High efficiency, or HE, laundry detergent was formulated specifically to work with HE washing machines for the purpose of achieving truly clean laundry while saving power and water. Using 
this combination, you can potentially save as much as 65 percent of the water and 50 percent of the energy consumed by a standard washer. Not only will this provide significant cost savings over time, it will also benefit the environment.
What is HE Laundry Soap?
The purpose of laundry soaps and detergents of all kinds is to clean your clothes and remove odors, but to do so in such a way that the extracted dirt and clothes dye does not redeposit on clothes when the machine drains. The key difference between regular laundry detergent and the HE variety is that high-efficiency wash products are able to achieve the same goals while using a greatly reduced amount of water.
Can I Use HE Laundry Detergent in a Regular Washer?
Top-loading washers with standard agitators are generally not high-efficiency machines, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use HE soap in them successfully. You will experience significantly fewer suds and, consequently, probably less soap scent on your clothes once they’re done. Nevertheless, they’ll be clean and you might save money, since you can use the shortest cycle available to achieve that goal.
Do You Have to Use HE Laundry Detergent in a HE Machine?
The short answer is YES. Regular detergents create too many suds for the low water level a high-efficiency machine uses. This prevents the tumbling action that removes soil from clothes, potentially causing the machine’s pump to overheat. In addition, regular washer soap won’t rinse away completely in an HE washer. In an attempt to achieve this goal, the washer may continue to add more water, extending the cycle unnecessarily and potentially cause overflowing. Excess sudsing can cause a buildup over time inside the washer, resulting in unpleasant odors and damage to the machine. Remember the formula: HE detergent is safe in any washing machine, but HE washing machines can only use HE soaps.
Does Homemade HE Laundry Detergent Work?
Many people seek to avoid the chemicals, additives and artificial fragrances found in many commercial laundry detergents, preferring to use homemade or DIY laundry products instead. The technology that goes into HE detergent is difficult, if not impossible to duplicate at home, however, and manufacturers warn against using anything other than those products officially designated on the packaging as safe for HE wash systems. Not only can homemade products do a poor job at cleaning your clothes, they can void your manufacturer’s warranty or, worse, ruin your machine.
Complete Appliance Repair of Salt Lake City, Utah, provides a full range of professional home appliance and HVAC sales, service, maintenance and repair. Contact them today for help with all your HE laundry equipment questions and needs.