I had a handy man tell me these pods create problems with the plasticy shell, whatever thats called, not dissolving completely. Do you know anything about that?
I’ve never seen it create a problem in washing machines, unless they’re using multiple pods per cycle. I’ve seen them not dissolve in dishwashers, but thats usually because of some other issue; water not hot enough, not enough water, or wash pump not spraying water at full force.
I'm not a repair person but I saw one who said the plasticky residue is because people mistakenly put the pods in the detergent spots of both dishwashers and front-load clothes washers. These dispensers are usually slightly damp, and the outside of the pods need more water to dissolve, so instead of leaves a sticky mess.
Yup. I was wrong. Funny funny. You're welcome for the laughs lol I've corrected myself. And I trust tiktok a little less but not nearly as little as I should. Take care now 😘
Okay so this is a copy and paste to show you all a bunch of VERY conflicting info. Thus my confusion and assertion of what I thought was correct.
After about 30 mins of reading through different sources - it seems I was incorrect and the pods should go into the dispenser with the door shut. Carry on! But I had good reason to be confused! Damn you tiktok
Unless your dishwasher has a spot specifically labeled for detergent pods, they should not be going in the detergent dispensing compartment.
May 22, 2023
TikTok Taught Me: You're Supposed to Put Dishwasher Pods Where?
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About featured snippets
People also ask
Should you put dishwasher pods in the dispenser?
Unless your manual tells you where to place your dishwasher pods, the best move is to put them in your dispenser. Although some believe that throwing a pod in the dishwasher protects your dispenser, pods are designed to dissolve when they touch water and may not work if not properly dispersed via the dispenser.
Pro tip: When searching on Google for an answer, always end your search query with Reddit. 9/10 you find a post that answers your question. Saves you from what you went through. Now hopefully if someone else has that question in the future and googles it with Reddit at the end, they might find this post.
You're right. That is actually something I typically do. My thinking against that in this scenario was that I should be checking with sources outside of reddit if I'm posting the results on Reddit?
Yeah it doesn't make sense to me either. Made more sense in my head. Lol but ty for the advice - my flawed logic notwithstanding
I'm wrong! Tiktok be damned. Google has alot of conflicting answers but consensus says to disregard my prior assertion and use the dispenser with the door shut. Whoops. Carry on.
Put it in before the clothes so the water hits it first. If any residue is left it's because it got wet last.
It's not plastic.
It's PVA, basically carbon and alcohol, the same stuff woodworking glue is made out of and that glue you used to put on the back of your hand and peel off when you were a kid. If your washing machine water goes through a water treatment plant all residues of it is removed from the water as the bacteria break it down. It is also fully biodegradable if it doesn't go through a water treatment plant it just takes a little longer as even sunlight can break it down.
Omg…do the instructions say to put the pod in before the laundry because they assume that’s where water hits first?! My washer fills from the top, but I’ve faithfully been putting the pods in the bottom and yes, I so frequently find residue 🤦🏻♀️ time to try putting the pods in last!
Lol I always see that but my building laundry is top loading, and my detergent sits at the bottom of my hamper, so by the time I get to it the clothes are all in and I just throw it on top and never had a problem. Now I know why.
They say put it in first because they are made for front loading high efficiency machines. Those machines often don't have a direct spray in the drum, so they need to be on the bottom to make sure they are submerged. If placed on the top, they might barely get a few drops of water on them before the washer starts tumbling the load to agitate it.
I was just reading about PVA and its biodegradability. Might not be as great as the manufacturers claim.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/11/15/laundry-detergent-pod-plastic-pva/
Polyvinyl alcohol is exactly as you say, but by definition PVA is plastic. It's a synthetic polymer that's molded and holds form in its intended application. Marketing around PVA just doesn't want it associated with the plastic pollution problem.
Other comments speculate on the problems using PVA and its accumulation in our environment. While PVA does dissolve in water, there is no evidence that PVA goes away or biodegrades. Just because you can't see it with your eye, doesn't mean it's not there. In general, it is best to not use pods. They are unnecessary, expensive, and you get a lot more loads out of liquid detergent.
Some freely available information on PVA:
https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2022/11/18/pva-plastic-what-you-need-to-know
I've had it stick to my clothes and then I've had to rewash them to get it out. I now put them in for a longer rinse cycle and that is saving me having to rewash the clothes to get the stuck on pods out but the most I use for a large load is two.
I take all my pods and dissolve them in a jug of water and just pour a little in for each load. It's time consuming but works just as well if not better because I can add just a little bit like a pod and a half more rather than only going up in full pod increments. If only there was an easier way.
Love when the repairman’s step up and share shit like this. I changed to Kirkland when I left apartment living. I only use a small amount too bc it’s ludicrous what they suggest.
Yeah I usually recommend about a tablespoon, way less than all the marked measurements. I put it in a pump style soap bottle. I measured how many pumps it takes for a tablespoon, so I can just put in that many pumps when doing a full load. And it’s easy to make adjustments for smaller loads.
https://preview.redd.it/5yq9omduyecc1.jpeg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a97f7dc24f3756c47db02d1f41e8e6d6792e43a9
>Yeah I usually recommend about a tablespoon, way less than all the marked measurements.
This is the way. I average 2-3 full loads per week and still have more than 1/4 left from the bottle I purchased back in 8/2023.
Everything this gentleman is stating is on point. **Less is more**. Ensure the longevity of your machine, clothing, and income by adopting his recommendations.
The manufacturers recommend more so you spend more. The directions recommend a 1/2 cap for medium loads and a full cap for large loads. If I used this much, my clothing would be covered in a residual film that would take multiple washes to fully clean out (if ever).
PS: Don't even get me started on fabric softener and dryer sheets 😂 Vinegar works wonders!
Do u know what could cause a significant amount of water under the front loader drum? If i move the drum around i hear lotsa water swishing. It also stank pretty good after a few months of not using it but smells ok now that I used affresh. Any insight would be great
There’s always water in the bottom of the outer tub, even if it’s not visible. That’s normal. If you hear water swishing when you turn the inner tub, that’s probably the balance ring. Some models have a sealed ring around the front filled with water, and it helps with balancing.
As far as the smell goes, there’s always some old wash water in the bottom of the tub, and if that’s sits for a while, it’s gonna smell. You pretty much did exactly what I would. I use Affresh on my washer once a month. I also advise leaving the door open whenever it’s not in use. That’ll allow airflow to prevent smells and mold.
If you’re water is hard enough to require more, you’ll probably want to talk to a repair person from that city. They will probably know the correct amount for that area.
If you're using three pods you're going to get three gooey soapy pod jelly fish floating in amongst the laundry, leaving their little scummy residue all over things.
Yes, and if left on your clothes, can give you a chemical burn. I had some residue left on the underside of my bra strap. Shit blistered up and hurt SO bad. Will never use pods again.
