I just bought a front load washer. Do we need to use that expensive soap? Can we make our own? Thanks!
By syber from IA
You can definitely make your own. The borax and castile detergent is low sudsing. Would work fine in the front loader.
There are many sites for making your own and I have tried 3 of them. Our clothes did not come out as bright so I went back to Tide but I stretch it a little with the homemade soap.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I just got a new front loading washer. Can I use up my old regular detergent by using smaller amounts or will it damage the washer? Thank you.
By Aline from Vero Beach, FL
Front loaders are not as special as the manufacturers want you to believe. I use Dawn dish liquid on everyday stuff and Ivory liquid on delicates with fav softener, no issues.
I use regular about a tablespoon have been doing it for years and front loader is fine. Leave door open between loads to avoid mold.
I have a front loading washer, but it is not a high efficiency model (HE) so I can use regular laundry detergent.
I have an HE Front Loader. A repairman told me years ago to only use HE Liquid Laundry Detergent as regular detergent soaps up & suds too much. I use 1-2 tbsp of HE Detergent per load with no trouble. I always leave the door cracked open in-between washing, too.
Use only HE laundry detergents on HE front loader washing machines. Using anything else could reduce the life of your machine & could possibly void your warranty.
It is sort of like your auto dishwasher, you can't use sink dish detergent in the dishwasher or you can null and void any repairs needing done. Yep, husband grabbed that one time and there were suds and water all over the floor.
Anyway, I have used the HE detergent for my laundry since 1977. That is what my Amway SA8/BioQuest has been all these years. You don't use more than a couple tablespoons and you don't want any sudsing action you can see the bubbles of yesteryear on them.
We use Maytag front loader at our dry cleaning stores. I found that LG front load washer is not the best. BUT, I have found that the following gives me a good and fresh smell to our laundry: 1 Tablespoon of the proper tide (HE) detergent is ample.The odor comes from putting too much detergent in.
I have an HE washer as well. I took a new sponge and placed it in between the door & washer at the hinge area. This way the family do not close the door and it can be bumped without hurting you or the door.
I can no longer find any detergents marked HE for front loading washers in my grocery stores. Is it no longer made? What do I use in place of it?
By LEP
They are often kept on the top shelf. In a pinch, you can just use half or one third of a regular detergent.
I use less than 1 tablespoon HE laundry detergent and I have way too much soap.
By Elfi
