Auto dose washing machines

geegal

I’ve got an auto dose washing machine, which washes great and saves the faff of measuring the liquid for every wash. My only issue is the auto dose bit. I know I have to use liquid detergent and conditioner but which do you use and does it matter which you use?
I’ve been buying the biggest branded detergent bottle, at the best price - and bio rather than non bio or colour, as you cannot easily change to a different detergent for each wash, although there is a separate manual detergent compartment you can use if you cancel the detergent auto dose on the menu. My thinking is, that the machine does not know how concentrated the detergent is, so pointless buying a super concentrated in a little bottle, if the machine is going to dose the same quantity, of whichever you use. Same with the conditioner although there is no separate compartment for manual conditioner so you are basically stuck using the same fragrance until it runs out (you can physically tip it out if you want to).
I’ve tried talking to my manufacturer, but they just say that concentrate is the same but with less water - I know that but does my machine?!
Any thoughts from other auto dose users?

molerat

Have you read the manual ?  Samsung lets you set the amount but only within the parameters of s / m / l dose. But no, it does not know how much to use for different concentrations.  It is designed around convenience rather than anything else.

couriervanman

What's so complicated about using detergnet in washing machine

1.....Put dirty laundry in machine
2....Set temp/wash cycle
3....Pour capful (half or full dependant on hard/soft water) detergent or Liquid capsule in machine 
4....Close door and press start button 

J_B

couriervanman said:

What's so complicated about using detergnet in washing machine
...............
3....Pour capful (half or full dependant on hard/soft water) detergent or Liquid capsule in machine

Our appliance repair guy suggested powder was less likely to 'gunk-up' the machine

couriervanman

J_B said:

couriervanman said:

What's so complicated about using detergnet in washing machine
...............
3....Pour capful (half or full dependant on hard/soft water) detergent or Liquid capsule in machine

Our appliance repair guy suggested powder was less likely to 'gunk-up' the machine

Once every month or so do a 90 degree empty wash with half a cup of white vinegar clears all gunk out

[Deleted User]

geegal said:

I’ve got an auto dose washing machine, which washes great and saves the faff of measuring the liquid for every wash. My only issue is the auto dose bit. I know I have to use liquid detergent and conditioner but which do you use and does it matter which you use?
I’ve been buying the biggest branded detergent bottle, at the best price - and bio rather than non bio or colour, as you cannot easily change to a different detergent for each wash, although there is a separate manual detergent compartment you can use if you cancel the detergent auto dose on the menu. My thinking is, that the machine does not know how concentrated the detergent is, so pointless buying a super concentrated in a little bottle, if the machine is going to dose the same quantity, of whichever you use. Same with the conditioner although there is no separate compartment for manual conditioner so you are basically stuck using the same fragrance until it runs out (you can physically tip it out if you want to).
I’ve tried talking to my manufacturer, but they just say that concentrate is the same but with less water - I know that but does my machine?!
Any thoughts from other auto dose users?

If you have a look at the bottles for laundry liquids from all the big brands and supermarket brands you will find that all of them say 30-35ml does for 4-5kg normal wash load regardless of whether the label says super concentrated or not so it won't make any difference in the auto-dose. There are some exceptions such as the 7th generation brand that suggests 22ml and that is labelled as ultra concentrated.

So my suggestion is look at the label on these various detergents that you are buying and then adjust the settings, most machines have a high / med / low dose setting for the detergent.

Same applies for the softener - the machine should have concentration settings to adjust. If your machine doesn't have adjustments, just dilute your concentrated softener with water before adding it.

If you want to be truly money saving, set it on low dose and then only increase it if you find your clothes aren't clean / fresh after washing.

Don't over think it, people have been throwing random amounts of powder / softener in machines for years without a care, the idea behind the auto-dose is convenience - it is not as clever as it makes it out to be, it doesn't know how dirty your clothes or the types of materials and colours etc, it is just a best guess of how much to use.

