# Detergent Dosage: How Much Per Load (2026)

> Liquid, powder or pod: the right dose by load (3-18 kg) and water hardness. Full chart + overdosing mistakes.

**Published :** 2026-03-16 · **Updated :** 2026-04-26

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**Résumé :** **In a nutshell:** the right dose depends on three factors —
**detergent format** (liquid, powder, pod),
**laundry load** and **water hardness**. Always
follow the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging. When in doubt, dose
slightly below rather than above: overdosing is worse than underdosing
(residues, machine buildup, irritation). At a Speed Queen laundromat, dosing
is automatic — detergent and softener included.

## At a glance

- **Reference = packaging** — each detergent has its own concentration. This chart gives ballpark figures.
- **Three variables** — format (liquid/powder/pod) x load (kg) x water hardness (°f).
- **Overdosing does not clean better** — it leaves residues, clogs the machine and irritates the skin.
- **At SQ laundromat = automatic** — calibrated dosing, detergent and softener included.

## How much detergent to put in the washing machine

**Quick answer:** for a **normal load (5-7 kg / 11-15 lb) in average water**, use about **75 ml (2.5 fl oz) of liquid, 100 g (3.5 oz) of powder, or 1 pod**. Adjust for: **water hardness** (hard water = +20-30 %), **soil level** (very dirty = max indicated dose) and **detergent concentration** (concentrated = -50 % vs standard). **Overdosing is worse than underdosing** — residues stuck in fibres, skin irritation, machine fouling.

The 5-step protocol to dose right:

1. **Read the cap** — every brand shows 3 levels (light / normal / heavy soil) ; follow them.
2. **Adjust for water hardness** — soft water -20 % / average dose / hard water +20-30 %.
3. **Adjust for load size** — half-load = -30 % detergent (but avoid half-loads to save).
4. **Adjust for soil level** — lightly soiled = minimum dose, heavily soiled = max (never above).
5. **Pods: 1 per load** — never cut a pod (pre-measured exact ; splitting unbalances the formula).

In our [Speed Queen laundromats](/en/laundromats/index.md), dosing is **automatic and calibrated** by the machine to drum size — nothing to bring or measure (detergent and softener included). Useful for visitors or moving day when you don't have your own products.

## Liquid, Powder and Pod Dosage Chart

The doses below are **ballpark figures** based on average manufacturer recommendations. Always adjust according to your detergent's concentration (standard vs concentrated) and the specific instructions on the packaging.

| Format | Load 3-5 kg | Load 5-8 kg | Load 8-18 kg (laundromat) | Hard water adjustment (>25 °f) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Standard liquid** | 30-40 ml | 40-60 ml | 60-100 ml | +25% dose |
| **Concentrated liquid** | 15-20 ml | 20-30 ml | 30-50 ml | +25% dose |
| **Powder** | 30-40 g | 40-60 g | 60-100 g | +25-50% dose |
| **Pod / capsule** | 1 pod | 1 pod | 2 pods | Not adjustable |

> Soft water in Brittany or the Massif Central (\<15 °f), moderately hard in
> the South-West (15-25 °f), hard in Ile-de-France, the North or in Toulouse
> depending on the area (25-35 °f). Check your water bill or your local
> council's website to find your hardness. It is the variable that changes the
> required dosage the most.

> **40 ml means nothing without the concentration level.** A
> standard liquid detergent, a concentrated detergent and an ultra-concentrated
> detergent do not use the same reference point. First identify the format shown
> on the packaging, then adjust for water hardness and the real soil level of
> the load. If you're still hesitating between liquid, powder and pods, also see
> our detergent choice guide.

## Why overdosing is worse than underdosing

- **Residues in the fibres** — Excess detergent does not rinse out completely. The residues make laundry stiff, attract dust and can cause <a href='/en/blog/detergent-residue-sensitive-skin/index.md'>skin irritation</a> (eczema, itching), especially on sensitive skin and baby clothes.
- **Machine buildup** — Residues accumulate in the door seal, detergent dispenser, drain filter and pipes. The machine loses efficiency, develops odours and needs <a href='/en/blog/clean-washing-machine-guide/index.md'>more frequent cleaning</a>.
- **Excess foam** — Too much foam prevents the correct mechanical tumbling of laundry in the drum. The laundry is less well washed despite more product — counterintuitive but well documented.
- **Environmental impact** — According to AISE, 30-40% of consumers overdose. This excess represents thousands of tonnes of extra surfactants in wastewater every year in Europe.

