I usually get the no dye no scent stuff and use it sparingly. Laundry detergent still has a lot of fillers in it (less than years ago,) so you don't need anywhere the amount the bottle says. If your clothes are really dirty, like you work in the garage all day, maybe. But for most, a couple tablespoons of detergent work well enough. Always use liquid, it doesn't have to dissolve in the water.