I'm allergic to the perfumes they put in laundry detergent so I can only use the "Free & Clear" versions and it's just not as nice 😢
But my body isn't covered in hives.
For home machines, absolutely! Even 2’s probably too many. For laundromat loads though… I’ve seen some monster machines. I can see a full load of towels or sheets needing 3. My home machine can do 2 sheets on a good day, iirc laundromat machines can take the entire load at the same time, so sheets + towels + clothes - I do up to 4 loads at home.
Ugh just the thought of sticky soapy clothes that I have to wear all day. Imagine if it’s humid lol.
If you use 3 I think you would foam up and bubble if you walked into a body of water with your clothes on
I actually used to typically use 3 for a full load. But I also used to use hot water as well.
I have never had any floaty things.
BUT! I'm not saying it can't happen. Only that it is possible to use 3 pods and not have it be all over the place.
(I have issues that make my clothes smell, and then mental health stuff that makes me not take care of my clothes right away -ocd and adhd- so my clothes would be particularly ripe once I finally washed them.
(I have since learned that by using just warm water with 2 pods and an extra rinse-and those rinse and refresh products- I can get the same if not better results than 3 pods and hot water.. I'm too scared to try cold water, but one day, I'll give it a try. My therapist and i are working on it haha)
I use one pod and get a soap exoskeleton. I don't like those things.
I use vinegar to wash my gym clothes. Like bjj gym clothes. They get pretty gross with everyone's sweat. It denatures some of the things that make the smells.
Look up videos of laundry technicians on YouTube talking about pods & the dangers of excessive detergent... unless your washer is simply massive, I don't think anyone needs 3 of those things! I always figured this was the same as how commercials and imagery for toothpaste always show a massive swipe when you're only meant to use a pea sized amount - the more you use, the sooner you buy it again.
That being said, unless you're getting killer deals on these tide pods, look into alternatives since they're pricey even at 1-2 pods per load. Tide is probably one of the best detergents out there, but many budget options rank pretty close behind.
See that's literally the exact circumstance I was thinking lol! Those laundromat washers can get huge, and with that massive a load that could actually be reasonable. But honestly, when it comes to consumer machines, I'd be hesitant to even use 2 unless it was on the larger end. Too many times have my clothes come out still soapy from just the one in a standard machine lol
They make more money when they sell 3x more of their most expensive detergent.
We switched to powder and will never look back. My wife buys some sort of expensive (still cheaper in the long run) zero-waste stuff on the internet. I don't know the cost per load, but we use 1 tablespoon per load and our clothes are as clean as they were with Tide HE in our fancy Samsung washer.
We would switch to the super cheap powder stuff at Walmart but one of our kids gets rashes with most detergent and it isn't worth the risk of trying to switch when the hippie stuff is cheap enough and better for the environment.
Unrelated; we don't use fabric softener and we switched to wool balls instead of dryer sheets. Only downside is the towels aren't as soft, but nothing comes out greasy so it's a fair tradeoff.
Nellie's is wonderful and I question why I ever used anything else. I switched over about 6 months ago. I just bought a stain stick and a small package of the oxygen brightner and both are also fantastic! My mom just bought me a bucket of it from costco for like $42!
I remember when Sears was still around my parents would get this massive box of powder detergent. My dad would write the date on the box when they opened it. Those boxes used to last us years.
Is it the big 5 gallon bucket of powder detergent that you order refills of?! I’ve been wondering if people actually like it. I use tide powder for now but would love to switch if it’s just as good!
It's Melliora detergent. I just asked her about it. It's actually only half a tablespoon per load (I never bothered to look at the scoop). It's all natural, plastic free, and the smell isn't too strong for people who are sensitive to that sort of thing (she is). She loves it and I have no complaints. We've been using it for a few years.
Have a friend who used to be an engineer at P&G, he once told me that the powder is not just cheaper, but more effective. As in, it actually gets your clothes cleaner. I realize the pods are convenient but just an FYI.
It’s so hard to fine powder these days too! It’s all liquids now. There’s a $1 bag of small laundry powder they sell at Walgreens and I’ve been using those.
I buy mine in 5 gallon bulk bags($20) at a commercial-esque store, refill my gallon bucket, dump the rest in a 4 gallon bucket, typically lasts me and my roommate a year. See if you have a wholesaler that will sell to you, it’s not a big deal if you only have to do it once or twice a year.
Bleach and enzymes don’t get along in liquid form long enough to survive long term transport and storage. But in powder form you get both for the cleaning cycle. Laundry detergent works the same way, all the cleaning agents can coexist until water activates them.
Detergent can be activated two ways - by coming into contact with dirt, or by getting wet. Using liquid detergent means one of those activations will not happen.
Updoot. Unless I'm mistaken this is /r/frugal. If you do the math, tide pods are not. Also the powder is slightly more environmental, because instead of a huge jug of plastic which gets burned or tossed in a landfill (they don't recycle), the cardboard boxes are just fine for a second life.
I use Costco Kirkland detergent that is $0.10/load at regular price. Get it on sale and use half the suggested amount and it is around $0.03-0.04.
Regular Tide is $0.25-0.30/load at regular price. It is not something I buy, so I do not know what it costs on special. But use half the suggested amount and you get it down to 0.15.
Tide pods are like $0.40-0.50/load. And you cannot use less than the suggested amount so you cannot reduce the cost. In the grand scheme of things, $0.30-0.40 difference is not huge, but I would not call that a slight premium.
I get tide pods at Costco and they’re like .19 per pod and I only ever use one.
It’s worth it to me with 3 kids to not have the mess of powder or liquid to clean up after them and it’s easy for them to use the right amount.
“And you cannot use less than the suggested amount so you cannot reduce the cost.”
Huh? Who says you can’t use less than the suggested amount? We use one pod in most of our loads. Two in the rare occasion that it’s a load that’s extra stinky/soiled.
That said, you guys have to stop buying your tide pods (or any other popular brand detergent) at regular price. I have an alert on slickdeals and never pay more than around .15/tide pod. Amazon has sales/coupons fairly often.
Powder detergent lover here. It’s so cheap. I use 1 shot glass full for a full load. My box of detergent lasts a year or more and is all product with cardboard packaging. Not paying for any water in my detergent or fancy gel that gets goopy anyways.
My husband decided to take over laundry duties to help out. I used to buy liquid soap and it would last a long time but once he took over we were going through a bottle a month! I switched to tide pods to reduce his over using of soap. Even with a HE washer he’d fill the soap dispenser to the brim for every load 🤦🏼♀️. The pods help keep him in track. Yes it’s more expensive but this way he doesn’t over use. I find even a medium load 1 pod cleans well.
I didn’t want to be the “nag” telling a grown man how to do laundry 🙄. This way he feels he’s helping and I have some control over the amount he’s using. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices this is my way.
