Those Laundry Detergent "Pods" ...

[launderess]

Once Used Similar Rubbermaid Type Containers

But found the lids would crack and otherwise self destruct after awhile. Certainly not like the long lived Rubbermaid or Tupperware of old.

Came upon a set of Ball canning jars at local Goodwill for a dirt cheap price. IIRC it was an open box item where a few of the jars were missing (broken in shipment?), so snapped them up. For months that darn crate sat sitting so one decided either to put the jars to use or move them on.

Use some when putting up batches of tomato gravy for pasta, black-eyed peas and so forth into the freezer for long term storage. The rest became containers for laundry powders. Being as they are glass once that use is over one trip through the dishwasher and they can return to food storage use.

Have found plastic containers OTOH once used for detergent are best reserved for that purpose. The scent never leaves does it?

 

[frontloaderfan]

Frigilux:

Let me know what you think of the Tide Washing Machine Cleaner. I used to use it but switched to Affresh for a while. I've also used the two cups of bleach for the cleaning cycle. I find after using Tide WMC that the machine smells like Sprite, whereas the Affresh has a slightly more "floral" (possibly cherry smell).

Does your frontloader use hot water on the clean cycle? Mine tries to use cold water only, which is never enough to dissolve an Affresh tab. I always end up running a regular hot cycle.

 

[frigilux]

You are correct, Launderess: Once used for detergent, Rubbermaid containers are scented for life. A couple of them made multiple trips through the dishwasher, but emerged still reeking of detergent. I have a number of nice wide-mouth quart-size canning jars, but envision a future filled with shattered glass and lots of swearing, so I stick with the Rubbermaid, LOL.

Ryan: Tide Washing Machine Cleaner is the only one available locally. Consequently, I have no basis for comparison. I use the Sanitize Cycle (with the Max water option), as the Clean Machine cycle uses cool water and, oddly, doesn't provide a rinse or spin. It just drains and shuts off. The manual encourages one to reset the machine for Rinse & Spin after using the Clean Machine cycle. Why they didn't just build one in is beyond me. The instructions on the Tide packets say to run a full, normal cycle with the hottest water setting. I use liquid chlorine bleach on several loads each week, so am not concerned with mold/mildew build-up.

 

[NYCWriter]

Plastic is porous ...

... but the pores are so tiny that not even water molecules can get into the tiny crevices to clean them out.

That's why no matter how many times you wash them, the "smell" from detergent remains (because detergent is still in the crevices).

That's also why tomato sauce "stains" them. The "stain" is tiny tomato oil molecules (which are smaller than water molecules) sticking around in those crevices.

 

[angus]

Just noticed in Shop Rite yesterday that the Ajax "toss ins" have been renamed Ajax "pro-pacs" and now contain enzymes. Wonder if the Fab and Dynamo brands will follow. I recall that in Consumer Reports' last detergent test the Ajax products didn't fare well at all. I had used the Ajax toss ins before in the SQ top loader and they were sort of OK. The thing I liked best was that they produced almost no suds at all and the scent was not overpowering - can't say the same about the Fab branded toss ins. The scent hovered like a dirigible. However, there is a small C-Town market in the "ethnic" section of Bridgeport and they still carry Ajax ultra powder and it doesn't do a bad job at all. That said, I don't really have a high soil life.

I did purchase a bag of the new Ajax pro pacs since they were on sale for $1.99 (gotta love Shop Rite sales) and we will see what gives with the altered formula.

The thing I still don't understand is this. With the focus moving toward almost all high efficiency machines, why do companies like P&G continue to make mostly regular high sudsing products - powder and liquid? It would be so much easier if all the products were suitable for either type of washer...

 

[mayguy]

Tide Washer Cleaner

I tired it once, OMG, I about fell over when I opened the door.. The scent was way too much for me.. I switched back to Affresh.

We carry both at Home Depot, and we out sell Affresh over Tide.. Matter of fact, the Tide boxes are fading since they don't sell.

I've seen Affresh sold at Grocery Stores, and also Target.

 

[arbilab]

"why do companies like P&G continue to make mostly regular high sudsing products - powder and liquid?"

INDEED! Specially considering 'suds' has absolutely nothing to do with cleaning except as a gauge with a given formula as to when one has dose-overcome the fat solubility of the load. And more so, considering 'green' machines have almost no space between inner and outer tub, which when filled with suds inhibits spin.

P&G is progressively on the backside of the formulation curve. They are committed to one thing, marketing. When that committment clashes with performance, so be it. They figure their customers are too stupid to know the difference. Well, a lot of them are but that number is diminishing every day as our 'green' machines the industry has forced upon us won't work with high-suds product.

 

[DADoES]

 
Running a load of sheets with a Tide pod ... the scent is wafting out my util room, through the kitchen and living room, I can smell it alarmingly strongly sitting here at the computer.  May need a gas mask tonight in bed.

