I get the attraction of pods if I was going to the laundromat and needed the portability. I just don't understand why you could use them if you were in your own home. I use liquid Tide at the moment. I don't consider it a hardship to unscrew the cap and pour. Are people this lazy to need a pod?
CR No Longer Recommends Laundry Detergent Pods
- Thread starter frigilux
- Start date
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I guess that makes it official: The distinction between ambition and sloth comes down to a colorful little pod.
And to think it wasn't so long ago it was I commenting that manufacturers of powders were forced to include a chintzy scoop in every box because its users were too lazy to keep a measuring cup on hand. How the mighty have fallen!
Oh, well; the laws of karma cannot be avoided. I'll just throw my electric razor and slip-ons in a bag and take my place with the indolent.
[this post was last edited: 8/7/2015-04:22]
And to think it wasn't so long ago it was I commenting that manufacturers of powders were forced to include a chintzy scoop in every box because its users were too lazy to keep a measuring cup on hand. How the mighty have fallen!
Oh, well; the laws of karma cannot be avoided. I'll just throw my electric razor and slip-ons in a bag and take my place with the indolent.
[this post was last edited: 8/7/2015-04:22]
Oh I haven't ruled out Pods for
Rosalie's but like washer111 pointed out, I find from my market surveys' the detergent in pods is 2-3 times more expensive to the customer.
And for little old me, pods are currently locked up with tons of fresh patents stretching 15-20 years down the road. So we will wait that one out.
Rosalie's but like washer111 pointed out, I find from my market surveys' the detergent in pods is 2-3 times more expensive to the customer.
And for little old me, pods are currently locked up with tons of fresh patents stretching 15-20 years down the road. So we will wait that one out.
Not likely to call 911 or Poison Control--
--'Cause I don't use! (I can measure my laundry soap in accordance to my wash-load, whereas pods are better designed for dishes & kitchen ware, if the dishwasher only has a fixed setting, that I only use when the machine is actually totally full!) Not interested in the pod design for my laundry, though my daughter seems well-educated enough on poisons & dangerous chemicals (that there are the fewest of these volatile substances around compared to back in my time) that there are no worries about any accidental or incidental ingestion of such--and somehow no matter how NOT so high up this stuff was placed I surely never imbibed or swallowed anything as much as had access to read the warning labels, beginning with an "If Swallowed," on a bleach label I saw on the top edge of the parents' laundry tub...
I fail to see why these pods can't just be kept in a plain cardboard box in a plastic lining bag just like my dishwasher tablets are...
Not much you can do about the candy-like appearance, but a no-brainer to at least make the packaging something the kids are less-likely to climb up & get...
-- Dave
--'Cause I don't use! (I can measure my laundry soap in accordance to my wash-load, whereas pods are better designed for dishes & kitchen ware, if the dishwasher only has a fixed setting, that I only use when the machine is actually totally full!) Not interested in the pod design for my laundry, though my daughter seems well-educated enough on poisons & dangerous chemicals (that there are the fewest of these volatile substances around compared to back in my time) that there are no worries about any accidental or incidental ingestion of such--and somehow no matter how NOT so high up this stuff was placed I surely never imbibed or swallowed anything as much as had access to read the warning labels, beginning with an "If Swallowed," on a bleach label I saw on the top edge of the parents' laundry tub...
I fail to see why these pods can't just be kept in a plain cardboard box in a plastic lining bag just like my dishwasher tablets are...
Not much you can do about the candy-like appearance, but a no-brainer to at least make the packaging something the kids are less-likely to climb up & get...
-- Dave
Pods are starting to become quite a serious health and safety concern here in Ireland, there's a fairly strong possibility I suspect that they could end up being regulated out of existence by the EU.
The biggest issues with them isn't actually poisoning, as the ingredients in laundry detergent while nasty enough are generally not going to have lethal consequences.
The issues that have been reported by paediatric accident and emergency doctors here in Ireland have all been around eye injuries and upper respiratory injuries.
The problem is that babies and toddlers (and in one case an adult!) chew on the pod and it explodes splattering very sticky, very concentrated detergent into the person's face.
I could definitely see them being taken out of circulation through consumer safety legislation.
I also note that the major brands here have scaled back their marketing drives for pods. There's more of a push going on on concentrated liquids again.
Persil and Surf Small & Mighty in umpteen different varieties.
