How To Know If You're Underfilling Your Washing Machine

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Most washing machines today boast high-demand features like enhanced cleaning power, improved energy efficiency, and larger capacities. There are plenty of ways to save money doing laundry with expert laundry tips for a good clean and sustainability. Whether you own a top or front loader, however, there is one thing that many householders want from their washing machine – the ability to handle large loads. But how much is a large or full load in a washing machine? And if you're filling it up, is it cleaning your wash efficiently? The easiest way to know if you're underfilling your washing machine is to read the owner's manual to accurately assess just how much you can put in your washer at one time.

No one wants to be doing multiple loads each day, and there are heavy-duty washers that ensure better cleaning in less time. If you don't own or want to invest in a heavy-duty washer, chances are you could still be underfilling your washing machine. Many people are concerned with overfilling, and end up going the opposite way. But it could be bad to underload your washing machine, so you must understand how to properly fill it to capacity. That's why your washing machine's manual is going to be the most helpful guide in determining how much to put in and achieve your best laundry results.

Your first step is to read the washing machine's manual. The guide covers and considers all factors, including the weight of the load and whether it can accommodate more clothes or items, depending on the cycle you're using. Consider keeping a scale in your laundry room to help you accurately weigh your loads, such as this SKEAP Digital Hanging Scale. This scale allows you to easily hang a bag and decide how heavy the dry load is before putting it in your machine. If you don't have your manual handy, you can go by some general load sizes. A typical load of clothes fills half of the drum, and a large load fills approximately 3/4ths of the drum. You can look up your manufacturer and washing machine brand online to locate the load sizes more accurately.

There are things everyone gets wrong when doing laundry, including load sizes. Another helpful way you can determine how much to fill your machine is by using the "hand test." You simply add in your load and fill up your machine. Once full, if you can comfortably fit your hand all the way inside to the back, then your load size is fine. You'll likely find you can add more than you realize! There are numerous benefits to ensuring that you're properly filling your washing machine to capacity. Correct load size ensures water and energy efficiency, maintains your machine, improves cleaning power, and prevents damage to clothes or other items.