I noticed, that washing machines usually start with flushing the detergent from the dispenser drawer into the drum. So I wonder, what is the difference if I put the detergent
- into the dispenser, or
- into the drum?
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Sign up to join this communityI noticed, that washing machines usually start with flushing the detergent from the dispenser drawer into the drum. So I wonder, what is the difference if I put the detergent
Putting the detergent into the dispenser drawer allows the washing machine to make sure that the detergent is mixed with water before starting the cycle.
If you just throw the detergent into the drum it can get caught up in the clothing and some of it can end up never getting fully distributed throughout the wash water.
This is more of a problem with dry powdered detergent but can also be an issue using the concentrated HE type liquid detergent with the newest washers that purport to be high efficiency through the use of minimal water.
In the olden days I can remember my mother mixing the powered detergent in water before introducing it into the old style wringer washing machine she used in our basement. She did that for the same reasons as the washers at the time only had agitate on/off and no automatically controlled water fill and spin cycles.
Mine starts with pumping any remaining liquids out of the drum, then flushes in the detergent. If the detergent is absorbed in the clothes, not poured in the bottom of the drum, there's no difference.
I'm guessing you don't use bleach, and always pick the same cycle for the most part.
The problem with bleach, and even detergent in some cases, is if you just splash a cup of bleach into the filling drum, you get a huge white splotch on your clothes whereever the bleach landed. Detergents can also have this effect.
Also, some cycles may do something before they want the detergent. An example is a pre-soak; you can get a headstart on tough dirt if the clothing is wetted for awhile before the soap arrives.