# Why do they sell separate detergent for "front load" washing machines? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 23, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928 "2008-06-23T16:23:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/1 "2008-06-23T16:23:52Z")
I was buying laundry detergent yesterday, and among the myriad of choices (do I want my clothes mountain fresh or should they smell like springtime rain?), I saw Tide for “front loaders”. Why should the configuration of my washing machine matter to my laundry detergent? Is this just another marketing scheme, or is there something different about how laundry is run through a front loading washing machine that calls for a different formula? (I’ll add that my ignorance may stem from a misunderstanding of what front loader actually means. I assume this refers to whether your washing machine opens from the top or from the front. Is that possibly a mistake?) ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/2 "2008-06-23T16:25:33Z")
Front loaders use a lot less water than traditional top loaders, and they need a special detergent which produces less suds. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/3 "2008-06-23T16:28:29Z")
Front loaders use less water per load, so the formulation has to be altered so that it can make suds properly. Regular detergent in a front loader tends to get extra foamy, IME. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/4 "2008-06-23T16:31:54Z")
The suds can cause [suds-lock](http://repair2000.com/neptune.htm#where) (the drain pump can’t empty the tub) in front loaders. CMC +fnord! ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/5 "2008-06-23T16:42:31Z")
I’ve got a front-loader, and never had any problems using regular detergent. ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/6 "2008-06-23T16:44:07Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] I’ve got a front-loader, and never had any problems using regular detergent. [/QUOTE] Have you had it for very long? We managed to mess up the pump on ours in about 6 months because my wife scoffed at the idea of using special detergent. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/7 "2008-06-23T17:14:18Z")
[QUOTE=elmwood] I’ve got a front-loader, and never had any problems using regular detergent. [/QUOTE] You can mitigate a lot of the risk by using substantially less detergent per load. And you’ll have to put fewer clothes in to compensate for less detergent. ---
**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/8 "2008-06-23T17:24:27Z")
Don’t top loaders usually wash at lower temperatures? (the front loaders I have used all had a 95 °C i.e. near boiling program for whites). ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/9 "2008-06-23T17:54:17Z")
[QUOTE=Pleonast] You can mitigate a lot of the risk by using substantially less detergent per load. And you’ll have to put fewer clothes in to compensate for less detergent. [/QUOTE] Wouldn’t this tend to negate the water savings associated with using a front loader? If you have to do more loads to do the same amount of clothes you’ll wind up using the same, if not more, water. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/10 "2008-06-23T18:08:54Z")
[QUOTE=Projammer] > [@Pleonast](#): > > You can mitigate a lot of the risk by using substantially less detergent per load. And you’ll have to put fewer clothes in to compensate for less detergent. Wouldn’t this tend to negate the water savings associated with using a front loader? If you have to do more loads to do the same amount of clothes you’ll wind up using the same, if not more, water. [/QUOTE] Absolutely. If someone is using a front-loader to save floor space rather than conserve water, it might make sense. Or, if they want to finish off their old detergent supply before switching to front-loader detergent. In the long run, it’s best to use a detergent designed for your washer. ---
**Author:** ![Erasmus\_Darwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@Erasmus\_Darwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erasmus_Darwin)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/11 "2008-06-23T18:51:20Z")
[QUOTE=Projammer] Wouldn’t this tend to negate the water savings associated with using a front loader? If you have to do more loads to do the same amount of clothes you’ll wind up using the same, if not more, water. [/QUOTE] On the site that **crowmanyclouds** linked in regards to suds-lock, it also mentions that front-loaders average 4 gallons per load while a top-loader can hold up to 35 gallons. So it’s possible that water consumption is still being reduced. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/12 "2008-06-23T19:32:58Z")
When I got my front-loader I actually called Proctor & Gamble and asked them about the HE detergent. The service rep explained that a) regular detergent gets too sudsy and b) I should cut the standard detergent by half and c) expect correspondingly less cleaning power using regular detergent. In other words, what everyone else said upthread. However, P&G also said HE detergent would work just fine in a top-loader, which makes me wonder why they even bother to make both types, since they’re priced the same. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/13 "2008-06-23T19:41:25Z")
I’ve got a front loader and have been trying to use less detergent. The last time I was at Wal-Mart I ran across Tide “front loading” formula and bought it. Haven’t used it yet, still using up the old stuff. I wonder which is more economical, buying the “front loading” stuff or just using half the recommended amount of the regular stuff? ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/14 "2008-06-23T19:45:20Z")
[QUOTE=Projammer] Wouldn’t this tend to negate the water savings associated with using a front loader? If you have to do more loads to do the same amount of clothes you’ll wind up using the same, if not more, water. [/QUOTE] Nope. You’re looking for a certain concentration of detergent in the water. Less water requires less detergent to get to the same concentration. We use standard detergent, just less of it. Our washer is 8+ years old now. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/15 "2008-06-23T20:27:18Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] When I got my front-loader I actually called Proctor & Gamble and asked them about the HE detergent. The service rep explained that a) regular detergent gets too sudsy and b) I should cut the standard detergent by half and c) expect correspondingly less cleaning power using regular detergent. [/QUOTE] The kicker being that half as much detergent as you normally use is more than you actually need. The “Recommended” detergent per load is absolute horseshit; they just want you using more detergent so you’ll buy more. No matter what kind of washing machine you have you should use a fraction of the amount of detergent the detergent container suggests. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/16 "2008-06-24T04:02:12Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] … However, P&G also said HE detergent would work just fine in a top-loader, which makes me wonder why they even bother to make both types, since they’re priced the same. [/QUOTE] That’s easy, 'Mericans LOVE bubbles! Think about it, would most folks use a shampoo/dish detergent/etc that never foamed up, even if it got their stuff just as clean? Soap is supposed to make bubbles, soap that doesn’t bubble doesn’t work (those cute little scrubbing bubbles is what gets stuff clean, I seen it on the TV :rolleyes: 😉 )! CMC +fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/17 "2008-06-24T04:11:59Z")
I just take my front loader and tip it up on its back side so I can save water \*and \* use regular detergent. ---
**Author:** ![Hedda\_Rosa](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hedda_rosa/32/1204_2.png) [@Hedda\_Rosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hedda_Rosa)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2008, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-sell-separate-detergent-for-front-load-washing-machines/453928/18 "2008-06-24T05:45:14Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] The kicker being that half as much detergent as you normally use is more than you actually need. The “Recommended” detergent per load is absolute horseshit; they just want you using more detergent so you’ll buy more. No matter what kind of washing machine you have you should use a fraction of the amount of detergent the detergent container suggests. [/QUOTE] Agreed. I use just a fraction of what the lid/cup can hold (and always wash on cold) and my clothing comes out very clean.