Master your washing machine: Right compartment for every type of laundry detergent
Housewife loads laundry (photo: Styler)
Not all laundry detergents can be added to the same compartment. Incorrect use of the dispenser drawer may result in powder, gel, or conditioner entering the drum at the wrong stage of the wash cycle.
Here's how to use the dispenser and dose detergents, based on manufacturer recommendations.
What do the markings on the dispenser mean?
Many machines with manual dosing have three compartments. As Bosch explains, they are marked as follows:
- I – Pre-wash. Add detergent here if you have selected a program with this stage.
- II – Main wash. This compartment is for powder or gel during the main cycle.
- Flower symbol – Fabric softener. Pour the liquid no higher than the MAX mark.
Pre-wash is an additional stage for heavily soiled items. If it is not enabled, leave compartment I empty.
Rely on the markings, not on the location of the compartments from left to right: the design of the dispenser depends on the model.
Where to put powder and pour gel
Powder or gel for the main wash is added to compartment II. However, there may be a special insert for liquid detergent.
For example, Samsung explains: in models with a removable container for liquid detergent, the gel is poured into it. If using powder, the container is removed, and the detergent is poured directly into the main wash compartment.
Check the position of the flap or the method of installing the insert against the instructions for your machine: the design may vary.
Capsules are used differently. For models where they are permitted, the manufacturer recommends placing them in the drum before loading the clothes.
Where to add conditioner
Conditioner is poured into the compartment marked with a flower. LG recommendations emphasize: do not exceed the MAX mark, as excess conditioner may flow into the detergent compartment.
MAX indicates the maximum level, not the mandatory dose for each wash. Measure the amount of conditioner according to the recommendations on the packaging, taking into account the capacity of the compartment.
Gel and conditioner are added to their designated compartments, so they should not be mixed in the main wash compartment.
How to use a machine with auto-dosing
Models with auto-dosing have reservoirs from which the machine measures out the detergents itself. Separate compartments are provided for manual addition, so the standard I and II scheme does not always apply.
In particular, Electrolux explains the rules for the AutoDose system:
- Only liquid detergents intended for them should be poured into the auto-dosing reservoirs;
- Powder and capsules must not be added to these reservoirs;
- Powder is poured into the manual dosing compartment;
- Automatic supply of the corresponding detergent must be turned off before manual addition.
If AutoDose is not turned off, the machine may dispense detergent from both the reservoir and the manual compartment. To avoid a double dose, check the settings before starting.
See the instructions for your model for the method of turning off auto-dosing.
How much detergent to add
There is no universal dose of powder or gel for all loads. Laundry detergent manufacturer Ariel advises considering three main factors:
- Amount of laundry;
- Degree of soiling;
- Water hardness.
Determine the dose according to the instructions on the packaging of the specific product. Do not rely solely on "one cap": the concentration of gels and the recommended amount may vary.
Auto-dosing does not eliminate the need to check the recommended dose. The basic setting may require adjustment depending on water hardness and the detergent used. Therefore, after changing the gel, it is worth comparing the dosage on its packaging with the machine's settings.