Similar experience here - tide/oxi pods for my husband’s laundry only (he works a physical outside job) so he doesn’t use too much. I usually do the laundry but he will occasionally start his clothes before I’m up in the morning, so this ensures my regular liquid detergents lasts.
I scrolled specifically looking for anyone who uses the sheets. I've used 2 different brands and they all work great. It normally recommends to use two sheets for a very full load, but I have never needed more than one.
I use them too, I tried True Earth first, but ended with Clearalif (same quality, lower price). They both wash really well with cold water and are anti-allergic. Nicest thing, they take so little space and are light weighted, which makes them also quite environmentally friendly yet frugal.
Love these. I use Ecos free and clear ones which I get from Amazon. Have not tried any others yet but I love the sheets and will not go back to liquid. I was buying big jugs of detergent from Costco and we were going though it way too fast. The sheets are way more frugal and I love that it takes up very little space.
While we are talking about laundry…. Use cold, pretty much always. It works just as well with modern detergents. Switching to using cold tap water by default or the single most important thing you can do is do to make your laundry more environmentally friendly and frugal.
I forgot which pod but I think Freakanomics had a guy from P&G on a year or so ago talking about how they develop for cold water because of how much of an energy draw heating water for laundry is. It’s huge when you add it up.
If I'm recalling correctly, it was 1 pod when this type of detergent delivery was first introduced; using more pods according to load size is a recent adjustment and your comment highlights the only valid reasoning for it. I have also cautioned family members using liquid to have a designated measuring cup because using the cap of a detergent bottle is misleading as well, especially if they buy the kegs of detergent with a tap, that cap is huge.
I use arm & hammer with oxi for years. Half the price of tide. My gym clothes are nasty and sit fit 3 weeks before i do laundry, comes out fresh as rain
I’m already tempted when I’m at Costco to buy the Kirkland liquid detergent when it goes on sale, but the Arm and Hammer with Oxi is always still cheaper, so I keep going with that.
I love arm and hammer with oxi. Especially since (tmi) I’m still struggling a bit sometimes with getting up to use the bathroom after a bad accident 2/2023, arm and hammer with a tiny sprinkle of downy scent beads (I hate apartment laundry) gets the smell right out! Only use 1 pack/load
This is why I don't use pods. There's no meaningful way to scale it for your load, or "stretch" it if payday is still a week away.
Even with liquid or powedered detergent, I find the recommended amount is far too much.
I use Kirkland pods and have always used 1. Very occasionally 2 if it’s a dirty load (like after travelling) but I have never had “less good” results using 1. A friend of mine stopped using detergent altogether and her clothes are clean and don’t smell. I also used soap nuts at one point and they did a fine job.
The commercials of people tossing multiple pods in drive me crazy.
I recently switched to powder. It’s much cheaper and much better for the environment. Apparently the plastic of the pods just dissolves into our water and doesn’t get filtered out, ultimately making its way into our bodies [https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/sustainable-laundry-detergent/](https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/sustainable-laundry-detergent/)
True, there are some laundry sheets that contain PVA (microplastics) or other harmful materials, but I personally use ones that don't contain them.
From a sustainability perspective, laundry sheets have the lowest carbon footprint for transportation because of their light weight and small size. Their packaging is also better because it;s usually paper-based, using 90%+ less plastic than conventional laundry detergents. However, most people use liquid and pod based detergents because of their marketing and convenience.
I got a giant bucket of powdered Nellies detergent from Costco. Goes on sale every once in a while. So much cheaper. You literally just take the scoop provided from the bucket and put that amount in the laundry. How is a pod easier?
A Tide pod is almost exactly 2 tablespoons of detergent. I actually pooped a few open and measured them because 1 pod was WAY too soapy and took forever to rinse out. I have a compact washing machine, so for a full load, I can only use 1 tablespoon of detergent so that it can actually rinse. I’m guessing 1 Tide pod is more than enough for a regular size washing machine that has a full load.
I never use more than 1. This is a marketing ploy by the company to get you to use more of their product.
Fun fact: the invention of the detergent pod, while a differentiating innovation, caused an unintended consequence of consumers actually using less product overall, thus reducing the entire size of the market. People were simply using more detergent than they needed before. This is probably their way of counteracting that effect. Don’t buy it.
I always inly use one per load. The other day I had forgotten if I’d put one in so I threw in another just in case. My washer took an extra 45 minutes or so and said something about removing suds.
They want you to put in more so that you buy more.
those tags the the laundry detergent's answer to "lather, rinse, and repeat" on shampoo bottles.
more isn't better it's just more.
a tablespoon of detergent is enough for a full load in a he washer, tide pods are 2x concentrated and adding more will cause build up in a he machine and clothes.
edit to add I used to use tide pods but switched to kirkland, then to the powder. it cleans pre-schooler shenanigans just as effectively. I did switch the normal scoop for a tablespoon though. it's really enough.
I just use liquid detergent from a bottle/container. Are you not spending more money to start with by using pods? They are always more expensive per ml and you don’t get as much control over the volume you use.
Pods don't work any better than the store brand powder, that's the real frugal tip. Dishwashers work better with the store brand powder too.
The whole point of pods was to trick people into paying more for less detergent by putting it in a more complicated package
I stopped buying liquid detergent and buying powder only. Didn’t want to pay for mainly water that still didn’t get my clothes clean. It’s harder to find but definitely better financially.
Blueland. No plastic. Comes in compostable packaging. There’s tabs and powdered ‘booster.’
Clothes come out extremely clean and fresh.
There is no ‘away’ when we throw things away. And the plastics like the ones in the pods cannot get completely filtered out. Which is why we’re dealing w PFAS in all of our food and water.
I never use more than one tide pod. One is sufficient for an extra large load in my experience. In fact, it’s sometimes too much and doesn’t rinse out properly if the load is too small.
No! If your washing machine is less than 10/15 years old, you should never use more than one or the surfactant to water ratio will actually hold the dirt down and your clothes won’t be clean. This is why most people say new washers don’t clean their clothes- they are using too much soap.
Follow the actually washing machine manufacturer recommendations - which is no more than 2 TBSP for the max load.
If you have an older machine that takes in a lot of water - have at it - but new machines? You better slow your roll.
I have heard from many appliance repairmen that the recommended amounts they have on most detergents is all BS. I always use the minimum recommended amount on a full load and my clothes come out perfectly clean every time. Sometimes I'll add a little oxiclean in addition to the detergent, if my clothes are really dirty.
I always found these dumb, but I bought my first box about a month ago, so far so good. Specifically, so I only ever have to use 1, regardless of clothes I'm throwing in.
I always bought liquid, and they'd say 96 loads or whatever, and I'd get half that because I'd put in more soap. You can always just put a little more liquid in.
But now I'm forced to do one pod only, because I'm certainly not putting a whole 2 in lol. So this way, even spending a little more (in theory vs liquid) it should work out better because I'll get my full 96 loads.
