Why HE Detergent In Frontload Washers And HE Top Load Washers?
Have you ever wondered why HE detergent is better or why manufactures recommend
using this type of in frontload washers and high efficiency washers? This page
will explain why. HE stands for high efficiency and in order for frontload
washers and high efficiency washers to clean clothes effectively you must use HE
(high efficiency) detergent. This type of detergent is not limited to frontload
washers or high efficiency washers; it can also be used in top-loader washers as
well. However, it will not increase the effectiveness of (non HE) top-loading washers.
The only advantages to using this type detergent in top-loading washers is that
you eliminate the chance of the washer leaking due to too much soapsuds and you
can use less detergent with the same effectiveness.
Why Is HE Detergent Better?
The biggest
difference between the two detergents is that the HE doesn’t create soapsuds and
the regular detergent does. This is the reason HE is better. With regular
detergent a certain percentage of the detergent forms soapsuds, which float on
top of the water. Since none of the clothes are floating on top of the water
these soapsuds do not contribute to cleaning the clothes. HE detergent doesn’t
create any soapsuds; therefore 100% of the detergent is in the water where the
clothes are. Thus 100% of the detergent contributes to getting the clothes
clean. This means that you can use less detergent with the same effectiveness.
Why Use HE Detergent?
As I stated before in order for frontload washers and high efficiency washers to wash clothes effectively, you mush use HE detergent.
The soapsuds created by regular detergent hamper the washing action of these washers. We have always known that in order to get clothes clean they must rub up against something.
This goes back as far as we have washed clothes even before washing machines. First we would rub our wet clothes on a rock then we got real fancy and invented a washboard. When washing machines first came out all they did was wash clothes by agitating them back and forth making them rub against the side of the tub, each other and the agitator.
Once this was done you
had to run them through a ringer to squeeze the water out. Then they came out
with washers that would spin out the water but the washing action was still the
same and the same washing action is still used today in top-loading washers.
With this type of washing action the clothes are completely submerged in the
water so it didn’t matter if soapsuds were there or not.
With frontload
washers and high efficiency top-load washers the clothes are not completely submerged in
the water so the soapsuds can act like a cushion between the clothes and the tub
so you are not getting the rubbing effect. Thus the clothes are not going to get
clean, as they should.
Frontload washers tumble the clothes like a dryer.
The washer tub is turned slow so that there is not enough centrifugal force to
hold the clothes to the tub so when the clothes get to the top they fall to the
bottom of the tub. The washing action is when they fall and hit the bottom of
the tub. If there are soapsuds in between the tub and the clothes the soapsuds
will cushion the fall hampering the wash action.
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