Note the dosage

The main wash cycle is generally sufficient to ensure that washed laundry comes out of the machine fresh and clean. It is important that the detergent is dosed according to the degree of soiling of the laundry, the water hardness at the place of residence and the capacity of the washing machine. The dosage information usually refers to 4.5 kilos of dry laundry. However, new washing machines can now hold at least six kilos, and often nine or even twelve kilos of laundry. The water supplier can provide information about the water hardness in your area.

Dirt & animal hair

However, there are also laundry items that are particularly dirty, such as sports textiles, children's clothing or workwear for tradespeople. This also includes blankets heavily soiled by animal hair or jeans after a walk in the woods on muddy paths. Then the prewash program makes sense. A prewash can also be helpful if certain textiles, for example dark fabrics, continue to smell musty even after the end of a wash program.

Only with powder

Important to know: If a wash cycle with prewash is selected, detergent must be added to both rinse chambers. For the main wash cycle, it is necessary to use a detergent in the form of powder, granules or tabs, as the majority of a liquid detergent dosed into the rinse chamber flows directly into the washing machine and would therefore already be used in the pre-wash cycle.