HE Washers

**chowder** · 04-09-2011, 10:10 AM

We are still looking at washers,want to really be sure this time to get a suitable one.The front runner right now is the Maytag Bravos.While looking at this one it says to only use HE detergent.
So there is no sense in stocking up on detergent until I see if in fact I buy this washer.
Do you really have to use the special HE detergent?

**HappyMama** · 04-09-2011, 11:38 AM

I have added a second laundry room with an HE unit from Sweden, that is HE. I use my homemade laundry soap recipe which actually is an HE ( fine) low sudsing. It works perfect in both sets of machines the HE and the regular. My clothes come out cleaner, and smelling great compared to store bought. Just thought I would put this up for your consideration. It is a dry version of many on here. I do add salt to my recipe as I have hard water here and that solves it.

In my Swedish model they don't have an compartment or want chlorine liquid bleach so I make my own Oxygen bleach as color safe is fine in it.

**imagine** · 04-09-2011, 11:41 AM

My HE washer was bought in 2002. It said use only HE detergent. the man who installed it said we didn't have to Just use less of the regular detergent. He said the HE liquid detergent is basically watered down regular detergent.

We have used 1/8 cup of the powder Deft from day one. No problems from the detergent at all.

We only use dreft because of allergies

**MaryCarney** · 04-09-2011, 11:53 AM

You absolutely do NOT have to use HE detergent - I've owned a front-loader for 17 years, and I have always just used 1/2 the amount of regular liquid detergent (the cheap stuff).

**DeliaDawn** · 04-09-2011, 12:23 PM

I have had an HE for over two years. Having a water softener, it was really hard to get the right amount of HE detergent without having too much. Even though it's a low-sudsing detergent, you can still get too much and if you throw clean towels in and nothing else and run it through a cycle, you can see the excess soap coming out of them. I only need about a tablespoon of HE detergent. Lately, I've been using a sample of Charlie's Soap a friend sent me and I will probably be buying some. Half of a scoop works great!

Too much soap can be bad for the machine and clog parts is what a repair man told me.

**Josephhgoins** · 04-09-2011, 01:31 PM

I use the HE which now is about the same price as the regular. I know Purex and a couple of other brands now say they are safe for all washers.

If you watch sales and coupons you can still keep your detergent costs as low as with standard top loader detergent.

**Telephus44** · 04-09-2011, 01:32 PM

I have one. I use the whatever regular detergent is cheap or on sale, but only a teeny tiny amount. Every 3 months I run it on the "clean washer cycle" on the chance that there might be some soap build up. Never had any problems.

**MissSeetonFan** · 04-09-2011, 03:23 PM

We have an HE and all we do is open up the compartment and tip in just a little bit of liquid detergent - about a tablespoon. We haven't noticed anything not getting clean. It makes stocking up on detergent easy. One bottle lasts about 6 months

**IndigoMom** · 04-09-2011, 04:18 PM

I do the same as HappyMama - 2T of the HM powder detergent, no residue build up in the dispenser, and it's MUCH more economical than the store bought HE detergents.
Too much sudsing from regular doses of normal detergent can wear out the band that turns the tub, so low sudsing -how ever you get it - is needed.

**paintedsky** · 04-10-2011, 10:10 AM

I wouldn't risk it. If the machine breaks down and it's determined the cause is residue build up from regular detergent, it voids the warranty. You would think watered down detergent would be the same as HE but it is not, it still will create suds and wears down the machine quicker in the long run. HE also has concentrated anti-sudsing agents in them, it isn't a watered down product. Just my opinion, especially if you have a more expensive front end loading machine to consider.