HE laundry detergent stands for “high-efficiency” laundry detergent. It’s designed to be used in high-efficiency washing machines that use less water than traditional machines. HE laundry detergents are formulated to produce less suds, which is important in HE machines because excessive suds can damage the machine and interfere with its cleaning ability.

If you have a high-efficiency washing machine, then you should use HE laundry detergent. HE laundry detergents are also formulated to be more concentrated, so you’ll need less detergent per load than with regular detergent.

High-efficiency washers use much less water than older standard washers. The HE detergents are developed as low-sudsing and quick-dispersing cleaners for use in low-water volume machines. The HE detergents are specially formulated to hold soil in suspension in that lower volume of water, so it is not re-deposited onto clean clothes.

However, if you don’t have an HE washing machine, you don’t necessarily need to use HE laundry detergent. Regular laundry detergent is formulated to work well in traditional machines and is generally less expensive than HE laundry detergent. That being said, many modern washing machines are designed to be more water-efficient, so using HE detergent can still be beneficial even if you don’t have a high-efficiency machine. Ultimately, the decision on whether to use HE laundry detergent or regular detergent will depend on your washing machine and personal preference.