## Overdosing: the 5 real-world problems

Detergent overdosing is the most common and most underestimated mistake. According to AISE, **30-40% of European consumers** put too much detergent in their machine. Here are the 5 real-world consequences.

### 1. Residues in the fibres and stiff laundry

Excess detergent does not rinse out fully, even with a complete rinse cycle. The remaining surfactants crystallise as they dry, making laundry stiff and scratchy. These residues also attract dust and dirt, which soils the laundry faster — a vicious cycle where you wash more often laundry that gets dirty more quickly.

### 2. Skin irritation and sensitive skin

Detergent residues in prolonged contact with the skin (underwear, sheets, pyjamas) cause reactions in sensitive people: eczema, itching, redness. It is the number-one cause of textile-related irritation identified by dermatologists. For baby clothes and sensitive skin, slight underdosing is always preferable to overdosing.

### 3. Excessive foam = less effective washing

It is counterintuitive, but **more foam = less clean**. Machine washing relies on mechanical action: the tumbling of laundry in the drum. Excess foam cushions this action and prevents the fabric-against-fabric friction that dislodges dirt. Modern machines detect excess foam and add extra rinses — lengthening the cycle and increasing water consumption.

### 4. Machine buildup

Detergent residues accumulate in the door seal, detergent dispenser, drain filter and pipes. This damp biofilm loaded with organic matter becomes a breeding ground for mould and bacteria. Result: a machine that smells bad and transfers its odours to the laundry. Machine cleaning then becomes necessary monthly instead of quarterly.

### 5. Environmental impact

Widespread overdosing represents thousands of tonnes of extra surfactants released into wastewater every year in Europe. Treatment plants do not filter out 100% of detergent chemicals. Correct dosing is a simple, immediate environmental action.

## Hard water vs soft water: the impact on dosage

Water hardness is the variable that changes the required dosage the most. It is expressed in **French degrees (°f)** and measures the concentration of calcium and magnesium.

| Hardness | Value (°f) | Typical regions | Dosage adjustment | Effect on laundry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Soft water** | \<15 °f | Brittany, Massif Central, Vosges | Reduce by 25% | Detergent foams easily, easy rinsing |
| **Moderately hard water** | 15-25 °f | South-West, Loire, Rhone | Standard dose | Good balance between effectiveness and rinsing |
| **Hard water** | 25-35 °f | Ile-de-France, North, Toulouse (some areas) | Increase by 25% | Limescale neutralises some of the surfactants |
| **Very hard water** | \>35 °f | Paris Basin, some limestone areas | Increase by 25-50% | Risk of limescale film on fibres, stiff laundry |

**In hard water**, the calcium in the water reacts with the detergent's surfactants and partially neutralises them. You therefore need more detergent to achieve the same cleaning power. Adding a **water softener** (Calgon type) or **white vinegar to the rinse** compensates without increasing the detergent dose. White vinegar dissolves limescale deposits on fibres and in the machine.

**In soft water**, detergent foams much more easily. The standard dose is often excessive — reduce by 25% to avoid residues. If your laundry comes out stiff despite a reduced dose, the problem lies elsewhere (type of detergent, insufficient rinse programme).

## How to check your water hardness

Water hardness is the variable that changes the required dosage the most. Three ways to find it:

1. **Water bill**: most suppliers show the hardness in °f (French degrees) on the annual bill or on their website.
2. **Local council website**: water quality is a public document. Search "\[town name] water quality" on Google — you will find the ARS report with the hardness.
3. **Test strips**: available at pharmacies or pet shops (approx. EUR 5 for 50 strips). Dip in tap water — the result shows in 30 seconds.

**Benchmarks**: soft water \<15 °f (Brittany, Massif Central), moderately hard 15-25 °f (South-West, Loire), hard 25-35 °f (Ile-de-France, North, Toulouse depending on area), very hard >35 °f (some limestone areas of the Paris Basin).

## Underdosing: when it is also a problem

Underdosing is less serious than overdosing, but it has real consequences for cleanliness and laundry lifespan:

- **Greying laundry**: insufficient surfactants do not remove all dirt. White laundry gradually turns grey, cycle after cycle. It is a cumulative problem: each insufficient wash leaves a thin layer of residual dirt that adds to previous ones.
- **Limescale residues**: in hard water, without enough sequestrants (anti-limescale agents in the detergent), the water's limescale deposits directly into the fibres. Result: stiff laundry, scratchy towels and a yellowish film on whites (see our guide to whitening yellowed laundry).
- **Persistent odours**: bacteria not eliminated by insufficient washing produce malodorous volatile compounds, especially on synthetic textiles that naturally retain bacteria. If your laundry smells bad after washing, underdosing is a common cause.
- **Stains not removed**: without enough surfactants, greasy stains (sebum, cooking oil, sunscreen) are not emulsified and remain embedded in the fibres. They can set permanently after a pass through the tumble dryer.

