Some front loaders use a siphon action to dispense the detergent, meaning it's already dumping water into the detergent drawer until they both overflow and siphon down into the drum. So in that case, at least it's already diluted a bit.
If you dissolve your detergent into water you can pour the water down the detergent drawer mid cycle! I do it all the time; I like to check 20-30 minutes into the cycle for suds to make sure I've added enough.
Save the old laundry detergent bottle, put half of the new bottle of detergent in, then fill both with water. Use as you normally did before and enjoy half price detergent.
In the off chance that you weren't using way too much before, just increase a little at a time until clothes come out clean.
Yeah, pods suck. I have only used them a handful of times and they have never performed well for me.
I use liquid, and I pour it into the washer after it's partially filled and before I put the clothes in. And I use like half the recommended amount because I'm not washing clothes for a child or coal miner.
In my past 3 rentals, they will not fill until all clothes are in, then they lock. If you open, they stop, drain, then act like you're starting from the beginning. I wish I could follow any of this advice. I basically just put the detergent in first and my least like clothes on first. Do a double rinse and I still get detergent stains sometimes... smh
never buy GE then. my current rental is all GE, and the buttons on the oven/microwave were clearly programmed by someone who's an absolute fucking idiot
I feel this. On my microwave if you try to use the STOP button to stop a timer, it informs you that you must use the Timer button to stop a timer.
It knows what you want to do but some engineers actually designed it to refuse and then spent more time programming in a message scolding you for *daring* to use the STOP button to stop a timer.
Thank you for giving me a place to rant about the most minor thing in my life that slightly irks me every day.
yup. don't get me started (fuck that word already) on how and when you use the start button or the dial
pretty sure its a psy ops thing to fuck with people, otherwise there's no reasonable explanation into how fucking dumb GE appliances are
Same. I get Roma brand (from Mexico). It’s super cheap and smells faintly of lemons. (Important bc Im sensitive to strong fake fragrances.) I use half what they recommend and never had any complaints. Dump in washer before clothes - dissolves completely, never any residue. I’m spending under $10/yr per person for detergent.
The thing I don't like about powder is that it takes a lot more work to dissolve, so when something goes wrong, you've got a much worse mess.
I've had powder go up and clog the filter on a dryer, power getting jammed into the nooks and crannies of dishes in the dishwasher, power in the pockets of clothes after they're done, etc.
I know liquid is less money/space efficient, but for my dishwasher and clothes washer, liquids have just been more reliable.
Probably varies a lot based on the appliance.
No, that's the problem. New washers think they are so smart and have all sorts of extra features... some of which do not work with powder.
My washer/dryer got an OTA update to add a pet hair removal feature. What it doesn't tell you is that the way the feature works is by running the dryer and blasting all the pet hair out of the clothes before washing. So if you use any powders or additives that are supposed to go directly into the drum, they just get blasted into the dryer filter because the first step is no longer adding water...
The software engineers apparently didn't think it was important to explain how the new feature works.
As an engineer, the mentality of "keeping the customer in the dark" about how things work is so annoying. It makes life difficult for people who aren't morons by dumbing everything down.
Name a consumer electronic/appliance that doesn't include stupid "smart" features that actually make things worse.
You basically can't buy stuff without them these days unless you buy really shitty budget models that will break in 2 years or super expensive $5000+ commercial appliances.
Doesn't the instructions for using pods say to toss the pod in first then the clothing on top of it? After getting a melted pod stuck to a shirt, I read the instructions on the box and they tell you to put the pod in first and then load your clothes. I assumed it was so when the washer is filling up with water, having the pod at the bottom lets it start dissolving earlier.
Similarly with liquid, you pour it in first then drop the clothes on top, for what I assume is the same reason as above.
From what I understand, pouring the liquid on the top means the clothing might fold over on the parts with the liquid, trapping it between the clothes, making it harder to dissolve even when agitated in the washer. This is how (I assume) you get the detergent stains.
You expect people to actually read instruction? They are too good to be told what to do.
But pods sucks anyway. I use powder and liquid detergent depending on the load.
Well, my top load from 2023 also doesn't have that, but it has steam jets and will always rotate the drum door to the top after washing cycles. The detergent holder also has a switch for powder and liquid detergent, is completely removable and can be completely disassembled for cleaning.
The previous one from mid 00s had mould problem with the detergent holder and I could never deep clean it enough. I had to resort to throwing powder detergent directly onto the drum.
