does anyone else dilute their laundry detergent?
i use arm & hammer & find any detergent is really strong.
but when i bring a new container home, i add water to fill it to the brim then swish it. i add more water as i empty the container & use much less than what they recommend.
i find my clothes still come out clean & smell nice but i don't need an extra rinse & my clothes don't itch.
anyone found this practice to be helpful? or am i just a cheap idiot?
@singlemaltgirl hey, I have some experience in laundry detergents.
A couple probable things: (1) you could be sensitive to the detergents in the specific product you buy, try a different brand (though I also use and like that exact brand). (2) you can try just using way less and not diluting it. Both your washer and the detergent bottle have recommended amounts, and the washer might be "high efficiency" so need much less than "standard efficiency" models.
@singlemaltgirl but, most importantly, if you are happy with how your clothes are washed and how much you spend/save on detergents, don't worry about it!
Re: "my experience" I studied molecular interactions of surfactants (soap) by degree and have worked with them extensively in my career.
I hope these tips help
@singlemaltgirl vinegar and baking soda work well and are a good "natural" cleaner if you can stand the vinegar smell.
Of course there are industrial cleaners that will do things way better, faster, are more dangerous to work with, and require less effort; but elbow grease, dish soap, baking soda (as an abrasive and a cleaner) go a long way tbh.
I'm more a jack of all trades than a master of soap, but I do love to absorb knowledge like a sponge and apply it where I can!
@RenegadeBAM oh, i don't mind the scent of vinegar. and it tends to go away rather quickly once rinsed away.
i do use some commercial cleaners but i do try to avoid the worst. i think all of this chems going down our drains.
still an interesting field of study!
Most commercial cleaners are safe with gloves and decent ventilation. But of course if you have pets, children, or otherwise are sensitive to the detergents, its definitely a good idea to stay away and keep doing what already works best for you.
I often just use dish soap warm water and a scrub brush of various stiffnesses based on what I need to clean and how bad it's stuck on!
@RenegadeBAM does water temp really have a significant effect on the effectiveness of cleaners?
@singlemaltgirl good question!
The answer lies in the viscosity of the water and it's ability to mix with and lift out the gunk that you're trying to clean.
Generally, yes hot water will be better at lifting gunk as it has increased solubility and most cleaners that interact with water interact better with hotter water.
Certain things lift better in cold water or with ice but it's more a physical interaction than a chemical one.l when that happens.
@RenegadeBAM i always wondered! anecdotally, i've found hot water seems to work better. but i;ve also been told cold water will work just as well. and since we need energy to heat water, it's energy efficient to stick w/ cold.
now i know! i'm enriched by having you in my feed. thank you! 🙏🏾
@singlemaltgirl anytime 💁♂️
@RenegadeBAM oooh, given what you studied and your speciality, how do you even use soap in your life?!?!?! you know EVERYTHING. it must change how you use things and you must laugh at all the commercials telling us we need all this stuff.
i use a lot of vinegar, baking soda, etc to clean things. i try to avoid some of the harshest chems.