
This is a common household problem: You’ve got to the end of a laundry detergent, but you don’t have quite enough for your wash.
Now, you may have a new detergent ready to go, but now you need to know, can you mix laundry detergents?
It is possible to mix laundry detergents with one another, but only if they are in the same form.
It can be very annoying to have a bunch of containers filled with insufficient detergent for a full wash that starts to build up in your laundry room. Today I’m here to help with that.
This article is going to explore the different types of laundry detergents and whether you can mix detergents together.
Gomestic Fact: Liquid and capsule detergent are gentler on clothes than powdered, but this means that your washing machine may get dirty quicker. This may lead to a build-up of black flakes, read our guide on how to get rid of them here.
Types of Laundry Detergent
Okay, so to figure out if you can fix laundry detergents, we first need to look at the different types of laundry detergent you have on offer. There are so many options nowadays it can be easy to get overwhelmed and not know which to choose.
All of them are useful and efficient products, so it really depends on your personal preferences when choosing which one to go for.
The three types of laundry detergent are:
Powder
Powdered detergent is the most popular option as it is tough on stains, and it is often the cheaper option. It also dissolves very quickly so it can get to work quickly. It can be bought in large bags that work out to be very economical.
The downside to this version is that it is messy to measure out and very easy to dose incorrectly.
Liquid
Liquid detergent is a thick, viscose liquid that is the fastest to dissolve out of all the detergents. It features no bleach and is very easy on colors.
Some brands of liquid detergent come with fabric softener incorporated into it.
The downside to liquid detergent is the fact that it is very easy to use too much, which might linger in your clothes.
Capsules
Detergent capsules have a thick, rubbery coating on the outside with the detergent suspended in the center. The outer layer dissolves in the water and releases the detergent into the water.
These are quick and easy to use because they are premeasured. All you need to do is pop a capsule in with the wash with your clothes, and you’re ready to go.
These may also be labeled as ‘pods’ like the Tide Pods that are very popular.
The capsules are also available in bleach forms to shift more intense stains.
One downside is that capsules dissolve more slowly in colder temperatures. I would also recommend finding a brand that doesn’t individually package each pod to reduce your packaging waste.
Can You Mix Laundry Detergents?
You can mix laundry detergents together if they are in the same form. I do not recommend mixing laundry detergents of different types.
For instance, I wouldn’t mix liquid detergent with powder or add powdered detergent in with a capsule. They don’t mix well and the measuring techniques are very different.
When it comes to powered laundry detergent, it is easy to finish off one bag and top it up with a new bag. It doesn’t really matter if they are different brands, as long as they are for the same uses.
I don’t recommend mixing machine detergent with hand washing powder, as these are used for two different types of cleaning and it will not do its job correctly.
If you are using capsules, there is no need to mix them as they are already premeasured to use one capsule per wash.
Liquid detergents are also safe to mix together, however, if one has a portion of fabric softener then these effects may be diluted.
Gomestic Fact: Have you ever wondered what the difference is between detergent and soap? Essentially, detergent is made from synthetic petrochemicals, while soap is made from natural fats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you mix bleach with laundry detergent?
There may come a time when you will want to add bleach to your laundry to get rid of any stubborn stains.
Bleach should never be added straight to clothes as this can leave permanent marks. The best way to use bleach is to add it with the detergent in the specified hatch before the clothes have been added. It can be added in with powder or liquid detergent but I don’t recommend using bleach with capsules.
Some washing machines come fitted with a bleach dispenser, in which case you can use that to add the bleach safely.
Be very careful to use laundry bleach and not cleaning bleach for this application.
Can I use Downy and Tide together?
When it comes to detergents and fabric softeners, I don’t see any issue with mixing brands.
The Tide detergent will clean out the clothes, while the Downy will leave your clothes feeling soft and comfy. Any two brands of fabric softener and can be combined together and they should work just fine.
What can you not mix with laundry detergents?
I don’t recommend combining your detergent with ammonia or other household cleaners. Doing this can result in harmful fumes that can burn or irritate the skin or nasal passages.
Conclusion
Running out of detergent when you’re about to do a wash is annoying, but luckily, we have found a solution for that today.
You can mix laundry detergents together if they are in the same form. So you can mix the powder with other powder and liquid with other liquids. Capsules, however, should be used on their own.
I hope this has helped you empty some almost empty containers and eased your mind the next time you need to mix your detergents.