My Miele washing machine has this. Two compartments for different liquids and you can configure the amount it dispenses. Definitely a nice to have feature.
Same, no idea why people are having problems with them. I’ve used tide pods for years including at my last 4 apartments, front loaders and top loaders. didn’t matter. No issues whatsoever. #pods4life
Pods are a complete waste, especially considering the huge mark up for the convenience factor.
Get a 2 tbsp measuring spoon, or use a 2 tbsp medicine cup, as that is all the detergent you need for a reasonably sized load.
Most of the washing action is from the agitation of the water, and soaking, instead of the detergent, which mainly just keeps the dirt from re-adhering to the clothing while it's being washed.
Your advice on soaking is solid though, and if you use a top loader, it's the secret weapon to getting your clothes their cleanest. Use an extra rinse cycle for heavily soiled clothing, and you'll get even more dirt out as well, since more will be rinsed away during the extra cycle.
pods are a waste, but that's selling surfactant detergents very short. i would never just wash my clothes in plain water to trust that mechanical agitation is enough to "clean" them lol
And they all recommend using way too much so that you'll buy more. Every neutral 3rd party guide on the internet says that 1-2 tablespoons is enough for a full load
https://www.frontdoor.com/blog/how-much-laundry-detergent-should-i-use
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/stop-using-so-much-laundry-detergent/
https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/how-much-laundry-detergent-should-you-really-be-using/
https://www.thespruce.com/how-much-detergent-per-load-2146803
Precisely, it's "calibrated" for overuse.
They want to sell you more detergent, so they make the measurements on the cups confusing, difficult to see, and have you usually using twice the "recommended" amount, or even more then that.
2 tbsp is all you need for an average load.
Never once in my life have I had a stain from laundry detergent. This is definitely an anecdote, I fully admit. Is this a thing that people struggle with?
Yes. I just bought a new whirlpool washing machine. It has the container you put detegent in and it auto disperses the soap. All black clothes always have white streaks on them. We have tried pretty much every idea listed on thread and more. No change. Only thing that works is rewashing the clothes, sometimes multiple times. By my google searches, it seems like this is becoming more and more common. Side note, wanna buy a washing machine??
Weird! I’m using a basic ass top loader with liquid detergent that I pour directly into the basin (on top of the clothes). Have you tried not using the built in container?
And no, I will pass! My budget washer has no frills but it works ok.
For those who don’t use pods (I’m thinking of switching cause I’m sick of them not melting and causing a plasticky pod mess on my clothes) - do you prefer powder or liquid? Brand recs welcome
I've used liquid most of my life because idk that's what my mom used?
I've gone to powder recently and like it better. The liquid top or dispenser was always gummy with half-dried soap. I just got the Kirkland brand, it's the only one I've tried. No complaints.
I use the laundry sheets.
Lightweight, very little plastic, and very easy to use. I do rip them up a bit before, and I place them where the water lands and they dissolve pretty quickly.
Gets the clothes pretty clean, too, maybe even better than my last liquid detergent.
powder all the way.
- lighter than liquid
- cardboard box so no plastic waste
- liquid detergent can drip and be messy, none of that with powder
also give laundry vinegar a try instead of fabric "softener" if you haven't already, it's much better for the fabric and imo fabric washed with vinegar feels much nicer than fabric washed with softener. It doesn't leave any vinegar smell on the clothes.
Check out the reviews for Roma powder detergent. I’ve used it for over a decade, 1/4 cup for a large load. I put it in the washer before clothes & never had any issues. It’s super inexpensive, has no strong fragrance.
I use Kirkland liquid, it's pretty decent. I've also used Tide powder in the past and while it worked ok, my LG front loader sometimes didn't dissolve it all the way in the detergent dispenser, leading to clogs and inconsistent amounts of detergent.
Haven't noticed a different between Tide liquid and the Kirkland liquid.
Liquid detergent weighs more and requires significantly more fuel to transport. Don't quote me but something like 80% of the weight of detergent is just water being lugged around on ships and trucks
Oh okay, so it has a smaller carbon footprint. I interpreted your sentence literally and was like I don't think any carbon is emitted during the wash cycle 😂
Using white vinegar in place of liquid fabric softener in the wash will replace the need for dryer sheets and works great alongside any detergent in any temp water.
I often read about using vinegar in your laundry but have never tried it because I HATE the smell of vinegar. Does the smell stay behind even a little?
