Can I Leave Detergent On Clothes Overnight?
- Aug 10, 2024
- 5 min read
Getting your laundry done is an everyday task, and there is no running away from dealing with detergents while you are at it.
Sometimes, stubborn stains can result from dirt accumulations or accidental spills. By instinct, you may want to try spreading detergent on the spot overnight and letting time do its magic. However, you may not be sure whether you should do that.
Let us answer that question for you today.
What happens if you leave laundry detergent on clothes
Leaving laundry detergent on your clothes for an extended period, such as overnight, can lead to many consequences.
Detergents contain chemicals designed to break down stains and dirt so that they can be easily removed during washing. However, if these chemicals remain in contact with the fabric for too long, they can start to degrade the fibres, potentially leading to holes or thinning of the fabric.
Another lesser-known problem that can arise is microbial growth. Wet and soapy environments can be good breeding grounds for mould! If you soak your clothes in detergent overnight, you can sometimes find a musty odour or even visible mould spots.
Can you soak your clothes in detergent overnight?
Soaking clothes in detergent overnight is therefore, not recommended.
While soaking can help loosen those stubborn stains, but doing so for an extended period can be detrimental to the fabric. The longer the time, the higher the risk.
Short period soaking
For stubborn stains, soaking them in detergent for 30 minutes to an hour should usually do the trick. Use cold water for the soaking, as this can help slow the activation of enzymes in the detergents.
Alternatives to overnight soaking
Consider pre-treating stains with a stain remover or a concentrated detergent solution instead.
Apply the solution directly to the stain and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, start washing it together with other dirty laundry. This method is usually effective while reducing the risk of damage to the fabric.
What happens if you add too much detergent to the wash-load?
Sometimes, you might have a dirtier-than-usual load and feel the urge to throw extra detergent at it. Don’t. Using too much detergent can result in several problems.
Common problems with too much detergents
Residue build-up: Excessive detergent usage can leave behind a soapy residue on your clothes, making them feel sticky or stiff. The build-up will also affect the washing machine itself, especially if you do not clean it frequently.
Ineffective rinsing: Too much detergent creates excessive suds during the rinsing and washing cycle. This can interfere with the rinsing process, leaving (the already excess) detergent trapped in the fabric. This will only add to residue buildup, as we discussed earlier.
Signs of using too much detergent
If your clothes feel sticky, have white streaks, or have a powerful detergent smell even after drying - you are likely using too much detergent.
Or if your washing machine's drum feels slimy after the wash, that could be another tell-tale sign.
Always use the amount of detergent according to the detergent manufacturer’s recommendations. To fight stubborn stains, try spot-soaking instead, as we have discussed before.
Remedies for using too much detergent
You may have only recently realised the reason for the many symptoms you have observed. Fret not; here are some tips to reverse the situation.
Removing detergent residue from clothes
To remove detergent residue from clothes, rewash them in the hottest water setting suitable for the fabric without adding detergent.
You can try adding half a cup of baking soda into the wash to help remove the detergent stain.
If the problem persists, try soaking the affected clothes in a solution of water and vinegar before rewashing to pre-loosen the residue.
Removing detergent residue from the washing machine
Removing excess detergent build-up ensures that the next load of wash is not affected, and also makes sure that the washing & rinsing efficacy is optimal.
Regular maintenance: Clean your washing machine regularly. This includes the drum, dispensers, and filters to prevent detergent buildup. You will be surprised that using less detergent not only helps to maintain a clean machine but also gets your laundry well-cleaned at the same time.
Special cleaning: Periodically, use a washing machine cleaner to clean the hard-to-reach places. Commercial cleaners usually come in dried beads or capsule format for easy application. A good guide is to do this after every 30 washes or so.
Alternatively, you can use half a cup of baking soda mixed with vinegar instead. However, this is usually too much of a hassle, and the vinegar can give off a strong odour as well. If you do use vinegar, remember to rinse the system afterwards with an empty rinse cycle to thoroughly rinse out the vinegar to prevent corrosion.
Clothes still soapy after washing?
You have checked the amount of detergent. Everything is in order. So what could go wrong now?
Overloading the washer
One of the most common causes of a washer breaking down or problems with washing efficacy is overloading the washing machine.
Washers come with a big drum, especially for a front-load washer. This is so that the laundry has enough space to move freely during the wash cycle and gets tossed during the drying cycle for dryers.
When you overload the washer by thinking it is okay to stuff ‘as much as possible’ into the machine, you are making the worst possible mistake. It not only lowers the cleaning efficacy, waste energy, and worse reduces the life of your machine.
Incorrect detergent amount
As mentioned, start with the manufacturer's recommended amount of detergent.
However, high-efficiency washers often require less detergent than traditional models. Look for signs of too much detergent. Reduce the amount of detergent accordingly while making sure that the laundry is properly cleaned.
For the best results, adjust the amount of detergent carefully, as well, according to the current load size and soil level of your dirty laundry.
Washer system malfunctioning
For all you know, it could be that your machine’s rinsing system was malfunctioning all this while.
Check your washer’s filters and hoses for clogs or damage. If your set-up is more than a couple of years old, this can often happen.
If you never read your instruction manual when you first install your washer, it is prime time to do so, especially the maintenance section. For all you know, you could have been missing an essential maintenance step, such as washing the filter.
If the problem persists, engage professional servicing to check your system overall.
I hope that you are now more confident handling your detergent for your washes. Remember to err on the side of less than more. It’s a difference between rewashing your laundry versus damaging your clothes or, worse, the washer.
