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On social media, the virtual forum where we gather to debate the important issues of our time, a recent debate over dishwasher detergent has caught my attention. This particular debate concerns where to put dishwasher pods to get the best results — is it better to put pods in the detergent compartment, or in the bottom of the dishwasher?
It started with a TikTok user who insisted that it’s better to put detergent pods in the bottom of your dishwasher, rather than in the detergent compartment, claiming that the compartment prevents pods from dissolving correctly.
This claim generated a decent amount of confusion and plenty of lively debate. Lucky for us, it also caught the attention of the folks at Cascade, who weighed in with their expert take on the matter!
The Best Place To Put Dishwasher Detergent Pods
According to Cascade, the best place for any dishwasher detergent, be it powder, pods, or tablets, is the detergent compartment. (If you’re cleaning your dishwasher, however, you usually put the cleaning ingredients in the bottom or in a cup on the rack, separately.)
The reason comes down to the way most dishwashers operate. Most cycles start with a hot water rinse to soften up any hardened food residue that may be clinging to the dishes. The detergent compartment stays closed until after that initial rinse, at which point it will open and release the detergent to begin the wash portion of the cycle.
If you put a dishwasher detergent pod in the bottom of your dishwasher, it will start to dissolve during the initial rinse. If that happens too early, most of the detergent may drain out of your dishwasher before the wash cycle even begins!
The Exception To The Rule
It’s usually best to put detergent pods in the detergent compartment UNLESS you’re using your dishwasher’s express cycle (or any shortened cycle). Quicker dishwasher cycles often skip the first rinse, so having the detergent pod dissolve quickly in the bottom of your dishwasher may help maximize the effectiveness of a shorter wash cycle.
How To Use Dishwasher Pods: 2 Important Tips
1. Keep Your Dishwasher Detergent Pods Dry
If you use dishwasher pods, you may have had the unfortunate experience of opening the door to your dishwasher to find a gummy mess of partially dissolved detergent clinging to the compartment. (Hey, it happens to the best of us!
This often occurs when the detergent compartment is damp, and the trace amounts of moisture cause the PVA coating to become sticky and gel-like. To prevent this, simply wipe out the compartment with a dry cloth before putting a detergent pod inside.
Additionally, make sure your hands are dry when you handle detergent pods, and store your detergent pods in an airtight container if you live in a humid environment.
2. Check Your Dishwasher’s User Manual
Your dishwasher may have a certain compartment just for pods, or even a certain cycle that is most effective when using pods, but you’ll never know if you don’t read the user manual! It’s the best way to learn your appliances’ quirks and features, so pull out your dishwasher manual and see what it has to say about using detergent pods.
Looking For More Dishwashing Tips?
Where have you been putting your dishwasher pods?