**The right approach**: follow the manufacturer's dose as a baseline, adjust ±25% according to the load and soil level. Never halve the dose "to save money" — the result will be poorly washed laundry that gets dirty faster and needs rewashing, cancelling any savings.

## Special cases

- 🧸 **Baby clothes** — Dose slightly below the recommendation and add an extra rinse if possible. Detergent residues are the number-one cause of irritation on newborn skin.
- 🏃 **Sportswear** — Overdosing worsens odours on synthetic fibres — residues feed bacteria. Dose normally and wash at <a href='/en/blog/sportswear-care-guide/index.md'>cold (30 °C)</a>.
- 🛏️ **Large loads (duvets, sheets)** — In an 18 kg machine, the water volume is larger — increase the dose proportionally. At a Speed Queen laundromat, this is handled automatically.
- 🧴 **Concentrated detergent** — Caution: ultra-concentrated detergents require 2-3x less product. It is written on the packaging but often ignored. Read the recommended dose FOR THIS detergent, not a generic dose.

## At a self-service laundromat: dosing is not an issue

At a Speed Queen laundromat, detergent and softener are **dosed automatically** by the machine. The system is calibrated for the drum size (9 kg or 18 kg) and the water volume used. The result:

- **Zero waste**: the exact amount of biodegradable professional detergent is dispensed each cycle.
- **Zero overdosing**: no residues, no stiff laundry, no machine buildup.
- **Superior rinsing**: professional machines deliver thorough rinsing and agitation suited to bulky loads. The rinse is more thorough, which removes residues even in hard water.
- **Professional formulation**: the detergents used in laundromats are formulated for high-volume machines and meet strict biodegradability standards.

This is one of the overlooked advantages of the laundromat compared to a domestic machine: dosing is no longer a source of error.

## Mistakes to avoid

> **Warning:**
> - **Doubling the dose for very dirty laundry** — increase by a quarter maximum. The surplus does not clean better and leaves residues.
> - **Using the cap without reading the markings** — dosing caps have markings. Filling to the brim = often 2x the recommended dose.
> - **Keeping the same dose when switching detergent** — each brand has its own concentration. Re-read the packaging with each change.
> - **Adding detergent mid-cycle** — detergent added late does not have time to rinse out properly.
> - **Ignoring water hardness** — in hard water, underdosing leaves a limescale film. In soft water, the normal dose is already too much.

## Dosing in hard vs soft water: the regional chart

The most overlooked dosing factor is water hardness. In hard water (25+ °TH), some of the detergent is neutralised by calcium before it can act on the laundry. The manufacturer's "soft water" dose then becomes insufficient.

In Toulouse and the surrounding area, water is moderately hard to hard (20-30 °TH depending on the area). Systematically use the "hard water" dose shown on your detergent — it is generally 25-50% higher than the soft water dose. If your detergent does not show a dose by hardness, increase by 30% over the standard dose.

At a Speed Queen laundromat, this problem is solved automatically: the professional detergent is dosed taking local water hardness into account. This is one of the overlooked advantages of automatic dosing at a laundromat, particularly useful in hard water areas like Toulouse.

**White vinegar 14° (5L)**

The ultimate multi-purpose product: natural softener, anti-limescale, deodoriser and colour brightener.

*Cet article contient des liens affiliés. Les prix et la disponibilité peuvent varier.*



## Sources and references

- AISE (International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products), data on European consumer overdosing
- [Which detergent to choose: liquid, powder or pods](/en/blog/choose-detergent-guide/index.md)
- [Detergent residues: solutions for sensitive skin](/en/blog/detergent-residue-sensitive-skin/index.md)
- [Eco-friendly laundromat: professional machine impact](/en/blog/eco-laundromat-technologies/index.md)
- [Cleaning your washing machine](/en/blog/clean-washing-machine-guide/index.md)
- [Laundry weight per garment](/en/blog/laundry-weight-guide/index.md)
- [White vinegar and laundry: uses and limits](/en/blog/white-vinegar-laundry/index.md)
- [Laundromat vs home machine: comparison](/en/blog/laundromat-vs-home-machine/index.md)
- [Homemade detergent: recipe and limits](/en/blog/homemade-detergent-recipe/index.md)
- [Washing baby clothes safely](/en/blog/wash-baby-clothes-guide/index.md)