TIL that most people use way too much laundry detergent

I was at the laundromat last Tuesday in Portland and watched a guy dump in like half a bottle of Tide for a single load. It clicked for me because I used to do the same thing until I read the bottle's measuring lines more carefully. The thing is, modern machines and detergents are so efficient that you only need about 2 tablespoons for a regular load. Extra soap actually leaves residue that traps dirt and wears out clothes faster, plus all that extra chemical runoff goes straight into local waterways. I checked my own usage and cut back to just a line of liquid soap and my clothes came out cleaner with zero suds leftover. Has anyone else noticed this habit change actually helps the environment a bit?

2 comments

2 Comments

alicecooper1mo ago

Half a bottle? Dude was doing science experiments.

the_matthew1mo ago

Man, that detergent thing is real. My buddy used to dump so much soap in that his whites actually turned a weird blue-gray shade from the buildup. He finally switched to the pods and stopped treating laundry like a chemistry lab.