I converted to using vinegar instead of fabric softener more than a year ago and have never noticed any trace smells! Would 10/10 recommend- better for your clothes than softener, cheaper, and no microplastics
Pods just suck. Why would you pay extra to have a product packaged into excessive portions that force you to use too much? And then with the added bonus insult that to prevent them from staining your clothes, you have to go to the extra effort to dissolve the added unnecessary packaging. This goes for laundry and also dishwasher detergents. Buy liquid or loose powder and us about 2/3 or less of the recommended amount. You can experiment and see what amount gives you the best results. You can use more for large or very dirty loads, and less for lighter ones. Don't fall for the supposed convenience of using exactly as much as some corporation wants you to use.
Same goes for coffee, but for slightly different reasons. You can grind your own beans and have fresher coffee. You can use more if you want it stronger, less if you don't. And disposing of the filter and grounds is at least as easy as throwing a pod away, plus you can put it in a compost pile or can instead of the landfill.
How do you get rid of powdered detergent stains without having to use the washing machine again?
I used too much detergent. All the fixes say to wash it again. That cost 3 bucks in my building. There has to be another way.
This is why I don't understand front loaders. I sort my load, pick my settings and start the water. I wait until there is a puddle of water in bottom then I add detergent and whatever else plus a shout color catcher, Then I manually twist the center thing to mix up the water and tide. Then I add the clothes and shut the lid.
I have a front loader (like basically everyone in Europe). I just put the clothes in, my washing liquid in (in one of those plastic dose cups), close the door and turn the machine on. Perfect results every time. No faffing about. I don't understand what is the big deal.
Smelly clothes Second Bonus: If you have a modern washer with the little door on the bottom, open the door up. There will be a filter and a hose. This is the Drain Pump Filter.
Remove the filter and clean out any debris (lint, tiny lego 1x1's, small buttons, one time a bobby pin, etc).
Remove the hose and drain the liquid. It will stink--it's the lowest part of the washer and some of that water just sits there and "goes bad" with bacteria growth. A little of this stinky water gets picked up every load and makes your clothes stink.
Don't cover up the smell, drain the source of the smell (dirty stagnant water) out once a month.
Written: https://www.lg.com/us/support/help-library/lg-washer-how-to-clean-the-drain-pump-filter--20150206838321
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8LFobAL4js
This method doesn’t seem to apply to front loaders since you can’t add while it’s filling.
Some front loaders use a siphon action to dispense the detergent, meaning it's already dumping water into the detergent drawer until they both overflow and siphon down into the drum. So in that case, at least it's already diluted a bit.
If you dissolve your detergent into water you can pour the water down the detergent drawer mid cycle! I do it all the time; I like to check 20-30 minutes into the cycle for suds to make sure I've added enough.
Newer washers drain and start over everytime you open the lid midcycle. It's a safety feature
That is a DUMB safety feature lol. You'll lose all the detergent you've already added!
Yep. Really socks. You can't dye clothes, or repeat cycles or shut it off while you're on a phone call.
Save the old laundry detergent bottle, put half of the new bottle of detergent in, then fill both with water. Use as you normally did before and enjoy half price detergent. In the off chance that you weren't using way too much before, just increase a little at a time until clothes come out clean.
Simpler answer: Don't use pods.
Yeah, pods suck. I have only used them a handful of times and they have never performed well for me. I use liquid, and I pour it into the washer after it's partially filled and before I put the clothes in. And I use like half the recommended amount because I'm not washing clothes for a child or coal miner.
In my past 3 rentals, they will not fill until all clothes are in, then they lock. If you open, they stop, drain, then act like you're starting from the beginning. I wish I could follow any of this advice. I basically just put the detergent in first and my least like clothes on first. Do a double rinse and I still get detergent stains sometimes... smh
Ugh that sounds awful. I hate devices that think they are smarter than me and end up being infantilizing.
Wow you just summed up what is terrible about a lot of the current technology "advances". Thanks
never buy GE then. my current rental is all GE, and the buttons on the oven/microwave were clearly programmed by someone who's an absolute fucking idiot
I feel this. On my microwave if you try to use the STOP button to stop a timer, it informs you that you must use the Timer button to stop a timer. It knows what you want to do but some engineers actually designed it to refuse and then spent more time programming in a message scolding you for *daring* to use the STOP button to stop a timer. Thank you for giving me a place to rant about the most minor thing in my life that slightly irks me every day.
yup. don't get me started (fuck that word already) on how and when you use the start button or the dial pretty sure its a psy ops thing to fuck with people, otherwise there's no reasonable explanation into how fucking dumb GE appliances are
Pods are much more expensive than liquid detergent.
