As reported by “T-online”, at first glance, washing with a washing machine seems quite simple. It would seem hard to do anything wrong here. However, mistakes do happen, for example, when detergent is added incorrectly to the washing machine.
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Can liquid detergent be poured directly into the drum?
No, liquid detergent should not be poured directly onto the laundry in the drum. There are several reasons for this.
When the washing program is started, the detergent compartment fills with water. This dilutes the detergent and allows it to distribute better throughout the laundry.
If detergent is poured directly onto the clothes, it can act very concentrated in one spot. For a short time, a small part of the fabric comes into contact with a strong cleaning agent, which can damage the fibers. If the washing program is not started immediately but after a few minutes, it may be even harder to rinse out the detergent later – it has already penetrated deeper into the fabric and stuck to it. Then the laundry may look soapy and slippery.
An important exception
If you use a washing ball, the detergent inside the ball can be placed directly into the drum along with the laundry. The washing ball protects the fabric fibers from direct detergent exposure and helps the agent distribute better.
Washing powders poured directly into the drum absorb less into the fibers than liquid detergent, but the substances they contain, such as bleaches, can damage fabrics or fade colors.
Therefore, it is better to put washing powder into the washing machine drawer. This way, it dissolves faster and distributes better in the laundry.
If the laundry still looks soapy
Especially when using the “Eco” program, laundry may remain soapy after washing if detergent was poured directly into the drum. This program uses less water, so the washing agents already absorbed into the fabric are rinsed out less effectively.
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It is also important to dose the detergent properly – whether it is powder or liquid. If there is too much, the agent will not be completely removed from the fabric during washing, so the laundry may feel soapy or sticky. If there is too little detergent, not all dirt, bacteria, and viruses will be removed, so the laundry may smell unpleasant.
Unlike liquid detergent or powder, in gel capsules the detergent is wrapped in a soluble film. This prevents the cleaning agent from immediately contacting the fabric when the capsule is placed in the drum, so the fibers are not directly affected.
However, it is important that the laundry is not wet. Otherwise, the quickly dissolving capsule film may open too early, and the liquid may leak out before the washing starts.
Where to pour the detergent?
Detergent – both liquid and powder – should be poured or sprinkled into the main wash compartment. In most washing machines, it is on the left side of the detergent drawer. It is also marked with the Arabic or Roman numeral 2, that is II.
Another guide: the main wash compartment is usually much larger than the other two – the pre-wash and fabric softener compartments.
Even when choosing the “quick wash” program, detergent should be poured into this main wash compartment.
Good to know
A test conducted in the GDR showed that the washing efficiency of capsules and liquid detergent hardly differs. However, it was criticized that capsules or gel pads are often dosed incorrectly – usually too strong. This negatively affects the environment, the wallet, and the laundry itself, which may remain soapy or slippery.
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