Unless youâre unthinkably rich or lucky enough to have someone in your life who handles your household chores, youâre probably doing your laundry at least a few times a month. Youâd think that would mean you know exactly what to do to ensure youâre getting your clothes as clean as possible â and maybe even saving some time, energy and money while youâre doing it.
Unfortunately, we have some bad news for you: Youâre probably doing your laundry all wrong. Or, at least, we â Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, the co-hosts of HuffPostâs âAm I Doing It Wrong?â podcast â discovered we are when we recently chatted with Patric Richardson, aka The Laundry Evangelist.
Not only did Richardson reveal that the only washing machine cycle we ever need to use (and he means ever) is the âexpressâ cycle and that dryer sheets are our enemy, but he also informed us that weâre probably using our laundry detergent wrong too. More specifically: Weâre using way too much.
âI think you only need about two tablespoons of detergent [for a load], so a bottle of laundry detergent might last you a year because you only need a couple of tablespoons for your clothes to come out clean,â Richardson, the host of HGTVâs âLaundry Guy,â told us.
He likened using too much laundry detergent to using too much salt when youâre cooking.
âWhen youâre cooking and the recipe says a half tablespoon of salt, and you put it in, itâs delicious,â Richardson said. âBut if youâre like, âI love salt,â and you put in a whole cup, itâs ruined, itâs not better. So thatâs how to think about detergent: A little bit is really good, because it does what itâs supposed to do. If you add a whole lot more, you actually ruin it.â
Thereâs also a scientific explanation for why using too much detergent can mean youâre actually ending up with less clean clothes.
âThe dirt and germs come off the clothes and go into the water,â Richardson, the author of the bestselling âLaundry Love,â explained. âThey get trapped in the surfactant and then, when the rinse comes, the surfactant goes down the drain. If you use too much detergent, it canât rinse out, so the surfactant actually resettles back in your clothes, and all of the dirt resettles back into your clothes with it. So more detergent means your clothes are actually dirty.â
This is why Richardson advises we shouldnât use detergent pods.
âI donât like pods because I donât like that you canât control the amount,â he said. âYou donât need a podâs worth of detergent [to do a load of laundry].â
Richardson also gave us tips for zapping static electricity using aluminum foil, told us how to avoid pit stains using vinegar, and much more.
After youâve had a listen to the full episode above or wherever you get your podcasts, subscribe to âAm I Doing It Wrong?â so you donât miss a single episode, including our investigations of the ins and outs of tipping, how to score the best deals on airline tickets, how to apologize or vanquish your credit card debt, how to find love online or overcome anxiety, online shopping, tips for taking care of your teeth, pooping like a pro, secrets to booking and staying in a hotel, how to deal with an angry person, and more.
Need some help with something youâve been doing wrong? Email us at [email protected], and we might investigate the topic in an upcoming episode.
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Jessica Roberts is a seasoned business writer who deciphers the intricacies of the corporate world. With a focus on finance and entrepreneurship, she provides readers with valuable insights into market trends, startup innovations, and economic developments.