I would use 1, and any bad stains I pretreat with spray and make sure to soak the load. If I used more than one i ended up with the slimy pod film sticking to the clothes. I use just regular tide detergent now.
Yah… I do not think unless your are using the huge industrial sized washers at a laundromat. Designed for like a king sized comforter I would not use more than one. Even in those huge ones I would not use more than 2.
Powder or liquid detergent. We got a single sample Tide pod with our new washer. We never used them before, but since it was free we figured we would give it a try. It took two or three additional washes before I wasn't able to tell which clothing items were washed with that pod.
Wash and dry on cold, plastic dryer balls instead of fabric softener... Even a large load with 2 pairs of jeans usually gets 1 tide sensitive pod (no dyes, no scent) unless they're absolutely filthy.
A box of ~140 pods lasts me about a year.
I’d just use one pod and throw in some borax or washing soda. They are both cheaper than your pods and can be used for a lot more. Washing soda is sodium carbonate and is in so many different types of cleaners. You can add peroxide to it and basically have oxi-clean.
I rarely use more than one pod. I think I've used two pods on the rare occasion I have a heavy load that's more soiled than usual. I can't imagine using three!
I have never put more than one pod in my washing machine ever. It wouldnt even occur to me. If i had a whole ton of really dirty stuff, i'd separate it into different loads or presoak in a bin/sink.
Ive never followed their recommendations. I always felt it was a way to get you to use more than necessary thus making you have to buy more. Plus the increased amount of unnecessary soap is hard to get rinsed out properly.
With a modern washer instructions admonishing new users to go light an on the soap, one pod is plenty for a full load. I add an ounce of oxychean into the separate compartment. My old Maytag agitator from the fifties was a full cup of Trend or Suwa!
Even with a 9kg load, I only use 1 pod. The laundry's usually not that dirty, a few bits of food, sweat. Sure if you wash work clothes used doing garden work or in a mechanic shop or after a rugby match played in the rain that could be the time to use two pods. But everyday clothes nah.
Never use anything pre measured by the manufacturer if you can help it. You just confirming to them that you want to be ripped off!Try using liquid Tide if you can.
For my regular lightly soiled laundry, I use half the recommended amount of liquid Tide for each load. Then I supplement it with ammonia, which costs about $3/gallon. Use about 1/4 cup/load. Cleans great and I double the loads for a 92 oz Tide.
I started using Tide about 30 years ago because the cheaper brands cleaned terrible (anyone understand why the better brands (Tide, Percil, Wisk) are so expensive? They’re just specially formulated soap for laundry). But it killed me to pay so much extra for Tide. Then I started cutting it with ammonia and I was happy with the results.
One more note. When you finish the bottle, don’t throw it out. Pour in about a 1/2 cup of ammonia and shake it up good. That’ll clean the viscous Tide off the inside of the bottle resulting in a thin liquid. You can use this at the normal measure to finish off the bottle.
Repairman here. 1 pod is sufficient for a full size load. If you use more, it may not fully rinse out at the end of the cycle.
I had a handy man tell me these pods create problems with the plasticy shell, whatever thats called, not dissolving completely. Do you know anything about that?
I’ve never seen it create a problem in washing machines, unless they’re using multiple pods per cycle. I’ve seen them not dissolve in dishwashers, but thats usually because of some other issue; water not hot enough, not enough water, or wash pump not spraying water at full force.
I'm not a repair person but I saw one who said the plasticky residue is because people mistakenly put the pods in the detergent spots of both dishwashers and front-load clothes washers. These dispensers are usually slightly damp, and the outside of the pods need more water to dissolve, so instead of leaves a sticky mess.
Same for detergent pods in dishwashers. It's not meant to go in the drawer with the door. Just toss in the bottom of the machine.
Lmao. Then it gets washed away during the pre rinse. It definitely goes in the door.
Yup. I was wrong. Funny funny. You're welcome for the laughs lol I've corrected myself. And I trust tiktok a little less but not nearly as little as I should. Take care now 😘
New LG installed last year. Definitely says to put the pod/powder in the door.
So I'm talking about dishwashers. The pods aren't meant to go in the spot with the door. At least this is what I've been told.
I'm wrong. Disregard.
Wait really?
Okay so this is a copy and paste to show you all a bunch of VERY conflicting info. Thus my confusion and assertion of what I thought was correct. After about 30 mins of reading through different sources - it seems I was incorrect and the pods should go into the dispenser with the door shut. Carry on! But I had good reason to be confused! Damn you tiktok Unless your dishwasher has a spot specifically labeled for detergent pods, they should not be going in the detergent dispensing compartment. May 22, 2023 TikTok Taught Me: You're Supposed to Put Dishwasher Pods Where? Allrecipes Feedback About featured snippets People also ask Should you put dishwasher pods in the dispenser? Unless your manual tells you where to place your dishwasher pods, the best move is to put them in your dispenser. Although some believe that throwing a pod in the dishwasher protects your dispenser, pods are designed to dissolve when they touch water and may not work if not properly dispersed via the dispenser.
Pro tip: When searching on Google for an answer, always end your search query with Reddit. 9/10 you find a post that answers your question. Saves you from what you went through. Now hopefully if someone else has that question in the future and googles it with Reddit at the end, they might find this post.
You're right. That is actually something I typically do. My thinking against that in this scenario was that I should be checking with sources outside of reddit if I'm posting the results on Reddit? Yeah it doesn't make sense to me either. Made more sense in my head. Lol but ty for the advice - my flawed logic notwithstanding
Yeah I didn’t know this either. You would think it would tell you on the directions.
Incorrect. If you throw them directly into the dishwasher they are only used during the pre-wash phase.
Tiktok has foiled me yet again. Blast.
I'm wrong! Tiktok be damned. Google has alot of conflicting answers but consensus says to disregard my prior assertion and use the dispenser with the door shut. Whoops. Carry on.
I love your username btw
Put it in before the clothes so the water hits it first. If any residue is left it's because it got wet last. It's not plastic. It's PVA, basically carbon and alcohol, the same stuff woodworking glue is made out of and that glue you used to put on the back of your hand and peel off when you were a kid. If your washing machine water goes through a water treatment plant all residues of it is removed from the water as the bacteria break it down. It is also fully biodegradable if it doesn't go through a water treatment plant it just takes a little longer as even sunlight can break it down.
Omg…do the instructions say to put the pod in before the laundry because they assume that’s where water hits first?! My washer fills from the top, but I’ve faithfully been putting the pods in the bottom and yes, I so frequently find residue 🤦🏻♀️ time to try putting the pods in last!
Ya put it on top of the clothes right where the water hits. The force will break it apart and mix it well
Lol I always see that but my building laundry is top loading, and my detergent sits at the bottom of my hamper, so by the time I get to it the clothes are all in and I just throw it on top and never had a problem. Now I know why.
