DeMite Laundry Additive & Your Front Loading Washer

Unlike top-loaders, front loading washers do not require an agitator. Instead, they wash with a steady tumbling action that gently lifts and drops the clothes in and out of the wash water, forcing detergent and water through the load to remove dirt and stains. High Efficiency (HE) front loaders have become the most popular choice. HE washers are designed to use significantly less water, detergent and energy than standard machines, but they require a special HE detergent that is formulated specifically for smaller volumes of water.

The capacity of a front loader’s tub varies with each manufacturer and depends on the age of your washer. The average water fill for front-loading machines ranges from 8 to 15 gallons (30 to 57 liters). Because they use less water than top-loaders, they also require less detergent… generally about half as much detergent for the same size load. Sometimes, even a little less. It has been found that too much detergent causes excess sudsing which inhibits proper cleaning.

Always select a water temperature based on the type of bedding or clothing you will be laundering. Follow the fabric manufacturers’ care instructions carefully. Not all fabrics are safe in hot water but most are safe in warm or cold water. Many people use warm or cold water for everything.

Hot water is usually considered 130° F (60° C) or higher.*
Warm water is in the range of 90° F to 120° F (32° – 49° C).
Cool water is generally 70° to 90° F (21° – 32° C) or lower.

An easy way to determine water temperature in your washer is to hold a candy thermometer under the water flow on each setting of your machine.

Directions for using DeMite® in a front-loading washer:

1) Sort laundry by maker’s care instructions.
2) Place a load of laundry in the washer, not tightly packed. Do not overload as this can result in poor cleaning. Close door securely.
3) Open the dispenser compartment/drawer and add detergent to the “Detergent” compartment. Low-sudsing detergents are recommended, especially HE (high-energy) brands because they produce very little suds.
4) Fill the DeMite measuring cup 1/4 full with DeMite and add it to the liquid detergent already in the dispenser compartment. If you do not have our measuring cup, just add 1.5 teaspoons (0.25 oz or 7.5 ml) of DeMite. Close compartment slowly to prevent spills. Water will be pumped into the dispenser to bring the detergent and DeMite into the wash load.
5) Select water temperature.

* Normally only used in commercial laundries. U.S. Consumer Safety requires all heaters to have a label stressing the danger of water in excess of 120° F (32° – 49° C) water. It is usually not recommended because of the scalding potential with children. Also, many individuals who do laundry regularly feel that high temperatures are injurious to fabrics causing them to fade and wear out much faster than with lower water temperatures.