Washing powder query

[sapphire54925]

So I bought this powder today as I'm pretty sure I read that I can pour the powder straight into the main bit of the machine so literally ON the clothes and then when the machine starts it'll swirl round and wash everything and comes out nicer - this is as opposed to putting it in the drawer. Is this correct? If so how much powder do I use roughly, does it come with some sort of measuring spoon?

It doesnt go straight into the drum with the washing, it goes in the drawer along with the fabric softener ?

I put powder in a little measuring cup ( I think it was with an M&S bottle) straight sides .

Most people recommend dosing less than the box says .

I put in in the drum too .

So I have 2 conflicting answers here as to whether It goes in the drum or not?!

When u say a measuring cup that could be any size so roughly how much powder will I need and do u know if these powders come with the little cups

I used to put the washing powder in the drum, I used to use about half a shot glass (yes really) of powder.

I use a yoghurt pot as a scoop. One scoop for a full load. You can stick it in the drawer or the drum 🤷

I put my powder in the drum in one of those liquid detergent dosing balls that used to come on top of the bottles but yes, you could just sprinkle on top. The packet will tell you how much to use & you could keep a kitchen measuring spoon by the machine to add it with.

It washes perfectly well that way

(I only ever use the drawer for fabric rinse)

I put my powder straight in the drum.

Use about 2 tablespoonfuls.

I'm not sure about putting it in the drum instead of the drawer, the machines are usually designed to take the detergent from the drawer. I'm not sure putting it directly on the clothes would achieve a better result.

The drawer only gets gunked up if you use too much.

I have found the powder can solidify in the drawer (especially if I use Astonish with it) .

Fairy is quite a high lather powder anyway ( I don't use it myself )

What do you normally use ?

The powder I have at the moment ( Sains / Waitrose own brand) says 45-60ml for light-heavy soil ( hard water) , I use maybe 40ml in the dosing cup .

I always use fairy but just switching to powder as I hear it's better cheaper

I put mine directly into the drum although the powder I use (Lidl) says on the box not to do this. I don't find that it causes any problems with my laundry though and it keeps the drawer gunk free. The box should say how much to use in either mls or gms. I measure it out into an old plastic pot and Mark on with a sharper and use that as a measure, although after a while you can probably measure it by eye.

In the drum .

Quite often the box will have a number to contact so you can send off for a scoop.

I also use Lidl Formil powder and never had a problem with it gunking up the drawer. I use a (approx large egg shaped) scoop that came with a box of Vanish Oxy powder, roughly 3/4 full for a full load. I def don't use the 'recommended' amount as feel it's wasteful as clothes are not mingling dirty. And of course they want you to use the 'recommended' amount as you will go though it faster and rebut quicker.

If I have a truly dirty, dirty item that needs washed, I will wash it on it's own with perhaps the amount I would use for a full load. But that rare.

Why are people putting it in the drum directly?

@FlamingoAndJohn

Why are people putting it in the drum directly?

Because the drawer gets full of gunk when I put it in there

Judging by this thread I'm using way too much powder!

I put it in the drawer.

It says on the box how much to use. I usually halve it though. It's fine in the drawer or drum, it doesn't matter.

It’s meant to be put in the drawer so it mixes with water before meeting clothes to avoid the risk of spots (powder) not mixing quickly enough with water to dilute so sitting on clothes, and if, say you had your then boyfriend Favourite navy blue cotton jumper in the wash, and you hadn’t quite realised why anyone invented separate colour detergent, it could end up with loads of little red splodges all over where the powder bleached the colour. The jumper had to go in the bin. Then you would have to deny all responsibility or knowledge of how or when it could have happened...

Personally I now use colour liquid and then big box powder for whites, and use about half what it says. I use an old dosing cup thing off the top of a (liquid) bottle of something from years ago - it’s about the size of a persil liquid cup. One scoop with the cup 2/3 full is about right.

I read on here big box powder is better for the machine (no idea if that’s true). I do like the smell though - seems fresher than liquid. I use aeriel, daz or surf powder.