How Much Laundry Detergent Should You Use?

Determining how much laundry detergent to use is one of the most important—and often overlooked—steps of doing laundry. While a little detergent can go a long way, using too much - or adding regular soap to a high-efficiency (HE) washer - can backfire, causing issues like oversudsing, residue buildup.

This guide breaks down how much laundry detergent to use, how to measure it accurately, and how to choose the right formula for your fabrics. Read on to master your routine—for more information, check out our companion guide on how to properly wash clothes.

How Much Laundry Detergent Do You Really Need?

Using the correct amount of liquid laundry detergent or pods is crucial to making sure your clothes get clean, and your machine doesn’t produce too many or too few suds.

Understanding how much laundry detergent to use depends on 4 key variables:

Detergent type
Load size
Soil level
Water hardness

Keep reading to understand the right amount of detergent to use based on the specific type of detergent.

Laundry Detergent Guide: Types and How Much to Use

Choosing a formula that matches your routine is the first step toward easier laundry days. The second step is knowing how much laundry detergent to use, which should be based on the specific detergent type.

With powder, liquid, sheet or pod options available, you should choose a detergent that reflects your laundry needs. For instance, liquid detergent is known to pre-treat stains effectively, whereas pods and sheets are conveniently pre-measured to help prevent adding too much detergent to a load.

Use these guidelines to help determine the correct amount for each detergent type. Regardless of your choice, always refer to the packaging label for instructions.

Laundry detergent sheets: Load size and soil level should determine how many sheets to use for a load. For a regular laundry load, you can typically use one sheet.
Laundry pods: It’s often recommended to use one pod for a typical load with normal soil levels. For a larger or heavily soiled laundry load, you can consider using an additional pod or more.

Liquid detergent: Adjust the amount based on soil level and load size. Certain liquid detergents come with a measuring cup, whereas others feature pumps or easy-dose caps, allowing for more accurate measurement.
Laundry powder: Use the scoop provided in the container to measure. Don’t forget to adjust the amount of detergent based on water hardness, load size and soil level.

To further streamline laundry day, explore these washing machine hacks.

A closeup of a Maytag® washer detergent dispenser

TIPS FOR MEASURING LAUNDRY DETERGENT

Laundry detergents are available in a variety of concentration levels, making it important to measure properly for each load. It’s recommended to always review the instructions on the laundry detergent packaging to confirm usage amounts. Typically, you can measure detergent with the powdered detergent measuring scoop or the liquid detergent cap. Laundry pods and sheets offer extra convenience as they have pre-measured doses to help prevent overuse.

Additionally, use these tips to help determine how much laundry detergent to use for whatever you’re trying to wash.

Review your washing machine’s manual: Washers vary per model, and some newer models are high-efficiency (HE) and require a corresponding HE detergent Regular washers, on the other hand, can use regular detergent. Select models let you adjust your washer’s concentration level to the setting that’s best for the detergent you use.
Determine laundry load size: You can consider adding more detergent to larger loads of laundry.
Consider water hardness: Hard water contains minerals that can minimize the effectiveness of certain laundry detergents. Homes with hard water may need to use more detergent.
Consider soil level: The soil level indicates how dirty clothes are via the amount of dirt or soil on each item. Heavily soiled items often require more detergent. Keep in mind that too much detergent can reduce the friction between items during a wash cycle, which is necessary to lift stains and dirt out of clothing.
Account for Machine Type: Knowing your washer type is an important consideration to make when determining how much detergent and which type to use. HE washers require HE detergent, whereas older or standard models are compatible with most regular detergents. If you’re unsure if your laundry appliance is a HE model, look for a symbol with a lowercase “h” and “e” inside a circle on the exterior of the washer.

WHY DETERGENT MEASUREMENT MATTERS

Using the correct amount of detergent can help produce a clean load and keep laundry day moving without added stress. Using too much detergent may even end up costing you more money.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU USE TOO MUCH LAUNDRY DETERGENT?

Using too much detergent can minimize the washer’s ability to perform an effective clean and could result in it not being able to rinse laundry items as needed. This can be an even bigger issue in HE machines since they use less water and can’t rinse away excess detergent as effectively.

Other consequences of using too much detergent include:

Soap residue on clothes
Fabrics that feel scratchy or stiff
A filmy buildup inside the washer, which can contribute to mildew, clogs and extra wear

Monitor for these signs that you’re using too much laundry detergent:

The washer has developed a musty smell
The washer drum or the wash basin has a slimy feel
Laundry items have one or more of the following: blue and white splotches, a waxy finish or a patch that feels rough

If your washing machine has a residue or an unpleasant or unusual smell, read this guide on how to clean your washing machine.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO NOT USE ENOUGH LAUNDRY DETERGENT?

If you don’t use enough detergent in a load, your laundry may not get as clean and fresh-smelling as you’d like. Always use the proper measurement as directed on the detergent label and based on these factors:

Laundry load size
Soil level
Water hardness

Doing so may help get your clothes as clean as possible the first time. Also, check out these laundry tips, which can help streamline your laundry day routine.

EXPLORE MAYTAG^® WASHERS

Maytag^® washers offer the durability and performance needed to help you tackle your toughest laundry loads. Select Maytag brand washers are equipped with features like the Pet Pro System, Extra Power and Deep Fill options.