 

[wrungout]

I am like your Mom, NYCwriter. I have been using SA8 liquid for years. A GF of mine owns a laundry mat in Northern BC, and told me about the mess that Tide left in her machines and drains. When I bought my first front loader 12 years ago(Maytag Neptune) she gave me a sample of SA8 to try. I haven't used anything but since.

 

[washer111]

Sudsing:

I mentioned a while back the best low-suds detergent I've found thus far was the Planet-Ark "No Enzymes, No Oxygen-Bleack, No Opti-Bright" detergent. For everyday items, it performed nicely, but throw in typical stains found on socks or stains on the shirts (not extreme) and performance suffered. 

 

It rinsed almost clear on the default Delicate cycle (where I didn't interrupt after Rinse 1 to stop, add a spin then Rinse/Spin!), but the stuff left a chalky residue, no matter how many times you dialled in an extra 2 rinses. 

 

[DADoES]

 
Used the last of the 5 pods on a small/medium-ish load of whites.  Not impressed, socks didn't come out as nice as with Tide HE powder, even though LCB was also used on the load.  What's that about?

 

[launderess]

Pods Are Mostly Liquid Detergents With Oxygen Bleach

Or whatever added as well. Being as that may the old school rules for detergents still largely apply; powders are better for clay based soils whilst liquids for oils.

Instead of LCB you might want to try adding some phosphates to a load when using pods and perhaps some extra oxygen bleach. The former are wonderful for keeping dirt suspended and away from fabrics.

Did a wash load the other night using vintage *All* powder (with the Three B's) that is loaded with phosphates. Everything including the white socks one wears around the house were whiter than white.

 

[toploader1984]

Pods

Used pods with some liquid BIZ on a large load of whites in cold water ( hot water was frozen during last cold snap) i could not believe how white the clothes came out, even my white socks i wear around the house.

 

[NYCWriter]

Thanks, Cathy ...

What drives me crazy about shared laundry facilities in my building is that EVERYONE uses too much detergent in our front-loaders, so no matter how careful I am in using my organic-based detergents, my laundry is still getting bathed in a soup of chemicals left behind by the people before me.

And what disgusting crap people use! When I was taking the trash out earlier this week, walking down the steps past the dryer exhausts, someone was drying clothes after having used the most putrid "flowery" crap I'd ever smelled. I had to hold my breath.

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>Instead of LCB you might want to try adding some phosphates to a load when using pods ...</blockquote> I add ~2 tbsp STPP to every load, whether powder, liquid, or pod.

 

[washer111]

@NYCWriter

The benefit to most other persons on this planet being morbidly useless when it comes to laundry is that you don't have to spend money on laundry products, since they are ALREADY present in the machine. This amounts to quite the budget saving each year!

 

Same for some machines I've used... They were on a Cold connection, which should be "great" for suds killing. We needed to wash some items in an emergency move and couldn't get a hold of detergent. I checked the suds through the cycle on the Maytag TL machines, and they were present. 

Other laundromat machines I've used, and the ones locally, are connected to a cold-only supply. ALL of them STINK: Musty, "detergent fresh" smell. Pieces of junk, IMO. Wish they'd install a solar water heater so people could actually wash their clothes PROPERLY!

 

[logixx]

"Pods Are Mostly Liquid Detergents With Oxygen Bleach&#3

According to www.pgproductsafety.com, Pods don't contain oxy bleach - just optical brightener.

 

[launderess]

Tide's detergent pods IIRC do not contain oxygen bleach IIRC. However the "Vivid Boost" in wash stain removers do, you can also find the things sold under the Ariel brand.

Ariel 3in1 pods contain:

>30% Anionic Surfactants,5-15% Non-Ionic Surfactants ,Soap ,<5% Phosphonates ,Enzymes ,Optical Brighteners ,Perfumes ,Benzyl Salicylate ,Butylphenyl Methylpropional ,Citronellol ,Coumarin ,Geraniol ,Hexyl cinnamal ,Linalool

http://webcache.googleusercontent.c...tails/?id=278233327+&cd=5&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

 

[tolivac]

Something I noticed when I "replaced" my 77 pod Tide jar of pods----for your 17 bucks that have a NEW improved GYP YOU size 66 pod jar for the same price-now is THAT a bargain or what-to Tide-but NOT you.When that jar is empty-will look at others.Noticed this when I got the package home.Tide like others is out to provide the "GYP YOU" size containers!!!Just give me the orig size-say 77 pods-I can pay for it!!!

 

[washer111]

Everyone above have given the summation on why Pods are "bad." Totally agree, really. 

 

I'm trying to convince some friends of mine to move away from the blasted things. And I can see why these things are so popular for "everyday" persons... Too convenient, and makes for some lazy laundry habits and POORLY rinsed clothes, especially if people add fabric softeners...

If you can get a nice jumbo sized powder and can get 170 loads (or more, with good dosage) in an FL machine for about $30, then you're doing well. I think I recommended Fuller-86 for them - since that works quite well from what I've seen here. 

 

I'll keep powders until you prize them out of my cold, dead hands!

(Yes, I know I purchased Radiant Liquid for Darks. If a powder option were available, I think I would've chosen that).