UK Washing Machines at Serious Risk as 33% of Brits Don’t Know How Much Detergent They Use

The team here at Glotech Repairs recently commissioned a UK wide survey after concerns about a huge rise in cases of blockages in washing machines, especially in instances of Brits overfilling the detergent drawer.

Our new research found that UK homeowners are putting their washing machines at serious risk by potentially overfilling their machines with detergent.

This is a big problem as using too much detergent can cause blockages in the innards of a washing machine, resulting in the appliance requiring repairs.

If your machine does develop this issue, it can set you back up to £115 to have the appliance repaired.

Our UK wide survey of 2,000 people also found that 33% of Brits don’t follow usage guidelines from the appliance manufacturer, and 35% don’t follow guidelines provided by the detergent brand, showing that customers trust appliance manufacturers more than product providers.

Britain’s Washing Habits

The research also looked into the washing habits of the UK, revealing that liquid or gel detergent is now more popular among Brits than powder.

Britain’s washing habits were also revealed as 49% stated that they use their machine between one and three times a week, while a shocking 14% said they use the appliance seven times a week.

When it comes to purchasing detergent, 47% of Brits buy the cleaning product once a month and 33% every three months

Brits seem to think their washing machines are pretty robust, and while they are, we advise our customers to take every precaution they can to protect them. This includes following the manufacturer’s guidelines when it comes to the amount of clothes you’re washing and the amount of detergent you’re using.

How Much Detergent Should You Use?

In terms of how to spot if you’re over using your detergent, there are a few things to keep a look out for

1. an unusual amount of foam in your drum during a cycle
2. a strong odour coming from the drum following each wash
3. a build-up of soap on your clothes (typically in places like under the collar of a shirt or near buttons and zippers)

What To Do If You Spot These Issues?

There are a few things you can do if you notice any of the above symptoms

1. Put your machine on a hot wash, leaving the drum empty to rinse the appliance.
2. When doing washes in the future, try putting in half as much detergent as before to see if this helps. If not, you might need to book an appointment with one of our team to diagnose the issue you’re having.
3. Check your cleaning product – some detergents are labelled for high efficiency machines or certain types of washes.
4. Consider how many items of clothing you’re washing and how dirty they are. You shouldn’t be using as much detergent if you’re simply washing a few t-shirts that aren’t dirty, but rather have been worn once or twice.

Finally, if your machine seems to be clogged, or is having trouble draining/filling up properly, you can buy an appliance cleaning product, such as a de-scaler or an anti-lime scale product, which may help dissolve any blockages.

If you washing machine isn’t working as well as it used to, get in touch with our team about booking a washing machine repair.