Manxman_in_exile

couriervanman said:

What's so complicated about using detergnet in washing machine

1.....Put dirty laundry in machine
2....Set temp/wash cycle
3....Pour capful (half or full dependant on hard/soft water) detergent or Liquid capsule in machine 
4....Close door and press start button 

Quite.

It seems to me that having an auto-dose washing m/c is just buying something expensive with an unnecessary and expensive gimmick (surplus to requirements and complicated) that can go wrong.  Like auto stop-start and electronic handbrakes in cars.

(Mind you, I'm sure people had the same reaction to "talkies" at the cinema and the ludicrous idea that people would want cameras on their phones!  Ha!  Crazy!)

[Deleted User]

Manxman_in_exile said:

couriervanman said:

What's so complicated about using detergnet in washing machine

1.....Put dirty laundry in machine
2....Set temp/wash cycle
3....Pour capful (half or full dependant on hard/soft water) detergent or Liquid capsule in machine 
4....Close door and press start button 

Quite.

It seems to me that having an auto-dose washing m/c is just buying something expensive with an unnecessary and expensive gimmick (surplus to requirements and complicated) that can go wrong.  Like auto stop-start and electronic handbrakes in cars.

(Mind you, I'm sure people had the same reaction to "talkies" at the cinema and the ludicrous idea that people would want cameras on their phones!  Ha!  Crazy!)

The OP was asking for advice on using an auto-dose machine yet a few people have replied saying auto-dosing is a gimmick or just as easy to use do it manually which is really unhelpful and not answering the question the OP asked.

This is the OP's first post and you haven't really made them feel welcome when you are just rubbishing their choice of washing machine and how they use it without any consideration for why they might be using it.

Have you considered that for some people with disabilities that auto dosing is an excellent idea?

For example my mother is losing strength and has tremors so is finding it very difficult to pick up big bottles and pour them accurately so a family member can refill the auto-dose occasionally and my mum can use the washing machine repeatedly without fear of dropping / spilling / accidents etc.

When my mother was in hospital my father had to do some washing, he has dementia and could quite easily forget to put detergent / softener in or not know how much to dose but a fully automatic machine takes all that complication away.

Just because you like to throw powder in your 1950's top loader and manually wring your clothes dry doesn't mean everyone else needs to be stuck in the dark ages of technology - have a bit of consideration and embrace new technologies for what they are.

And on the handbrake issue, my brother has a disability that means electronic handbrakes are an absolute god send so again another example of you not thinking about how technology can benefit people other than yourself - you need to open your mind a little.

getmore4less

How many these days have dirty clothes?

Maybe gym or if you do outdoor pursuits

day to day stuff is just not dirty and a lot won't even have that much organics/sweat from your body.

Set it to the lowest dose you can it will still clean your clothes..

forgotmyname

J_B said:

Our appliance repair guy suggested powder was less likely to 'gunk-up' the machine

YES!!!   We had an issue by using liquids only, over time it actually caused one of the arms holding the drum to snap.
From what I gathered the liquid does not dissolve like the powders, I thought thats silly but it turns out to be true.
The liquid had congealed in the casting on the arms and probably kept the area moist and not allowing it
to dry fully.

If using liquid only make sure you take steps to rinse the machine every now and then.

theonlywayisup

I have a Miele twindos which is a million years old and I wouldn't be without it.   I use liquid fabric conditioner and detergent and use the prescribed volumes they suggest.  The menu on the machine asks me when I set up the autodose for each and I tell it how much to use.  I don't tend to change detergent or conditioner purely because we like what we use and we have a septic tank so tend to go for Ecover rather than the normal brands.  Works for us and has done for years. 

For those that can't see the point then that's up to you but for me there is no pouring in liquids, there is no issue when I ask the OH to load the machine and there is no reside of anything in the drawer - which in a previous life meant I spent half my time cleaning it and removing the mould.  FWIW we have installed them in our holiday cottages and people love the fact they can wash their clothes whilst on holiday and they don't need to worry about detergent.  I don't worry that they use any old rubbish that will interfere with the septic tanks.