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I know there is a page on this site that has a small section about dosing but I feel as if it only really touches on it briefly.
I see commonly surfing around the net how everyone uses too much powder, which is the particular detergent in question here.
Some people seem to use from anything as small as 2-3 tablespoons worth, to a quarter or third less than the recommend dose on the boxes.
But this is my main point. How true are these guidelines on the detergent boxes?
I’m in a hard water area and to me it seems if I dare put in the recommend amount for the hard water it suds up an incredible amount.Is there any specific amount less I should be dosing?
Thanks
Re: Correct Dosing for powder?
Largely it trial and error I’m afraid.
There are too many variable to consider for each circumstance the main ones being:
– Soiling level
– Water harness
– Load size
– Efficiency of the machineThe packet instructions are meant as a very rough guide but do bear in mind that they apply as much to a 4kg washer as they do a far greater capacity. They do say (usually) to increase the dose for larger capacity washing machines but, they don’t say not to when the machine is more efficient and doesn’t need as much.
Hence, trial and error.
K.
Re: Correct Dosing for powder?
So really no matter how in tune with this you are. No matter how much attention you pay, you are never really going to get it perfect every time?
I mean I can see why some people are saying use less but when you get people saying literally 2 spoonfuls no matter what the size of the load thats when I have to believe that is just far too little. They seem under the impression that too little is no such a thing when it definitely is.
Re: Correct Dosing for powder?
Correct.
But a port of people pay little heed.
The important bits are that “lightly soiled” is defined as “worn once, not next to skin”/
“Medium soiled”, normal everyday wear.
“Heavily soiled”, gym equipment, cycling, all of that plus bedding towels and so on.
As a very rough guide.
Then water hardness.
Coloured or white/light, leads to appropriate detergent barring delicate or special things like woo, silk etc or as instructed by care labels.
Then consider the fabric type, program and wash requirements on the care label.
Loads of people don’t consider this stuff and seem to think that, somehow, the machine will work it all out for them and, it will not. It will merely do as you tell it because, at it’s most basic, it is an automated drum and big stick, back to the late 1800’s in essence. All the machine does is automate the laborious bit, that’s it.
All the rest, you need to work out for yourself dependent on the specific requirement.
K.
Re: Correct Dosing for powder?
The Siemens mentioned using half the recommended amount for the first service wash – it foamed like mad!
The JLWM1414 didn’t, but I did – that foamed a lot.From these two examples I formed a theory that the amount of detergent is governed by two things: some for the ‘machine’ (water) and some for the laundry. Each varies according to the hardness of the water, amount of water, amount of laundry and amount/type of soiling.
My water is of medium hardness but has the advantage of not building up scale – it gets a thin layer then falls off. The powder (Ecover) says 65ml for soft water, 85 for medium and 110 for hard, with an increase for 6/7kg machines (but nothing about such machines with low loads).
The Bio-D liquid has 50ml for medium water and ordinary soiling.Working on about 20ml of powder for the machine (as 30ml over-foamed), I use 60 – 65ml and the results are good. If I had a load of 5kg or lower I would reduce the amount pro-rata.
Residual detergent is a contaminant and can be worse than the original soiling – if not as smelly!
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