HOW MUCH DETERGENT SHOULD YOU USE?

The use of a sufficient amount of detergent is one of the most important things you can do to make sure your wash comes out clean.

Amount required varies according to:

1.Water hardness

2.Amount of soil

3.Size of load

4.Type of detergent

5.Wash temperature

Use more detergent if you have…

1.Hard water

2.Large loads

3.Greasy or oily soils

4.Lower wash temperature

5.Low-phosphate detergent

If the recommended amount of detergent produces too many suds, switch to a lower sudsing detergent brand, and follow instructions

on package.

Using too little detergent is a common cause

of laundry problems. Always measure detergent

in a standard measuring cup.

How to use detergent— granular, powdered or liquid:

For best results, add detergent to the wash basket before loading clothes. If you load your clothes first, add detergent next to the agitator.

HARD WATER—DO YOU HAVE IT?

Before you can decide what to do about hard water, you need to know if you have it and, if so, how hard it is.

•If you live in a municipal area, contact your water company.

•If you live in a rural area, or in some suburban areas, contact your county agent.

The answer will be “you have ‘so many grains’ per gallon (3.8 liters).” This means:

0 to 3.5 grains per gallon (3.8 liters)—SOFT

3.6 to 7 grains—HARD

7.1 to 10.5 grains—VERY HARD

10.6 grains and over—EXTREMELY HARD

If your water is SOFT, you have no problem. You can use soap or detergent as you prefer and forget all about hard water. If you have HARD water—less than 10 grains—and you use phosphate detergent, you also have no problem.

But, if you have more than 10 grains, you will need to soften your water with either…

1.An installed water softener in your home, or

2.The use of a packaged water softener.

For information on water softeners, see the manufacturer’s recommendations.

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