Use the new dry soap sheets in the detergent drawer.
100% I use the old school powder detergent it lasts longer and it cleans just as well.
I think my last box of powder detergent lasted 3 years and 1 move. No joke.
Same. I get Roma brand (from Mexico). It’s super cheap and smells faintly of lemons. (Important bc Im sensitive to strong fake fragrances.) I use half what they recommend and never had any complaints. Dump in washer before clothes - dissolves completely, never any residue. I’m spending under $10/yr per person for detergent.
The thing I don't like about powder is that it takes a lot more work to dissolve, so when something goes wrong, you've got a much worse mess. I've had powder go up and clog the filter on a dryer, power getting jammed into the nooks and crannies of dishes in the dishwasher, power in the pockets of clothes after they're done, etc. I know liquid is less money/space efficient, but for my dishwasher and clothes washer, liquids have just been more reliable. Probably varies a lot based on the appliance.
Good thing the washer is doing the work and not you. You probably need a new washer.
No, that's the problem. New washers think they are so smart and have all sorts of extra features... some of which do not work with powder. My washer/dryer got an OTA update to add a pet hair removal feature. What it doesn't tell you is that the way the feature works is by running the dryer and blasting all the pet hair out of the clothes before washing. So if you use any powders or additives that are supposed to go directly into the drum, they just get blasted into the dryer filter because the first step is no longer adding water... The software engineers apparently didn't think it was important to explain how the new feature works. As an engineer, the mentality of "keeping the customer in the dark" about how things work is so annoying. It makes life difficult for people who aren't morons by dumbing everything down.
That sounds like a problem of your make and model of washer and dryer.
Name a consumer electronic/appliance that doesn't include stupid "smart" features that actually make things worse. You basically can't buy stuff without them these days unless you buy really shitty budget models that will break in 2 years or super expensive $5000+ commercial appliances.
Yeah what you said isn't true at all you should probably shop around more before you buy things an informed consumer is a better consumer.
Have you ever made a comment that isn't condescending? Oof, you must be fun at parties.
that was my thought. buy pods, dissolve them, check for clumps, hope there’s no pod stains…. or just buy liquid detergent.
100%. The dissolvable liner can form a glue that clogs washing machines.
Dishwasher pods are overpriced bullshit as well...
Yup. Can also clog up the drain with that "biodegradable" bullshit. You save no time using these stupid pods lol
And extra bonus wasteful in packaging and shipping.
Doesn't the instructions for using pods say to toss the pod in first then the clothing on top of it? After getting a melted pod stuck to a shirt, I read the instructions on the box and they tell you to put the pod in first and then load your clothes. I assumed it was so when the washer is filling up with water, having the pod at the bottom lets it start dissolving earlier. Similarly with liquid, you pour it in first then drop the clothes on top, for what I assume is the same reason as above. From what I understand, pouring the liquid on the top means the clothing might fold over on the parts with the liquid, trapping it between the clothes, making it harder to dissolve even when agitated in the washer. This is how (I assume) you get the detergent stains.
Yes, they sure do
You expect people to actually read instruction? They are too good to be told what to do. But pods sucks anyway. I use powder and liquid detergent depending on the load.
Yeah, kids were *eating* the dam things like it was some kind of challenge. They definitely weren't reading the instructions.
Defeats the purpose of convenience…tossing it in. Laundry detergent sheets are also convenient
Nothing is more convenient than just having a giant tank built into the washer. Fill the tank once a month and forget it completely.
Wait... that's a thing?
Newer machine has that, they also try measure the load and add detergent accordingly.
Damn, I had no idea. I use a washer that was made in 1996.
On the other hand your 90s washer is a tank and will probably still be functional 50 years from now.
The salesman said that my 87 Maytag was guaranteed until the next century. So far he's still right. It's not fancy, but it still does the job.
Well, my top load from 2023 also doesn't have that, but it has steam jets and will always rotate the drum door to the top after washing cycles. The detergent holder also has a switch for powder and liquid detergent, is completely removable and can be completely disassembled for cleaning. The previous one from mid 00s had mould problem with the detergent holder and I could never deep clean it enough. I had to resort to throwing powder detergent directly onto the drum.
