How much powder should I put in the washing machine?
At first glance, the question of how much powder should be poured into a washing machine may seem stupid. But don’t rush to draw conclusions, because in reality everything is not so simple. There are a number of factors that need to be taken into account in this matter. There are also myths that do not affect the amount of powder for a washing machine. Let's look at everything in detail.
What determines the amount of powder per washing cycle in an automatic machine?
A good housewife knows that the amount of powder affects not only the quality of the wash. That is why it is worth considering all the factors on which the “norm” of powder for a washing cycle in an automatic machine will depend.
- The degree of soiling of the laundry and the presence of stains. One powder is not always enough to wash things, no matter how much you pour it in, you may still need stain removers and other products.
- The hardness of the water used for washing. Everyone knows that washing efficiency is higher in soft water, so powders containing water softening substances are used for softening.
Water softeners will also save your machine parts from scale, especially if you prefer to wash at high temperatures.
- The amount of laundry in one wash cycle.
- Washing machine water consumption per wash cycle.
- Washing mode and fabric type. This factor indirectly affects the amount of powder; the volume of water consumed depends on the mode. The washing mode has a greater influence on the quality of the detergent. For delicate items, as well as items made of silk and wool, you need to use a special powder, You can read about this in the article about how to choose powder for a washing machine.
Degree of contamination of things and water hardness
The easiest way to figure out how much powder to put into an automatic machine is to read the instructions on the powder package. On average, on most well-known powders, such as Tide, Ariel, Myth, Persil, Sorti, Eared Nannies and others, the manufacturer indicates the following standards:
- for mild contamination, sprinkle 150 g of powder;
- for severe contamination - 225 g of powder;
Moreover, if the water is too hard, then it is necessary to add another 20 g of powder in each case.
However, you should not trust such instructions so much. After all, it is beneficial for the manufacturer to increase the standard so that the powder runs out faster and the consumer is forced to buy a new package of the product. In fact, it was found that 1 tbsp is enough to wash 1 kg of dry dirty laundry. spoons of powder (25 g). Accordingly, when washing 4 kg of laundry, you need to add only 100 g of detergent.
To remove stubborn stains, you need to pre-treat them or soak them; more powder will not help remove stains. And if the washing water is too hard, then you can add a couple of tablespoons of soda to the powder, which will soften the water and allow the powder to dissolve better in water. Just don’t use baking soda when washing silk and wool.
Water consumption per wash cycle
It is very important to consider the amount of water consumed by a washing machine per wash cycle. The quality of washing is influenced by the concentration of the detergent. But this does not mean that more is better. Excess powder may remain as streaks on things. We need to find a “golden mean”.
In various models of washing machines water consumption may vary. This depends on the complexity of the programs and the volume of the washing machine’s tank.On average, a standard washing machine with a load of 5-7 kg of laundry consumes about 60 liters of water. Information on water consumption for different washing modes can be found in the machine instructions. Let's look at water consumption using the example of a Bosch WLK2016EOE washing machine, whose maximum load of laundry is 6 kg.
This table shows that with different washing modes, the amount of water consumed varies from 64 to 40 liters. Let's assume that we will wash bed linen weighing approximately 3 kg in the "Cotton 60" mode.0C", how much powder is needed? Based on the weight of the laundry, you need to add 3 tablespoons of the product, according to the data from the previous paragraph.
However, let's pay attention to the amount of water consumed. When washing 3 kg of laundry, or when washing 6 kg of laundry, the machine will spend 64 liters of water. After all, the machine cannot weigh the laundry and draw water depending on the amount of laundry. This means that if you pour 3 tablespoons of powder onto this amount of water, your laundry may not wash well.
Therefore, in such washing machines you need to add powder based on the maximum load of laundry. In this case, for the “Cotton 60” mode0C" will require 6 tablespoons (150 g) of the product, and for the "Synthetics 40" mode0C" - only 3 tbsp. (75 g), regardless of the amount of laundry in the drum.
Important! An automatic washing machine with a weighing function can be filled with the amount of powder based on the actual weight of the loaded laundry, and not on the maximum load of the drum, since water will be drawn in accordance with the weight of the laundry.
Washing technology and detergent consumption
Modern washing machines are equipped with the most advanced technologies that allow you to save on the consumption of water, electricity and detergent. Such technologies include:
- Eco Bubble;
- steam wash.
The principle of washing with the Eco Bubble function is that the powder is mixed in water in a foam generator under the influence of supplied bubbles before it enters the drum. Thus, there is not a single undissolved particle of powder that could remain on things. Under the influence of bubbles, well-foamed powder penetrates better into the fibers of the fabric and removes dirt.
Users of washing machines with a similar function note that washing powder can be used almost half as much, which will not affect the quality.
Steam washing technology is a washing process during which steam is supplied to the product. Thanks to the steam, old contaminants are broken down. Steam promotes better dissolution of the powder in water and more efficient washing; there is no need to pour more powder or pre-soak the product. At the same time, the washing water is heated to the temperature you set. Steam washing allows you to disinfect items, killing more than 90% of allergens.
Here are some examples of washing machines with similar functions:
- Samsung WF1802XEC – front washing machine with Eco Bubble technology, laundry load up to 8 kg. The heating element has a ceramic coating that protects against plaque formation.
- LG F12U2HCS2 – washing machine with steam washing function and load capacity up to 7 kg. There is a function for weighing the loaded laundry and automatic setting of washing parameters.
- Daewoo Electronics DWD-UD2413K is a washing machine with an air-bubble washing function and a laundry load of up to 10 kg.
The ratio of bulk and liquid detergent
At the end of the article, I would like to say a few words about laundry detergent.Today it is available in different forms, in addition to powder, it can be gels, tablets, capsules. How much washing powder to pour is more or less clear. You can take a tablespoon or a measuring container with marks and pour the required amount of product.
With tablets and capsules, everything is also more or less clear, 1 capsule – 1 wash cycle. What about the liquid product? In this case, you can use the instructions on the packaging and pour from 75 ml to 100 ml of gel per wash, but in this way you will be working for the manufacturer, buying their products. In fact, experts, including repair professionals, say that one tablespoon of liquid powder is enough for one wash cycle in soft water. For hard water you need to pour 2 tbsp. powder.
Pour more than 2 tbsp. l. there is no need, the quality of washing will not increase, but the consumption and frequency of purchasing the powder will definitely.
To summarize, let us formulate a conclusion: before operating the washing machine, you must carefully study the attached instructions at least once. If there is none, be sure to find it on the Internet. This is the only way you will find out exactly how much powder you need to pour into the machine for one washing cycle at a certain mode.
Interesting:
5 reader comments
Add a comment
Categories
Washing machine repair
For buyers
For users
Dishwasher
Thank you!
Thank you, this instruction was very helpful!
Helpful information!
Even 150 grams of powder per measuring cup is a lot. I pour less. For top-loading semi-automatic machines, you generally need a gram of powder.
So how much to pour in the end?