Page Header Page Content Page Footer
For a better experience on Tide.com, please enable JavaScript in your browser.
United States - English
Close
Please select a location
  • United States - English United States - English
  • United States - Spanish United States - Spanish
  • Canada - English Canada - English
  • Canada - French Canada - French
  • Part of the P&G Family
  • Tide Desktop Header Logo
  • Tide Desktop Header Logo Downy
  • Tide Desktop Header Logo Bounce
  • Tide Desktop HEader Logo PnG Everyday
Log in   Register
LOG OUT
Are you sure? Yes, log out
Contact Us
Live Chat
Tide
Search
  • Shop Products
    • By Type
      • Pacs
      • Liquid
      • Powder
      • Stain Remover
      • Laundry Booster
      • Machine Care
      • Fabric Care
    • By Need
      • Stain Removal
      • Odor Removal
      • Freshness/Scent
      • Whiteness
      • Bright Colors
      • Sensitive
      • Additives
      • Delicates
    • Top Collections
      • Tide Free & Gentle Collection
      • Tide Plus Downy Collection
      • Tide Sport Odor Defense Collection
      • Tide Plus Ultra OXI Collection
      • Tide Plant-Based Collection
      • Tide Plus Febreze Freshness Collection
      • Tide Simply Collection
      • Studio by Tide Collection
    • View All Products
  • About Tide
      • About Us
      • Our Detergents
      • Tide is America's #1 Detergent*
      • Loads of Hope
      • Innovation
      • Sustainability
      • Understanding High Efficiency
      • Free & Gentle Collection
      • The Sport Odor Defense Collection™
      • Studio by Tide Collection
      • Tide purclean™
      • Original Collection
      • Tide Ultra OXI Collection
    • View All Stories
  • Ingredients
      • All About Tide Ingredients
      • Keeping You & Your Family Safe
      • Caring for Sensitive Skin
      • Tide Detergent Ingredients A-Z
      • The Tide Story
    • View All Stories
  • How to Wash Clothes
      • How to Remove Stains
      • How to Do Laundry
      • Washing Different Fabrics
      • After the Laundry Is Done
      • Laundry Tips and Tricks
    • View All Stories
  • Washing Machine 101
      • Common Washer Problems
      • How to Use a Washing Machine
      • How to Use an HE Washer
    • View All Stories
  • Latest News & Coupons
      • When is #LaundryNight?
      • Tide Cleaners
      • Satisfaction Guaranteed
      • Savings Are Just a Click Away
      • Loads of Hope 
    • View All Stories
  • Home
  • How to Wash Clothes
  • How to Do Laundry
  • How Much Laundry Detergent to Use
Print This

How Much Laundry Detergent to Use

Recommended 200 Time(s) Recommend This
Share Pinterest

You're Now Leaving Tide.Com

We recommend you review the third-party site’s privacy policy, as their privacy practices may differ from P&G. Any personal information you provide on the third-party’s website will be managed in accordance with their privacy policy. Thank you for visiting Tide.com

I agree that I'm only sharing with family and close friends. Please check the disclaimer checkbox to proceed. Please check the checkbox to proceed.

Please click the link below

Share on

E-mail This

Share This by E-Mail

How Much Laundry Detergent to Use

There are # errors in this page
Email Service Unavailable
   
   
   
   
Send
Cancel

E-Mail Sent Successfully

Your e-mail has been successfully sent to the recipient.

Continue

Ever seen white residues on your clothes after washing and thought... “I’ve used too much detergent in that load!” Well, not necessarily! Despite the evidence, chances are that you’ve actually put too many clothes in the load rather than too much detergent.

Doing the laundry is a little more sophisticated than eyeballing how much detergent you need and turning the machine on. Using too little or too much detergent often leads to poor laundry results. Whether it’s the washer you’re using or the size of the load, not all laundry is created equal, so it’s important to get the right dosing for your wash.

For example, take a high efficiency (HE) washing machines. Since they use less water, putting in too much laundry can soak up all the water so there isn’t enough to completely dissolve the detergent.

How Much Should I Use?

The key facts to consider are:

  1. How dirty the clothes are
  2. Size of the load
  3. Water hardness

It is important to dose correctly, since under- or overdosing can result in poor cleaning and stain removal.

