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High-efficiency detergent

Laundry detergent made to clean with low suds in the small amount of water a high-efficiency (HE) washer uses, marked "HE" on the package.

What It Means

High-efficiency (HE) detergent is laundry detergent formulated to make few suds, dissolve quickly and clean in the low water levels of a high-efficiency washer. GE Appliances says the package is marked "HE" or "High Efficiency". Regular detergent foams too much in so little water, which is why many HE washer manuals, such as Whirlpool's, call for HE detergent only.

Try It: Three Questions on HE Detergent

Three quick questions, answered from GE Appliances and Whirlpool. Pick an answer to see how you did.

1. How do you know a detergent is HE?

2. What can regular detergent do in an HE washer?

3. Can HE detergent go in a standard washer?

Correct answers0
Out of3

How It Sounds at Home

  • "Grab the HE stuff, the other one foams everywhere."
  • "Does this washer need special detergent?"
  • "There were suds pouring out of the door."

The Breakdown

How to use it

  1. Check your washer's manual to see whether it's a high-efficiency machine. Some Whirlpool manuals print "Designed to use only HE High Efficiency detergents" for this reason.
  2. Buy detergent marked "HE" or "High Efficiency" on the package, the label GE Appliances points to.
  3. Measure the dose the detergent package gives, and add it where your washer's manual says it goes.
  4. In a standard, non-HE washer, HE detergent still works. Whirlpool and Maytag say to expect fewer suds, and because a standard washer uses more water, it may take more detergent than in an HE machine.
  5. When suds spill out of an HE washer or clothes come out soapy, check the detergent first.

Try it today. Compare the detergent by your washer with the washer's manual, and switch at your next purchase if the machine is HE and the bottle isn't.

Good to Know

Keep single-load liquid laundry packets away from children. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says children have needed hospital care after swallowing detergent from them, including for vomiting, drowsiness, throat swelling and trouble breathing, and that detergent in the eyes has caused injury. CPSC advises keeping packets sealed in their original package, locked up and out of a child's sight and reach, and not letting children handle them. If a child swallows one or gets it in their eyes, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 right away. In an emergency, call 911.

FAQ

What happens if you use regular detergent in an HE washer?

GE Appliances says the low water level makes regular detergent produce excess suds. That can lead to longer cycles, poor rinsing, part failures and moldMoldA fungus that grows indoors wherever moisture lingers. EPA says fix the water problem, then scrub it off hard surfaces with detergent and water. See more or mildewMildewA flat, usually gray or white mold that grows on damp surfaces such as shower grout, curtains and fabric left wet. See more.

Can I use HE detergent in a regular washer?

Yes. Whirlpool and Maytag say it works in a standard washer, with fewer suds, and you may need a bit more because the machine uses more water.

How do I know if my detergent is HE?

Look for "HE" or "High Efficiency" on the package, as GE Appliances describes. If your washer is HE, that's the detergent it needs.

Do It in Buhata

Shopping

Add "HE laundry detergent" to the Shopping list in your Household Space so whoever does the shopping picks up the right one.

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Related Terms and Categories

  • Washing machine cleaning

    Cleaning the inside of a washer, including its drum and door seal, so detergent residue, damp and mildew don't build up. Whirlpool advises about once a month.

  • Laundry sorting

    Dividing dirty laundry into loads that can be washed together safely, by color, how dirty it is, lint and the care each fabric needs.

  • Enzyme cleaner

    A cleaner or detergent that uses enzymes to break down stains: protease for protein, amylase for starch and lipase for fats and oils.

  • Oxygen bleach

    Laundry bleach that uses hydrogen peroxide or a similar oxygen-releasing ingredient instead of chlorine, sold as color-safe or non-chlorine bleach.

  • Hand washing clothes

    Washing garments in a basin or sink with gentle detergent and slow, careful handling, for items whose care label says hand wash or that a machine could stretch or damage.

Chores, cleaning and home care

Sources

GE Appliances, "Washer - HE Detergent"; Whirlpool, "What Is HE Detergent?"; Whirlpool Product Help, "HE Detergent use in a Washer"; Whirlpool owner's manual W10607415 ("Designed to use only HE High Efficiency detergents"); Maytag, "What Is HE Detergent and Why Should I Use It?"; U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, "Single-Load Liquid Laundry Packets: Toxic, Harmful to Children"

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