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.