It's big business, and there's money to be made from catering to our basic need for cleanliness. Not to mention creating a few new needs where none existed. But if you just want to get your clothes clean, thank you very much, there are still a few things to consider:
Time I've heard that detergents do their job in the first few minutes of the wash cycle, so there's no benefit to setting the timer for more than 10 minutes or so. Beyond a certain point, all you're doing is swishing your clothes around in the dirty water, because the soap is not removing any more of the dirt from your clothes. I usually set the timer for eight minutes, and I've heard of some people who set it for five minutes and are happy with the results.
Temperature Hot water uses more energy, so you'll find most laundry experts recommend using the cold cycle for as much of your laundry as you can. I've found cold water cleans well enough usually, but I've also found that my detergents sometimes don't dissolve too well. So when I'm doing a cold water wash, I usually put the soap in first, then run just enough warm water to dissolve it, and then I switch back to cold water and put in the clothes.
If you've tried cold water and have been dissatisfied with the results, keep in mind that synthetic detergents are formulated to work better than natural soaps in cold water, and the hardness of your water may also be affecting the results. Washing soda may help, and also borax. Adding vinegar diluted in water to the final rinse may also help, by removing more of the soap from your clothes.
How Much Whether you use soap or detergent, many thrifty folks say they use much less than the manufacturers' recommended amounts. Try using one-half to two-thirds the recommended amount to start with, and then work up or down from there, until you're using the least amount you can to get your clothes clean enough to satisfy you.
Front-loading vs. Top-loading People who own front-loading washers usually rave about them. These washers use less water than top-loading models, so it stands to reason they are more energy efficient. But if there is less water circulating around the clothes, it stands to reason that there is less water to carry the dirt away from the clothes. Front-loading machines are generally more expensive, and because they tend to pound your clothes clean, detergent needs may also differ. So if you're used to a top-loading machine, you may have to adjust some of your laundry habits to get the best results.
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