What is best for the washing machine

Look at the packaging of the detergent you buy to see what the optimum temperature is for washing. Many detergents have a temperature at which they do their work best and thus remove stains better.

Clean the washing drum regularly. This can be done manually, but also by running the washing machine at 90-95°C with lemon juice and/or vinegar.

Clean the drain system once every few months. After a number of years, a new drain system is recommended, as residues cannot always be removed properly and a blockage or poor water flow can affect the quality of the washing machine.

Pay attention to the dosage of detergent. A common mistake is overdosing, which leaves detergent in the clothes and in the washing machine drum.

Clean the dispensing tray and air it out between washes to prevent unpleasant odours.

Use actual detergent for white, coloured and black laundry. This is there for a reason. White detergent should not be used for black laundry which has to stay black, because it contains a bleaching agent.

Is liquid detergent or washing powder better for the washing machine?

There is ambiguity as to whether liquid or powder is better for the washing machine. The majority of online sources pleads in favour of powder, because it stays behind less on the drum. This would result in less bad smells in the washing machine and it is better for maintaining the quality of the washing machine drum. Keep in mind that powder can also stay behind in the washing machine, especially in the dosage bowls. It is good for the washing machine to clean these trays after every wash, to prevent build-up and chunks. This can also be prevented to a large extent by avoiding over dosing. Too much detergent is never good, not for your clothes and not for the washing machine. It will stay behind in the drum and accumulate. This increases the chance of bad smells and the chance of residues and accumulation in the drain hoses. Using both liquid detergent and liquid softener frequently is also not advisable, because you then add twice as much liquid detergent to a wash that does not contain twice as much water. The ratio of water to detergent is then altered and this causes more to be left behind, which is not advantageous for the washing system. You can imagine that the detergent will not be able to dissolve sufficiently. It is advisable to flush the drain once every few months to prevent clogging, but by limiting the amount of detergent used, you can prevent a lot of trouble.

What is best for the laundry

Powder is advised when there are stubborn stains in the clothing. Powders should wash better, and remove stains better. Powders for white laundry have a bleaching agent in them, and they also clean well. Powders, on the other hand, have the disadvantage of leaving more residue in the clothes, which is not ideal for dark laundry as this can cause stains. Sometimes an extra rinse is needed to remove excess powder. It doesn’t matter how much detergent you use, both variants have dosing agents to add the right amount to the wash. In terms of ease of use, a tablet would be the most ideal as it is already dosed and you simply add it to the wash, the film will dissolve in the water. An advantage of liquid detergent is that it does its job sooner, because it doesn’t need to be dissolved. And thus works faster on a short program. On the other hand, liquid detergent is often more expensive, can remain in the drum and cause unpleasant odours.