How to Use Regular Laundry Detergent in Front Load Washer
Front load washers are a favorite machine for various reasons, but they have a few quirks that must be understood if they are to work properly. One is what appears to be the required use of high-efficiency (HE) laundry detergent. Special detergent is suggested because front load washers use less water and therefore don't handle suds as well, so it's important to reduce the amount of suds. HE laundry detergent accomplishes this. Unfortunately HE laundry detergent is more expensive. The good news is that with proper care, you can use regular or homemade laundry detergent with front load washing machines. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Vinegar
- Fabric softener
- Regular laundry detergent
- Fels Naptha soap
- Washing soda
- Borax
Instructions
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Reduce the amount of laundry detergent. Many consumers have found that only a tbsp. to 1/4 cup of regular laundry detergent is needed in front load washers. The amount needed varies depending on the hardness or softness of the water and water temperature, with soft water and hot water requiring less detergent than hard and cold water.
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Add vinegar or fabric softener to the wash. Both vinegar and fabric softeners reduce the amount of suds and therefore allow the use of regular laundry detergent in front load washers.
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Use homemade laundry detergent. You can make homemade detergent by mixing 1/4 bar of grated Fels Naptha soap to three cups of hot water and stirring until the Fels Naptha soap is dissolved. Mix in one gallon of hot water, 1/4 cup of washing soda and 1/8 cup of Borax to the mixture. Allow this mixture to gel overnight.
Use 1/4 cup of the homemade laundry detergent in front load washers. The homemade detergent suds very little and is therefore a good choice for front load washers.
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Tips & Warnings
If suds have become a problem, run two or three cycles of nothing but hot water and vinegar to clear out the soapy residue.
Using too much detergent in front load washers can cause a buildup of detergent.
