Does it really make a difference if the detergent is put into the washer before the dirty clothes rather than after it?

My daughter came home from a nite out with friends and asked me how I did the laundry. I told her that I start the water and then put in the liquid laundry detergent...then I asked her why. Apparently, she was with her friends at a club that had a black light on the dance floor and everyone on the dance floor had splotches on their clothing under the light, with the exception of my 2 daughters.

So I'd say it matters. Seems the detergent stays in the clothing rather than thoroughly rinsing out.

Most modern automatic machines require the detergent to be put into a separate dispenser from which it is taken at a pre-set time in the washing programme. Alternatively, it is placed in a plastic ball type dispenser which is placed in with the washing, and slowly released during the programme. The washing machine should not be stopped part way through a washing cycle, and cannot normally be stopped anyway, except by an over-ride procedure.

Do you have a toploading washing machine, MrsAce?

An appliance salesman once told me that powdered detergent goes in after the clothes, liquid detergent goes in before the clothes. I put the liquid in first so I can rinse the measuring cup in the water stream as the washer fills. (I hate gunky measuring cups...)

Yes Maggie...I understand that front load washers are more efficient and use less detergent, so in that instance it may not matter. For those of us who replace our washers every 15 to 20 years...I have at least eight on mine.

Why I asked is that with a top loader you have the option with the detergent and water. With the frontloader that most people in the UK have (a space saver - you can get a worksurface over the top of it and most British kitchens are quite small) you can't choose. If you don't get your detergent in at the right moment, it gets left behind. Picquero is obviously talking about front loaders.

I hate to post on this again, and feeling a lot like Heloise, Jbean, I read your post. I also have very sensitive skin, I wouldn't say allergies, but I do feel changes as far as washing clothes are concerned. I used to use powdered and it does matter whether or not you put it in first or on top of the clothes. It clumps in the water. If you put it in first, you at least have a chance to swish it so it dissolves. It will definitely clump if you put it in on top of the clothes (which was most parents way of washing with the black light scenario) due to humidity or the water hitting it unevenly. If you're using a top load washer it matters. Since I have no experience with a front load, I can't say.

It absolutely makes a difference. When you put the detergent into the washer with the water, you allow the detergent to begin to activate. It is much like washing dishes, if you put the pots and dishes into the water then add the soap, the soap doesn't have as much time to loosen up the dirt.

I alway put the detergent into the washer first.

Also years ago, I remember reading in Consumer Reports that when they tested the different detergents, they put the soap in with the water, and let it start working, then added the dirty clothes.