Answers about
Learn all about high-efficiency (HE) washers and detergents.
Why an HE machine?
LOW WATER CYCLES
HE washers use 20% to 66% less water than traditional washers.
HE washers and detergents provide excellent rinsing by providing just the right amount of suds and cleaning power.
GENTLE ON FABRICS
HE washers are gentle on fabrics as they use a tumbling action instead of an agitator found in traditional washers.
HE detergent helps care for your fabrics too, because it traps soils and helps prevent them from re-depositing on your clean clothes.
HIGH CAPACITY
Most HE washers will actually clean larger loads than traditional washers, because the agitator used in traditional washers is no longer present.
Answers to all your HE questions
Get expert answers on your questions about HE detergents and washers.
HE WASHERS
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What kind of energy savings do high-efficiency washers offer?HE washers can use as little as 20% to 50% of the energy used by traditional agitator washers because there is less water to heat (from 20% to 66% less), according to the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA).
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If the washer uses a small amount of water, how are clothes cleaned well?In front-loading HE washers, the laundry tumbles back and forth in the water as the tub rotates, to move the water and detergent through each garment and to help remove soils (SDA).
The tumbling action is intended to clean efficiently and be gentle on fabrics. -
Do HE machines rinse as well as regular machines?Yes. Even though HE washers use less water, they have two to four rinse cycles rather than one rinse in a traditional washer. According to the Soap and Detergent Association, multiple rinses are typically better than one deep rinse.
Tide HE helps to assure good rinsing because it's specially formulated for low-water washes and rinses. -
Are HE washers gentle on my fabrics?Yes. Front-loading HE washers use a tumbling action instead of an agitator found in traditional washers. The tumbling action is gentle on fabrics.
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How do I keep my machine running well?The Soap and Detergent Association recommends avoiding problems by using an HE detergent like Tide HE and by running a regular maintenance cycle, which means running a full wash cycle without any laundry in the machine. Check the manufacturer's instructions and recommendations for specific details. Also, keep your HE washer clean by running monthly washes with Tide Washing Machine Cleaner.]]>
DETERGENT
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What's the difference between regular detergent and HE detergent?HE detergents create few suds and disperse quickly to help get the best cleaning performance with only 20% to 66% of the amount of water used in traditional machines.*
And HE detergents were actually developed by home appliance engineers and detergent scientists. The result: an effective cleaning system.
Traditional detergents are formulated to get great cleaning power with high water washes; they aren't created to work well in low water.
* Source: SDA -
Can I just use a smaller amount of regular detergent in my HE washer?According to the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), HE detergents are the "only choice" for HE washers.
Using less regular detergent than recommended for the load size (in an effort to control suds) may mean reduced cleaning.
Tide® HE and your HE washer work hand-in-hand to get you the results you expect. Using the wrong formula of detergent in your high efficiency washer means you may not get the cleaning results you've come to expect from Tide.
Using regular detergents can create too many suds, which can interfere with the washer's tumbling action by "cushioning" the laundry, and reducing soil and stain removal. These excess suds can also lead to residue buildup, because they are not as easily rinsed away. Over time, they could lead to machine malfunctions, according to the SDA. -
How much detergent should I use in my HE washer?Just as with a regular washer, you should use the recommended amount based on the size of your load.
Because Tide HE is formulated to be low-sudsing, you can use a full dose of Tide HE without having to worry about over-sudsing in your machine. -
Can I use non-HE fabric softeners in my HE washer?Yes, you can add liquid fabric softener like Ultra Downy® to the fabric softener dispenser.
Follow the manufacturer's guidelines for proper use of the dispenser. -
What's the problem with suds?According to the SDA, too many suds in an HE washer can reduce cleaning power. And excess suds may prevent some soils from completely rinsing out of an HE machine properly. This can cause soils to build up in the machine, resulting in odors or machine malfunctions.
Tide® HE can give you great cleaning power and help keep your washer running well.
Why HE Detergent?
HE detergents are custom-made for use in HE washers and operate in low-water rinsing.
HE detergents create few suds and have
dirt-capturing ingredients to help get the best cleaning performance with only a fraction of the amount of water used in traditional washers.
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