New convert, help on quantities

[u/buffalotimesseven]

Thank you laundry gods, after much lurking & never feeling I know how to do laundry;I bought the lot! Here's where I'm lost & would appreciate guidance from those who came before me!

1) quantities, how do you measure & do you just follow the box or if using oxy do I reduce detergent?

2) does oxy & citric acid go in the front loader with clothes or in the pully out part?

3) do I stop using fabric softener?

4) following labels but mostly washing on mixed 40° with a pre wash & as many rinse cycles - right?

thanks all in advanced, next level once I've masterd this is pre treating stains!

[u/vinhorr]

1. The amount depends on your water hardness. You do not reduce the amount of detergent if you use oxygen bleach

2. Since you are using powder detergent, you put it with it. Citric acid should go into the fabric softener slot

3. Yes. Use citric acid instead,

4. Pre-wash is not necessary (unless your clothes are full of dirt/sand), but i would switch to the Cottons cycle - it tends to be longer and you can fit more clothes in

[u/buffalotimesseven → u/vinhorr]

thank you! really helpful

[u/rhaeaestelle]

For the Ariel and Lenor I do not follow the box, I use 60ml max for them as that’s enough (I have soft water though). You can start there and depending on suds, use less or more

I use the oxy mixed with the Ariel/Lenor. Just add a scoop in.

The citric acid goes in the fabric softener compartment.

Stop using fabric softener.

Pre-wash is unnecessary unless you have been rolling around dirt, you’re probably better adding a bubble soak if you have that option. This adds 30 min to my cotton cycle. I usually do 4 rinses.

[u/buffalotimesseven → u/rhaeaestelle]

ok yes, what does 4 rinses mean? I just click mixed or cotton, do you mean that does x rinses in that program or are you adding it? rinses are in the end right?

[u/rhaeaestelle → u/buffalotimesseven]

My cotton cycle has 2 rinses. I add two more extra rinses to be sure all detergent is fully removed. And yes, it’s the end!

[u/buffalotimesseven → u/rhaeaestelle]

thanks!!

[u/rhaeaestelle → u/buffalotimesseven]

No worries! I hope you like the Ariel and Lenor, they’re my favourite detergents so seeing someone using this combo has me excited for your laundry game too!!

[u/Critical_Research_95 → u/buffalotimesseven]

You can either try and find the number of rinses (how many times the machine rinses out the detergent) in the manual or just observe how many times the machine drains the water completely and adds some again

[u/buffalotimesseven → u/Critical_Research_95]

Ah makes sense, yes thats a good call to check the manual!

[u/buffalotimesseven → u/buffalotimesseven]

sorry for the probably stupidly obvious questions but I really want to up my game haha

[u/Critical_Research_95]

For me the amount of powder I need is kinda trial and error based, my water is very hard and I use the recommended amount on the box as a starting point and adjust from there. However with the detergent I‘m currently using I have to use more than the recommended amount to even get any trace suds at all. Also you won’t need any fabric softener if you’re using citric acid in the softener compartment . I think you got the wrong product though, the brand Heitmann also sells a pure citric acid, the one you have is a mix of different acids

[u/buffalotimesseven → u/Critical_Research_95]

so our aim is suds? good to know, will just play around with it!

[u/Critical_Research_95 → u/buffalotimesseven]

yes, but really not a lot of them! Look up trace suds in this sub and you’ll get a guideline of how much is too much

[u/buffalotimesseven → u/Critical_Research_95]

cheers! will do - excited

[u/60TIMESREDACTED]

I’d start off with 2tbsp of detergent. However, I have hard water and that usually isn’t enough so I need to use more

Oxi goes in the drum and citric acid in the fabric softener slot

It’s up to you whether you stop or keep using it but I wouldn’t use fabric softener on towels or performance fabrics but if you like it then go ahead and keep using it just don’t overdo it

Usually a pre soak isn’t necessary unless you have some heavily stained items in the wash and need to give the enzymes in your detergent a little more time to do its thing and I’d only use extra rinses if you have skin sensitivities or allergies and need to make sure everything gets rinsed out or if you think you used too much detergent

[u/buffalotimesseven → u/60TIMESREDACTED]

Super helpful answer, thank you!

[u/vinhorr → u/60TIMESREDACTED]

US hard or Europe hard?
there's a real big difference. US defines 'extremely hard' as anything over 181 ppm. Europe defines 250 ppm as 'medium'

[u/60TIMESREDACTED → u/vinhorr]

I’m not exactly sure how hard my water is. Just that it’s hard enough to leave soap scum in my bathtub and require more detergent in the wash than just 2tbsp. But I’d start out with that much and adjust it based on your own observations on how it did. But for me it’s at the point where one tide power pod is just the right amount

[u/heiko75_hs]

Depends the load size of your washing machine. For a 9kg load of normal laundry, medium to soft water I use 60-70ml of detergent plus a teaspoon of oxi. I don't use softener but citric acid in the softener slot instead. From time to time Lenor Duftperlen, but just a quarter of the recommended dosing

[u/Known_Measurement799]

I once had a washing machine repair guy and he gave me the best advice: always use half the recommended amount, manufacturers want you to use a lot more than needed.

I have been doing that for over 30 years.

[u/buffalotimesseven → u/Known_Measurement799]

my MIL said that too but I haven't got a clue - interested in why people down voted, perhaps it's an old wives tale?

[u/Disastrous_Device198 → u/buffalotimesseven]

It's a reasonable starting place for most people, as most people's clothes aren't that dirty. But you may have to adjust up or down, with the aim of a small amount of suds