Detergent Stash: Ushering In The New Era

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frigilux

frigilux

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Mar 3, 2007
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The Minnesota Prairie
Made a quick run to Worthington, MN, this morning and cruised the detergent aisle at WalMart. Lo and behold, the All pods I've been curious to try were in stock! Picked up a bag of Tide, as well.

Passing a Walgreen's on the way out of town, I remembered they have their own pod called "Nice" which fell mid-pack in the ratings at Consumer Reports. So, I pulled in and picked up a bag. (They also come in a free 'n' clear version.)

Pictured is my current stash of detergents. Looks radically different than it did only a few months ago. My name is Frigilux and I'm outing myself, loud and proud, as a pod devotee.

I hereby wave a fond and loving farewell to the liquids and powders that once graced my laundry cupboard.

frigilux++4-6-2014-13-02-43.jpg
 
Whilst I despise the things for no particular reason - I have to ask though...

 

Do they actually work? Can we squeeze another of your performance test's out?

 

I must also ask: Do you use these in the SQ, or have you saved the last of your powders for that machine?
 
washer111: It would be difficult to find someone with a lower opinion of laundry detergent pods/pacs when they first appeared. Eventually, I began using pacs for the dishwasher and was impressed with the results, and yes, their ease of use. That's when I gave laundry pacs a second look. The longer I use them, the more I like them.

My initial concern was with dosing. It seemed counterintuitive to apply the same dose to small, medium, and large loads. What about loads that are lightly soiled, or for that matter, heavily-soiled?

Frankly, I've simply stopped worrying about it! I'm happy to report that the Earth has not spun off its axis, my laundry is clean and fresh, and my IQ doesn't appear to have diminished.

I've never used more than 1 pod/pac in the front-loader, even for heavily-soiled loads, and results have been very good. I use 1 pod in the Speed Queen for small-to-medium loads, and 2 pods for large loads. However, I generally wash heavily-soiled loads in the front-loader, as the cycle is longer and stains are more thoroughly removed.

I use Tide or Wisk pods for tough loads, and the other brands in the above photo for less demanding loads. While pods still lag a bit in cleaning power compared to the very best powders/liquids, you can be sure manufacturers are hard at work to continually improve them. I predict that--as was the case with dishwasher pacs--laundry pods will eventually overtake the traditional formats in both performance and sales.

I've had no problems with them: All brands dissolve well, and I haven't encountered any staining of fabrics (the most common complaint lodged against pods). My water is softened, and the Frigidaire front-loader has a recirculation jet, so that may help keep problems at bay. I always, always, always put the pod in the tub first, then the clothes. Most instructions also warn against putting the pod in the dispenser drawer, so I don't do that, either.

In short: I love 'em!

Tim: Thanks for the heads-up on Biz Blasts. I generally don't use boosters (except for liquid chlorine bleach on certain loads of whites), but they may come in handy for non-bleachable items.
 
I will say that it is kinda nice to just pop one into the washer and not worry have to measure and rinse out said measuring implements... I bought several bags of the purple Tide pods at a Kmart going-out-of-business clearance, and I like them... I understand the green and blue ones have a funkier smell, but the purple ones are pretty nice...
.
Using one in large or extra large loads in my orbital Maytag Fabric-matic... No complaints; everything is clean...
 
I've tried..

The A-L-L Pods, and was quite disappointed in the performance of them. You really have to pretreat, they can't seem to remove stains on their own. They do rinse out decently though, a plus, considering how soft our water is. 

 

The Walgreens ones, smell really good, imo. They also have a chockfull of Enzymes, so I imagine they'd work really well. 

 

If you don't mind me asking, how are the Gain & Wisk Pods. Do they work well?
 
Well Frig, best of luck

lol, for some odd reason, when you first mentioned pods, I immediately thought of IOTBS, 1956 version! Dunno why, it just popped into my head.

However, your SQ WILL spin off its axis IF you use more than one pod. Just warnin' ya!
 
Inevitable Evoltion

When I was watching my nephew wash in his new WP FL, he popped in a Tide Pod, and I asked him if they worked and why he switched.

He said they had been using a variety of liquid and dry Tides in the Frigilux Gallery, but tried the pods when they got the new WP.

(Think there may have been a sample in the machine which propelled him to first try then buy.)

He said: "No sticky drips, or powdered mess, nothing to clean up--ever, no nonsense with the flappy dispenser--it's a no brainer, Man. Why would anybody use the old fashioned stuff?"

