Whatever your opinion on doing laundry, chances are you may be doing something wrong. I don’t mind laundry at all, but I have noticed that the ultra-concentrated bottle of laundry detergent I use never lasts for 32 loads like the bottle says. And I think that’s all my fault. Sometimes I measure, and sometimes I guess.
According to a new Wall Street Journal article, we’re overdosing on laundry soap! The article, “The Great American Soap Overdose” by Ellen Byron, explains how we’re pouring too much soap for today’s high-efficiency machines and ultra-concentrated detergent.
To help solve the problem of over-detergenting (and resulting dingy clothes and smelly machines), Protector & Gamble is coming out with new, easier-to-read measuring caps for their detergent brands, including Tide, Cheer, Gain and Era. Come to think of it, I’ve always wondering why you have to hold those things right up to your face to see what’s what!
The makers of the popular detergents have said the new caps will feature measurement lines that are better defined with bigger, staggered (not stacked) numbers.
You may have noticed that laundry detergent measuring caps often hold much more detergent than you need. In a report last summer, Consumer Reports blamed the poor design of laundry caps for measuring woes.
Whether caps are designed to intentionally dupe consumers is up for debate, but you can squash your detergent overdose habit by paying more attention. If you don’t feel comfortable with the lids provided for measuring, use your own measuring cup. Your clothing and wallet may thank you!
To learn more about possible laundry errors you’re making, mouse around on the fun interactive illustration at WSJ.
(Image via stock.xchng)
Post from: Blisstree