Get cleaner clothes with your Samsung washing machine

Samsung washer and dryer in wash room

At its root, laundry is a simple task, but you need to make sure you're not accidentally making any mistakes that could damage your clothing or washer. If you’re using the incorrect amount of detergent or fabric softener, forgetting to remove clothes after the cycle, or overloading the washer, then your clothes may not be as clean as you expect. We have some guidelines for you, so you'll know how to do everything right and your clothes will always come out clean.

Sort your loads beforehand

It’s laundry 101. Sort your clothing! Make sure to separate darks and whites, so the color doesn’t run and bleed into other garments. You should also avoid mixing synthetic clothing (Polyester, Nylon, Spandex) or delicate items with rough materials like towels or jeans. Coarse materials may cause lighter materials to get pilled or damaged.

For example, white items like shirts, towels, and sheets should be washed separately from other colors.

Woman sorting clothes

Make sure to use the right amount of detergent

You should always read the detergent manufacturer’s guidelines for the correct amount of detergent to use. Usually, the amount is based on the load size. Even if the manufacturer instructions say to put an amount that exceeds the Max Fill line, you should NOT exceed the line. You can switch to a more concentrated detergent or run a smaller load size, so you don't use too much.

If you lost the detergent’s cap, you should avoid pouring just any amount of detergent in the machine. Too much detergent can cause oversudsing which can lead to problems with your washer. It can also trap dirt and redeposit it on your clothes. On the contrary, putting too little detergent isn’t good either; your clothes may not get as clean.

You’ll want to try using the least amount of detergent possible to get your clothes clean. This will save money and prevent excess detergent from building up in your washer.

Person measuring the right amount of detergent

When using color-safe bleach, make sure to pour it into the detergent compartment or directly into the tub. Do not add color-safe bleach to the bleach compartment.

Don’t use too much fabric softener

While fabric softener does make your clothes softer and smell nicer, it’s actually not the best thing for your clothing. Fabric softener dispenses after detergent which means you’re basically putting chemicals on your clothes that will still be there after the cycle finishes.

Because of this, it’s better to use a small amount of fabric softener or use a natural alternative. White vinegar will soften your clothes and actually helps clean the washing machine! It also doesn’t leave behind a strong odor like you’d expect.

A person pouring fabric softner in a cup

Use the right cycle for the job

Your Samsung washer comes with different cycles for a reason. Each one is designed to provide the best cleaning performance for certain types of clothes. For example, a Delicate cycle will use cooler water to prevent delicate materials from shrinking. On the other hand, Normal will use hot water for more durable items, such as white garments made from cotton.

Make sure to always choose the cycle wisely. For more information on your exact washer and its cycle options, you should refer to your user manual.

Samsung Washer beginning a wash cycle

Don’t overload the washer

This is something probably most of us have done. When you want to finish up the laundry quickly, you just pile everything in. But this isn’t good for your clothes or your washing machine. It will be more difficult for each piece of clothing to be properly washed; detergent may not even reach certain items. Overloading can also make your washer unbalanced which can cause other problems with the machine.

At most, you should fill your washer about three quarters full, but you can also put in a smaller load size if needed.

A washer overloaded with clothes

Take clean clothes out of the washer right away

Even if you have a great memory, you’ve probably done this at least once: forgot your wet clothes in the washer for a long time. It may not seem like a big deal, but this could affect your clothing. The longer they sit there, the wrinklier your garments will become. They may also begin to smell or become musty from the water. If they sit long enough, the dryer may not even be able to save them.

Therefore, you should always start a load when someone will be home to take care of it. You should also put a timer or alarm on your phone to remind you when you need to take out the load and put it in the dryer.

Clothes being taken out of washer

More guidance for specific laundry types

See our other articles for guidance specific to different types of laundry:

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