A Sudsy Situation

When too much soap is a thing

Once upon a wash cycle, there was a perfectly normal load of laundry. Clothes went in, detergent followed, and the machine got to work. But sometimes, even the best intentions create a sudsy situation.

Too much soap is possible; take a look at the photo from Big Loads above. And no, more soap does not mean more clean.

“If a little is good, then a lot is better!”

Somewhere along the way, laundry soap became just like garlic in a recipe – people just keep adding more “for good measure.” But washers are precision machines, not soup pots. They are designed to use a very small amount of detergent. Especially modern, high efficiency washers such as those found at Big Loads.

When you add extra soap, a few things happen:

• Suds throw a party, and they don’t know when to leave.
• Clothes will not rinse properly.
• Washers may malfunction or break (suds are notorious for blocking sensors that help washers proceed to next steps) because they have to work harder than they should.
• Laundry comes out stiff, sticky, or not as fresh as expected.

Ironically, too much soap actually makes clothes dirtier because soap residue can trap odor and dirt instead of washing it away.

Signs You’ve Gone Overboard

Not sure if your soap use is too generous? Watch for these clues:

• Clothes feel stiff or waxy.
• Towels are not absorbing water like they used to.
• There are still bubbles hanging out at the end of the cycle on your clothes or in the machine.
• Your laundry smells “clean-ish” but it’s not a fresh smelling scent.

If the washer looks like a bubble bath like the one in the photo above, it might be time to scale back on your detergent use.

The Truth: Less Soap, Cleaner Laundry

Most detergent bottles suggest way more soap than you actually need. (After all, they are just trying to sell you more product.)

In reality, 1-2 tablespoons of HE detergent is often enough. Large loads still don’t need a mountain of soap.

• At Big Loads, our white Maytag washers and Speed Queen washers need 1-2 tablespoons of detergent.
• Our six large washers need 1/4 cup; that is the equivalent to 4 tablespoons.
• Big Loads’ Biggest Washer #17 only needs 1/2 cup of detergent, or about 8 tablespoons.

Heavily soiled clothes need the correct cycle, not extra detergent. All of our washers offer upgraded cycles for additional cost that will add extra time agitating (getting out dirt and grime). If the fabric allows, consider using a hot water cycle (listed as ‘whites’ on some washers) to help clean heavily soiled items better.

Final Rinse

Using the right amount of soap helps:

• clothes rinse cleaner
• colors stay brighter
• fabrics last longer
• machines stay healthier

It’s a win for your laundry, the washer, and your favorite hoodie.

Clean laundry isn’t about all the bubbles. Next time you’re tempted to add “just a little more” remember: your clothes don’t need a bubble bath! They just need the right amount of soap and a good spin.

Who knew washers could be so dramatic?!

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