How to Use Tide Pods

Tide pods are dissolvable capsules containing the appropriate amount of Tide detergent, stain remover, and brightener for a load of laundry. To use, determine your load size and the number of pods needed, choose the right wash cycles, and insert the pod at the bottom or back of the washing machine drum. Add more to the load or pre-treat as necessary. Store Tide pods out of reach of children and pets.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Washing With Tide Pods

  1. Image titled Use Tide Pods Step 1
    1
    Determine load size. Before starting the wash cycle, determine the load size of your laundry. Make sure that your clothes, sheets, or towels are loosely packed into the washer to allow for proper cleaning and rinsing, and to prevent wrinkling and pilling. As a general rule:[1]
    • A small load will fill about 1/3 of the washing machine.
    • A medium or regular load means that the washer is half full.
    • A large load fills up about ¾ of the washer.
    • An extra-large load will fill the washer to full capacity.
  2. Image titled Use Tide Pods Step 2
    2
    Add Tide pods. Place Tide Pods at the bottom or back of your washer, then place your laundry on top. Choose the appropriate number of pods based on your load size. Use one pod for small to medium loads, two packs for large or very soiled loads, and three pods when the washing machine is at full capacity.[2]
    • Be sure that you don’t place Tide pods in the dispenser part of your washing machine, but in the drum itself.
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  3. Image titled Use Tide Pods Step 3
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    Select the wash cycle. Tide pods work in all types of washing machines, in warm and cold water. Choose the correct wash cycle on your washer based on the care instructions on your clothing labels. For a breakdown of what instructions the five fabric care symbols indicate, visit Tide’s website at http://tide.com/en-us/how-to-wash-clothes/how-to-do-laundry/how-to-read-laundry-symbols.
    • For instance, the symbol showing a water-filled basin with one dot in it indicates that an item should be washed in cold water.
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    Wash delicates. When washing a load of delicates (e.g. undergarments), be sure to use Tide Free & Gentle pods. These pods are free of perfumes and dyes to be gentle on clothing and skin alike. They are also hypoallergenic and dermatologist recommended.[3]
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    5
    Remove stains or odors. All Tide pods are formulated with special stain removers. For especially soiled or smelly laundry, add an additional Tide pod to the wash for extra cleaning power. For stuck on stains, pre-treat items by rinsing them in cold water and blotting stains.[4]
    • For extra stain fighting power, buy a Tide to Go Instant Stain remover pen and rub the stain with it prior to washing.
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    6
    Travel with Tide pods. Bring a few tide pods with you when travelling to avoid having to purchase detergent at hotels or nearby shops. Store pods in a hard plastic container to prevent them from being pierced during travel, and from getting wet. You can also transport Tide pods this way for trips to your local laundromat.[5]
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Buying and Storing Tide Pods

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    Buy Tide pods. Purchase Tide pods at your local supermarket, pharmacy, or department store. You can also buy Tide pods online at http://tide.com/en-us/shop and read detailed descriptions of the varieties available. Based on your needs and preferences, choose from:
    • Tide PODS® Original (containing detergent, stain remover, and brightener)
    • Tide PODS® Spring Meadow Scent
    • Tide PODS® Ocean Mist Scent
    • Tide PODS® Free and Gentle, ideal for individuals with sensitive skin
    • Tide PODS® Plus Febreze™
    • Tide PODS® Plus Febreze Odor Defense™
    • Tide PODS® Plus Downy April Fresh Scent
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    2
    Store Tide pods securely. Tide pods can be toxic if ingested by children or animals, which is a concern given the pods’ colorful and candy-like appearance. Store Tide pods securely in a high cupboard, out of reach for kids and pets. Be vigilant when using laundry pods (e.g. avoid putting a pod down on a counter or table while preparing laundry, or simply make sure kids and pets are out of the room before doing laundry).[6]
    • Make sure that the container is locked. The lid or zipper should not open with basic rotation or zipping. To unlock, press the zipper or lid, align it, then open.
    • Lock Tide Pods in cupboard doors when caring for someone with dementia.
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    3
    Keep Tide pods dry. Make sure that the lid of your Tide pods container is shut firmly before storing, and that the pods are kept dry. Wetness could cause pods to leak and stick together in the container. Accordingly, only use dry hands to handle Tide pods when doing laundry.[7]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Avoiding Common Problems

