My Take on Laundry Pods

[niclonnic]

Is there anyone on here that uses these single-use pods in their washing machine(s)? Personally, I don't use them nowadays, but I can draw from my personal experiences with them in the past.

There was a time at my old house in the mid- to late 2010s, when all we used with our LG FL were pods. This includes Tide Pods, as well as the Kirkland pods from Costco. It felt convenient to toss them into the drum before loading in the dirty laundry. However, over time I have realized the downsides to pods.

They have a tendency to not dissolve completely, especially when washing on cold combined with the very low water usage of the LG. My stepmom has especially made a note of this; she has noticed pod residue being left on her work uniforms after a full wash and dry. Apparently, this residue was present even when washing in warm water. I specifically remember a time when she was sorting through clean laundry, and found an undissolved residual pod on a shirt; it looked like a sticky candy wrapper. That was gross.

With the old Frigidaire TL at my current place, pods always dissolved in there, thanks to its greater water usage. However, about two years after moving in, we stopped buying pods and switched back to liquid. And I still use liquid to this day, even with my current GE FL. Liquid is a necessity with this machine, thanks to its SmartDispense tank which takes the guesswork out of measuring.

Although my stepmom believes that the GE will handle pods just fine, I'm leery to buy and use them nowadays based on the aforementioned experience. What are your thoughts on this matter?

 

[qsd-dan]

One size fits all doesn't work in most circumstances. Too many variables from water quality/hardness, water level(s), water temperatures, and soil level are just a few limiting factors.

Pods are also releasing microplastics into the water supply. Powdered detergent that comes inside a cardboard box has the least impact on the environment.

 

[DADoES]

I've never used laundry pods and don't intend to do so.

 

[me]

I've never used pods in a washing machine and don't think much of the idea of sticking concentrated detergent directly on the fabric in case it leaves blotches. They do have one advantage over liquids, apart from less plastic packaging, in that much like powder detergent, manufacturers could separate incompatible ingredients in the separate blisters in a pod that would react in the bottle with a liquid, but a big downside is you can't adjust the dose to suit the size of the load, hardness of water, level of filth etc, other than double it of course.

Can't beat powder detergent in my view.

 

[AspirationalMiele]

I switch between liquids and pods depending on whatever is on sale. My favourite detergent is the Tide hygienic clean (this is the name in Canada). I am finishing the liquid version and will use the pods next. What I have learned about pods that is beneficial about them is that the different coloured liquids in the different compartments break down gradually which supposedly ensures that each compartment is more efficient than if each one was activated at once in a liquid form. However, I am unable to verify how much cleaner clothes end up due to this specificity. As well, I know that pods are not the best in all machines. I am using a very old GE set but hope to purchase an older Miele washer soon in which case I have learned it is best to stick to liquid

 

[luxflairguy]

Give me powdered detergent anyday! Love Tide w/ bleach powder. Always have a couple of boxes around. Also like Tide Oxi Whitening Boost. Greg

 

[maytag85]

As someone who’s apart of the Gen Z demographic, I don’t even bother with pods since as mentioned, one size fits all doesn’t really work in the real world.

I’ll stick to using powders and soaps for the time being, proven and don’t pollute the environment with plastic and packaging.

 

[whirlpool862]

I use laundry pods for my washer. I don’t like liquid detergent. I mainly use Tide Pods.

I never buy liquid detergent nowadays. I do not use dryer sheets and I do not use fabric softener.

Laundry pods are fine, as long as you keep them out of the reach of children and you don’t put too many in the washer. If you have kids in your house (but all my kids are grown now so I don’t have to worry), you gotta store them up high and out of reach, and preferably in a locked cabinet. Most laundry pods have instructions for how many pods are appropriate for load size.

Liquid detergent is too messy for me. I’ve used laundry pods every since they came out. Not a fan of powder either. PLEASE DO NOT PUT LAUNDRY PODS IN YOUR MOUTH OR SWALLOW THEM. Laundry pods are poisonous when ingested, just like any other detergent. I can’t believe I have to say this.

 

[appnut]

Powdered detergent for me only nothing else

 

[phillymatt53]

I've been using "Windfresh" powdered (from Sams Club) for decades without any issues.
It does the job, and I'm satisfied

 

[niclonnic]

I use laundry pods for my washer. I don’t like liquid detergent. I mainly use Tide Pods.

I never buy liquid detergent nowadays. I do not use dryer sheets and I do not use fabric softener.

Laundry pods are fine, as long as you keep them out of the reach of children and you don’t put too many in the washer. If you have kids in your house (but all my kids are grown now so I don’t have to worry), you gotta store them up high and out of reach, and preferably in a locked cabinet. Most laundry pods have instructions for how many pods are appropriate for load size.

Liquid detergent is too messy for me. I’ve used laundry pods every since they came out. Not a fan of powder either. PLEASE DO NOT PUT LAUNDRY PODS IN YOUR MOUTH OR SWALLOW THEM. Laundry pods are poisonous when ingested, just like any other detergent. I can’t believe I have to say this.

Yeah, I was fortunate enough to have just become an adult by the time Tide Pods rolled around. Therefore, I had full common sense to NOT EAT THEM. I never fell for that stupid "Tide Pod Challenge" that went viral in late 2017.

When they first came out in 2012, Tide Pods came in a clear container. However, that made the pods look a bit too much like candy in a gumball machine. As a result of this, after a year on the market, Procter & Gamble changed the packaging to an opaque (solid) orange to conceal the pods and prevent them from getting mixed up with candy.

 

[phillymatt53]

Yeah, I was fortunate enough to have just become an adult by the time Tide Pods rolled around. Therefore, I had full common sense to NOT EAT THEM. I never fell for that stupid "Tide Pod Challenge" that went viral in late 2017.

When they first came out in 2012, Tide Pods came in a clear container. However, that made the pods look a bit too much like candy in a gumball machine. As a result of this, after a year on the market, Procter & Gamble changed the packaging to an opaque (solid) orange to conceal the pods and prevent them from getting mixed up with candy.

You can thank modern technology and social media for spreading around that Tide Pod crap.
Oh, and also thank the juvenile brains for starting such an idiotic game to other gullible kids.