Where to Put Fabric Softener and Detergent: Compartments and Dosage

Fabric softener goes in the compartment marked with a flower symbol, and detergent goes in compartment II. Compartment I is only used when a prewash programme is selected. Below you will find how to recognise the compartments on any washing machine, when it makes sense to put detergent straight into the drum, where detergent pods go and how much product you actually need.

What do I, II and the flower mean on a washing machine drawer?

On almost every front-loading washing machine, the detergent drawer has three compartments marked with symbols:

• I – prewash. Only used when you choose a programme with a prewash, for example for very dirty laundry. For a normal wash, leave it empty: without a prewash, product put here may stay in the drawer or reach the drum at the wrong time.
• II – main wash. This is where liquid detergent or washing powder goes. You will use it every time.
• Flower (sometimes a star) – fabric softener. Usually the smallest compartment, with a cap and a MAX line.

The layout depends on the manufacturer: on some machines the flower compartment is in the middle, on others on the right. So go by the symbols, not the position. If the symbols have worn off, you will find them in the machine's manual.

Where do you put fabric softener?

Only in the compartment with the flower symbol. The machine draws the softener from this compartment during the final rinse, once the detergent has been rinsed out. That is why the softener lands on clean fabric and stays there.

Two common mistakes:

• Softener together with detergent in compartment II. It will be washed away during the main wash and have no effect.
• Softener above the MAX line. The softener compartment has a siphon – a small cap or tube. If you go over the line, the softener drains into the drum straight away, at the start of the wash, and is wasted.

Where do you put detergent: in the drawer or straight in the drum?

Put liquid detergent and powder in compartment II. It works on every machine and is the simplest option.

Liquid detergent can also go in the drum, but only in a dosing ball placed on top of the laundry. Don't pour detergent directly onto clothes – concentrated detergent can leave marks. The drum is the better choice in two cases:

• You use delay start. Liquid detergent left in the drawer can slowly trickle in too early.
• Residue keeps building up in the drawer. A dosing ball in the drum gets around the problem.

Some machines have a flap or insert in compartment II for liquid detergent. If yours does, lower it when using liquid detergent and raise it when using powder.

Don't put powder straight into the drum: at low temperatures it may not dissolve and can leave white marks on dark clothes.

Where do detergent pods go?

Straight into the drum, at the back, before you add the laundry. Don't put pods in the drawer – they won't dissolve there. If you also use fabric softener, it still goes in the compartment with the flower symbol.

How much detergent and fabric softener should you use?

For Alchemy by RM scented laundry detergent and fabric softener – 30–50 ml each per wash. The exact amount depends on the size of the load, how dirty it is and how hard your water is:

• Closer to 30 ml – when the drum is half full, the laundry is only lightly soiled and the water is soft.
• Closer to 50 ml – when the drum is full, the laundry is heavily soiled or the water is hard.

If you don't have a measuring cup, a tablespoon will do: it holds about 15 ml, so 30–50 ml is roughly 2–3 tablespoons. For other brands, follow the dose on their label.

Using more doesn't help. Excess product doesn't strengthen the scent: it stays in the fabric and holds moisture, so the scent fades faster. More on this in why clothes have no scent after washing.

Why is there softener or detergent left in the drawer?

If product is left in the compartment after a wash, it is usually one of these:

• A clogged drawer. Take it out (the manual explains how) and rinse it in warm water. It is worth doing once a month.
• A clogged siphon. Remove the cap from the softener compartment and rinse it separately.
• Too much product. Softener above the MAX line, or more detergent than the compartment holds.
• Very thick fabric softener. Many washing machine manufacturers recommend diluting thick softener with a little water.
• Low water pressure. If residue is left every time, check that the water tap is fully open.

When don't you need fabric softener?

It is better not to use softener on towels, microfibre cloths and technical sportswear: it can reduce their absorbency and breathability. More on when detergent alone is enough in detergent or fabric softener – differences and how to use them.

Frequently asked questions

Can you put fabric softener straight in the drum?

It isn't recommended. In the drum, softener is washed away with the detergent before the final rinse, and undiluted it can leave marks on fabric.

Can softener and detergent go in the same compartment?

No. Each one needs to reach the drum at a different time: detergent at the start of the main wash, softener during the final rinse.

Where does fabric softener go in a top-loading washing machine?

On top loaders, the compartments are usually under the lid, in the top panel. The symbols are the same: the softener compartment is marked with a flower. Your model's manual will show exactly where.

You will find all the scents in our scented laundry detergents and fabric softener collections.