Buzz
Unless you have endless wealth or someone dedicated to handling your household chores, chances are you’re doing laundry multiple times a month. You’d think that means you’ve mastered the art of getting your clothes spotless while optimizing time, energy, and money.
But here’s the hard truth: You’re probably making mistakes. At least, that’s what we — Raj Punjabi and Noah Michelson, co-hosts of HuffPost’s “Am I Doing It Wrong?” podcast — realized after talking with Patric Richardson, aka The Laundry Evangelist.
Richardson didn’t just school us on why the “express” cycle is the only one we ever need and why dryer sheets are a no-go—he also dropped a bombshell: We’ve been using laundry detergent all wrong. More specifically, we’re using way too much.
“You really only need about two tablespoons of detergent per load, meaning a single bottle could last an entire year,” said Richardson, host of HGTV’s “Laundry Guy.”
He compared overusing detergent to over-salting food.
“If a recipe calls for half a tablespoon of salt, it enhances the dish. But if you decide to dump in a whole cup just because you love salt, you ruin it,” Richardson explained. “It’s the same with detergent: A little is effective, but too much does more harm than good.”
Science also backs this up—using too much detergent can actually leave your clothes less clean.
“Dirt and germs lift off clothes and mix into the water,” explained Richardson, author of the bestselling “Laundry Love.” “Surfactants in detergent trap them, and during the rinse cycle, they should wash away. But if you use too much detergent, it won’t rinse out properly—causing the surfactant and all that dirt to settle back into your clothes. More detergent actually means dirtier laundry.”
That’s why Richardson advises against detergent pods.
“I’m not a fan of pods because they don’t let you control the amount,” he said. “You don’t need that much detergent for a single load.”
He also shared tips on reducing static with aluminum foil, preventing pit stains with vinegar, and more.
Struggling with something you might be doing wrong? Email us at [email protected], and we may cover it in an upcoming episode.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost.