Ariel Clean & Compact seems to be displacing Excel Gel too.
I suspect the detergent manufacturers know the pod's may have to disappear, as convenient as they are.
Actually in general dishwasher tablets are probably less attractive and less dangerous as they're mostly not liquids. They would give you a nasty taste and possibly mouth burns if you chewed them, but very few of them would actually explode if you were to bite into them.
The biggest issues with them isn't actually poisoning, as the ingredients in laundry detergent while nasty enough are generally not going to have lethal consequences.
The issues that have been reported by paediatric accident and emergency doctors here in Ireland have all been around eye injuries and upper respiratory injuries.
The problem is that babies and toddlers (and in one case an adult!) chew on the pod and it explodes splattering very sticky, very concentrated detergent into the person's face.
I could definitely see them being taken out of circulation through consumer safety legislation.
I also note that the major brands here have scaled back their marketing drives for pods. There's more of a push going on on concentrated liquids again.
Persil and Surf Small & Mighty in umpteen different varieties.
Ariel Clean & Compact seems to be displacing Excel Gel too.
I suspect the detergent manufacturers know the pod's may have to disappear, as convenient as they are.
Actually in general dishwasher tablets are probably less attractive and less dangerous as they're mostly not liquids. They would give you a nasty taste and possibly mouth burns if you chewed them, but very few of them would actually explode if you were to bite into them.
The other issues with pods:
1) They're adding extra packaging waste to the environment as they have to be packed in very heavy plastic boxes to prevent breakage of the pods / water or even most air getting in.
2) The actual plastic bubble they're in adds unnecessary plastics to waste streams into the drain system (can cause clogs) and also adds extra gunk to process in sewage treatment facilities.
3) They cannot supply them in a format that's refillable - liquids (more so in continental Europe) are often sold in tap-refillable systems in supermarkets (Henkel in particular does this in France with Le Chat) and also sometimes in plastic bag formats that can be poured into your original bottle.
4) They don't work very well in some low-water usage machines and end up stuck in the door seal if they're misplaced. I've seen (and experienced myself) a few instances where the machine threw the pod into the door seal and it was still there being dissolved during the rinses.
Other low water use machines may just cause damage to clothes as the pod doesn't quite dissolve evenly and ends up stuck on clothes.
5) They're not very compatible with quick washes in front loaders where the cycle time might only be as low as 15 to 20 minutes. The pod doesn't dissolve quickly and the machine doesn't distribute the detergent and you end up with either a poor wash or a pod dissolving during the rinses.
6) Some people don't use them correctly at all. I know one person who put two detergent pods straight into the dispenser drawer and it took about 5 kettles of hot water to clear the machine. The dispenser blocked and water flowed onto the floor as the machine was filling.
8) inflexible dosing: The dose is optimised for hard water and average loads, which is inappropriate for a lot of people. For example, if I use a pod in my Miele on the South Coast of Ireland, the water is extremely soft and the machine over suds.
It means, that a lot of people are using totally inappropriately high doses which is a waste of money, waste of ingredients and is adding extra chemicals to the environment we don't need.
I also don't believe it reduces dose as many people will just "chuck" in two pods for no reason.
1) They're adding extra packaging waste to the environment as they have to be packed in very heavy plastic boxes to prevent breakage of the pods / water or even most air getting in.
2) The actual plastic bubble they're in adds unnecessary plastics to waste streams into the drain system (can cause clogs) and also adds extra gunk to process in sewage treatment facilities.
3) They cannot supply them in a format that's refillable - liquids (more so in continental Europe) are often sold in tap-refillable systems in supermarkets (Henkel in particular does this in France with Le Chat) and also sometimes in plastic bag formats that can be poured into your original bottle.
4) They don't work very well in some low-water usage machines and end up stuck in the door seal if they're misplaced. I've seen (and experienced myself) a few instances where the machine threw the pod into the door seal and it was still there being dissolved during the rinses.
Other low water use machines may just cause damage to clothes as the pod doesn't quite dissolve evenly and ends up stuck on clothes.
5) They're not very compatible with quick washes in front loaders where the cycle time might only be as low as 15 to 20 minutes. The pod doesn't dissolve quickly and the machine doesn't distribute the detergent and you end up with either a poor wash or a pod dissolving during the rinses.