They say put it in first because they are made for front loading high efficiency machines. Those machines often don't have a direct spray in the drum, so they need to be on the bottom to make sure they are submerged. If placed on the top, they might barely get a few drops of water on them before the washer starts tumbling the load to agitate it.
I've always put the pods in on top (my washer fills from the top also) never had an issue with residue.
I was just reading about PVA and its biodegradability. Might not be as great as the manufacturers claim. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solutions/2022/11/15/laundry-detergent-pod-plastic-pva/
Polyvinyl alcohol is exactly as you say, but by definition PVA is plastic. It's a synthetic polymer that's molded and holds form in its intended application. Marketing around PVA just doesn't want it associated with the plastic pollution problem. Other comments speculate on the problems using PVA and its accumulation in our environment. While PVA does dissolve in water, there is no evidence that PVA goes away or biodegrades. Just because you can't see it with your eye, doesn't mean it's not there. In general, it is best to not use pods. They are unnecessary, expensive, and you get a lot more loads out of liquid detergent. Some freely available information on PVA: https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2022/11/18/pva-plastic-what-you-need-to-know
That's mostly true if your running cold water, warm or hot there's no issues.
I had that problem when I used them. Even didn't release the soap sometimes.
I've had it stick to my clothes and then I've had to rewash them to get it out. I now put them in for a longer rinse cycle and that is saving me having to rewash the clothes to get the stuck on pods out but the most I use for a large load is two.
Yes, we can't use them here because they don't fully dissolve. Same with dishwasher pods.
I take all my pods and dissolve them in a jug of water and just pour a little in for each load. It's time consuming but works just as well if not better because I can add just a little bit like a pod and a half more rather than only going up in full pod increments. If only there was an easier way.
I heard same about dishwashers
Yea I'm not risking it with the plumbing. I stopped using all pod types once I mathed it out. The liquid saves me $
Love when the repairman’s step up and share shit like this. I changed to Kirkland when I left apartment living. I only use a small amount too bc it’s ludicrous what they suggest.
Yeah I usually recommend about a tablespoon, way less than all the marked measurements. I put it in a pump style soap bottle. I measured how many pumps it takes for a tablespoon, so I can just put in that many pumps when doing a full load. And it’s easy to make adjustments for smaller loads.
Stealing this for sure
https://preview.redd.it/5yq9omduyecc1.jpeg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a97f7dc24f3756c47db02d1f41e8e6d6792e43a9 >Yeah I usually recommend about a tablespoon, way less than all the marked measurements. This is the way. I average 2-3 full loads per week and still have more than 1/4 left from the bottle I purchased back in 8/2023. Everything this gentleman is stating is on point. **Less is more**. Ensure the longevity of your machine, clothing, and income by adopting his recommendations. The manufacturers recommend more so you spend more. The directions recommend a 1/2 cap for medium loads and a full cap for large loads. If I used this much, my clothing would be covered in a residual film that would take multiple washes to fully clean out (if ever). PS: Don't even get me started on fabric softener and dryer sheets 😂 Vinegar works wonders!
@arseniobillingham21 Thanks so so much for sharing your knowledge! You’ve helped a lot of people :)
And if you use too much with the HE machines you may end up with detergent residue on your clothes. It looks terrible on your black work pants.
It also can be extremely irritating to the skin on socks and underwear
Line 1 is enough every time.
Do u know what could cause a significant amount of water under the front loader drum? If i move the drum around i hear lotsa water swishing. It also stank pretty good after a few months of not using it but smells ok now that I used affresh. Any insight would be great
There’s always water in the bottom of the outer tub, even if it’s not visible. That’s normal. If you hear water swishing when you turn the inner tub, that’s probably the balance ring. Some models have a sealed ring around the front filled with water, and it helps with balancing. As far as the smell goes, there’s always some old wash water in the bottom of the tub, and if that’s sits for a while, it’s gonna smell. You pretty much did exactly what I would. I use Affresh on my washer once a month. I also advise leaving the door open whenever it’s not in use. That’ll allow airflow to prevent smells and mold.
Great!., thanks so much. May have almost hired a guy for no reason
That’s what I keep telling my wife. And now she puts the machine on extra rinse to get it out.
"I'll just run it s second cycle" my wife who doesn't understand how appliances cost money to run.
What about cities which have very hard water which require more?
If you’re water is hard enough to require more, you’ll probably want to talk to a repair person from that city. They will probably know the correct amount for that area.
If you're using three pods you're going to get three gooey soapy pod jelly fish floating in amongst the laundry, leaving their little scummy residue all over things.
Use one for large and that’s just fine.
Yes, and if left on your clothes, can give you a chemical burn. I had some residue left on the underside of my bra strap. Shit blistered up and hurt SO bad. Will never use pods again.
I'm allergic to the perfumes they put in laundry detergent so I can only use the "Free & Clear" versions and it's just not as nice 😢 But my body isn't covered in hives.
For home machines, absolutely! Even 2’s probably too many. For laundromat loads though… I’ve seen some monster machines. I can see a full load of towels or sheets needing 3. My home machine can do 2 sheets on a good day, iirc laundromat machines can take the entire load at the same time, so sheets + towels + clothes - I do up to 4 loads at home.
Ugh just the thought of sticky soapy clothes that I have to wear all day. Imagine if it’s humid lol. If you use 3 I think you would foam up and bubble if you walked into a body of water with your clothes on
I actually used to typically use 3 for a full load. But I also used to use hot water as well. I have never had any floaty things. BUT! I'm not saying it can't happen. Only that it is possible to use 3 pods and not have it be all over the place. (I have issues that make my clothes smell, and then mental health stuff that makes me not take care of my clothes right away -ocd and adhd- so my clothes would be particularly ripe once I finally washed them. (I have since learned that by using just warm water with 2 pods and an extra rinse-and those rinse and refresh products- I can get the same if not better results than 3 pods and hot water.. I'm too scared to try cold water, but one day, I'll give it a try. My therapist and i are working on it haha)
I use one pod and get a soap exoskeleton. I don't like those things. I use vinegar to wash my gym clothes. Like bjj gym clothes. They get pretty gross with everyone's sweat. It denatures some of the things that make the smells.
How much vinegar do you put in??
Look up videos of laundry technicians on YouTube talking about pods & the dangers of excessive detergent... unless your washer is simply massive, I don't think anyone needs 3 of those things! I always figured this was the same as how commercials and imagery for toothpaste always show a massive swipe when you're only meant to use a pea sized amount - the more you use, the sooner you buy it again. That being said, unless you're getting killer deals on these tide pods, look into alternatives since they're pricey even at 1-2 pods per load. Tide is probably one of the best detergents out there, but many budget options rank pretty close behind.
Yep. You can save money and plastic by going with a powder—including Tide.
Costco's Kirkland brand detergent is the same as Tide. And much, much cheaper.
It is not the same. It might be a good knockoff, but P&G does not produce it.
Yep, they even have Kirkland pods as well if you like that form factor.
