I am using a liquid detergent and I use exactly the half of the detergent they say I should use. If a the washing machine requires 1 cup, I do half. Mostly because I don’t trust the company to put me over their interests.
Now, what will happen? Will my clothes end up staying dirty? Will it not remove stains which a full cup would have removed? Will surfexcel kidnap me and torture me for not obeying their commands? Help meeee!!
How much you need depends entirely on the hardness of your water.
If half a serving is enough to get your clothes smelling clean, then you’re using enough.
Too little and your clothes will be exposed to more friction, causing things to get pulled and rubbed more.
My newer LG with a mobile app once scolded me for using too much.
Wait, how does the detergent affect friction?
That just sounds wrong
Mix some in water and feel it.
They work by getting between the fabric and the “grime” and lifting it off. Also something to do with surface tension.
That’s a bit thin, is a lot like 'it’s totally true, bro, just try it. Anecdotal arguments.
I need some fluid dynamics here
You need someone to prove that soap is slick?
I mean that is not the main function. In a tumble drier cloathes rub against each other without any soap too, without disastrous tearing of fabrics.
Switch to powder, your wallet will thank you.
Switched from powder to liquid actually, powder wouldnt mix and leave residue, liquid is kinda easier
If you use too little, it won’t get your clothes as clean. If you use too much, your clothes will come out of the washer still with detergent in them or perhaps you’ll have issues with too much suds leaking out of your washer (or at least out of the tank portion potentially into some of the electronic components.) There’s probably a pretty wide margin of error, though, and you’d have to use a lot too little or a lot too much to see any noticeable difference, though. If you’re happy with the results you’re getting, keep doing what you’re doing. If you feel like doing some experimentation with the amount of detergent you use, hell, everybody needs a hobby.