Can you crack the code?
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Discussion

TheInternet

Original Poster:

5,019 posts

179 months

Sunday 12th January
quotequote all
Well this is a new low for a topic: How much washing powder should I use? This abysmal guide is a total mess.



Use case:
8kg machine, moderately filled
Hard water
30 degree wash
Light filth

Vsix and Vtec

1,001 posts

34 months

Sunday 12th January
quotequote all
Moderate fill shows 150ml, hard water means you add 40ml to the standard measure. This gives you 190ml.

That didn't seem too complicated, what am I missing?

Simpo Two

89,321 posts

281 months

Sunday 12th January
quotequote all
I would look at that for a few seconds, then think 'fukkit' and make something up.

It would be much simpler if they put a small plastic cup in the pack and then used a picture of a cup. No need for units. But plastic is bad, so you get gibberish instead.

Wacky Racer

39,875 posts

263 months

Sunday 12th January
quotequote all
Just bung a couple of teaspoon full in. it wiil be OK.

If not quite clean, run another cycle.

Halmyre

11,984 posts

155 months

Sunday 12th January
quotequote all
Ariel makes washing powder so their instructions probably make you use more than you need.

Just buy a box of capsules and chuck one in with your load

Mr Pointy

12,571 posts

175 months

Sunday 12th January
quotequote all
Vsix and Vtec said:
Moderate fill shows 150ml, hard water means you add 40ml to the standard measure. This gives you 190ml.

That didn't seem too complicated, what am I missing?
I got this as well, although I'm not sure a water drop is an international measure of water hardness.

I'd agree it's a rubbish infogram though.

Vsix and Vtec

1,001 posts

34 months

Sunday 12th January
quotequote all
Mr Pointy said:
I got this as well, although I'm not sure a water drop is an international measure of water hardness.

I'd agree it's a rubbish infogram though.
Oh definitely. there needs to be better delineation between which information is needed to work out the measure and what is just "this is the working range of the product".

bitchstewie

59,304 posts

226 months

Sunday 12th January
quotequote all
I'd use 40-50ml max.

No way on earth a load of washing can need almost a quarter of a KG of washing powder.

Ham_and_Jam

3,135 posts

113 months

Sunday 12th January
quotequote all
bhstewie said:
I'd use 40-50ml max.

No way on earth a load of washing can need almost a quarter of a KG of washing powder.
It says 150ml for regular washing, which is 105g.

The 105g is in solution so probably only half is actually powder in traditional form.

ewanjp

456 posts

53 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
Why are you dividing by whatever the water drops means?

I would read that as full, medium, light from the info graphic at the top.

I then take that number and divide it by 'something' if i'm hard water and then add 40ml. I'm not getting what the 'something' is or why you'd specify it that way (since the 40ml is a constant for all values?).

(I obviously get this is not what they intend, but I have no idea what the correct value is)

bitchstewie

59,304 posts

226 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
Ham_and_Jam said:
It says 150ml for regular washing, which is 105g.

The 105g is in solution so probably only half is actually powder in traditional form.
Yeah I never quite got measuring powder in ML but it's what they do - I actually got called a liar on a thread I posted when someone was convinced Ariel would never do that biggrin

Either way the dosage on most detergents is bonkers - good way to sell more detergent though.

Ham_and_Jam

3,135 posts

113 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
ewanjp said:
Why are you dividing by whatever the water drops means?

I
I’m not sure anyone is. What gives you that idea?

Ham_and_Jam

3,135 posts

113 months

Monday 13th January
quotequote all
bhstewie said:
Yeah I never quite got measuring powder in ML but it's what they do - I actually got called a liar on a thread I posted when someone was convinced Ariel would never do that biggrin

Either way the dosage on most detergents is bonkers - good way to sell more detergent though.
Must admit, we always underdose by about 25%. Any tough stains are treated with a rub of neat detergent directly on the garment.

ewanjp

456 posts

53 months

Tuesday 14th January
quotequote all
Ham_and_Jam said:
ewanjp said:
Why are you dividing by whatever the water drops means?

I
I’m not sure anyone is. What gives you that idea?
The equation they've written says:

T shirt divided by three drops plus 40ml.

Ham_and_Jam

3,135 posts

113 months

Tuesday 14th January
quotequote all
ewanjp said:
The equation they've written says:

T shirt divided by three drops plus 40ml.
It’s not an equation or division sign.

It means -

Heavy soil OR hard water add 40ml

Simpo Two

89,321 posts

281 months

Tuesday 14th January
quotequote all
Ham_and_Jam said:
ewanjp said:
The equation they've written says:

T shirt divided by three drops plus 40ml.
It’s not an equation or division sign.

It means -

Heavy soil OR hard water add 40ml
What about the asterisks in brackets - heavy soil divided by hard water to the power of two asterisks plus 40ml?

Whoever thought that lot up needs their head slammed in a door a la Rik Mayall spin

swisstoni

20,149 posts

295 months

Tuesday 14th January
quotequote all
Half a cup. Never going to be far off is it?

Fast and Spurious

1,802 posts

104 months

Tuesday 14th January
quotequote all
swisstoni said:
Half a cup. Never going to be far off is it?
Yes, but what bra size, eh?

ewanjp

456 posts

53 months

Wednesday 15th January
quotequote all
Ham_and_Jam said:
It’s not an equation or division sign.

It means -

Heavy soil OR hard water add 40ml
Indeed but they've written it as an equation. st instructions.

Ham_and_Jam

3,135 posts

113 months

Wednesday 15th January
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
What about the asterisks in brackets - heavy soil divided by hard water to the power of two asterisks plus 40ml?

Whoever thought that lot up needs their head slammed in a door a la Rik Mayall spin
I’m not defending it, as a simple matrix would have been more useful.