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    Place Tide pods in the washer first. To ensure that your Tide Pods dissolve properly, always place them in the washer before you put in your laundry. Placing pods at the bottom of the machine allows for the maximum contact with water necessary to dissolve them. If you need to place laundry in the machine to gauge your load size, do so and then remove it to place the Tide pod at the back or bottom of the barrel.[8]
  2. Image titled Use Tide Pods Step 11
    2
    Avoid overloading your washing machine. Make sure that your washing machine is loosely packed. Overloading your machine will prevent the level of agitation during washing that is necessary for your Tide pods to completely dissolve. When placing clothing or other laundry items in the barrel, avoid pushing or pressing them in to make more room.[9]
  3. Image titled Use Tide Pods Step 12
    3
    Do not open Tide pods to use for pretreating. To avoid stains or issues with your Tide pods not dissolving, do not open Tide pods to use for pretreating. Pods are formulated with super-concentrated detergent that is released during the wash cycle. The stain remover included in Tide pods should be adequate for dealing with stains.[10]
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    Will Tide Pods clog my pipes?
    Aasim
    Aasim
    Top Answerer
    No. Tide Pods are very basic, and the plastic dissolves in the water. They will not clog because a dissolved chemical will flow with the water.
  • Question
    My son ate one and now he's coughing up blood. Is there any herbal cure for this?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Take him to an emergency room.
  • Question
    What do I do if I ate one?
    Aasim
    Aasim
    Top Answerer
    Call the poison control center. Tide pods are extremely poisonous and can cause burns and vomiting.
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Warnings

  • Don't eat Tide Pods. They are extremely poisonous. If Tide Pods are swallowed, drink a glass of milk or water and call a poison control center or an ambulance immediately.
    ⧼thumbs_response⧽
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References

  1. ↑ http://www.mamaslaundrytalk.com/laundry-basics-size-of-loads-and-starting-the-washer/
  2. ↑ http://tide.com/en-us/how-to-wash-clothes/how-to-do-laundry/how-to-use-tide-pods
  3. ↑ http://tide.com/en-us/shop/type/laundry-pods/tide-pods-free-and-gentle
  4. ↑ http://tide.com/en-us/how-to-wash-clothes/how-to-remove-stains/blood-stains
  5. ↑ http://www.pointswithacrew.com/4-laundry-hacks-when-youre-doing-long-term-travel/
  6. ↑ http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine/2015/07/the-problem-with-laundry-detergent-pods/index.htm
  7. ↑ http://tide.com/en-us/how-to-wash-clothes/how-to-do-laundry/how-to-use-tide-pods
  8. ↑ http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/02/users-of-tide-pods-speak-out-about-stained-laundry/index.htm
  9. ↑ http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/02/users-of-tide-pods-speak-out-about-stained-laundry/index.htm
  1. ↑ http://tide.com/en-us/how-to-wash-clothes/how-to-do-laundry/how-to-use-tide-pods

About This Article

wikiHow Staff
Co-authored by:
wikiHow Staff
wikiHow Staff Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 115,345 times.
42 votes - 81%
Co-authors: 19
Updated: February 15, 2022
Views: 115,345
Categories: Laundry
Article SummaryX

To use Tide pods, determine your load size and then choose the number of pods you'll need for that amount of laundry. Use 1 pod for small to medium loads, 2 pods for heavily soiled or large loads, and 3 pods for very large loads. Leave the pods inside their individual wrappers and place them directly into the washing machine drum. Add the dirty laundry next, then close the machine, set the wash cycle, and let the Tide pods do the rest. If you want to learn how to safely store Tide pods in your home, keep reading!

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