6) Some people don't use them correctly at all. I know one person who put two detergent pods straight into the dispenser drawer and it took about 5 kettles of hot water to clear the machine. The dispenser blocked and water flowed onto the floor as the machine was filling.
8) inflexible dosing: The dose is optimised for hard water and average loads, which is inappropriate for a lot of people. For example, if I use a pod in my Miele on the South Coast of Ireland, the water is extremely soft and the machine over suds.
It means, that a lot of people are using totally inappropriately high doses which is a waste of money, waste of ingredients and is adding extra chemicals to the environment we don't need.
I also don't believe it reduces dose as many people will just "chuck" in two pods for no reason.
"there's a fairly strong possibility I suspect that they could end up being regulated out of existence by the EU."
Now, for whatever reason, at about 5am, this is beyond hilarious.
"If humanity can't do it right the first time, then the EU will legislate it being done right in the future."
(Washer111)
This is only intended as stupidity early in the morning before work
Now, for whatever reason, at about 5am, this is beyond hilarious.
"If humanity can't do it right the first time, then the EU will legislate it being done right in the future."
(Washer111)
This is only intended as stupidity early in the morning before work
Interesting points James
I have a box of vintage salvo tablets from the 60's - pre dosed tablets. Supposed to make wash day so easy. But I heard from several women at the time they hated the fact that they had to directly handle the detergent with their hands. Not so with powder scoops and pouring liquids. Today pods have to be directly handled, granted there may not be much detergent on the outside but who knows.
Any one toss a pod in and then rinse their hands??
I have a box of vintage salvo tablets from the 60's - pre dosed tablets. Supposed to make wash day so easy. But I heard from several women at the time they hated the fact that they had to directly handle the detergent with their hands. Not so with powder scoops and pouring liquids. Today pods have to be directly handled, granted there may not be much detergent on the outside but who knows.
Any one toss a pod in and then rinse their hands??
James-- Tide Pods containers are recyclable, as with liquid jugs. P&G was working on pods with no outer packaging, but haven't heard if/when they'll come to market. They're packaged as a sheet with perforations around each dose. I'm assuming the casing is reinforced so they don't open unintentionally. Interesting concept, but whether they can make it work is another story.
The inability to dose is only an issue for me with very small loads---a couple of shirts, for instance. Otherwise, they work well in my softened water and the new Turbo pods rinse very well for me. No problems using them with the Frigidaire's 20-minute Quick cycle.
I used pods exclusively for at least a year and had no problems with them dissolving. As mentioned elsewhere, my Frigidaire front-loader doesn't tumble before water enters, and the recirculating jet helps them dissolve very efficiently, even when washing comforters. They may not work as well in other machines. If a washer tumbles quite a bit before water enters, that would probably increase the chance of the pod landing up front on the boot.
As for people misusing them---putting them in the dispenser; using two pacs instead of one---the simple instructions for use are clear. Toss the pod toward the back of the empty tub, then add load. The fault lies with the user, not the pod in these cases.
If the powers that be decide pods are too dangerous, or if manufacturers stop making them, I'll just go back to liquids/powders. I appreciate the ease and convenience of using pods, but I wouldn't shed tears if they went away.
I'm not aware of refillable detergents, at least where I live. That sounds like a great option, although there's still a relatively heavy plastic bag to dispose of.
The poisoning issue is certainly cause for concern, but there are no children in the house and I've not been tempted to bite into one, so far.
Jon-- I have never washed my hands after handling pods. No problems as long as hands are dry.
[this post was last edited: 8/8/2015-12:46]
The inability to dose is only an issue for me with very small loads---a couple of shirts, for instance. Otherwise, they work well in my softened water and the new Turbo pods rinse very well for me. No problems using them with the Frigidaire's 20-minute Quick cycle.
I used pods exclusively for at least a year and had no problems with them dissolving. As mentioned elsewhere, my Frigidaire front-loader doesn't tumble before water enters, and the recirculating jet helps them dissolve very efficiently, even when washing comforters. They may not work as well in other machines. If a washer tumbles quite a bit before water enters, that would probably increase the chance of the pod landing up front on the boot.
As for people misusing them---putting them in the dispenser; using two pacs instead of one---the simple instructions for use are clear. Toss the pod toward the back of the empty tub, then add load. The fault lies with the user, not the pod in these cases.
If the powers that be decide pods are too dangerous, or if manufacturers stop making them, I'll just go back to liquids/powders. I appreciate the ease and convenience of using pods, but I wouldn't shed tears if they went away.
