Stop Using So Much Dish Soap (And Other Portion Size Advice)
A capful of laundry detergent. A squeeze of dish soap. A dollop of sunscreen. It’s easy to portion out these measurements almost mindlessly, rarely stopping to wonder if it’s the right amount of these everyday essentials. Although many times this may not be a big deal, in some scenarios using too much or too little of a product can yield lousy results. That’s why we dove into the deep end of various Wirecutter guides to find out which of our guesstimates were wildly off the mark. Here are the suggested “serving” sizes of common household supplies that surprised us the most.
One turn of the bowl with toilet cleaner will do
The amount of toilet bowl cleaner recommended on the back of the bottle varies depending on the brand, but Wirecutter staff writer James Austin said around 4 to 6 ounces is enough to effectively clean your toilet bowl. Measuring out a specific amount of cleaner, however, can be a little difficult since most toilet bowl cleaners come in a funny-looking bottle designed to more easily apply the cleaner under the rim of the bowl. To save yourself the trouble of measuring it out, James said one squeeze of the bottle all the way around the bowl usually provides more than you need.
Measure your sunscreen by the ounce
Chances are, you’re not wearing enough sunscreen—and if that’s the case, you’re not alone. A 2014 study showed that most folks typically use a quarter to half as much sunscreen as they should be using to meet the advertised sun protection factor (SPF). To get the full protection of the SPF listed on the bottle, you need to use 2 milligrams per square centimeter of skin. This amounts to about 1 ounce of sunscreen for the average-size adult’s near-naked body. It’s harder to judge how much sunscreen you’re using if you get it from a spray bottle, especially if you’re applying it on a windy day. Spray sunscreen manufacturers typically recommend holding the bottle 4 to 6 inches from your skin, but Wirecutter found that you need to spray the sunscreen much closer to your body to apply it effectively (and even then, you still need to rub it into your skin). You also need to spray for two minutes in a windless (but well-ventilated) area to get the SPF advertised.
The cap on that detergent bottle is way too big
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Stop using so much laundry detergent. Though the back of almost every detergent bottle suggests using a capful of detergent, Wirecutter's Sarah Bogdan, Winnie Yang and Liam McCabe say that’s way too much. Detergent residue builds up in your clothes over time, turning your soft wardrobe stiff if you use too much detergent. You need only 2 tablespoons per load to effectively clean your clothes, and that’s for large loads weighing 12 pounds or more. An average load of laundry weighs around 8 pounds and requires even less detergent—1 tablespoon is enough to thoroughly clean your clothes. “When it comes to laundry detergent, a little will go a long way,” Sarah said.
A little dish soap goes a long way, too
You might be using too much dish soap if you continuously squeeze dollops of the cleaner onto your sponge while hand-washing your dishes. A more effective way to get the chore done is to fill the sink with soapy water. We’ve found that sometimes you need only as little as a teaspoon of dish detergent in a sinkful of water to produce a healthy layer of foam on top. Wirecutter's Anna Perling suggests starting with the least-dirty dishes to preserve the soapy water for as long as possible. Once the water turns brown or loses suds, drain it and replenish it with another teaspoon of soap.
Mentioned above
- It takes a bit more effort than a casual spray of Gatorade-colored cleaning fluid to clean a toilet.How to Clean a Toilet the Right Way
- It takes a shot glass’s worth of sunscreen to adequately cover a body in a swimsuit. Look for broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher and a scent and feel you like.The Best Sunscreen
- After doing loads (and loads) of laundry in 12 full-size washing machines, we still recommend the LG WM4000H as our top pick.The Best Washing Machines (and Their Matching Dryers)
- After 65 hours of research, testing 28 detergents and 7 years of long-term testing, we found Seventh Generation Dish Liquid to be the best for most people.The Best Dish Soap
Further reading
The Best Detergent for Hand-Washing Clothes
by Andrea Barnes
We hand-washed vintage linens, cashmere sweaters, and delicates in a variety of detergents and soaps, and Soak came out on top.
90(ish) Wirecutter Picks to Clean Just About Anything
by Wirecutter Staff
These are 90(ish) of our favorite Wirecutter picks to help you tackle a deep clean of your home.
How (and How Often) to Clean Your Towels
by Jackie Reeve
Changing them about every three days is a simple rule of thumb.
All the Things You Don’t Need to Dry-Clean (Even If the Label Says You Do)
by Rose Maura Lorre
Does that delicate garment have to be dry-cleaned, or can you wash it at home? Check out our roundup of all the fabrics that can skip a trip to the cleaners.