What should I do if I used the wrong detergent compartment in the washer?

Identify exactly what went where: the product, the compartment, and whether the cycle has started. Then check the washer’s own manual for directions that match the compartment and cycle. Dispensers can have different arrangements, and the right response depends on the machine and the mix-up. Don’t assume that moving liquid, adding water, or restarting is appropriate.

If the cycle is underway, look for instructions covering a mistake discovered during a running cycle. If the manual does not explain your situation, avoid choosing a pause, cancel, drain, or restart action based on general advice. Note when you noticed the mistake and the stage shown on the display, if visible. Look up the manual using the washer’s model number, or ask the manufacturer for model-specific guidance. Don’t add another product unless the instructions for your washer say to.

Only if the guide matches your washer and the particular mix-up it describes. For the LG dispenser covered by that guide, detergent and fabric softener have separate compartments. If those two were switched, the guide says softener may dispense during washing and produce no suds; it directs users to empty and thoroughly clean the detergent dispenser, then refill it. [S1]

The guide also distinguishes automatic tanks from manual compartments. Check which type your washer has and follow its own model-specific instructions. This example does not establish a remedy for other brands, dispenser designs, products, or compartment mistakes.

Record the washer model, cycle, product, compartment used, and—if known—the compartment intended for that product. Note whether the cycle had started, the stage displayed, and when you noticed the mix-up. Check the manual’s dispenser diagram or labels; if you are unsure of a compartment’s name, describe its position, label, or symbol. Keep the product container available so you can report its exact name.

You could ask: “Washer model: [model number]. Cycle: [cycle name]. Status when noticed: [not started / underway / finished; display stage if shown]. Product placed: [product name]. It went into: [compartment name or symbol]. What does the manual recommend I do next?” If the instructions remain unclear, ask the manufacturer or a qualified appliance professional before taking an unlisted corrective step.

Treat advice for a different washer as an example, not an instruction for yours. Check your washer’s manual or model-specific support guidance. If you cannot identify the compartment, describe its position, label, or symbol and the product you used; ask support to identify it before deciding what to do. The LG guide’s cleaning direction applies only to the specific detergent-and-fabric-softener switch it describes, not every compartment mistake. [S1]