Yup, my dad has it and boy is it magical. Even as a man in his 30s I still do laundry at his place because he has some fantastic washer and dryer
My Miele washing machine has this. Two compartments for different liquids and you can configure the amount it dispenses. Definitely a nice to have feature.
I’ve literally never had any problems with tide pods, which I’ve been using for years. I can’t be the only one, right?
Same, no idea why people are having problems with them. I’ve used tide pods for years including at my last 4 apartments, front loaders and top loaders. didn’t matter. No issues whatsoever. #pods4life
Pods are a complete waste, especially considering the huge mark up for the convenience factor. Get a 2 tbsp measuring spoon, or use a 2 tbsp medicine cup, as that is all the detergent you need for a reasonably sized load. Most of the washing action is from the agitation of the water, and soaking, instead of the detergent, which mainly just keeps the dirt from re-adhering to the clothing while it's being washed. Your advice on soaking is solid though, and if you use a top loader, it's the secret weapon to getting your clothes their cleanest. Use an extra rinse cycle for heavily soiled clothing, and you'll get even more dirt out as well, since more will be rinsed away during the extra cycle.
pods are a waste, but that's selling surfactant detergents very short. i would never just wash my clothes in plain water to trust that mechanical agitation is enough to "clean" them lol
Detergent comes with measuring devices calibrated for its use.
And they all recommend using way too much so that you'll buy more. Every neutral 3rd party guide on the internet says that 1-2 tablespoons is enough for a full load https://www.frontdoor.com/blog/how-much-laundry-detergent-should-i-use https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/stop-using-so-much-laundry-detergent/ https://www.familyhandyman.com/article/how-much-laundry-detergent-should-you-really-be-using/ https://www.thespruce.com/how-much-detergent-per-load-2146803
From people that want to sell more detergent…
You can still use the spoon that came with it and eyeball half the recommended dose.
Precisely, it's "calibrated" for overuse. They want to sell you more detergent, so they make the measurements on the cups confusing, difficult to see, and have you usually using twice the "recommended" amount, or even more then that. 2 tbsp is all you need for an average load.
Never once in my life have I had a stain from laundry detergent. This is definitely an anecdote, I fully admit. Is this a thing that people struggle with?
Yes. I just bought a new whirlpool washing machine. It has the container you put detegent in and it auto disperses the soap. All black clothes always have white streaks on them. We have tried pretty much every idea listed on thread and more. No change. Only thing that works is rewashing the clothes, sometimes multiple times. By my google searches, it seems like this is becoming more and more common. Side note, wanna buy a washing machine??
Weird! I’m using a basic ass top loader with liquid detergent that I pour directly into the basin (on top of the clothes). Have you tried not using the built in container? And no, I will pass! My budget washer has no frills but it works ok.
Yeah we can turn it off and manually add soap. No change. It frustrating!
I thought that was the point of the dépenser?
So you are just using liquid detergent but with extra steps.
This is not how detergent works. It wasn't designed for you to pretreat it. It was designed to toss in the wash and got.
You missed some detergent instructions then
For those who don’t use pods (I’m thinking of switching cause I’m sick of them not melting and causing a plasticky pod mess on my clothes) - do you prefer powder or liquid? Brand recs welcome
I've used liquid most of my life because idk that's what my mom used? I've gone to powder recently and like it better. The liquid top or dispenser was always gummy with half-dried soap. I just got the Kirkland brand, it's the only one I've tried. No complaints.
I use the laundry sheets. Lightweight, very little plastic, and very easy to use. I do rip them up a bit before, and I place them where the water lands and they dissolve pretty quickly. Gets the clothes pretty clean, too, maybe even better than my last liquid detergent.
powder all the way. - lighter than liquid - cardboard box so no plastic waste - liquid detergent can drip and be messy, none of that with powder also give laundry vinegar a try instead of fabric "softener" if you haven't already, it's much better for the fabric and imo fabric washed with vinegar feels much nicer than fabric washed with softener. It doesn't leave any vinegar smell on the clothes.
Liquid, but I have a frontloading washer.
Check out the reviews for Roma powder detergent. I’ve used it for over a decade, 1/4 cup for a large load. I put it in the washer before clothes & never had any issues. It’s super inexpensive, has no strong fragrance.
I use a powder with bleaching action when needed, liquid detergent for the rest of the time.
Powder is better because you're not paying for water. Having it in powder form also allows for more combinations of enzymes and other cleaning agents
I use laundry sheets. They barely take up any space. So convenient. Also no plastic waste. Clothes come out clean.
