At this point, you probably feel quite adept at washing your clothes. You might know exactly which colours to put together in your washing machine, and which detergent you should put with it.
But do you ever stop to think which compartment in the detergent drawer you should be using? It turns out many people don’t know each compartment has its own specific use – and have been left gobsmacked.
But fear not, it’s never too late to learn. A TikTok content creator called Elle took to the platform to share what each compartment is used for, to enlighten those who don’t know.
It’s important to know that these might look different, or be in a different order, depending on which washing machine you have. So make sure to read the instructions.
First, usually the biggest draw, is for washing powder. Elle added in the TikTok clip: “Do a cup full or however much you think is enough,” depending on how many clothes you’re washing.
It’s also fine to use liquid dergent here. It will release at the beginning of the washing cycle.
The second drawer is for fabric softener, and it usually has a line on it to explain how much you should fill. It’s usually not very big, because you don’t need that much fabric softener.
And the third compartment is for a pre-wash cycle – for things like stain removers.
This is usually the second biggest drawer. To use this, simply use pre-wash detergent in the section of the drawer before starting the cycle.
Although the compartments might be different depending on your washing machine, there will also be symbols on them to help you know what they mean. If there’s one line, it’s for pre-wash, two lines is for detergent, and a flower is for softener.
Many people had no idea what the compartments for – and had been using them wrong. “OMG I’ve been putting my powder in the wrong drawer,” said one person. “I just wing it and hope for the best,” added another. A third commented: “Yeah I’ve been doing this all wrong.
