Where Does Detergent Go in a Washer?

Okay, real talk. The first time I did laundry in our new place, I stood in front of that little pull-out drawer for a solid minute. Three slots. A Roman numeral, a flower, and something that might have been a bucket. And a toddler hanging off my leg asking for a snack.

If you've ever just poured the detergent somewhere and hoped for the best, you're in very good company. Here's everything I wish someone had told me, machine by machine and detergent by detergent.

Where Does Detergent Go in a Washer? The Cheat Sheet

Where your detergent goes depends on two things: what kind of detergent you use and what kind of washer you have. Save this table to your phone. Future you will thank you.

The big rule: pods and sheets never go in the drawer. Washer makers like Samsung and Maytag both say to put them straight in the drum before your clothes.

Where to Put Detergent in a Top Load Washer

In a top-load washer, liquid or powder detergent goes in the detergent dispenser if your machine has one. On newer models, that's usually a pull-out drawer just under the lid or a slot built into the rim of the tub. If your washer has no dispenser, pour the detergent directly into the empty tub before you add the clothes.

Here's the order that works in my house:

1. Add detergent to the dispenser (or the empty tub if there's no dispenser).
2. Toss in pods or sheets at the bottom of the tub instead, if that's what you use.
3. Load clothes loosely and evenly around the center post.
4. Add fabric softener to its own dispenser, if you use it.
5. Pick your cycle and start.

Do I put detergent in the agitator?

No. On many top-loaders, the cup on top of the agitator (that tall post in the middle) is the fabric softener dispenser, not the detergent one. Pour detergent in there and it gets released at the wrong time, during the rinse. Check your manual if you're not sure which cup is which.

What if my top-loader has no dispenser at all?

Totally normal on older or basic machines. Pour or sprinkle the detergent into the empty tub first, then add clothes. Some moms like to let a few inches of water fill first so the detergent mixes in. Either way works; just don't pour concentrated liquid directly onto a dry piece of clothing, especially darks.

Where to Put Detergent in a Front Load Washer

In a front-load washer, liquid or powder detergent goes in the main-wash compartment of the pull-out drawer on the front of the machine. Pods and detergent sheets go in the back or bottom of the empty drum instead, with clothes loaded on top.

Front-loaders are high-efficiency (HE) machines, so use detergent labeled HE. They use less water, which means too much detergent can leave things sudsy and leave residue in the machine.

How to use detergent sheets in a front loader

1. Open the door and lay one or more sheets in the bottom of the empty drum.
2. Load your clothes on top, loosely. Don't pack it full; the water needs room to reach the sheet.
3. Choose your cycle and temperature, and press start.

That's it. No drawer, no measuring, no drips down the front of the machine.

Do I Put Liquid Detergent in Compartment 1 or 2?

Put your liquid detergent in compartment 2 (often shown as "II"). That's the main wash. Compartment 1 ("I") is for the pre-wash, which only runs if you choose a pre-wash cycle. The flower symbol is for fabric softener, which the machine releases during the final rinse.

Here's how most drawers break down:

• I — Pre-wash: a small dose of detergent for an optional pre-wash on extra-muddy or stained loads. Leave it empty for normal loads.
• II — Main wash: your everyday detergent goes here. This is the one you'll use 99% of the time.
• Flower — Fabric softener: softener only. Fill to the line, never past it.

Many U.S. machines skip the numerals and just label the slots "Detergent," "Bleach," and "Softener" (or use little icons). Same idea. Some drawers also have a liquid cup or flip-down flap in the detergent slot: keep it in for liquid, take it out for powder. And whatever you do, don't fill past the MAX line. Samsung warns that overfilling can cause leaks and stains.

Can You Put Liquid Detergent Straight Into the Drum?

Yes, you can put liquid detergent straight into the drum, especially if your washer has no dispenser or the dispenser is clogged. Add it to the empty drum before the clothes, or use a dosing ball placed on top of the clothes. Avoid pouring undiluted detergent directly onto dry fabric, since it can leave marks.

