How Do You Use Liquid Detergent?

Using liquid detergent is straightforward for both washing clothes in a machine and tackling tough stains beforehand. It serves as a versatile tool in your laundry routine.

Liquid detergent is primarily used to clean clothes by adding it to your washing machine's dispenser or directly into the drum, depending on your machine type. It can also be applied directly to fabrics to pretreat stains before washing.

General Use in the Washing Machine

For most laundry loads, you'll add liquid detergent to your washing machine.

Here's how:

1. Check the Care Label: Always check the care label on your garments for specific washing instructions regarding temperature and cycle type.
2. Measure Your Detergent: Use the cap of the liquid detergent bottle to measure the correct amount based on your load size, water hardness, and how dirty your clothes are. Follow the guidelines on the detergent packaging for best results.
3. Add to Machine: Pour the measured detergent into the designated dispenser drawer (common in front-load machines) or directly into the drum before adding clothes (common in some top-load machines), or follow your machine's instructions.
4. Load Clothes and Start: Add your clothes to the machine, close the door/lid, and start the appropriate wash cycle.

Pro Tip: To ensure you get all the detergent out of the cap and keep it clean, toss your detergent cap into the washer drum with your clothes to clean off any detergent residue.

Pretreating Stains with Liquid Detergent

Liquid detergent is excellent for targeting specific spots before a full wash.

To pretreat stains:

1. Review Care Label: Make sure to check the care label on the garment to ensure it can be safely washed and pretreated.
2. Apply Directly: Apply detergent directly to the stain.
3. Rub In: Gently rub detergent into the fabric using your fingers or a soft brush.
4. Let Sit (Optional): For tough stains, you can let the detergent sit on the stain for a few minutes (check the detergent instructions for recommended time).
5. Wash as Usual: Place the pretreated garment into the washing machine and wash according to its care label, using the appropriate amount of detergent for the load.

By following these steps, you can effectively use liquid detergent to clean your clothes and tackle stubborn stains, leading to fresh and clean results every time.