, drying, and folding all your clothes. For the sake of convenience, you might throw your dirty clothes into the machine, grab the detergent, and pour freely without thinking twice about that little max fill line.
While this might seem like the quickest and easiest way to get the job done, a loose pour could negatively affect the cleaning process, leaving you with the worst possible outcome—clothes you have to wash all over again.
Despite what you might assume, too much detergent doesn’t actually lead to cleaner clothes, which is why measuring correctly (depending on the size of your load) is so important.
Before you wash your next batch of laundry, learn more about what really happens when you use too much detergent. Plus, here’s how to know whether you’re using the right amount, and tips for getting it right in the future.
What Happens When You Use Too Much Detergent?
Detergent is meant to be rinsed away with water during the laundering process. When too much is used, the water level in your machine doesn’t increase to accommodate that extra detergent. Instead, a soapy film is left behind on the surface of your items.
“Using more detergent than recommended doesn't necessarily get clothes cleaner,” says Noah Pinsonnault, reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab. “In fact, excess detergent can leave behind residue on fabrics because modern high-efficiency washers use relatively little water to rinse.”
Not only can too much detergent lead to a sudsy load of what was supposed to be clean laundry; it can also damage your clothing and even harm your skin.
“Over time, that buildup can make fabrics feel stiff, trap body oils and odors, dull colors, and even contribute to skin irritation in people with sensitive skin,” says Pinsonnault. “Too many suds can also interfere with proper agitation, making it harder for clothes to rub against one another, which is an important part of the cleaning process.”
Signs You’re Using Too Much Detergent
If you’re someone who measures detergent by eye and you’ve noticed your most recent loads aren’t looking or feeling as clean as you’d hoped, you might be using too much laundry detergent. Look for the signs below when evaluating your next batch of clothing.
- Fabrics feel stiffer
- Stains are left behind due to the decrease in mechanical action necessary to properly clean clothes
- The color of your clothing appears duller
- There are persisting odors
- You’ve noticed skin irritation
- There’s a surplus of suds in the machine
How to Measure Detergent Correctly for Your Load
Measuring detergent correctly is quite simple. Remember that it all depends on the size of your load, so, it’s essential to take a look at the directions on the bottle of detergent you have at home.
Here’s what the pros recommend to correct this issue for your many laundry days ahead.
Always read the instructions. “The best place to start is always the detergent manufacturer's dosing instructions, since concentrations vary widely between formulas,” says Pinsonnault.
Don’t top-off a pour. “As a general rule, use the smallest amount recommended for your load size and soil level, and increase only when you're washing heavily soiled items,” says Pinsonnault. “If your clothes consistently come out clean, resist the temptation to add extra ‘just in case.’”
Use the measuring cap: “Rather than pouring detergent directly from the bottle, use the measuring cap or cup that comes with the product,” says Pinsonnault. “It's much easier to accidentally over pour when measuring by eye, especially with concentrated liquid detergents.”
By taking just a few extra seconds to properly measure your detergent, you’re avoiding all the harmful consequences of using too much—stiff clothing, smelly odors, and dull colors—for cleaner clothing you’ll never have to throw straight back into the washer.
Laura Millar (she/her) is a freelance lifestyle journalist for Good Housekeeping. She holds a degree in Film, TV & Media from the University of Michigan, and was previously the assistant lifestyle editor for GH, where she covered home design. Her byline has appeared in NBC's TODAY.com, PEOPLE, Real Simple, and Business Insider.
