Thursday, March 18, 2010

Cut Down Your Detergent Use by Half

Are you following the instructions of your laundry detergent when measuring how much soap to pour? Even if you are, you are using 2 to 4 times more than you should, says Vernon Schmidt, based on his 35 years of experience as an appliance repairman.

Mr. Schmidt, author of the book “Appliance Handbook for Women: Simple Enough Even a Man Can Understand,” tells Alice Tugend of the New York Times: “Most people use 10 to 15 times the amount of soap they need, and they’re pouring money down the drain.” He believes that you should use between 1/8 and 1/2 of recommended detergent quantities. Too much detergent costs more money, but, more importantly, encourages mildew growth in your washer and ultimately shortens its life.

So, starting today, I am cutting down my detergent use by 1/2.

Find out more tips from Vernon Schmidt and others in Alice Tugend's NYT article.

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