How laundry detergent pods could ruin your clothes, experts say
If you don't use them correctly, you are putting your clothes at risk.
Laundry Detergent Pods Made More Convenient Than Ever wash your clothes . You no longer have to worry about measuring out the correct amount of detergent, but you can just grab a pod and throw it away. However, the convenience is only worth it if you use these pods correctly. And if you've taken your clothes out of the washing machine and found them damaged with stains or streaks, maybe that's because they're not. Read on to find out how laundry detergent pods could ruin your clothes and what you can do to prevent this from happening.
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Laundry detergent pods need to be able to dissolve properly.
It is important to understand how laundry detergent pods work. The key? Their contact with the water in the washing machine. ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
"Detergent pods are designed to dissolve completely in water, releasing cleaning agents evenly throughout the wash cycle." Muffetta Krueger , cleaning expert and founder of Muffetta's Domestic Assistants, says Better life .
This dissolving process is essential for "effective cleaning" Karina Tonic , Head of Operations at Spot-free cleaning , adds.
"When the pod doesn't dissolve completely, the cleaning agents and enzymes it contains may not be evenly distributed," she explains. "This can cause residue to stick to clothes, causing discoloration, streaking, or even skin irritation from trapped detergents."
In other words, laundry detergent pods can ruin your clothes if they fail to dissolve properly – and that's exactly what will happen if you use them incorrectly.
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They should go through the washing machine first.
Several issues can arise when your laundry detergent pods don't dissolve properly, and a major factor is when you put them in.
“A common mistake is adding detergent pods directly to clothes in the washing machine,” says Toner. "The pods should always be placed in the bottom of the drum before adding clothes."
When you put your pod in first, you give it a better chance to fully connect to the water as the machine fills, which will then allow it to dissolve, explains cleaning and laundry influencer Laura Mountford .
“On the other hand, if you place the pod on the clothes, it may fall into the seal of the washing machine door and not dissolve properly,” she warns.
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You also should not overload the washer.
Laundry detergent pods also only work well when the washing machine is filled to its correct capacity.
"It's critical to follow the manufacturer's guidelines for load size," says Krueger. "If you overload the washer and add too many clothes, the pod may not dissolve properly."
According to Krueger, an overloaded machine will not allow the detergent pods to dissolve properly.
"When the washer is too full, there may not be enough space for the pod to dissolve and distribute evenly among the clothes," she shares. "This could result in some items getting too much detergent, while others getting too little."
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You may also need to adjust the water temperature.
The temperature of the water you wash your clothes in can also impact the effectiveness of your laundry pods. While most pods are designed to work with both cold and lukewarm water, the latter is the most effective, according to Toner.
“Using cold water may not provide enough heat to fully dissolve the pod, leading to detergent residue on clothes and in the machine,” she warns.
In fact, the manufacturer of Tide Pods suggests changing your water temperature for best results.
“Change to a warm setting during winter months or anytime the water is unusually cold,” Tide says as advice. on its website .
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