I'm not aware of refillable detergents, at least where I live. That sounds like a great option, although there's still a relatively heavy plastic bag to dispose of.
The poisoning issue is certainly cause for concern, but there are no children in the house and I've not been tempted to bite into one, so far.
Jon-- I have never washed my hands after handling pods. No problems as long as hands are dry.
[this post was last edited: 8/8/2015-12:46]
Just make sure not to fill the FS compartment with Le Auto Doseur like the woman in the commercial did, or you might run into a laundry disaster.
I wonder if this is ever going to be launched on Henkel`s home market ?
There`s Purex in the States, the whole line of brands in France but still nothing in Germany.
I wonder if this is ever going to be launched on Henkel`s home market ?
There`s Purex in the States, the whole line of brands in France but still nothing in Germany.
mrboilwash, you know that Germans will not buy it.
You remember what happened with Persil liquits, Persil Actic Power. Persil dio-caps will be the same fiasco in Germany even though they are very well accepter here in the East.
I think this auto dose thing is useless. I guess there are thousand issues with it. Instead they have to put a nice spout on the bottles (just like with US liquids and softeners) because the wide bottlenecks are a nightmare.
You remember what happened with Persil liquits, Persil Actic Power. Persil dio-caps will be the same fiasco in Germany even though they are very well accepter here in the East.
I think this auto dose thing is useless. I guess there are thousand issues with it. Instead they have to put a nice spout on the bottles (just like with US liquids and softeners) because the wide bottlenecks are a nightmare.
Persil Small & Mighty's dosing solution here is perfect in my opinion.
It comes in a big 2 litre jug with an easy open spout for easy pouring
You've a dosing ball, that's made out of rubbery plastic. Simply fill to line and throw into drum.
No mess, no spills, no banging noises during the wash (common with harder dosing devices).
Dispenses flawlessly and instantly.
It comes in a big 2 litre jug with an easy open spout for easy pouring
You've a dosing ball, that's made out of rubbery plastic. Simply fill to line and throw into drum.
No mess, no spills, no banging noises during the wash (common with harder dosing devices).
Dispenses flawlessly and instantly.
mich
Well-known member
In all fairness
for those using Dishwasher Tabs & Pods.
After the Phosphate bans we're enacted, many and I mean, many Detergent's overnight became ineffective, and left behind considerable residue.
Suddenly the Electrasol Powder or Cascade Gel you had been purchasing for years & years, no longer worked. And according to Consumer Reports, the only way you could get a sorta-clean load, was with the new reformulated Tablets/Pods.
The problem was... synthetic rinse agents & new builders to prevent spotting & filming, we're too costly to implement in classic, value products. So they we're left out, and in most cases, they are still not as effective as they we're in very hard water conditions.
Now... if the Phosphate bans we're never enacted, you could buy any, and I mean any detergent on the shelf and get a wonderful clean. Even the cheapest store powder, would have made your dishes shine.
Random - P&G did a consumer study, back in 2006 asking consumers if they could tell any difference between Cascade Gel & Cascade ActionPacs (One a Enzyme & One a chlorine based product). Less than 7% of the respondents noticed anything significant.
That's interesting, because a lot of Dishwasher Manufacturers said, and still do, that a Enzyme Detergent should be used for best results. But.. most consumers couldn't tell the difference between a Phosphate Chlorine Gel & a Phosphate & Enzyme Powder.
for those using Dishwasher Tabs & Pods.
After the Phosphate bans we're enacted, many and I mean, many Detergent's overnight became ineffective, and left behind considerable residue.
Suddenly the Electrasol Powder or Cascade Gel you had been purchasing for years & years, no longer worked. And according to Consumer Reports, the only way you could get a sorta-clean load, was with the new reformulated Tablets/Pods.
The problem was... synthetic rinse agents & new builders to prevent spotting & filming, we're too costly to implement in classic, value products. So they we're left out, and in most cases, they are still not as effective as they we're in very hard water conditions.
Now... if the Phosphate bans we're never enacted, you could buy any, and I mean any detergent on the shelf and get a wonderful clean. Even the cheapest store powder, would have made your dishes shine.
Random - P&G did a consumer study, back in 2006 asking consumers if they could tell any difference between Cascade Gel & Cascade ActionPacs (One a Enzyme & One a chlorine based product). Less than 7% of the respondents noticed anything significant.