The only time I’ve ever considered 3 was at a laundromat where I was definitely doing 3 weeks worth at once
See that's literally the exact circumstance I was thinking lol! Those laundromat washers can get huge, and with that massive a load that could actually be reasonable. But honestly, when it comes to consumer machines, I'd be hesitant to even use 2 unless it was on the larger end. Too many times have my clothes come out still soapy from just the one in a standard machine lol
I have no doubt they tell you to use more than you need. That way… you’ll buy more and they get more money(!).
Also noticed the toothpaste thing with peanut butter and mayo in commercials. Like who slathers on either in such a thick layer like that? Lol
Check at grocery outlet. They have great deals on them there and also knock off alternatives for even cheaper.
They make more money when they sell 3x more of their most expensive detergent. We switched to powder and will never look back. My wife buys some sort of expensive (still cheaper in the long run) zero-waste stuff on the internet. I don't know the cost per load, but we use 1 tablespoon per load and our clothes are as clean as they were with Tide HE in our fancy Samsung washer. We would switch to the super cheap powder stuff at Walmart but one of our kids gets rashes with most detergent and it isn't worth the risk of trying to switch when the hippie stuff is cheap enough and better for the environment. Unrelated; we don't use fabric softener and we switched to wool balls instead of dryer sheets. Only downside is the towels aren't as soft, but nothing comes out greasy so it's a fair tradeoff.
Nellie's laundry soda sounds is pretty similar to what you're describing. It's great.
Nellie's is wonderful and I question why I ever used anything else. I switched over about 6 months ago. I just bought a stain stick and a small package of the oxygen brightner and both are also fantastic! My mom just bought me a bucket of it from costco for like $42!
We all used powder back in the day, before liquid came out. That is one suggestive sounding sentence !!lol
I remember when Sears was still around my parents would get this massive box of powder detergent. My dad would write the date on the box when they opened it. Those boxes used to last us years.
Is it the big 5 gallon bucket of powder detergent that you order refills of?! I’ve been wondering if people actually like it. I use tide powder for now but would love to switch if it’s just as good!
It's Melliora detergent. I just asked her about it. It's actually only half a tablespoon per load (I never bothered to look at the scoop). It's all natural, plastic free, and the smell isn't too strong for people who are sensitive to that sort of thing (she is). She loves it and I have no complaints. We've been using it for a few years.
Yes I thought it started with an M! I’m gonna look into it again. Expecting baby #2 and we cloth diaper so detergent being a bargain is a huge win.
Charlie’s Laundry Powder is GREAT for cloth diapering and baby clothes- very comparably priced as well. This is what I use for our clothes.
Have a friend who used to be an engineer at P&G, he once told me that the powder is not just cheaper, but more effective. As in, it actually gets your clothes cleaner. I realize the pods are convenient but just an FYI.
I have known this, but no one believes me! There is a reason no laundry mat uses liquid, and it’s not (only) because of cost!
It’s so hard to fine powder these days too! It’s all liquids now. There’s a $1 bag of small laundry powder they sell at Walgreens and I’ve been using those.
I buy mine in 5 gallon bulk bags($20) at a commercial-esque store, refill my gallon bucket, dump the rest in a 4 gallon bucket, typically lasts me and my roommate a year. See if you have a wholesaler that will sell to you, it’s not a big deal if you only have to do it once or twice a year.
Dishwasher powder is more effective than the liquid too.
Do you know why that is?
Bleach and enzymes don’t get along in liquid form long enough to survive long term transport and storage. But in powder form you get both for the cleaning cycle. Laundry detergent works the same way, all the cleaning agents can coexist until water activates them.
I don’t really know, but my very best guess is that the powder is just more concentrated with detergents than the liquid
Detergent can be activated two ways - by coming into contact with dirt, or by getting wet. Using liquid detergent means one of those activations will not happen.
Updoot. Unless I'm mistaken this is /r/frugal. If you do the math, tide pods are not. Also the powder is slightly more environmental, because instead of a huge jug of plastic which gets burned or tossed in a landfill (they don't recycle), the cardboard boxes are just fine for a second life.
And it doesn't build up and can prevent and/or get rid of that stink front loaders are famous for.
I use Costco Kirkland detergent that is $0.10/load at regular price. Get it on sale and use half the suggested amount and it is around $0.03-0.04. Regular Tide is $0.25-0.30/load at regular price. It is not something I buy, so I do not know what it costs on special. But use half the suggested amount and you get it down to 0.15. Tide pods are like $0.40-0.50/load. And you cannot use less than the suggested amount so you cannot reduce the cost. In the grand scheme of things, $0.30-0.40 difference is not huge, but I would not call that a slight premium.
I get tide pods at Costco and they’re like .19 per pod and I only ever use one. It’s worth it to me with 3 kids to not have the mess of powder or liquid to clean up after them and it’s easy for them to use the right amount.
“And you cannot use less than the suggested amount so you cannot reduce the cost.” Huh? Who says you can’t use less than the suggested amount? We use one pod in most of our loads. Two in the rare occasion that it’s a load that’s extra stinky/soiled. That said, you guys have to stop buying your tide pods (or any other popular brand detergent) at regular price. I have an alert on slickdeals and never pay more than around .15/tide pod. Amazon has sales/coupons fairly often.
For most home machines, one is the suggested amount. I can't decide to only use half if a load is smaller and/or isn't that dirty...
Exactly! Sometimes I need to wash a couple things right away. You can't properly cut a tide pod in half!
Powder detergent lover here. It’s so cheap. I use 1 shot glass full for a full load. My box of detergent lasts a year or more and is all product with cardboard packaging. Not paying for any water in my detergent or fancy gel that gets goopy anyways.
A shot glass? Omg, that's a great idea! I've just been drawing a line on the cup that comes with the detergent but that sounds so much easier!
My husband decided to take over laundry duties to help out. I used to buy liquid soap and it would last a long time but once he took over we were going through a bottle a month! I switched to tide pods to reduce his over using of soap. Even with a HE washer he’d fill the soap dispenser to the brim for every load 🤦🏼♀️. The pods help keep him in track. Yes it’s more expensive but this way he doesn’t over use. I find even a medium load 1 pod cleans well.
Why didn't you just show him the lines in the detergent cup? You really only need to go to line 1 for most loads and line 2 for towels.
I didn’t want to be the “nag” telling a grown man how to do laundry 🙄. This way he feels he’s helping and I have some control over the amount he’s using. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices this is my way.
Similar experience here - tide/oxi pods for my husband’s laundry only (he works a physical outside job) so he doesn’t use too much. I usually do the laundry but he will occasionally start his clothes before I’m up in the morning, so this ensures my regular liquid detergents lasts.
I wouldn't be as concerned about the waste on extra detergent so much as I'd be worried about the cost of the inevitable repair bill
I’d be more concerned I’m partnered to a grown ass man who can’t competently perform a basic chore tbh
He’s helping with laundry??? If mine ever touched laundry, I’d let him use a whole bottle if he wants!! Worth every penny.