If your drawer is the reason you're pouring into the drum, it might be time to give it a clean. Gunky drawers are super common, and a monthly washing machine cleaner routine helps keep the whole machine fresher.

Where Do Laundry Pods Go?

Laundry pods go directly into the drum, before you add clothes. Put the pod at the back or bottom of the empty drum, then load the laundry on top. Never put pods in the dispenser drawer; they need direct contact with the water to dissolve.

One mom-to-mom note, because I'd want a friend to tell me: pods look a lot like candy to little ones. Keep them up high, in a closed container, out of reach and out of sight. This is one of the reasons a lot of parents (me included) ended up switching away from pods.

Where Do Laundry Detergent Sheets Go?

Laundry detergent sheets go in the bottom of the empty drum, before your clothes, in both top-load and front-load washers. Don't put them in the detergent drawer; they dissolve best in direct contact with the wash water. If your clothes are already in, lay the sheet on top rather than burying it in the middle of the load.

This is the switch that made laundry day easier for me. A sheet is pre-measured, so there's no cap to pour, no sticky drips on the machine, and nothing heavy to lug. HeySunday laundry detergent sheets work in top-loaders, front-loaders and HE machines, and they're made to dissolve in hot or cold water.

How many detergent sheets should I use?

Match the number of sheets to the size of the load:

Got a tiny load, like a few baby outfits after a blowout? Tear a sheet in half. For more detail, see our guide to how many laundry sheets to use per load.

Should You Put Detergent In Before or After Clothes?

For pods and detergent sheets, put the detergent in first, in the empty drum, then add clothes. For liquid or powder, use the dispenser whenever you have one; the timing doesn't matter because the machine releases it for you. With no dispenser, add the detergent to the empty tub first, then the clothes.

The thing to avoid is burying detergent in the middle of a packed load. Water reaches it later, and in a short or cold cycle it may not have enough time to fully dissolve.

How Much Laundry Detergent Should You Use?

Use the amount on your detergent's label for your load size and water hardness, and lean toward less rather than more. Too much detergent doesn't get clothes cleaner. It can leave residue on fabric and build up inside the washer, especially in HE machines.

A few quick rules I live by:

• Liquid: most caps have fill lines. Use line 1 for a regular load, not "a little extra for luck."
• Powder: use the scoop that came with it, level, not heaped.
• Pods and sheets: they're pre-measured, so just match the number to the load size.
• Never fill a drawer past MAX.

Quick Answers to the Questions Moms Ask Me

Where does fabric softener go?

In the compartment with the flower symbol (front-loaders) or the softener dispenser, which on many top-loaders sits on top of the agitator. It's released during the final rinse.

Where does bleach go?

In the bleach dispenser, if your washer has one. Never mix bleach into the detergent slot, and never pour it directly onto clothes.

Can I put detergent sheets in the dispenser drawer?

We recommend the drum. Sheets dissolve best when they're in direct contact with the wash water, and washer makers like Maytag and Samsung recommend the drum for sheets too.

Why is there detergent residue on my clothes?

Usually one of three things: too much detergent, an overstuffed drum, or detergent buried in the middle of the load. Use a little less, load loosely, and put pods or sheets at the bottom of the drum.

Do I need HE detergent?

If your washer has the HE logo (all front-loaders and many newer top-loaders do), yes. Check the detergent label for the HE symbol.

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Laundry with kids is never-ending, but at least where the detergent goes doesn't have to be one more thing to think about. If you're ready to skip the jug and the drips entirely, try HeySunday laundry sheets: one sheet, bottom of the drum, done.

Shop Laundry Sheets

Sources

• How to Use a Top Load Washer: Steps & Tips — Maytag
• How to Use Laundry Detergent Sheets — Maytag
• How to use detergent in your Samsung washing machine — Samsung US
• Where do you put detergent in a washing machine — Persil
• How many laundry sheets should I use? — HeySunday Help Center