Tide Pod Stains A Load Of Whites

[NYCWriter]

Does anyone ...

... remember the precursor to the pods ... those soft laundry "pockets" that were essentially powdered detergent sewn inside what appeared to be fabric softener sheets, which you then transferred with your clean laundry into the dryer?

I remember my mom sending me those inside care packages to my college dorm in the '80s.

 

[arbilab]

<blockquote>
ya see, I like to control the dose. I like to "guess"...

 

</blockquote>
Zackly. Pod-free zone here too. Whacko marketing gimmick. What purpose do the colors serve anyway but to make them look like candy to kids? If I tossed one of those consarn things into my twintub I'd be rinsing the rest of the week.

 

(No offense to those who like them.)

 

[frigilux]

And no offense taken, guys!

Despite initial misgivings---mainly about dosage issues---I now like them enough to make them my detergent format of choice.

Part of my eagerness to try laundry pods came from positive experiences with those made for the dishwasher. Frankly, I didn't think I'd ever use dishwasher pods because it made no sense to me not to use some detergent in the 1st wash/prewash. Once I got past that, I found they cleaned very well. My new GE dishwasher barely has a prewash to speak of, so it's obvious the cycles (and dispenser, as Ben pointed out) are customized for pods.

There are more variables in laundry than in dishwashing, so resistance to using pods is fully understandable. I've had great results with all types of loads and soil levels with them and I appreciate their simplicity...so I use them.

Any negative comments about them are certainly not taken personally. After all, I used powders and liquids for 40 years, myself!

Matt-- I remember the packets you're referencing, but don't recall the brand; nor do I recall trying them, although, given my curiosity about new formats, I might have and simply don't remember. They must have had a relatively brief stay in the marketplace. Did they work well?

 

[NYCWriter]

Eugene ...

... as I recall, they worked out quite well.

But after a few washes, I realized that not all the powder was dissolving, so I got into the habit of just ripping them open, dumping the powder into the machine, and tossing in the pocket.

They certainly made it easy to *not* have to lug an entire box of detergent with me to the laundry room.

 

[gansky1]

A sampling of Laundry toss-ins -

Fab One Shots I found at a sale, still sealed in their plastic. The scent is pleasant but performance is dismal, as were most of the Fab detergent/softener combinations.

 

[washman]

Its all good Frig

I am kinda old school. Old habits die hard but kudos to you for the massive research and experimentation on different detergents.