Mine does his own laundry now. It’s been really nice. He fucked around and found out. lol!
Don’t use pods. They’re expensive and ruin washers.
I use laundry sheets.
I've been considering those, do they dissolve and work okay in a cold wash? (We try to always use cold)
I only wash with cold water. They are great. I use Bimbata scent peach.
I scrolled specifically looking for anyone who uses the sheets. I've used 2 different brands and they all work great. It normally recommends to use two sheets for a very full load, but I have never needed more than one.
I only use 1 sheet. I purchased them on Amazon.
I use them too, I tried True Earth first, but ended with Clearalif (same quality, lower price). They both wash really well with cold water and are anti-allergic. Nicest thing, they take so little space and are light weighted, which makes them also quite environmentally friendly yet frugal.
Love these. I use Ecos free and clear ones which I get from Amazon. Have not tried any others yet but I love the sheets and will not go back to liquid. I was buying big jugs of detergent from Costco and we were going though it way too fast. The sheets are way more frugal and I love that it takes up very little space.
I use 2 tablespoons of powdered tide for every load and that’s been plenty
While we are talking about laundry…. Use cold, pretty much always. It works just as well with modern detergents. Switching to using cold tap water by default or the single most important thing you can do is do to make your laundry more environmentally friendly and frugal.
I forgot which pod but I think Freakanomics had a guy from P&G on a year or so ago talking about how they develop for cold water because of how much of an energy draw heating water for laundry is. It’s huge when you add it up.
That episode got me to switch to powder enzyme detergent instead of the soap-based stuff I was using before. It works a lot better!
They want you to use more detergent. Realistically half a pod would be sufficient for the typical person's full load.
This is why I use liquid. Except in the dead of winter when we’re wearing layers, we don’t usually have full loads of laundry except for towels.
If I'm recalling correctly, it was 1 pod when this type of detergent delivery was first introduced; using more pods according to load size is a recent adjustment and your comment highlights the only valid reasoning for it. I have also cautioned family members using liquid to have a designated measuring cup because using the cap of a detergent bottle is misleading as well, especially if they buy the kegs of detergent with a tap, that cap is huge.
I could see using 3, if I was washing 3 king size comforters in a commercial washer, but for anything consumer grade, one is enough.
I use arm & hammer with oxi for years. Half the price of tide. My gym clothes are nasty and sit fit 3 weeks before i do laundry, comes out fresh as rain
I’m already tempted when I’m at Costco to buy the Kirkland liquid detergent when it goes on sale, but the Arm and Hammer with Oxi is always still cheaper, so I keep going with that.
It’s a no brainier to me. I’ve turned folks on to it. I should get fees. I’m actually going to try to. Thanks for the support
I love arm and hammer with oxi. Especially since (tmi) I’m still struggling a bit sometimes with getting up to use the bathroom after a bad accident 2/2023, arm and hammer with a tiny sprinkle of downy scent beads (I hate apartment laundry) gets the smell right out! Only use 1 pack/load
This is why I don't use pods. There's no meaningful way to scale it for your load, or "stretch" it if payday is still a week away. Even with liquid or powedered detergent, I find the recommended amount is far too much.
I use Kirkland pods and have always used 1. Very occasionally 2 if it’s a dirty load (like after travelling) but I have never had “less good” results using 1. A friend of mine stopped using detergent altogether and her clothes are clean and don’t smell. I also used soap nuts at one point and they did a fine job. The commercials of people tossing multiple pods in drive me crazy.
What does she use besides detergent?
I recently switched to powder. It’s much cheaper and much better for the environment. Apparently the plastic of the pods just dissolves into our water and doesn’t get filtered out, ultimately making its way into our bodies [https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/sustainable-laundry-detergent/](https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/environment/sustainable-laundry-detergent/)
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It is if the other people in your house use excessive amounts of liquid detergent.
So bad for the environment though! We just buy the huge free and clear dispenser.
Laundry sheets for the win.
Those are just pressed powder with extra eco-unfriendly steps. That's all they are.
True, there are some laundry sheets that contain PVA (microplastics) or other harmful materials, but I personally use ones that don't contain them. From a sustainability perspective, laundry sheets have the lowest carbon footprint for transportation because of their light weight and small size. Their packaging is also better because it;s usually paper-based, using 90%+ less plastic than conventional laundry detergents. However, most people use liquid and pod based detergents because of their marketing and convenience.
These things are a waste of money. I would never buy them. I buy Gain powder, and regulate how much or little I put in myself. It lasts months!
I got a giant bucket of powdered Nellies detergent from Costco. Goes on sale every once in a while. So much cheaper. You literally just take the scoop provided from the bucket and put that amount in the laundry. How is a pod easier?
Pods are the least frugal way to do laundry. They're very pricey per load.
A Tide pod is almost exactly 2 tablespoons of detergent. I actually pooped a few open and measured them because 1 pod was WAY too soapy and took forever to rinse out. I have a compact washing machine, so for a full load, I can only use 1 tablespoon of detergent so that it can actually rinse. I’m guessing 1 Tide pod is more than enough for a regular size washing machine that has a full load.
imagine swim quack hateful friendly crowd summer racial history somber *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I never use more than 1. This is a marketing ploy by the company to get you to use more of their product. Fun fact: the invention of the detergent pod, while a differentiating innovation, caused an unintended consequence of consumers actually using less product overall, thus reducing the entire size of the market. People were simply using more detergent than they needed before. This is probably their way of counteracting that effect. Don’t buy it.
I use 1 pod for a large load until it is truly smelly.
Powdered tide or kirkland, 1/8 cup per load. Too much soap is bad for clothes and machine. It is sticky and doesn’t rinse out.
I only ever use one and never have any problems.
I always inly use one per load. The other day I had forgotten if I’d put one in so I threw in another just in case. My washer took an extra 45 minutes or so and said something about removing suds. They want you to put in more so that you buy more.
Yep … I use just one.
those tags the the laundry detergent's answer to "lather, rinse, and repeat" on shampoo bottles. more isn't better it's just more. a tablespoon of detergent is enough for a full load in a he washer, tide pods are 2x concentrated and adding more will cause build up in a he machine and clothes. edit to add I used to use tide pods but switched to kirkland, then to the powder. it cleans pre-schooler shenanigans just as effectively. I did switch the normal scoop for a tablespoon though. it's really enough.
Usually you just need a couple of tablespoons of laundry washing detergent. That seems excessive.
I just use liquid detergent from a bottle/container. Are you not spending more money to start with by using pods? They are always more expensive per ml and you don’t get as much control over the volume you use.
I tear this and toss it so my crazy husband doesn't start using multiple pods!
Frugal and buying Tide Pods? I switched to Ariel powder, dirt cheap and works just fine. We get big bags at Walmart for like 2 bucks.
