Why HE Laundry Soap?

Have you been curious as to the hows and whys of HE Laundry soap? I was. So, when asked by WISK Laundry detergent if they could fly me to NYC and give me a first hand experience with the how's and Why's of HE soap I agreed to board the air plane and get some of my questions answered in person. Here is the NEW Washing Wisdom I gained during my trip to NYC that I am positive will also help answer your questions.

“Disclosure: Wisk provided travel and accommodations to NY to attend the brand experience. No monetary exchange took place.

Q. What does HE stand for?
A. “HE” stands for High Efficiency. There are High Efficiency washing machines and High Efficiency detergents for use inside those machines. HE washers are usually front-loading, though there are top-loading HE washers as well.

Q. What’s the difference between an HE and non HE washing machine?
A. HE washers also use 20% to 66% less water than a traditional agitator washer. Because there’s less water to heat, HE washers also use 50% to 80% less energy than traditional washers. HE washers use a “tumbler” system versus a central agitator in most traditional washers, which gently tumble laundry back and forth through a shallow pool of water.

Q. Why do I need to use an HE detergent?
A. HE detergent is specifically formulated to create fewer suds than regular detergent. Unlike traditional top-loading washers, front-loading washers use a tumble system versus a central agitator. This tumbling action creates more suds than a typical wash cycle in a traditional top-loader, so you’ll want to make sure your detergent is low-sudsing.

Q. If suds are the problem, can I just use a smaller amount of regular detergent?
A. No. Using a lesser amount of a regular detergent will not alleviate the sudsing problem. HE detergents are formulated to clean your laundry effectively in low-water conditions. Some manufacturers consider warranties on the HE washers null and void if non-HE detergent is used.

Q. Can you use HE detergents in a non HE washer?
A. Absolutely. You can use HE detergent in a non HE washer without issue.

Q. What about “that smell” often associated with HE washers?
A. ”Oversudsing” can lead to residue buildup in the wash drum as well as the rubber gasket in the interior door of your HE washer. Over time, this can lead to mold growth and an associated odor.

Q. How can I avoid oversudsing and the mold build-up issue?
A. Always use HE detergent and follow the instructions on the bottle for just how much to use. Never leave a wet load in the washer overnight. Finally, always clean your washer according to the specific instructions in your owner’s manual.

Q. Is HE detergent just a fad?
A. No. Sales of HE washers have grown considerably in only a few years. In fact, some major retailers are even considering a move to selling only HE detergents in the future.

Q. Is HE detergent readily available?
A. You can purchase most High Efficiency detergents at your local grocery, supercenter, shoppers club or drug store.

Q. Where can I find Wisk HE detergent ?
A. Wisk HE is available on the east coast at your local grocery, supercenter, shoppers club, and drug stores. You can also find Wisk outside of the east coast at Kroger stores, Food 4 Less, Ralphs, and Fred Meyer. No matter where you live, though, you can purchase Wisk HE online from Amazon.