Laundry Pods: Proper Use Provides a Proper Clean

Laundry Pods — those versatile, all-in-one laundry products —  have found their way into nearly every laundry room in the country. When used properly, pods have the potential to provide superior cleaning in a tiny package. However, as with any innovation, there initially is always some confusion surrounding proper use.

Don’t put it in the detergent slot!

While it may seem counterintuitive, laundry pods are designed to be placed in the drum with your laundry, before your laundry and never in the detergent slot. The pods are designed to dissolve in water, so be sure to handle them with dry hands. Just toss it in before your clothes for a top-load machine, or in the back of a front-load machine, and you’re good to go — cold or hot water!

“Low suds is good”

A common mistake users make when switching to laundry pods is that they overcompensate for the lack of sudsy water with additional laundry pods. Stop! Unless you’re doing a load of 20 pounds or more (which is well beyond what fits in a standard washer), or are experiencing very heavy soiling on your clothing, a single pod will do the trick.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need suds to clean laundry. In fact, too many suds can cause soiling to be redeposited onto clothing. Laundry pods are often a low-suds detergent, so don’t panic if you don’t notice the usual sea of suds.

Big convenience in a tiny package

If you’re like most folks, the less you have to carry down to the laundry room, the better. That’s when the small size and impressive cleaning power of laundry pods truly shine. As an added perk, laundry pods also include a stain fighter and brightener, saving the user from carrying a jug (or two or three) down to the laundry room. Convenience, superior clean and speed all in one package!

Hey… this isn’t candy!

Some critics have noted laundry pods come in what could be confused for a candy jar, with the pods themselves passing for alluring candies. While pod manufacturers have taken steps to reduce how visually enticing their product is and changed to childproof packaging, the concern for accidental consumption still exists.

Of course, we’re talking about detergent here — the same kind of detergent you would call poison control for if someone consumed it. Thus, it is important to treat laundry pods as you would any household cleaning chemical. Keep it out of the reach of children and educate your children on the dangers of such cleaning chemicals.

And please, don’t eat the laundry pods.

For more helpful laundry tips, visit www.washlaundry.com/residents.