The industrial washers at Big Waves Laundromat provide perfect gravity-driven friction, hundreds of tumbling rotations, and long rinse cycles (that also tumble!). The result: a wash that’s 2–3x more thorough than what a home washer can do. Sad, but true.

Of course, we can’t always make it to Big Waves—especially if it’s just a single “emergency” load. As a father of three young children, I’ve found that emergency loads happen all too often. I still regard my home washing machine as (far) inferior to Big Waves’ industrial washers, but sometimes it’s just more practical to throw in a quick load at home than trek to the laundromat.

So, how do you get the best wash out of an inferior machine? The truth: you really can’t (lol). Top-load washers just aren’t heavy duty. But you can take steps to mitigate their shortcomings. Here’s how:

1. Pre-rinse heavily soiled items

What: Hand-rinse any garment with obvious debris (like your child’s shirt with half a meatball stuck in the collar). Get the big stuff off before tossing it in.

Why: Home washers don’t have the water pressure or drain perforations to handle large debris. A quick sink rinse prevents that meatball from swimming around with the rest of your laundry.

2. Spot-treat stains

What: Use Oxiclean, Spray ’n Wash, or another spot treatment on any grimy or stain-prone items before tossing them in. Spray, drop, repeat.

Why: Home washers don’t create real friction. They rely almost entirely on detergent to do the heavy lifting. Spot treatments give stains extra help breaking down before the wash even starts.

3. Select a heavier cycle

What: Clothes in a home washer don’t tumble; they mostly sit in place. That means little friction and less effective cleaning. To compensate, pick a cycle that’s “one level up” from what you’d normally use.

Why: In a home washer, time is your best ally. A longer, more aggressive cycle gives detergent and spot treatments more time to do their work.

4. Add a bucket of water

What: As the machine fills, mix detergent into a 2-gallon bucket of water and pour it over the clothes. For larger loads, use two buckets. This adds lubrication and distributes detergent evenly.

Why: Home washers are stingy with water. Sometimes clothes at the top don’t even get wet (scary, but true). I’ve seen clothes at the very top of a home washer not even get wet during the wash! Adding water ensures better coverage and movement.

5. Add oxygen cleaner

What: Once the drum is full, sprinkle in a scoop (or two) of Oxiclean (or Kirkland Oxi Power). Oxygen cleaners push bubbles through fabric, boosting the detergent’s effect.

Why: Because with a home washer, you need every bit of help you can get.

We’re always ready to serve you at our beautiful stores—or through our top-rated laundry delivery service. But when life calls for a quick home load, these tricks will help you make the most of a machine that, well, basically sucks.