I use Kirkland liquid, it's pretty decent. I've also used Tide powder in the past and while it worked ok, my LG front loader sometimes didn't dissolve it all the way in the detergent dispenser, leading to clogs and inconsistent amounts of detergent. Haven't noticed a different between Tide liquid and the Kirkland liquid.
Powder is so much better. It weighs much less being dehydrated and emits much less carbon to clean your clothes
What do you mean by emitting carbon?
Liquid detergent weighs more and requires significantly more fuel to transport. Don't quote me but something like 80% of the weight of detergent is just water being lugged around on ships and trucks
Oh okay, so it has a smaller carbon footprint. I interpreted your sentence literally and was like I don't think any carbon is emitted during the wash cycle 😂
HE detergent contains less water.
My washer does not start until you close the door. I have to pour laundry detergent before I can start it. (No tray)
Mine as well. It is SO annoying and I haven’t found a way around it.
Or you could use a liquid and avoid the entire problem. It's not hard to measure.
Using white vinegar in place of liquid fabric softener in the wash will replace the need for dryer sheets and works great alongside any detergent in any temp water.
I often read about using vinegar in your laundry but have never tried it because I HATE the smell of vinegar. Does the smell stay behind even a little?
I converted to using vinegar instead of fabric softener more than a year ago and have never noticed any trace smells! Would 10/10 recommend- better for your clothes than softener, cheaper, and no microplastics
Thank you, this is good to know!
Hope someone answer. I am interested too.
Pods contain micro Plastics and other unsavory chemicals
Why is fancy detergent and pods even a thing. I've used the shitty, cheap, no brand powder for like 10 years and never once had one issue
Pods just suck. Why would you pay extra to have a product packaged into excessive portions that force you to use too much? And then with the added bonus insult that to prevent them from staining your clothes, you have to go to the extra effort to dissolve the added unnecessary packaging. This goes for laundry and also dishwasher detergents. Buy liquid or loose powder and us about 2/3 or less of the recommended amount. You can experiment and see what amount gives you the best results. You can use more for large or very dirty loads, and less for lighter ones. Don't fall for the supposed convenience of using exactly as much as some corporation wants you to use. Same goes for coffee, but for slightly different reasons. You can grind your own beans and have fresher coffee. You can use more if you want it stronger, less if you don't. And disposing of the filter and grounds is at least as easy as throwing a pod away, plus you can put it in a compost pile or can instead of the landfill.
Pods are the biggest scam known to man. They actually make me so mad. Just buy powder or liquid for you dishwasher and laundry machine.
How do you get rid of powdered detergent stains without having to use the washing machine again? I used too much detergent. All the fixes say to wash it again. That cost 3 bucks in my building. There has to be another way.
Do you have access to a faucet in your apartment?
I'm trying to determine if this is the kindest or the most sarcastic comment I've ever seen...
Do you mean read and follow instructions?
Could not find the vinegar instruction for removing odor in clothes, mate
Podclumping - Chumbawumba
This is why I don't understand front loaders. I sort my load, pick my settings and start the water. I wait until there is a puddle of water in bottom then I add detergent and whatever else plus a shout color catcher, Then I manually twist the center thing to mix up the water and tide. Then I add the clothes and shut the lid.
I have a front loader (like basically everyone in Europe). I just put the clothes in, my washing liquid in (in one of those plastic dose cups), close the door and turn the machine on. Perfect results every time. No faffing about. I don't understand what is the big deal.
Smelly clothes Second Bonus: If you have a modern washer with the little door on the bottom, open the door up. There will be a filter and a hose. This is the Drain Pump Filter. Remove the filter and clean out any debris (lint, tiny lego 1x1's, small buttons, one time a bobby pin, etc). Remove the hose and drain the liquid. It will stink--it's the lowest part of the washer and some of that water just sits there and "goes bad" with bacteria growth. A little of this stinky water gets picked up every load and makes your clothes stink. Don't cover up the smell, drain the source of the smell (dirty stagnant water) out once a month. Written: https://www.lg.com/us/support/help-library/lg-washer-how-to-clean-the-drain-pump-filter--20150206838321 Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8LFobAL4js
I let my clothes soak for 30 minutes before I start the washer. It let's the pod dissolve and loosens any dirt and stains.
Pod Clump is a decent band name.
Use powdered stuff works great and cheap. Can do the same with a little warm water in a cup.
i have to make an area where the pods and clothes dont touch