Why Mixing Laundry Detergent And Softener Before You Do A Load Is Actually Counterproductive

Laundry is definitely some people's least favorite chore, and there are plenty of clever ways to make it seem a little less daunting or taxing. For instance, the Dollar Tree sink mat could cut down on laundry time. However, some popular TikTok laundry hacks should be avoided at all costs. One trend, which suggests combining your detergent and your fabric softener, may be the opposite of helpful. These products are meant to be added to your load separately for a reason, mainly because one is for cleaning and removing dirt while the other provides a layer to soften fabrics. Using both of these at the same time could either wash away the fabric softener or make the detergent less effective.

Laundry detergent is made to remove dirt, grime, and oils from your clothing, effectively cleaning them during the first cycle of your laundry process. While every detergent is different, the chemicals and ingredients are all made to ensure clothes come out fresher, brighter, and obviously cleaner. Detergents are made to clean and remove dirt and oils when paired with agitation and water temperature, and combining them with fabric softener can make them less effective. Fabric softener is made with the intention of adding it later in the cycle. Fabric softener does not offer the cleaning properties that detergent does but is rather used to soften fabrics after they are cleaned.

Mixing your laundry detergent and fabric softener would be counterproductive. Fabric softeners often produce a layer or film over clothing, which could prevent your detergent from removing the dirt and oils the way it's meant to. While it might seem like this combination is just cutting out an extra step, it could actually leave clothes much dirtier and harder to clean, requiring another cycle or rewash to penetrate the fabric softener and reach the grime in the fabric. Your detergent could also render the fabric softener ineffective by washing it away before it has a chance to soften the material. Either way, this combination is not the household hack you've been waiting for.

If you want to use fabric softener, add your preferred detergent into the right compartment, then add your softener into the allocated fabric softener dispenser in your machine and start the cycle. Placing it in the right compartment is important because the fabric softener will be dispensed during the rinse cycle after the clothes have already been cleaned. If your washing machine does not feature a fabric softener dispenser, you can allow your cycle to run until the rinse portion, then drop some of your softener into the water so that it properly mixes without leaving behind stains or too much residue. Alternatively, if you prefer to use less chemicals, you can always add baking soda or vinegar instead, laundry hacks that will leave your clothes smelling fresh.