CR No Longer Recommends Laundry Detergent Pods

[frigilux]

For reasons of safety, Consumer Reports no longer recommends liquid laundry detergent pods. They suggest US companies take a cue from UK/European manufacturers, most of whom add a bittering agent or use tougher encasements that don't break or dissolve as easily.

There are no small children in the house (and the cats have yet to break into the container) so my daily driver will continue to be Tide HE Turbo Pods. Households with tots (or particularly clever pets) should probably stick with liquids/powders until pods are deemed safer.

 

[washer111]

I honesty could not blame a toddler for eating pods, given the image you posted Frig! 

 

Not only are their parents making ZERO effort to protect them, they are perhaps too young to read and then, to top it off, the pods look like candy, and might smell like it too. This is perhaps the worst combination; as all it equals in babies' head is FOOD, MUST EAT!

 

I agree with CR, they need to make these worse than those "Warhead" sour lollies, or just plain bleugh-tasting.  

 

[logixx]

So what what would be the solution? Make Pods look and smell like a turd? Or maybe educate people how to take care of their children... or how to put on a condom?

 

[toploader55]

Extra Credit Alex.

 

Very well stated.

 

[gusherb]

A baby may eat a turd too!

 

[washer111]

Alex,

What you mentioned was the scope of my grizzle. 

 

Parents are the problem to begin with, for either keeping this stuff very accessible to their kids, but also not having their wits about them and watching over their kids, or confining them to a specific area. 

 

Frankly, if parents aren't there watching, or they don't teach kids from the get-go that the laundry room and/or chemicals within are OUT OF BOUNDS, then this sort of outcome is inevitable.

I hate to say it, but there are some parents that will only learn the hard way, and that is going to happen, whether or not the pods smell and taste like turds. 

 

[jetcone]

10 points for Alex!

I honestly don't get the whole pod idea! It failed in the '60s and I see that happening today. Its only good for retired old people who are lazy. No one wants to put extra effort into doing laundry and these require that.  You have to check and plan your load size before you wash. You have to match the load to the pod. Foolish IMHO. That was too much work in the '60s, it'll end up the same today.

I tried the original Persil pods back when Mike let me visit him in Chester. They had a problem he mentioned that I forgot about by the time I got home here to do laundry. It was even stated on the box which I blithely overlooked!  The older tougher pods you had to look over your laundry BEFORE you put it in the dryer. If there was any pod left it HAD to be removed. I didn't follow directions, hauled a load out of the Bendix Combo to find a very hard plastic now embedded in my towel. Couldn't get the scratchy thing out, the plastic had transformed under the heat of the dryer.

I had to turn the towel into my basement tool towel.

I have not had that problem with the Tide pods but then again if they go to toughen them up I bet you will be right back there. 

 

 

[maylingsmom]

Many parents have started making kids as young as 6 do their own laundry. Maybe when a little one sees brother or sister doing laundry they decide to give the pod a try.

 

[maylingsmom]

Jetcone

I am very surprised at this comment from you " Its only good for retired old people who are lazy."

 

[kb0nes]

Comparisons to the failed attempt in the 60's may not work, things today are a bit different then back then. Today we live in a world of hustle bustle and people not caring about anything but speed and convenience, I could see Pods as likely to entirely take over.

I do think the manufacturers need to try to make the products less visually appealing to children, get rid of the pretty colors etc. But more so the end users MUST take responsibility for safe use of these potentially hazardous products. Liability issues like this in our country are just ludicrous. Its just like the people that sue the motorcycle helmet manufacturers because they got a concussion in a crash. That helmet likely saved their life... But they still get paid (usually out of court so as not to set a precedent) ugh.

 

[launderess]

Pods containing all liquid

Seem to be ok, but those with a powder mix are getting up my nose. *LOL*

At least in the AEG the things often get stuck in whole or part in the door boot with some contents never fully dissolving. The older Miele uses more water for the wash so in theory that should help but still...

With the AEG sometimes have to stop the machine and before water pools get the door open to fling bits of the pod onto the wash.

 

[travis]

What's the benefit in using the pods if they don't always dissolve properly?  I'm sorry, it looks like I will stick with powder or liquid.

 

[launderess]

Think the problem is

Rather puny amounts of water many modern front loaders must contend with these days. It just takes that much longer before the things burst and dissolve.

Tide and most other makers advise placing the things in drum before wash. This in theory should allow contact with water along with weight of laundry to burst the thing open, but that is in theory. Often practice is another matter.

 

[frigilux]

Jon-- Actually, it's the young set using pods--18 to 30 year olds. That's why I contend the market share for pods will continue to grow. Just as people in our demographic are used to powders/liquids, they'll be used to pods and will continue to use them as they age. They think it's crazy to lug jugs of detergent around when you can pop a couple of pods in your pocket. People scoffed at dishwasher pods a few years ago and they've leapt to the top of the market share. I will, however, gladly hone my measuring skills when Rosalie's Zero Suds becomes available!

Launderess-- I think my Frigidaire has a lot to do with pod successes. The trough/gap in the boot is narrow, so on the rare occasion one lands there, the tumbling clothes pull it back into the tub. The recirculating water during the fill and first minute or two of the wash helps dissolve the pod quickly, making it less likely to migrate to the boot in the first place. The Maytag 8100 I was eyeing has a wide trough in the boot. If a pod lands there, it's stuck. And keep those powdered pods away from your nose lest we are forced to perform an online intervention, LOL.

Pod safety and parenting: While there are careless parents, mistakes happen to even the diligent. Pods should be less visually enticing, a bittering agent added, and containers harder for kids to open.

 

[kb0nes]

measuring skills when Rosalie's Zero Suds becomes availa

Eugene, of course that is only until the pods become available

 

[kb0nes]

measuring skills when Rosalie's Zero Suds becomes availa

Eugene, of course that is only until the pods become available

 

[frigilux]

Given Jon's post above, I'm afraid Rosalie's will never be a pod.

 

[washer111]

Pods vs Tablets etc

In the grand scheme of things, I'm finding that on a per-wash basis, the pods and dishwasher tabs can range from slightly more expensive, to HIDEOUSLY expensive, depending on the brand, and whether or not its on sale. 

 

For example, a 1Kg jug of dishwasher detergent lasts us anywhere from 60-90 days, for just $18.

The equivalent amount of tablets, at least at our supermarket, could cost somewhere around $40 to $50, maybe more. People still buy them, though (despite my detergent evangelism). 

 

[washman]

Oh my goodness