Washing Machine - Drawer or Drum for Detergent?

anotheruser

What do you use for washing clothes?

I bought an LG washing machine, which measures the load by spinning a little bit so it knows how long to wash for.
My previous washing machine didn't do this, so I used the persil rubber cups straight in the machine. I've found liquid to be the best for cleaning - I never see suds with powder.

The drawer is a little awkward to get to, but I'm worried I'm not getting even coverage on all the clothes because when detecting the load, the liquid comes out of the cup. I don't really want to put detergent in the drawer, even though the one time I did, the clothes seemed to have even coverage. I just sort of think I'll extend the life of the machine if it's only water going through the heating elements. When putting detergent in the drum I think it does coat all the clothes eventually but perhaps not the best way.

I know liquidtabs might be the solution here as they won't burst when detecting but I'm sure they work out more expensive by quite a large margin.

I know it seems trivial but just wondering.

Just as a quick point:
Liquid = £0.11 per wash.
Liquid tabs = £0.15 per wash.

getmore4less

Machines are designed to have the detergents in the drawer.

Get Aldi powder and you will be down to 5p-6p a wash 9p-10p if you use the recommended quantities.

could still use that in your ball.

are y0u using the economy washes or the quick washes?

rach_k

I don't see what difference the early slow spinning makes. The liquid has to come out at some stage - if not in the slow spin while the machine works things out, it'll come out in the first few spins of the wash as water is still being pumped in. Either way, unless it's a ridiculously short wash cycle, it'll disperse just fine. With the slow spin first, you may have a few extra seconds of detergent being sloshed onto dry clothes but everything will be thoroughly soaked soon enough. If the wash cycle is good enough to remove dirt, it's good enough to lift out and disperse only-just-sloshed detergent.

anotheruser

I suppose.
I use the selector on the washing machine. My quick wash is 15 mins, a little too quick for me.

chrisw

anotheruser wrote: »

I've found liquid to be the best for cleaning - I never see suds with powder.

Suds are a bad thing. The bubbles can not only affect the machine but they cause a cushioning effect which stops the clothes getting scrubbed properly as they tumble.

Detergents have loads of antifoaming agents added to try and prevent suds.

phill99

If you are using a cool / eco wash (30 degrees) do not use powder in the drawer. the temperature is not high enough to dissolve the powder and it will clog the drawer. What the powder manufacturers don't tell you is that powder is not designed to be used at low temps.


Always use liquid at cool temps as it will disperse through the machine quickly.

Debran

Liquids are OK for most purposes but if you want too keep your whites white you need a powder designed for whites as liquids do not contain a bleaching agent.

EssexExile

phill99 wrote: »

If you are using a cool / eco wash (30 degrees) do not use powder in the drawer. the temperature is not high enough to dissolve the powder and it will clog the drawer. What the powder manufacturers don't tell you is that powder is not designed to be used at low temps.

The water going through the drawer is cold, it's not heated until it gets in the drum.