USA Today has come out with the 3 Biggest Laundry Myths,
Using more detergent and water makes for a better clean. Extra water just dilutes the detergent, plus it causes clothes to float and get farther away from the agitator. But if you use too much detergent, it might not all rinse out, and that could leave your clothes smelly.
Only hot water gets clothes truly clean. Detergents have been engineered to work in lower-temperature water. And hot water can shrink or damage a lot of clothing items. So follow the directions on the tag.
Detergent alternatives and dryer balls work just as well as traditional products. Nobody wants to rinse chemicals into the waterways, but tests have shown that eco-friendly products are generally no more effective than plain water. And dryer balls don’t do the job as well as dryer sheets.
