Dosing detergent by water hardness

Short answer: The pack gives three doses for soft, medium and hard water. Look up the hardness where you live and use the right one, not the middle one.

Why hardness matters

Limescale in the water binds to the detergent, so part of it is spent on the water rather than the soil. With hard water you therefore need more for the same effect. With soft water the middle dose is too much.

How to find the number

The water supplier or local authority states the hardness. It is given in degrees dH, and the pack translates that into soft, medium or hard. Write the number down and use it every time. See bamboo clothing for women.

Adjust for load and soil too

A half load needs less. Lightly soiled laundry needs less. The dose on the pack assumes a full machine with normally soiled laundry. See bamboo underwear for women and bamboo towels.

Frequently asked questions

What happens with too much

Detergent residue stays in the fabric, the laundry goes stiff and grey, and odour settles more easily.

What happens with too little

The soil is not bound and settles back into the fabric as a greyish film.

Does Denmark have hard water

It varies a lot between areas. Look it up rather than guessing.