Laundry Tips And Tricks To Prevent Overloading Your Washer

Imagine spending a weekend doing laundry only to realize that the loads didn't get as fresh and clean as you expected. This might be due to the way you filled the drum of your washing machine. Was it brimming to its rim, barely breathing under the weight of your entire wardrobe? One of the dangers of overloading your washing machine is that your clothes won't get properly washed. And unless you address the issue, this wasted time doing washing and ending up with disappointing results could turn into a weekly occurrence.  

Worse yet, your washer might become due for expensive repairs or early replacement. This is because when the drum is bursting at its seams, the washer's motor, bearings, and other mechanical components experience strain. So, not only are you wasting water, electricity, and time repeating less-than-clean loads, but you're also putting unnecessary wear and tear on your machine. Luckily, overloading is one of the laundry mistakes that are surprisingly easy to fix. All you have to do is make sure you aren't overloading the drum so your cycles are more effective. Unsure how to go about it? Here's a quick roundup of various laundry tips and tricks you can employ to avoid overburdening your washer. 

Don't just assume that the capacity of your laundry basket is the same as your machine's. A standard washer can generally hold between 12 and 16 pounds of laundry, while bigger machines can stretch their capacity to 25 pounds. One way to prevent overloading is to weigh a few loads to get a clearer idea of the correct size for your machine. Scoop your dirty linens into a trash bag and place it on a scale. Compare this digit to the washer's load capacity listed in the owner's manual. If you can't find yours, search for a digital copy with your washer's brand and model number. If the weight of the load surpasses the capacity, remove a few pieces from the bag until it's within range. Then, place the clothes in a laundry basket and mark where it's filled to with a Sharpie. This will give you a ballpark idea of the right size load without having to weigh it each time.

If your washing machine supports multiple load settings, such as regular, large, and extra-large, these likely correspond to about 6, 11, and 21 pounds of weight. So, find these weights and mark your laundry baskets accordingly, especially if you tend to use smaller settings for loads like delicates. If that feels complicated, buy a laundry sorter, like the Hoobro Laundry Hamper with Wheels, and mark different load capacities in each bin. 

If you aren't instantly put out at the thought of crunching numbers, this nifty laundry tip is for you. Essentially, each clothing category can be defined by its average weight. For instance, a bath towel weighs about 1 1⁄2 pounds, while a full-size bedsheet is roughly 1 1⁄4 pounds. Likewise, a twin comforter and a king-sized quilt can tip the scale to 4 and 8 pounds, respectively. So, when you're running a category-specific load, you can simply count the number of items until their total weight approaches the washer's load capacity.

For example, let's say you're running a load of towels in a washer with a load capacity of 12 pounds. This means you can put about eight towels (8 x 1 1⁄2 pounds = 12 pounds) into the drum. Naturally, you can put in more items if your washer has greater capacity. However, always round down (rather than up), as these large items can get bulky when wet. Then, follow the same rules for loads of sheets, blankets, and comforters. 

Think you've got an eye for things? How about putting it to the test on laundry day? Generally, the biggest giveaway that a washer is overloaded is when the load pushes past 75% of the drum's total capacity. That's because this leaves little space for the machine to toss and tumble the clothes, often leaving them stiff and unclean.

So, stop loading your machine when it appears ¾ full. You don't have to bring a measuring tape out — just eyeball it. Anything past that level should go into the next cycle. However, if you're running the washer on a regular load setting (that often only goes up to 6 pounds), stop when the appliance is ½ full. For a more traditional washer, you can simply use the agitator's height as your cut-off point and make sure items can fit loosely within the drum without going higher than the bottom of the plastic top of the agitator. 

Another simple trick to avoid overloading your washing machine is to employ the hand test. This works for both top-loading and front-loading machines. After loading your laundry, place your hand vertically inside the drum atop the pile of clothes. If your hand fits comfortably in the space between the top of the drum and the pile (with room to spare), your load size is appropriate. However, if you face trouble getting your hand in or moving it around, your washer is likely overloaded. Under such circumstances, split the load by removing a few items.

The hand test works because there should be a gap of at least 6 inches between the drum's top and the load of clothes so the water and detergent have space to work their cleaning magic. Not to mention, it minimizes the fiber-damaging friction that your clothes experience from rubbing too tightly against each other. If your hand is smaller than average, simply splay out your fingers a little when doing the hand test. 

To prevent overburdening your washing machine, there are a few important steps you shouldn't skip before starting a load of laundry. One of these is fluffing up the dirty pile. Generally, when you wait until the weekend to wash your laundry, you end up compressing the dirty garments as they pile up every day. This is especially problematic if the basket holds damp athletic wear. Compacted loads don't consume as much space, giving you the false notion of the washer being optimally loaded.

That's why you should loosen all the dirty items, even more so if they include bulky things like sheets, blankets, or duvet covers. Aim to put garments in one at a time, shaking each item out as you go. Also, not paying attention to how the items are arranged inside the drum is a mistake that many make when using top-load machines. As these washers use limited water, it's important that you place the clothes in loose piles evenly around the drum's walls (and not in the center). Otherwise, they won't be able to get fully cleaned since their access to water is restricted.

You might have learned to separate clothes by color after a lone red sock transformed your crisp white shirt into a pretty pink. However, many make the laundry-sorting mistake of not considering the fabric which is just as vital. The reason? Fabrics differ in their weight and volume. For example, if you're throwing in multiple pairs of denim jeans, they'll consume most of the drum space (and weight capacity) quickly. In contrast, gauzy cotton or silk garments (think sleepwear and other delicate items) won't take up much room and will likely need a different wash setting. 

Given such differences, it's ideal that you sort your laundry by fabric and wash each general type in separate loads. Or, if you need to run a mixed load, take the differing weights of the garments into account and try and balance them while staying under the washer's capacity. Be cautious about the loading sequence while doing this. Start by placing the heavier pieces on the bottom and add lighter materials on top. While adding heavy items, take care that no single item measures more than 6 ½ pounds (maintain a cut-off point of 4 pounds for wool items) because they get heavier once wet.

Another neat trick to avoid overloading your washing machine is to check the timer. To elaborate, some newer washer models show the estimated time to completion once they've been fully loaded. Essentially, these washers undergo an "initial sensing" exercise where the washing plate inspects the drum and estimates the laundry's weight before the water starts filling. Based on the data it gathers, it displays the expected time to complete the cycle.

Usually, a normal load cycle running with warm water takes about an hour to finish. So, if the timer on the screen reflects a higher number, that's a strong indication that you've overfilled the drum and you must remove some items. You can follow the same principle for other settings, such as heavy-duty cycles that may take over 75 minutes or quick-wash cycles that usually terminate in under 30 minutes.

We are all guilty of cramming an extra T-shirt (alright, or three) into the washer to get through the week's laundry. But rather than overfilling your washing machine and risking its performance, a better way forward is to split the laundry into smaller loads. Before you complain about wasting precious time, check your washer for quick-wash settings and put them to use. Typically, quick washes take about 15 minutes for every load, though they may go up to 1 hour for bigger ones. Even in the worst-case scenario, they consume less time, energy, and water than a regular cycle.

However, there are a few notable caveats. Quick-wash settings don't work with regular-size loads and are usually limited to about 4 to 8 pounds (check your washing machine's instruction manual for its exact quick-wash capacity). Also, some of these cycles don't get hotter than about 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the wash cycle, making them inappropriate for things you want to sanitize, like sheets and towels, or heavily soiled items. In short, this tip works best when you're looking to quickly refresh lightly soiled garments.