You Might Be Using Too Much Laundry Detergent — Here's How to Tell

Adding an extra dose of detergent may seem like an easy solution to get cleaner clothes. But according to laundry experts, it usually does the opposite.

It’s easy to assume that the more laundry detergent you use, the cleaner your clothes will be. But that’s actually not true. In fact, too much detergent may cause more harm than good to your clothes, and here’s why.

Woman pouring detergent into a washing machine | Source: Pexels

According to Noah Pinsonnault, reviews analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care & Cleaning Lab, “Excess detergent can leave behind residue on fabrics because modern high-efficiency washers use relatively little water to rinse.”

What this means is the machine’s water level doesn’t automatically increase when you increase your detergent. In this case, there is extra detergent to wash away, and not enough water to do it. When this happens, the unrinsed detergent remains on the surface of your clothes.

Damp clothes from a washing machine | Source: Pexels

Signs You’re Using Too Much Detergent

So how do you know you’re overdoing it? Here are the signs.

• When your clothes feel stiff, waxy, or stay stiff after washing
• When the colors look duller than they were before
• When there’s a lingering odor even after a full wash cycle
• When there are stains that don't fully come off
• When there are excess suds in the machine
• When you see a filmy or slimy residue inside the washer drum or door

According to Pinsonnault, over time, the use of too much detergent can also result in skin irritation because the buildup traps body oils and odors, especially affecting people with sensitive skin.

Woman holding up a onesie after washing | Source: Pexels

How to Make Sure You’re Using the Right Amount of Detergent

Pinsonnault advises, "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."

Alexi Mintz, VP of brand strategy at Archipelago Botanicals also suggests considering the load size. "HE washers typically only need one to two tablespoons for a full load," Mintz says. "A small load may need half the amount."

In a nutshell, when it comes to detergent, less is definitely more.