That's interesting, because a lot of Dishwasher Manufacturers said, and still do, that a Enzyme Detergent should be used for best results. But.. most consumers couldn't tell the difference between a Phosphate Chlorine Gel & a Phosphate & Enzyme Powder.
The main drawback to pods, like tablets, is the very thing that makes them seem more convenient: fixed dosage.
Anyone who has done laundry on a regular basis knows that it's important to adjust detergent added to the size and soil level of the load. A fixed dosage solution doesn't allow for that, making under-dosing and over-dosing the load a virtual certainty.
Anyone who has done laundry on a regular basis knows that it's important to adjust detergent added to the size and soil level of the load. A fixed dosage solution doesn't allow for that, making under-dosing and over-dosing the load a virtual certainty.
Lately
We've been using pods as a trial...I'll admit, it keeps hubby from overdosing with detergent and oversudsing...although some pods tend to suds more than others (wisk especially in hot water with Clorox) but Gain does ok and Persil is awesome. He's still of the mindset of "if this is good, more is better". Of course, I've been using a FL longer than he has...and I got used to having a water softener before he did. Some pods have too much detergent for a compact size washer though. We've never had a problem with them getting caught in the boot and not dissolving because Asko doesn't use a front boot.
When I was a kid I knew not to put stuff in my mouth! I was a monkey and climbed on top of everything so nothing was really out of my reach. My dad put a special locking pin into the medicine cabinet that was actually beyond our reach even if we were standing on the toilet so medicines were safe from a climber like me...but I knew not to take anything if Momma didn't give it to me herself! Heck, one of her migraine pills looked just like green M&M's and I knew better. Parents just need to stop playing on their iPhones constantly and actually WATCH their kids. If I had kids, I'd put a latch on the laundry cabinets way up high so climbers couldn't even reach it.
We've been using pods as a trial...I'll admit, it keeps hubby from overdosing with detergent and oversudsing...although some pods tend to suds more than others (wisk especially in hot water with Clorox) but Gain does ok and Persil is awesome. He's still of the mindset of "if this is good, more is better". Of course, I've been using a FL longer than he has...and I got used to having a water softener before he did. Some pods have too much detergent for a compact size washer though. We've never had a problem with them getting caught in the boot and not dissolving because Asko doesn't use a front boot.
When I was a kid I knew not to put stuff in my mouth! I was a monkey and climbed on top of everything so nothing was really out of my reach. My dad put a special locking pin into the medicine cabinet that was actually beyond our reach even if we were standing on the toilet so medicines were safe from a climber like me...but I knew not to take anything if Momma didn't give it to me herself! Heck, one of her migraine pills looked just like green M&M's and I knew better. Parents just need to stop playing on their iPhones constantly and actually WATCH their kids. If I had kids, I'd put a latch on the laundry cabinets way up high so climbers couldn't even reach it.
The pods will work well for most loads, although I can see how it might be too large a dose for the Asko's smaller drum size.
P&G claims people frequently overdose the new ultra-concentrated liquids---and I agree---so in many cases, pods save detergent. Members of the AW family are probably very attentive to dosage with loads of varying sizes, but the general public, not so much.
Only very small loads (a couple of shirts or a set of workout clothes) have ever presented a problem with pods. Otherwise, the dosage works just fine. If you weigh each load and calibrate your detergent dose to it by the ml, God bless; I've used pods for a year in loads of all sizes and soils-levels with no real problems.
I've never, ever used two pods in the front-loader. That would be a suds disaster in soft water. I did use two a number of times in the Speed Queen top-loader, but honestly, I'd stick to liquids or powders with a non-HE machine.
P&G claims people frequently overdose the new ultra-concentrated liquids---and I agree---so in many cases, pods save detergent. Members of the AW family are probably very attentive to dosage with loads of varying sizes, but the general public, not so much.
Only very small loads (a couple of shirts or a set of workout clothes) have ever presented a problem with pods. Otherwise, the dosage works just fine. If you weigh each load and calibrate your detergent dose to it by the ml, God bless; I've used pods for a year in loads of all sizes and soils-levels with no real problems.
I've never, ever used two pods in the front-loader. That would be a suds disaster in soft water. I did use two a number of times in the Speed Queen top-loader, but honestly, I'd stick to liquids or powders with a non-HE machine.
