The laundry detergent mistake making clothes dirtier and washing machines stink

When using any cleaning product it’s easy to assume the more you use, the more effective the results, but the opposite is usually true – particularly in the case of laundry detergent.

Adding too much detergent to the washing machine is a common mistake that can leave stains and odours on clothes, sheets and towels. It can also make your washing machine stink.

“From my experience, when I ask customers why they use so much detergent, they almost always say it’s because they want their clothes to smell ‘fresh’. However, using more detergent doesn’t make clothes cleaner or fresher. In fact, overusing detergent can have the opposite effect,” Ryan Hijazi, owner and director of EZY Appliance Repairs, told nine.com.au.

“If your clothes come out of the washing machine with a very strong fragrance, it’s often a sign excess detergent has been left behind in the fabric. This residue can trap dirt, bacteria, and body oils, leaving chemicals on your clothing instead of washing them away. Ideally, your clothes should come out of the washing machine clean and neutral-smelling, not heavily scented.”

Using too much detergent can also be the reason your clothes and towels feel crunchy, and why your towels aren’t absorbent.

“Excess detergent doesn’t rinse out fully, so it leaves residue behind on fabric. This makes clothes feel stiff rather than soft, and ironically that residue actually attracts more dirt over time,” Susan Toft, CEO and founder of The Laundry Lady, told nine.com.au.

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“Inside the machine, that build-up of leftover detergent creates the perfect environment for mould and unpleasant odours to develop. So people who overdose on detergent to get a ‘deeper clean’ often end up with stiffer clothes, smellier washing, and a machine that needs more maintenance.”

In addition to cleaner, softer clothes and towels, using less detergent will save money as you won’t need to buy a new bottle or box as soon.

Choice estimates switching from a full dose of a big-name brand laundry detergent for every wash, to a third of a scoop of a cheaper detergent and doing a load every other day you’ll end up spending just $9.64 a year on detergent, saving you more than $500 just on detergent.

“Instead of [laundry detergent] lasting around 30 loads, you could get 45 to 60 loads by using the correct amount. Your clothes will still come out clean, without excess detergent residue, and you’ll also reduce the build-up of grease, grime, and detergent inside your washing machine, helping to prevent mould and unpleasant odours,” Hijazi said.

So, how much detergent should you add to your washing machine? Hijazi advised ignoring the recommendations on the detergent packaging and instead opting for half a cup for a large load and a quarter cup for a smaller load.

Toft also recommended tweaking the amount of detergent suggested on the box or bottle, but warned against adding more detergent for dirtier clothes.

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“The simple answer; whatever the manufacturer recommends on the packaging, adjusted for your load size and how soiled the clothes are,” she said. 

“When it comes to heavily soiled clothes, pre-treating or soaking is the key, rather than adding extra detergent in the regular wash cycle.”

In addition to using less detergent, the experts also encourage you to stop using fabric softener as it also leaves residue on clothes and the machine and makes towels less absorbent.

“A cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle is a good alternative for softening, and it’s also a good odour-buster for gym clothes and school uniforms.” Toft said.