Probably the latter. We all use wayyyy more detergent than is actually needed. I watched an interesting video online from a professional laundromat owner that showed how modern detergent is so concentrated that using more than one pod or a small capful is actually super bad for the clothes and the machine. In that same video he talked about how fabric softener is actually harmful for clothes and your washer too and recommends using natural fabric softeners like vinegar as well.

EDIT: I’m not chastising you either, I openly admit that I use wayyyy too much detergent hahaa. I’m a nurse so I’m paranoid about my clothes not being clean enough or the washer having bacteria in it for the kids clothes to get dirtied by when washing theirs separate.