Washing pods

I've used washing egg pods and they are great. Only thing I missed was the nice smell of clean washing

I use Soap nuts from ecozone , take a bit of trial and error to work out how many to use very hard water, sprinkle few drops of essential oil on cotton bag before each wash , start on Monday with approx 8 nuts wash towels, bedding do another 2/3 washes rest of week , start fresh following Monday

^ washing powder because it causes a build up of gunk in the area behind the drawer which you put the powder in^

I take the drawer out and clean around it anyway whenever I clean the filter. Doesn't everyone?? Not that it gets dirty anymore these days.

Years ago one of these pods burst as I was bending down to put it in the machine. Excruciating pain in my eye and ,despite thorough rinsing, a damaged cornea which took months of treatment to rectify. I have never used them since and use liquid instead. The other thing people complain about is they don’t seem to dissolve fully in cooler washes which were all being encouraged to use now

Using washing sheets too, so easy.

I was told by a washing machine engineer never to use washing powder because it causes a build up of gunk in the area behind the drawer which you put the powder in.I think it's a case of swings and roundabouts

I use an eco washing liquid (Ecover or Method). No nasty chemicals and the bottles are made from recycled plastic that can be recycled again. It’s very economical, as I find I only need to use half the recommended amount (we don’t live in a hard water area). I hadn’t heard of washing sheets. Are they as bad for the environment as dryer sheets?

Shropshirelass

I have swapped over to using Eco Eggs, they are fantastic. No more laundry liquid. The egg is filled with little scented beads and will last for over 70 washes. Only thing I use now.

Another shout out for Eco Eggs here. Brilliant! And no residue left anywhere.

Bijou

After once forgetting to put in the detergent and the washing coming out clean I now use very little powder and soda crystals. The manufacturers recommend far too much. I have never used pods for that reasons.

That’s because basically a washing machine is only doing what our very far back ancestors were doing only in a river bashing clothes on a rock ( that’s now the drum) water running through the clothes taking away the grime.
Nothings new, is it.
I learnt that when I worked for Hoover.

As ex-Hotpoint would advise: use bio powder from time to time on hottest wash to get rid of gunk in machine. Powder not so good at lower temperatures as it does build up. Liquid “colour” best for dark colours as no white streaks like powder although don’t like the plastic containers. So you do need a variety of products.

Poppyred

I once ruined a fairly new washing machine with colour run sheets. They clogged up the pipes and damaged the motor. So very reluctant to try laundry sheets,

I put a colour run sheet in a net bag, to avoid that happening.
Laundry sheets dissolve completely, which pods don't always do, but if you are worried you could put it in a net bag.

We use Smol dissolvable eco pods for the washing machine and they are excellent, as us their fabric conditioner. Google Smol. Delivered to your door.

MerylStreep

Sorry, can’t help as I’m totally against washing pods. I use washing sheets

Are there biological washing sheets?

Oh wow. I've learned so much today. Will stop using the pods and look into these other alternatives. Thanks.

After once forgetting to put in the detergent and the washing coming out clean I now use very little powder and soda crystals. The manufacturers recommend far too much. I have never used pods for that reasons.

Eco-egg with a vinegar rinse works well for me (and it's cheap) so I just pre-soak anything really dirty in some soda.

Thanks Ladies, you have convinced me to change back to powder. I have had a few problems with the pods not dissolving , I have had to re-wash the whole lot to dissolve the sticky pod stuff to my washing. I only use 30 degrees and its obvious these pods need hotter water. I have bought a giant box of washing powder and this is more economical long term. My washing machine is only a year old and I agree all that gel dissolving into the machine will eventually clog it up. This is such a useful topic.

I am using powder at the moment, but when it runs out I plan to use an ‘eco egg’ which I learnt about on a TV programme.

I'd rather avoid plastic and chemicals wherever possible, so I use Laundry Nuts. They're lovely.

Only ever used liquid. Never heard of laundry sheets. Do use whitening sheets and colour run sheets without problem though.

I've gone back to powder and I am sure I get more washes out of it than I ever did out of the concentrated liquid. I have long since given up using pods as they always deteriorate if not used quickly.

Washing pods have a fixed ‘dose’ which is suitable for all hardnesses of water. If you live in an area that doesn’t have very hard water you would probably need less liquid. The pods don’t allow you to use less, so are not economical and not eco friendly.

Washing machine engineer told me to use only powder. Liquid can cause gunk problems over time. Pods don't give you any control over the amount of detergent for each wash. He also said to halve the recommended dosage and put one less item in the machine. Clothes don't wash properly if the machine is too full. 90 degree wash the machine once a month with washing soda crystals to keep the machine fresh, especially if you mostly wash at 30 degrees

I find they don’t always dissolve on lower temperatures so I use liquid as well.

Please just buy cardboard boxes of powder. No plastic, easily recyclable packaging what's not to like.