Can you use regular tide in he washer

Why Using Regular Detergent in an HE Washer is a Bad Idea

HE detergent was designed to work with an HE washer’s movement and water usage. Using regular detergent in an HE washer can interfere with these factors and ultimately result in short and long-term problems. We’ll detail what those problems are and how to lessen the effects of regular detergent if it’s accidentally used. But, first, here are some important facts about HE detergent.

What is HE Washer Detergent?

The main difference between regular laundry detergent and high efficiency reflects HE washer’s more efficient operation. HE detergents are specially formulated to clean clothes with lower water levels and tumbling motion unique to HE machines. 

Here’s how HE detergents work:

• Fewer suds: HE detergents don’t create as many bubbles as regular detergents.
• Suds disperse more quickly: The few suds that are created break up faster and more easily.
• Suspending stains: Both HE and regular detergent lift stains and hold them in suspension, preventing them from re-infiltrating clothes. HE detergents are designed to effectively suspend stains in lower amounts of water.

What Happens if You Use Regular Detergent in an HE Washer?

Will regular detergent ruin an HE washer? With repeated use, it could. Using regular detergent in an HE washer creates more suds. Excessive suds cause common washer problems that also affect the cleanliness of your clothes.

This is what can happen when you use regular detergent in an HE washer:

• Less effective cleaning: Excess suds interfere with the washer’s tumbling motion, creating a barrier that limits cleaning performance and rinsing.
• Buildup of residue: Suds aren’t easily rinsed away, leaving behind particles that can generate smelly mold and mildew.
• Washer damage: Overflowing and overheating can occur as a result of too many suds. 
• Decreased efficiency: The washer may use more rinse cycles to dispel suds, creating longer wash times and increased energy and water usage.

What to do if You Used the Wrong Detergent

If you accidentally used regular detergent in HE washer, don’t let the wash cycle continue. This will only generate more suds that can negatively affect your clothes and your machine.

Here’s what to do if you used the wrong detergent:

1. Stop the wash cycle.
2. Restart the washer by selecting a spin cycle.
3. Follow with a rinse/spin cycle using cold water.
4. Resume a regular wash cycle with cold water.

Even if you don’t use regular detergent in an HE washer, malfunctions can happen from time to time. When they do, r

If you bought a washing machine within the last few years, or have one that has no agitator, then you have a high efficiency (HE) washer. You might be wondering, “can I use regular detergent in an HE Washer?” The answer is very simple. No.

This can seem ridiculous or confusing for those of us who don’t often think of how our washing machines work— After all, soap is soap, right? Well, yes and no. We’ll go in-depth on frequently asked questions about HE washing detergent, including how HE machines work, the difference between regular laundry detergent and high efficiency, and more.

Detergent Details: “Can I Use Regular Detergent in an HE Washer?” and Other FAQs

The reason why you can’t put regular detergent in an HE washer is mostly due to how the machine washes clothes. A high-efficiency washing machine is meant to conserve water by doing washes with as little water as needed. This is why they don’t have agitators and are often larger— to accommodate more clothes in fewer washes. So why does the kind of detergent matter?

FAQ #1. What’s the Difference Between Regular & HE Detergent?

The difference between regular laundry detergent and high efficiency laundry detergent lies in the amount of suds it creates. Regular detergent will create much more suds than high efficiency detergent will, because the amount of water used in the wash and rinse cycles will get rid of them.

FAQ #2. Is it Bad if I Use Regular Detergent in an HE Washer?

Yes. Using regular detergent in an HE washer can cause problems, namely, by oversudsing. These suds will not be fully removed by the rinse and can confuse your HE washer, potentially leading to sudsy clothes and overflowing washing machines. But, if you’re worrying about whether or not will regular detergent ruin an HE washer, it’s not that serious of a matter— you simply need to remove the regular detergent, and you shouldn’t have any more problems.

FAQ #3. What Should I Do if I Used the Wrong Detergent?

If you notice that you accidentally used regular detergent in HE washer, the first thing you should do is cancel the wash. Then, start it again, but only at the spin cycle. Next, follow up with a cycle that is rinse and spin only, in order to remove the suds. Finally, one last wash cycle, normal this time, but with cold water in case there is any detergent left.

If you used regular detergent in an HE washer previously, and now can smell an odor, we have cleaning steps you can take when your washer smells bad. If you have any more serious washing machine issues, call Northeast Appliance Repair for a quick, professional washer repair service.

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