Did you know that the consensus among appliance experts is that the #1 mistake people make with both their washing machines and dishwashers is that they add too much soap? 

According to veteran repairman Vernon Schmidt in a March 2010 New York Times article, “Nobody thinks they use too much soap.  Most people use 10 to 15 times the amount of soap they need, and they’re pouring money down the drain.” 

The fact of the matter is that later model washing machines and dishwashers, such as the models available at Hunters Trace Apartments in Memphis, have been designed to uses a lot less water than older machines and as a result, use a lot less soap. 

Repairman Schmidt even came up with a reliable test to determine if you’re using too much soap in your laundry… 

1. Take four to six clean bath towels, put them in your front-loading washing machine, or one towel for a top loader.
2. Don’t add any detergent or fabric softener. Switch to the hot water setting and medium wash and run it for about five minutes.
3. Check for soap suds. If you don’t see any suds right away, turn off the machine and see if there is any soapy residue. If you see suds or residue, it is soap coming out of your clothes from the last wash.

If you think that advice was helpful, check out more of his advice and tips at refrigdoc.com! 

(Photo Credit: jcapaldi)