  • Dirt levels: The more heavily soiled your clothes are, the more detergent you will need to use in a load. This helps to remove dirt and prevent it from going back onto your clothes.
  • Drum size: Detergent dosage directions are based on the drum size of a conventional washing machine, but machines are always getting bigger so if you have a new washing machines, it may have a bigger drum. Larger wash loads bring in more dirt, so to get great results on every wash you need more detergent.
  • Water hardness: Water hardness varies throughout the country. To get the best results, people in hard water areas need to use more detergent.

What Dosage Should I Use?

Pacs:

To make life easier, try the pre-dosed laundry pacs, like Tide PODS® for extra convenience.

First, insert the required number of pacs based on your load size, then fill your washer with your laundry and turn the machine on.

Dosage instructions:

  • For medium size loads, insert 1 laundry pac.
  • For larger or heavily soiled loads, go ahead and use 2 pacs.
  • For extra-large size loads, go ahead and use in 3 pacs.

Dosage Instructions image 1

Liquid:

If you’re focused on effective stain removal then opt for a liquid detergent, like Tide Ultra Stain Release Liquid. Liquid detergents are great for food, grease or oil stains, and are especially good for spot treating. You can easily use the cap to measure the dosage.

Dosage instructions:

  • For medium loads, fill the cap to bar 1, or to bar 2 for Plus Collection.
  • For large loads, fill the cap to bar 3, or to bar 4 for Plus Collection.
  • For HE full loads, fill the cap to bar 5. 

Then simply add clothes, pour detergent into the dispenser, start washer.


How to dose liquid detergent image 2

Liquid measurement instructions for the Tide Plus collection image 3

Powder:

For those everyday stains and smells, powder is a great option. Make sure you get the dosage right when you use a powder detergent, like Tide Powder.

Dosage instructions: 
Measure the powder out with the scoop.
  • For medium loads, fill the scoop to bar 1, or to bar 2 for Plus Collection.
  • For large loads, fill the scoop to bar 3, or to bar 4 for Plus Collection.
  • For HE full loads, fill the scoop to bar 5.

Then, start washer, add detergent, then add clothes.


How to dose powder detergent image 4

Powder measurement instructions for the Tide Plus collection image 5

Usage Instructions: Read and follow care label instructions, then sort. Always test and inside seam for colorfastness.

Always check the dosing instructions of the detergent You're using.

Want to Know More?

Watch our video on how to use Tide PODS® for the best results!


Make sure you get the best out of your liquid detergent. Watch our video on how to use Tide’s liquid detergents:


Help your powder detergent work for you. Watch our video on how to use Tide’s powder detergents:

Related Products

  • Tide PODS Laundry Detergent Original Scent
    Quick View

    Tide PODS® Laundry Detergent Original Scent

    Rating
    Rating Stars
    ( 4251 )
  • Tide Ultra Stain Release Liquid Laundry Detergent
    Quick View

    Tide Ultra Stain Release Liquid

    Rating
    Rating Stars
    ( 247 )
  • Tide Plus A Touch of Downy Powder Laundry Detergent
    Quick View

    Tide Plus A Touch of Downy Powder

    Rating
    Rating Stars
    ( 11 )

Related Articles

Find Out Everything You Need to Know about Your Detergent

How to Wash Whites

Tips and Tricks on how to wash Colored Clothes

How to Read Laundry Symbols

Your Comprehensive Guide on How to Do Laundry

  • Fun ways to connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube

Shop products

  • By Type
  • Pacs
  • Liquid
  • Powder
  • Stain Remover
  • Laundry Booster
  • Machine Care
  • Fabric Care
  • By Needs
  • Stain Removal
  • Odor Removal
  • Freshness/Scent
  • Whiteness
  • Bright Colors
  • Sensitive
  • Additives
  • Top Products
  • Tide PODS® Odor Defense™
  • Tide Odor Rescue™
  • Tide PODS® Original
  • Tide PODS® Plus Febreeze
  • Tide Original Scent HE Liquid
  • Tide Free & Gentle Liquid

Help & Support

  • Contact Us

Washing Machine 101

  • Common Washer Problems
  • How to Use a Washing Machine
  • How to Use an HE Washer
  • Smart Label For ingredients and more,
    select a product.
  • Related
  • P&G Brands
  • |
  • MrClean
  • |
  • Downy
  • |
  • Bounce
  • |
  • P&G Everyday
  • USA Olympics
  • Good Housekeeping Better Business Bureau Junk Food Clothing Tide Cleaners
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy
  • AdChoices AdChoices
  • Sitemap
  • © 2019 Procter & Gamble
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Data
Close

Close