Many of us may be pouring money down the drain by using too much laundry detergent. Even the recommended amount may be too much, according to financial blog DailyFinance. Here's how to stop laundry soap overdosing.


Robert Shelton, a retail and consumer packaged-goods consultant, says on DailyFinance that:

The fill line is twice the amount of detergent you need to clean effectively. Fill your cap up halfway to the fill line and your detergent will last twice as long.


Author and repairman Vernon Schmidt goes even farther in a previously mentioned New York TImes article, arguing that one-eighth to one-half of the recommended level should do.

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Don't be afraid that your clothes won't get clean enough. Washing machines today are much more efficient than the ones your parents used to have and detergents are much more concentrated—so a little goes a long way. Using too much laundry detergent not only wastes money, it can shorten the life of your washing machine and make your clothes stiffer.

While Shelton has a cynical view of the manufacturer's recommended fill line on the laundry detergent cap ("Overdosing is a manufacturer trick to try to get you to use up your bottle faster. The cap they give you is designed to make you overdose."), it may pay to experiment by using less laundry detergent. You can try the Time's test by washing some towels on the hot water setting for five minutes without any detergent or softener. Any suds or residue you see means you had excess soap in the previous wash.


Check out the DailyFinance blog for more laundry expense savings or share your own tips with us in the comments. Photo by AICAD.

5 Ways to Cut Your Laundry Costs | Daily Finance

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