Do High-Efficiency Washers Leave More Detergent Residue Behind Than Non-HE Washers?

Q: I purchased the LG washer/dryer combo suggested last year. I’ve been really unhappy with it, and here’s why: I have sensitive skin. If I used the average washer detergent I would break out in a rash, or get itchy or even get swelling. My solution in the past has just been to use one of the detergents that have no perfume (e.g., Arm & Hammer sensitive skin). This worked well...until switching to this washer. Now even the sensitive-skin formulations aren’t good enough. I think because its high-efficiency it’s actually leaving more residue from the detergent than lower-efficiency washers.

Adding extra rinses makes it marginally better but not much better. The solution I’ve found is to use a fraction of the recommended detergent amount and run a rinse & spin cycle after washing...often I do this twice.

Just a heads up...much of your article is about the efficiency of the washer, but if a person ends up needing multiple cycles to remove detergent, then that means laundry takes a multiple amount of time and the measured efficiency gets blown in the real world by added cycles. Maybe I’m the only one with this level of skin sensitivity, but I doubt it. As more people get HE washers I think more people will have this issue with them.

A: I’ve spent a couple of hours looking into this since you sent your note. We spoke with reps from LG, Whirlpool, and P&G (makers of Tide), and a handful of repair technicians, and none has a satisfactory answer as to exactly why you’re running into trouble. Laundry has changed a lot in the face of federal efficiency regulations for washers and detergents. But the industry is at odds with itself, sending out mixed messages about how the hell you’re supposed to get the stink out of your gym shorts, or the skin-irritants out of your shirts.

So I won’t pretend to know the answer to this problem, but let’s talk through some of the possibilities just in case they help you (or somebody else reading this) find a way to do laundry that works for you.

I’m not sure that HE washers have more trouble rinsing away detergent than older washers did. For one thing, HE washers have been around for more than a decade at this point, and I didn’t come across any clear evidence that people with skin sensitivity have more trouble with them. For another, HE front loaders clean clothes by moving them through the wash water, rather than totally soaking them in the detergent-water mix. So the clothes may not be as fully saturated with detergent as they would be in a traditional washer. (I’m not sure.)

As for rinsing, yes, HE front loaders use substantially less water in their rinse cycles. But the tumbling motion may help rinse the clothes more thoroughly than a top-loading washer would. Also, because you don’t need to use much detergent in an HE machine, and because that detergent doesn’t get very sudsy, there should be less residue to rinse away anyhow.

What I think is the more likely explanation, though, is that the detergents you’ve tried so far are a mismatch for the washer.

Not to sound too much like Captain Obvious here but make sure you’re using an HE detergent, and the right amount of it. Non-HE detergents will create too many suds, which may get left behind on fabrics and cause irritation. Using too much detergent, even if it’s HE, may also mean that excess residue gets left on your clothes. What’s the right amount? Depends on who you ask. But it sounds like you’re basically following common guidelines, so let’s go a step deeper.

Here’s where things start to get really confusing: Not all HE detergents are made equal. They come in different concentrations (marked on the bottle) and can have different sudsing (not marked on the bottle). A high-sudsing HE detergent, even if it’s dye- and odor-free, could be more likely to leave behind irritants in your clothes. Maybe the Arm & Hammer formula isn’t the best fit for this kind of washer. Seeking out a low-sudsing detergent for sensitive skin, like Tide Free & Gentle HE Turbo pods or powder might provide you with some relief.

Beyond that: What’s the nature of your skin sensitivity? Is it eczema? Have you visited a dermatologist or allergist to determine if you’re possibly allergic to a particular ingredient in detergent, like methylisothiazolinone (MI) or methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)? If you can’t find a detergent that works, consider exploring even-gentler ways to wash your clothes. Admittedly, I know very little about these options, but some people swear by soapberries or laundry balls.

Another possibility: Maybe there’s some dirt and body oil in your clothes that needs to be washed clean. “If you haven’t removed the soils, those can also irritate your skin,” said Tracey Long, communications manager at P&G. Try washing a couple of loads using the sanitize, allergen, or extra-hot options. Detergents (and oily body soils) dissolve much more easily in very hot water, so it may wash out some leftover residues that are causing some of your irritation.

Ultimately, HE washers are here to stay, and it’s likely that water-guzzling washers will permanently disappear in the near future. Hopefully you can find a way to make HE machines work for you.

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