I Tried Liquid Detergent vs. Pods in My Laundry, and the Results Surprised Me

Over many years and for changing reasons, my laundry routine has varied significantly. When I was only in charge of my stuff, I was strictly a detergent and dryer sheet kind of girl. Now, I’m firmly a fan of detergent pods and dryer balls.

I originally made the switch to laundry pods in an effort to cut down on our household plastic, but I started wondering if I was missing something. Has my laundry gotten duller and have my stains gotten more stubborn? Or, do I just have two small children who are rougher and tougher on our clothes and other soft goods?

I decided to investigate by putting liquid detergent and laundry pods to the test in my loads, and I was surprised with the results.

Why I Usually Opt for Laundry Pods

One thing I love about laundry pods is how easy they are—both to use and to store. We don't have a dedicated laundry room, which means anything related to our laundry has to be stored in the kitchen, or on another floor of the house.

It's a pain, to say the least, but I love that pods can go in a small container and get stashed away under our sink. When it's time to use them, I just toss in my load of laundry, add a pod or two depending on the size, and hit start.

For the most part, this has been fine. But recently, after a particularly muddy morning out on the football pitch, I pulled out my son’s kit and realized the stains had barely faded. I decided to switch to detergent and see if that helped.

Trying Liquid Laundry Detergent—and My Thoughts

For the next load, I switched to detergent. In both instances, I used a non-bio, eco-friendly detergent, with laundry ingredients that promise to go easy on the skin.

It should be noted that we have a lot of red items in our laundry, thanks to my kids’ school uniforms. I figured I’d try out my experiment on a load of well-worn pinks and reds, except for one rugby shirt. It was burgundy and blue with a white collar—and this would later be my downfall.

When I pulled out the load, I noticed that the collar looked a little shaded, but I hoped it was just wet. After drying, though, it was totally pink. I can only assume the detergent is to blame.

The upside? This load was noticeably softer than my usual pod-cleaned laundry.

Take #2: Back to Laundry Pods

While I wasn’t thrilled with how my detergent of choice stood up against my usual pods, I decided to investigate. I did a load of white laundry with a bio laundry pod. The "bio" aspect affects enzymes and promises to be more effective on stains.

The outcome? The load was noticeably brighter. However, it wasn’t as soft as the detergent load. For me, I'd prefer the ease of pods over the unwieldy liquid detergent.

The Verdict: I'm Still Going to Reach for Pods

After all of this, I realized that the best detergent depends on what I’m washing, but most likely, I'm still siding with pods.

If I’m doing an easy load that doesn’t require any extra care, I’ll toss in pods. For items that come home dirtier than usual, it’s time for a tougher bio detergent probably in pod form.

For anything that requires a gentle or handwash cycle, then a liquid detergent customized for silk or wool is a must. I'm surprised that I would opt for liquid at all, but I'm pleased that my current stash of pods will still come in handy.

Read Next: How to Make Your Own Homemade Laundry Detergent

Read the original article on The Spruce.