What Happens If I Use Regular Detergent In An HE Washer?

When you shop for laundry detergents, you may notice that some are specifically labeled HE, which stands for "high-efficiency." These detergents are meant to be used with machines that share the same label. Sometimes, accidents happen, and you may have the wrong detergent and wonder if the difference really matters. In this case, the answer is yes. Using regular laundry detergent in an HE washer can damage your machine because of excessive suds and should be avoided.

This is because of the difference in how high-efficiency machines are designed. They use far less water than a traditional machine to fully clean your clothes, which is why high efficiency may be a feature you don't want to miss out on when shopping for a new washing machine. HE washers can use between 20 and 30 gallons less water per load than a traditional one. Instead of drowning your laundry in water, they gently saturate it. While this is beneficial, it can cause issues if you don't buy the right products. 

Since HE machines use less water, they are unable to handle the suds of regular laundry detergent. It's made to be rinsed out with a high volume of water that HE machines just don't produce. Because of this, HE detergent is usable in regular washers, but the reverse is not true. So if you're ever in doubt about what detergent to buy, get HE, as you can use HE laundry detergent with any machine.

The main problem with regular detergent in an HE washer is the amount of suds it produces. This, in turn, leads to all sorts of consequences. For one, it gets soap and bubbles everywhere, which means that your laundry will not get rinsed out properly. It can also lengthen the time it takes your machine to run the load.

No one wants to waste perfectly good laundry detergent. So when you get an HE washer, and you have a full container of regular detergent, you may feel like you can get by using the old stuff first. And technically, it is possible. As long as you use a very, very small amount of the detergent, you can usually avoid the overabundance of suds issue. However, continuously using soap not made for your machine can lead to long-term problems.

Too many suds is just the tip of the iceberg. It's also bad for your machine, clogging up drains. Water and residue sit in your washer longer than they should, causing mildew and funky smells. There are other possible problems that come with using the wrong laundry detergent as well, including confusing your washer's sensor so it won't run or finish a load. In some cases, if you've added regular detergent, your washer may even overflow, sending sudsy, soapy water everywhere.

If you've accidentally put in the wrong detergent and realized too late, there are steps you can take to help reduce the problems this can cause. If you catch it early enough, run a spin-only cycle followed by a rinse-spin cycle with cold water to help reduce the suds and stop as many from forming. Then, you can run a full cycle, also with cold water. You may want to include an extra rinse at the end to ensure you're getting off as much of the detergent as possible. Additionally, because the residue can build up, it may be worth cleaning your machine if you have used regular detergent in it multiple times. This prevents the development of big problems, and ensures you get as much soap out as possible before the next load.

Also, no matter what laundry detergent you have, it's a good idea to pay attention to the right amount to use based on your load size. After all, even with HE detergent, using too much laundry detergent causes more problems than you think, including residue and skin irritation. Most of the time, the manufacturer provides a suggestion on the back of the container about how much you should add per load. Or, on some washers, you can use an automatic detergent dispenser that will weigh your clothes and add the correct amount of laundry detergent.