8 mistakes you're making with laundry pods – and how to fix them

Laundry pods revolutionized the dreaded chore of laundry- they’re simple, easy to use, and effective – but are you using them correctly?

The small yet powerful pods are a lot less hassle than traditional laundry detergents, eliminating the need for large, heavy boxes of powder or measuring out liquid, but there are still common mistakes to watch out for to ensure your laundry is clean and fresh. From using too many to not loading them correctly, they might be the reason for your lackluster laundry.

Luckily, we’ve spoken to our laundry experts and fabric-care specialists for a rundown on the mistakes you might be making, and how best to avoid them. So, once you’ve brought your laundry room ideas to life, avoiding these pod pitfalls will have you washing like a pro.

8 laundry pod mistakes

1. Not loading them in correctly

You might know where to put liquid laundry detergent in the washing machine, but do you know where to put your pods? If not, luckily it's an easy mistake to fix. While it may seem that this would make little difference, it could actually be ruining your clothes, so it’s important to do it right.

‘We know that sometimes consumers do not put their laundry pods into their machine correctly, whether they use them in a dispenser that isn’t designed for liquid laundry pods or put them in after the clothes,’ says Kimberly Romine, P&G fabric care scientist. ‘Always check your label for correct instructions on how to use your products and where to place them. For best results, put your pods directly into the drum, before loading your clothes.’

This is important as water initially fills up the bottom of the drum, so placing the pods there will allow them to fully dissolve before making contact with your washing, preventing stains, streaking, and damage.

‘Modern high-efficiency washers use very little water and most of it is on the bottom so putting the pods in first gives it plenty of time to dissolve,’ says Laura Smith, house cleaning expert at All Stars Cleaning. ‘If the pod goes on the top of the clothes, too much detergent can concentrate in one spot.’

2. Using the wrong amount

It can sometimes be tempting to throw in an extra pod or two for a large load of laundry, but pods are super concentrated, and extra detergent doesn’t mean extra clean – in fact, it might just be leaving residue all over your clothing.

However, there are instances where it might be beneficial to use an extra pod, but only if your load is excessively large or soiled. ‘Because washing machines vary in size, one load may look very different from one machine to another,’ says Romine. ‘You should measure the size of a laundry load based on how many clothes there are, not how full the machine looks.’

You can easily measure the size of your laundry load by using a medium-sized laundry basket, recommends Romine. If the basket is less than full it’s a small load, if it’s almost full it’s medium, if it’s piled up over the top it’s large and if it’s overflowing - it’s extra large, and the only instance when you might want to add an extra pod. ‘Always follow the dosing instructions on the detergent package,’ she says. ‘Also, if the load is extra soiled you can add an extra pod,’ if you’re washing towels or bedding, for example.

3. Using pods with delicate or expensive clothes

‘Pods used with delicate or expensive clothing can lead to stains,’ warns Ocean Van, owner at Coco Laundry. ‘I refrain from using pods with delicate clothes as the dye used in them could stain the clothes easily.’

Instead, it is always better to hand-wash your delicates or take expensive clothes to a dry cleaner to avoid ruining them.

4. Unwrapping or cutting your pods

As pods are specially designed to be placed in your machine whole, cutting them open or squeezing the detergent out is never a good idea, and it could be potentially dangerous.

‘Never unwrap them or cut them open, says Matt OConnor, co-founder and CEO of NoScrubs laundry service. ‘They’re designed to dissolve in water, so let them do their thing,’ and that way you avoid getting harmful chemicals on your hands.

5. Storing them incorrectly or handling them with wet hands

You might have seen endless videos of aesthetic storage ideas for your pods, but, likewise, with other cleaning products and chemicals, it’s very important to know how to store cleaning supplies to maximize efficiency.

‘We have seen a trend of people storing laundry products such as liquid laundry pods or beads in decorative containers to beautify their laundry rooms,’ says Romine. ‘A good rule to remember is that laundry pods should always be kept up, closed, and safe away from children and other vulnerable family members.’

Your pods should also be stored in a cool, dry place, preferably a high cupboard, to prevent them from deteriorating or melting.

‘Keep them dry and sealed up tight,’ says OConnor. ‘Humidity can make them stick together or start dissolving prematurely.’

Similarly, handling your pods with wet or damp hands can have the same effect. ‘Always handle capsules with hands that are dry so as not to let them dissolve ahead of time,’ recommends cleaning expert and CEO of Handy Rubbish Brian Davis.

6. Overstuffing your machine

If your washing machine is overloaded, your pods can’t work effectively to clean stains off your clothing.

‘Putting too many clothes in the machine makes it harder on the machine and harder for the products to work properly,’ says Romine. ‘Clothing needs to have room to move during the laundry process to provide mechanical action that aids in the removal of soils and distributing laundry products.’

To ensure you aren’t overstuffing your machine, leave enough space for your hand to fit between the clothes and the drum, or at least 15 centimeters. ‘This rule of thumb applies to both front-load and top-load washing machines,’ says Holevich.

7. Using hypoallergenic or sensitive skin pods to remove tough stains or heavy soils

‘Hypoallergenic and sensitive-skin pods are not great at removing stains or cleaning heavy soils,’ says Van. ‘This issue is also true for similar types of detergent in liquid form.’

If you have sensitive skin and need to shift a stain, Van recommends using a regular detergent. These Tide Pods from Walmart have been rated 4.7 stars by over 10,000 shoppers, and I have tried and tested them myself. You can also run an extra rinse or a short second wash for tougher stains.

Following these golden rules of stain removal will ensure your clothes are clean and keep irritant chemicals away from your skin.

8. Using the wrong temperature setting

Finally, using the wrong temperature setting could be stopping your pods from dissolving properly.

If the water is extremely cold or you place the laundry pod on top of the dirty laundry, it may not dissolve correctly. Always place the pod in an empty washer drum before you load your dirty laundry. We recommend using warm water for the load or dissolve the pod in a quart of hot water first if you prefer a colder rinse. Finally, always check the laundry symbols on your clothes to ensure you are washing them correctly.

FAQs

Are laundry pods bad for the washing machine?

You might have heard that laundry pods can be harmful to your washing machine, but, luckily, the opposite is true.

Not only are they super easy to use and efficient, but they can be better for your machine than regular detergent – but only if you are using them correctly. For smaller loads, opt for hand-washing or using a small amount of regular detergent so you’re clothes aren’t left with any residue from the pods.

Now that you know how to avoid any pod peril, placing your pod in your machine drum is always the first step in your laundry routine – it's one of the things people who are good at laundry always do.

‘Begin your laundry ritual by placing the pod at the back of the drum, ensuring it’s the first thing the water hits – this is crucial to ensure they dissolve properly,’ says Davis. ‘Aim for the center-back of the drum to maximize contact with incoming water, helping the pod to dissolve quickly and evenly.’