Cleaning up doesn’t get much more convenient than detergent pods; but are they really worth the money?
Load for load, detergent pods cost about double their liquid and powdered counterparts. Some may argue that pods’ convenience, indeed, makes them worth the higher price. These same people, however, may be surprised to learn that with the increased convenience and cost of pods, come increased risks to health and the environment…and they don’t even do a better job of cleaning.
It’s no news that detergent pods are the most expensive way out there to do your dishes and laundry; so that leaves the question “…but are they worth it?” Read on for ideas you may not have considered about navigating this grey area.
Are Tide Pods (and other pods) Worth it?
The most obvious issue with detergent pods is the expense. The average cost difference between a pod and one ounce of same-brand liquid is 100% (no, that is not a typo). The brand with the least difference between the price of its pod and that of its liquid is Gain (view here), with a 48% difference. Contrast that with Tide (view here), which has a difference of 140%.
Of course, what you pay extra for is the “convenience.” There’s some truth to this, but remember what we’re talking about here. If we were discussing coffee pods, it might be a diffferent story. Using a coffee pod saves you from having to break out the filters, measure coffee, and wash out the pot. Detergent pods save you only the trouble of measuring out the soap.
Are Detergent Pods Better than Liquid?
Until I did the research for this article, I held a secret grudge against pods, having assumed that their manufacturers have been withholding the choicest cleansers exclusively for the pod-using elite.
The good news for thrifty, little me is that this is not so! Even pod-industry insiders admit that liquid detergent, whether for laundry or dishes, can be a better choice.
Pods are a one-size-fits-few approach to a job that requires constant customization. What if you’re running a small load of laundry? You can’t use half a pod. Even worse, if you have a large load, they expect you to use two pods! How’s that for a kick in the wallet?!
…and don’t even get me started on using dishwasher pods when you have hard water. Since having hard water calls for using less than the recommended amount of detergent, my bottle of liquid lasts for a very long time. With pods, I wouldn’t be able to customize the amount of soap to my needs…and do you remember that average 100% cost difference between pods and liquid? For someone who uses half the amount of soap to do a load, that difference would double – it would cost 200% more to use pods than liquid!
Are Detergent Pods Bad for your Clothes?
Another issue with hard water, or an older washing machine, is that the pod may not dissolve fully, leaving bleached-out spots on your clothing. I had this problem with homemade laundry detergent, as well; so I can relate.
There’s nothing more aggravating than having a garment ruined by undissolved detergent. Even if it doesn’t cause spots, the residue is harsh on your clothing, and will cause it to wear out faster.
Are Detergent Pods Bad for Your Skin?
One would expect that detergent spilled on one’s skin would need to be washed off quickly and thoroughly. Pod detergent however, carries an extra risk, because it is 25 times more concentrated.
According to an article in the Journal of Medical Toxicology,
dermal laundry pod exposure can result in significant chemical burns.”
Journal of Medical Toxicology
They cite the case of a baby, who required a hospital stay, after the contents of a Tide Pod leaked onto his skin. His burns were so severe, that doctors, at first, couldn’t believe that the detergent could have caused so much damage; and they almost launched a child-abuse investigation against the mother.
The prognosis for getting it in the eyes is even worse. A JAMA Opthalmology article states that…
By 2015, detergent pods were the culprit in over 1/4 of all chemical eye burns in children ages 3 and 4.”
JAMA Opthalmology
They go on to say that these incidents commonly resulted in permanent eye damage.
Environmental Considerations with Detergent Pods
A study published in the Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health makes the following points:
- “The PVA is not broken down completely by wastewater treatment. Research suggests about 7,000 metric tons of PVA evade degradation by wastewater treatment every year in the US.”
- “It is estimated that about 4% of the PVA from detergent pods is discharged, undigested, in treated water, while about 65% of it ends up in sludge that settles out and is buried in landfills, applied to agricultural lands, or incinerated.”
- “The material may absorb pesticides and heavy metals, and it can act as a foaming agent, harming aquatic ecosystems.”
This is vehemently denied by professionals in the plastics industry (no conflict of interest there), who claim that the pods are completely biodegradable.
The author of the above-mentioned study, Charles Rolsky, brushes off this denial. Rolsky points out that his study follows a logical chemical trail; clearly indicating that, although the pods may dissolve, that is not the same as being fully biodegradable. He asserts that their plastic polymers remain present in the water.
Are Detergent Pods Septic-Safe?
If you look up this question, and are not lucky enough to find my article, you will be overwhelmed with articles advising you that pods are perfectly safe for septic systems. Unfortunately, most of these answers derive from the companies that manufacture and sell the pods!
I’d love to believe them, it would make my job so much simpler; however, there is a lot of anecdotal evidence that suggests the picture may not be so rosy, at least not for everyone.
Luckily, American Sanitation has the definitive answer for anyone who feels apprehensive that pods may harm his septic:
Septic systems are safe when using non-toxic, organic manufactured detergent pods. They are easily dissolved in water. They don’t clog the pipes and don’t affect the stain. Look for packs of detergent pods that are labeled as “green” or “environmentally friendly.”
American Sanitation
Are Detergent Pods Safe for H.E. Machines?
H.E. machines are notorious for not completely dissolving the pod. You may also have this problem if your water is very cold, or have an older machine that has lost some of its mojo.
The good news is that if you like your pods, you can keep your pods – Simply take the precaution of dissolving the pod in a pint of warm water prior to use, and then add it to the washer. At that point, IMHO, you might as well go back to using liquid.
Are Tide Pods Good?
I just wanted to mention Tide Pods, in particular, because this is a much-asked question. The best thing about Tide Pods is that they come in many varieties, so you may find one that suits your laundry needs.
They are the most expensive way of all to do your laundry, though. I mean, this isn’t like driving the most expensive car or wearing the latest fashion, where you’ll be the envy of all who see you.
If you’re a lifelong Tide fan, and can afford it, I say go ahead and enjoy your Tide Pods. For the rest, consider the points I’ve made here, try different pods, and go with whatever does the best job on your clothing. The reason there are so many detergents on the market is that different ones work for different people.
When are Detergent Pods a Good Idea?
In spite of all that you’ve read here, I am not completely anti-pod.
The first time I saw detergent pods was at the end of my first day in a beach cottage rental; and I was very glad to see them. If you own a vacation rental, anything that will encourage your guests to clean is a very good thing.
If you have an elderly parent, who is trying to keep his independence and stay in his home, conveniences like detergent pods can make the difference between failure and success. An exception to this is if the person has dementia. According to Consumer Reports:
People with moderate to severe dementia may mistakenly try to eat items that aren’t food. ‘A hungry person with dementia foraging in a kitchen may misidentify a box of powdered detergent as cereal and still know to pour it in a bowl and mix it with milk from the refrigerator,’ says Lon S. Schneider, M.D., director of the California Alzheimer’s Disease Center at the University of Southern California.”
Consumer Reports
Pods can be a fine helper to someone who is recovering from an illness. Making life easier, so he can rest more, will help him get better sooner. Might you create a “welcome home” basket for a new mom? Be sure to include pods for both dishwasher and laundry!
I would even go so far as to say a pod or two is not a bad thing to have when cleaning up from a large holiday dinner, or as a timesaver during those crazy weeks before Christmas.
Resources for Further Exploration
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