And I realized how much I liked the dishwasher detergent pods, how much better they cleaned, and how I wouldn't dream of buying anything else, so why not make the leap to clothes washer pods.?

Well, because I discovered the Miele store in town, and am eternally smitten with the smell of Persil which is available here only in the "old fashioned" modes. The Liquid Gold is literally so.

When the Persil pods arrive, they will be hatching in my washers. But tell me which one of the various pods currently available really really really smells the best--haha--and I'll go buy a bag of them.

I'm all about scent, and I'll take your word for it, or from any other member big on smell, realizing that it's all personal and subjective; but I just don't care: Which one smells best?[this post was last edited: 4/7/2014-23:38]
 
Eugene,

I do know the Biz packs are available at Hy-Vee because the last time I was in Madison, WI, I picked some up.  They're not available in the Wausau area though. 
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[this post was last edited: 4/8/2014-11:21]
 
Cost?

How does the cost per load for pods compare with traditional modes of delivery? It seems like the concentration might be an environmental/energy usage benefit.

Sarah
 
Walgreens

Just got back home from our Walgreens and got me two 18 used bags of Purex pods.  They have them on sale buy one at $5.99 and get one free.  I had gone in to buy one of their nice pod bags but theses were better price.  I like the Purex liquid and do hope theses are good it is the mountain breeze.  They also have the bags of the oxi bleach with Zout same prices buy one get one free.  This comes out to $0.16664 per pod  usage. 
 
Sarahperdue: Pods still trend a little higher in price than liquids/powders. Pods run from $.15 to $.34 per load; liquids/powders from $.11 to $.29.

Frankly, I have always tended to dose detergents fairly heavily, so I'm probably saving money by using pods.

The notion of pods was unsettling at first, because I kept thinking, "I'm using the same amount of detergent for every load!" But it's not like I was dosing detergent super-accurately to begin with. I wasn't counting stains and measuring out detergent by the gram or ml. I always measured with a cap or scoop, but it wasn't a scientific endeavor by any means, LOL.

Once I cleared that mostly psychological hurdle, I stopped worrying about it. Now I just toss a pod into the tub. No fuss, no muss. Every load emerges clean and fresh.

Charles: I like the scent of Purex pods and they're fine for most loads. They don't have the brawn for a heavily-soiled or stained load, but many of my loads don't require the big guns. And as you pointed out, they're inexpensive---especially at buy-one-get-one specials.

Tim: I'm shopping at a HyVee after work today. I may have to pick up a bag of Biz and give them a try.
 
OOH...

The Purex ones, with Zout (at least the liquid variety) smell really, really good ;) 

 

I also remember, the "Purex Complete + Triple Zout stain remover" as being, really good at stain removal, even heavily soiled stuff.
 
Michael---Saw the Purex pods with Zout at HyVee a few minutes ago. I'll have to give them a try.

Tim---Biz was only available in powder and liquid form at HyVee. I will look for the pod version at a larger store in the chain.
 
I use Pods or pacs in my DW for most loads because I wash the dishes every other day but for small loads I use powder and use a less intensive cycle.

I use between 2 teaspoons to 2 tablespoons or more of detergent in laundry loads of varying sizes, dirt quantities and colors, and I can see how pods would be OK if all your loads are soiled but I just can't get past using the same large dose for everything I wash.

I can't get past using 3 tablespoons of detergent for 10 heavily soiled shirts and using 3 tablespoons of detergent for 4 lightly soiled shirts.
 
mickeyd-- You are correct: Scents are very subjective, and a detergent that I find pleasing may not appeal to others. Having said that, my (current) favorite is Tide Ocean Mist. It has a nice clean smell that isn't exactly floral or "fruity". The scent dissipates after a day or two.

I also like Gain Moonlight Breeze, which, to me, smells a little like a grape popsicle. Perhaps the purple-colored packaging is suggesting that scent to my nose. This one lingers for several days, but it isn't as potent as Gain Original.

Your nephew and the college-age children of friends of mine are leading the charge with pods/pacs. As they age and remain loyal to the format, pods will eclipse liquids and powders.

frigilux++4-8-2014-18-27-31.jpg
 
Such Irony and

How funny. Of all the delicious popsicles of our youth--orange, lemon, cherry, "blue," and root beer, especially--only grape did not appeal to me, but I WILL buy some Tide Pods in Ocean Mist wherever I first see them.

Hey, maybe they'll be close to the scent of Original Dash, the scent I've searched and searched for, for decades now.

T'anks!
 

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