Frigilux Abandons Pods: "Too Much Work!"

[frigilux]

I'm done with pods.  I mean seriously; having to toss one in the washer for every single load... Who wants to go through all that work?

 

After the, oh, I don't know,  fourth skim-through of the new Maytag 8100's User's Guide, I finally read about the multi-load automatic detergent dosing system.  Then it dawned on me:  I won't even have to bother tossing a pod in the washer.  That archaic chore is a thing of the past!

 

The controls are set by water hardness and whether the detergent is 2X to 6X in concentration.  If excess sudsing occurs---as it surely will in my super-soft water---the manual suggests moving up a level or two, thus decreasing the amount dosed to each load.  I'll bet dollars-to-donuts the control can be set at least one or two steps higher, allowing more loads between fills of the cartridge.

 

The manual goes even further, tempting multi-detergent users---oh, how well they know us---to purchase additional cartridges.  I ordered two more to accommodate one for Tide Ultra Stain Release, one for Persil ProClean 2 in 1, and one for Perwoll For Blacks.  Also ordered a single dose cup, which, oddly, isn't supplied with the very expensive washer.

 

At any rate, only a few Tide Turbo pods remain, which I'm saving to try in the Maytag.  This will satisfy my curiosity as to whether pods worked well for me because of the Frigidaire, which doesn't tumble before adding water and has a recirculating spray during the fill and first couple of minutes of the wash.  Maybe those particular conditions explain why I experienced no problems using pods. 

 

The trough in the boot on the Maytag is very wide.  I can easily imagine a pod getting stuck in there, whereas with the Frigidaire the tumbling clothes tended to pull the pod back into the tub on the rare occasion one migrated there.

 

At any rate,  I will purchase no more pods/pacs.  I'm a liquids guy, now!

 

**Will someone please check to make sure Ben (washman) didn't get hurt falling out of his chair?  Thanks. **

 

 

 

 

[this post was last edited: 9/7/2015-11:56]

 

[logixx]

Besides GE and Whirlpool, are there any other big names in the US that sell sefl-dosing washers? Many manufacturers have them here.

Anyhow, we are looking forward to seeing v-i-d-e-o-s of your new Maytag. Any delivery date yet?

 

[washman]

Finally!

Folks, he sees the light. IOTBS has NOTHING on frig! He turned it around. That means there is hope for all of us.

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

 

[lordkenmore]

I just looked at the Maytag manual that I think applies to this washer. Interesting having a system like this, and it might well appeal to the average laundry-hating person. I hope it does--I don't like the idea of pods taking completely over. If there are enough self dosing washers out there, liquids, at least, would (one hopes) remain in production.

I can see one change I'd make in the system if things were ideal... It appears that you can only have one cartridge loaded at a time. To make things really easy, why not have 2 or 3 cartridges, with a button to choose detergent you wish to use for a load? Admittedly, normal people don't collect detergents the way we do. However, it's not unreasonable to think people would have more than one detergent--a general daily detergent, something for special treatment of colors, etc.

Also it looks like softener and bleach still need to be added for each cycle. That might be a good thing with bleach, of course. Bleach would only be used some loads. Plus I can see idiots who spill a fresh cup of hot coffee over themselves, then sue McDonalds, would probably hit the hypothetical "bleach" button accidentally, and then sue the living daylights out of Whirlpool. But softener is something many add pretty much automatically, and so that could be handled via a multi-load cartridge.

 

[lordkenmore]

>At any rate, I will purchase no more pods/pacs. I'm a liquids guy, now!

Or you won't purchase pods until you purchase pods again. LOL

Sooner or later, there may be a new hot pod that you just have to try...

 

[lordkenmore]

Clarification

>it might well appeal to the average laundry-hating person.

I mean, of course, the average person on the street, not the average AW.org member.

 

[washer111]

It sounds as though Powders might work in this washer, from a couple of the choices listed (or are they liquids as well?)

 

My only objection to liquids being:

- No Oxy-Bleaching system, necessitating the use of a separate product (i.e. to help neutralise city-chlorinated water, remove stains, etc)

- Already watered down; You pay for the cost of shipping water (and so does the environment)

 

Now, we're still waiting on exactly *why* the Frigidaire set "has" to go. Your poor Credit Card has surely had a workout this last year and a half!

 

[appnut]

I'm not even sure where my cartridge is.  It's not in the cabinet above the washer.  My washer has never seen liquid detergents.  I just use the open cartridge slot for pouring in powders. 

 

[frigilux]

Alex-- Barring a back order, I'm hoping it will be installed Friday or Saturday. It may be awhile before any video is shot; work is crazy busy.

Ben-- I'm gonna miss that photo; I was starting to comb my hair like Kevin McCarthy, ha-ha.

Lord Kenmore-- Liquids still dominate the detergent market, so I wouldn't worry too much about a pod takeover. The ability to install several auto-dose cartridges at once would be great, wouldn't it? I quit using fabric softener in 2010, so no problems there.

Washer111-- I really wanted to try a different brand. The Frigidaires still have a lot of miles left on them and will go to a young family I know. Their lives and finances were turned upside down by the wife's series of serious illnesses. They are living in a rental with laundry hookup but have no washer/dryer. Powder can be used in the Maytag, but the dispenser system is liquid only, so liquids it is.

 

[logixx]

Does the washer still use the PowerSpray even without the cartridge in the drawer?

 

[washman]

The story went like this

Dr. Frig I Lux: Measure, pour, guess, caps, spills - without them, life's so simple, believe me.

Dr. Wash A Man: I don't want any part of it.

Dr. Frig I Lux: You're forgetting something, Washman

Dr. Wash A Man: What's that?

Dr. Frig I Lux: You have no choice.

 

[frigilux]

Remember when the concentration level was touted on jugs of liquid detergent (2X, 3X, etc.)? Not so much anymore. None of the liquids listed below state the concentration level.

Maytag provides this handy-dandy chart to help. The concentration level is needed to set the dosage for the auto-dispenser on the 8100.

Here's how the liquids on my shelf played out:

Tide Ultra Stain Release: 46 ozs. divided by 24 loads = 1.92 (2X)
Persil ProClean 2 in 1: 40 ozs. divided by 20 loads = 2.0 (2X)
Wisk Deep Clean: 100 ozs. divided by 66 loads = 1.52 (2X)
Perwoll Intensive Black: 51 ozs. divided by 20 loads = 2.55 (1X?)

The Perwoll surprised me. The jug says 1.5 liters (for 20 loads) which I rounded up to 51 ounces. I was expecting it to be at least 3X because I dose a mere two teaspoons and get a machine full of suds. At the suggested dose, I'd Peter Brady the Frigidaire.

 

[joeypete]

I've only used Pods a few times...when I had use of a front load machine. My machine now, the Kenmore 28102 (Cabrio) can't really use them. The manual says to throw it right in the tub but my machine starts off with water filling in the outer tub to be used for the recirculation spray, so the pods wouldn't dissolve until after that phase is done. Kind of defeats the purpose of the spray if there is no detergent lol. It's possible I could put the pod right at the water inlet in the detergent cup, but hard to say if it would dissolve completely before the water stopped.

 

[frigilux]

Alex--- I'm assuming the power spray works whether the cartridge or single dose cup is used. Detergent needs to be dispersed either way. However, I have made assumptions and been wrong in the past. I will find out for sure this weekend.

Joe--- I wouldn't risk getting a partially dissolved pod casing stuck in your dispenser system. The instructions for every brand of pod (and I've tried all of them) say not to put the pod in a dispenser.[this post was last edited: 9/8/2015-14:39]