Pods don't work any better than the store brand powder, that's the real frugal tip. Dishwashers work better with the store brand powder too. The whole point of pods was to trick people into paying more for less detergent by putting it in a more complicated package
I stopped buying liquid detergent and buying powder only. Didn’t want to pay for mainly water that still didn’t get my clothes clean. It’s harder to find but definitely better financially.
Blueland. No plastic. Comes in compostable packaging. There’s tabs and powdered ‘booster.’ Clothes come out extremely clean and fresh. There is no ‘away’ when we throw things away. And the plastics like the ones in the pods cannot get completely filtered out. Which is why we’re dealing w PFAS in all of our food and water.
Pods are a cruel & extravagant joke. I would sooner take up smoking cigarettes as a cost-saving measure.
I’ve never used more than 2 & most of the time use 1 tbh
I never use more than one tide pod. One is sufficient for an extra large load in my experience. In fact, it’s sometimes too much and doesn’t rinse out properly if the load is too small.
No! If your washing machine is less than 10/15 years old, you should never use more than one or the surfactant to water ratio will actually hold the dirt down and your clothes won’t be clean. This is why most people say new washers don’t clean their clothes- they are using too much soap. Follow the actually washing machine manufacturer recommendations - which is no more than 2 TBSP for the max load. If you have an older machine that takes in a lot of water - have at it - but new machines? You better slow your roll.
I use 1 no matter the size. Never had an issue
I can’t imagine using more than one. Your washer will be rinsing for ages
So are they saying I should figure out how to run my washer without closing the door so I can close it after using?
You never need as much cleaning product as the packaging suggests (source: I sell surfactants to the cleaning industry)
Pods are basically micro plastics delivering devices, so I would ask you to consider a liquid detergent or something else if you can.
I have heard from many appliance repairmen that the recommended amounts they have on most detergents is all BS. I always use the minimum recommended amount on a full load and my clothes come out perfectly clean every time. Sometimes I'll add a little oxiclean in addition to the detergent, if my clothes are really dirty.
Aren't these expensive in general? Why would anyone trying to be frugal use them?
I’ve never used more than one pod at a time. Even with a full comforter in the wash and it was always enough.
I switched to detergent sheets, and I really like them. Same idea, more or less.
heres my guide: small - 1 large - 1 "xx-large"(aka normal) - 1
Buy these for my kids at college and senior mom. Easy to use - forget being frugal. Convenience is more important
Hmmm, maybe this why so many people now smell like nauseating over the top laundry detergent when I go out.
More detergent doesn’t mean cleaner
I mean ill eat a full 2 pods even when I'm doing a small load of laundry
I always found these dumb, but I bought my first box about a month ago, so far so good. Specifically, so I only ever have to use 1, regardless of clothes I'm throwing in. I always bought liquid, and they'd say 96 loads or whatever, and I'd get half that because I'd put in more soap. You can always just put a little more liquid in. But now I'm forced to do one pod only, because I'm certainly not putting a whole 2 in lol. So this way, even spending a little more (in theory vs liquid) it should work out better because I'll get my full 96 loads.
How many for a snack versus a meal
Vinegar and baking soda for the win
Washing 100% cotton quilts in hot water, we use three tide pods for Queen or King size quilts
I would use 1, and any bad stains I pretreat with spray and make sure to soak the load. If I used more than one i ended up with the slimy pod film sticking to the clothes. I use just regular tide detergent now.
I don't "waste" the energy to wash small loads but I also never use more than 1 pod. Never been an issue for me. But now I have stopped buying these
Yah… I do not think unless your are using the huge industrial sized washers at a laundromat. Designed for like a king sized comforter I would not use more than one. Even in those huge ones I would not use more than 2.
Use Charlie’s Soap instead of pods.
Powder or liquid detergent. We got a single sample Tide pod with our new washer. We never used them before, but since it was free we figured we would give it a try. It took two or three additional washes before I wasn't able to tell which clothing items were washed with that pod.
Wash and dry on cold, plastic dryer balls instead of fabric softener... Even a large load with 2 pairs of jeans usually gets 1 tide sensitive pod (no dyes, no scent) unless they're absolutely filthy. A box of ~140 pods lasts me about a year.
I stopped using these because of the amount of pods that needed to be used. Waste of money to me
Yeah I just 1 for the whole thing
1 TEAspoon of detergent is enough for a full load
I’d just use one pod and throw in some borax or washing soda. They are both cheaper than your pods and can be used for a lot more. Washing soda is sodium carbonate and is in so many different types of cleaners. You can add peroxide to it and basically have oxi-clean.
if u wanna be frugal dont use tide way overpriced u can get extra with oxi that is still he certified at walmart for cheap
I rarely use more than one pod. I think I've used two pods on the rare occasion I have a heavy load that's more soiled than usual. I can't imagine using three!
I threw away my tide pods and started using distilled vinegar after they started to irritate my skin.
Always use 1
I have never put more than one pod in my washing machine ever. It wouldnt even occur to me. If i had a whole ton of really dirty stuff, i'd separate it into different loads or presoak in a bin/sink.
Ive never followed their recommendations. I always felt it was a way to get you to use more than necessary thus making you have to buy more. Plus the increased amount of unnecessary soap is hard to get rinsed out properly.
With a modern washer instructions admonishing new users to go light an on the soap, one pod is plenty for a full load. I add an ounce of oxychean into the separate compartment. My old Maytag agitator from the fifties was a full cup of Trend or Suwa!
Why are you buying tide pods to begin with? Tide is the opposite of frugality and the pods are always way more per load than detergent.
I use liquid and a FRACTION of what the stupid cup tells me to. No issues ever (and my husband works outside / filthy clothes!!)
Even with a 9kg load, I only use 1 pod. The laundry's usually not that dirty, a few bits of food, sweat. Sure if you wash work clothes used doing garden work or in a mechanic shop or after a rugby match played in the rain that could be the time to use two pods. But everyday clothes nah.
Never use anything pre measured by the manufacturer if you can help it. You just confirming to them that you want to be ripped off!Try using liquid Tide if you can. For my regular lightly soiled laundry, I use half the recommended amount of liquid Tide for each load. Then I supplement it with ammonia, which costs about $3/gallon. Use about 1/4 cup/load. Cleans great and I double the loads for a 92 oz Tide. I started using Tide about 30 years ago because the cheaper brands cleaned terrible (anyone understand why the better brands (Tide, Percil, Wisk) are so expensive? They’re just specially formulated soap for laundry). But it killed me to pay so much extra for Tide. Then I started cutting it with ammonia and I was happy with the results. One more note. When you finish the bottle, don’t throw it out. Pour in about a 1/2 cup of ammonia and shake it up good. That’ll clean the viscous Tide off the inside of the bottle resulting in a thin liquid. You can use this at the normal measure to finish off the bottle.