This blog post was created in partnership with Tide.
Y’all know that cleaning doesn’t come naturally to me. I’m constantly searching for the very best way to clean everything, including clothes. When I heard that adding something I have in my pantry, like vinegar, to bargain detergent makes it clean clothes better, I was ready to try it. While the results were OK , I thought this was the best my family’s laundry would get. So when Tide told me that there’s an easier way to get even better results I started wondering – had I been doing my laundry wrong for years? Overthinking is often one of my (many) problems. Wanting to do things in the very best way possible is one of the (many) things that leads to this overthinking problem.
When I have an opportunity to deep dive into the WHYs and the HOWs behind things, I generally take it. A few weeks ago, I had the ultimate Cleaning Nerdery deep dive opp when I was invited to the Tide Lab at P&G in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The day spent learning about the science that goes into Tide did not disappoint. We learned how Tide works and about all the components that work together to remove oils and stains and dirt.
But the thing that struck me, as an overthinker, was why Tide works so much better than my hacks. And it has to do with the fact that while those old-school hacks have been around for ages, Tide continues to research and improve their own formulas, which they just upgraded again in January.
Laundry is changing. The challenges of modern laundry are different than the challenges faced in years past. I had a lot of well-duh moments of my own. I’ve experienced a lot of changes in how I do laundry over the years I’ve been the main-laundry-doer in my own life.
- Changes we discussed that present “modern laundry challenges”:
Synthetic fabrics (polyester, for example) are what is now normal. The challenge is that synthetic fibers hold on to dirt more and are dirtier than what our clothes used to be. - Prints are in. I can remember my mother, back in the 80s, not letting me have certain clothes because she refused to own anything that included a color next to white. She claimed there was no way to get these clean and not have the color bleed into the white. Now, we expect laundry detergent to be able to handle both the white and the colors next to it.
- People wash laundry in cold water so much more than they used to. It’s harder to get clothes clean in cold water, but since people wash that way, detergent needs to be effective in these conditions.
- HE washing machines (which are typically much bigger than most older top loader machines) use less water than ever before. If you have purchased a washing machine in the past few years, you know this.
So while humans sweat and stink and spill as much as we ever have, the fabrics we’re sweating onto and the machines we’re sticking those clothes into aren’t the same as the ones our grandmas were dealing with. Note that I learned all these things (that were obvious to me once pointed out) because Tide is facing these challenges head on. Tide Ultra Oxi (available in PODs or liquid formula) is Tide’s first detergent combination with both the benefits of stain fighting and pre-treaters together.
But our main reason for heading into the lab was to see the difference between traditional laundry “hacks” with bargain detergent vs. using Tide.
We brought our own dirtied-up aprons. After a family taco night, during which I instructed my kids to purposely get the aprons messy, I had several prime specimens to work on in the lab.
I made a baking soda paste and paired it with a bargain detergent that did well, but didn’t get all the stains completely out, while Tide alone did. In fact, Tide Ultra Oxi removes stains better than baking soda and a bargain detergent.
It’s hard to see perfectly, but if you look closely in the next photo, you can see that the apron on your right still has stains that did not come out with the baking soda treatment plus bargain detergent, but the one washed in Tide was completely clean.
We also squeezed lemons. Honestly, I didn’t even care how lemon juice did, I don’t have the hand strength or time to squeeze a bag of lemons. (Interesting note: Tide is designed for use on both colors and white clothing, but lemon juice isn’t: in fact, lemon juice has bleaching power and may fade colors if not used correctly.)
And when it comes to smells, Tide removes more of the source of malodor (that nasty smell that sticks to clothes no matter how many times you wash it) vs. soaking clothes in vinegar and washing with a bargain detergent. The new Tide Fresh Coral Blast was a favorite with everyone else there due to its scent, but I was assured that the Tide Free & Gentle PODs unscented pods I love so much also remove odors.
And unfortunately/fortunately, I had the opportunity to try out just using two Tide PODs on some less-than-fresh laundry that I left washing machine for two days during the crazy week before my book launch (when I also happened to be sick . . . ). I used two since I learned in Cincinnati that with the larger loads, two PODs are needed, and I didn’t even add vinegar like I usually would have in this situation.
And just for kicks, here’s a visual demonstration of how all that odor happens. These containers represent body soil produced by an average adult, daily. DAILY, y’all.
The yellow liquid represents how much an average adult sweats, the oatmeal represents how many skin cells sluff off in a day, the orange oil shows how much body oil an average adult produces, and the salt shows how much salt we each put off in a day. SO GROSS, RIGHT?!?
In my mind, I double the sizes of these containers for teenage boys, and quadruple them for football season.
Yay for Tide removing the sources of all that stink!
My conclusion:
I like knowing how things work, and I love seeing how what seems too easy (throwing Tide PODS into my washing machine) is actually superior to hacks using basic household items (baking soda, lemon, vinegar + bargain detergent) that can take a lot of time and may not work as well as they used to due to changes in how laundry is done now. You no longer need to worry about stain-filled family meals or your kids’ sweaty jerseys.
Giveaway!
Leave a comment on this post to be entered to win a tub of Tide Ultra Oxi PODS! Continental U.S. only. This giveaway ends on March 26, 2018 at 9 p.m. Central time. Winner will be chosen using random.org. Winner must respond to my email within 48 hours or I’ll have to choose another winner. See all my giveaway policies here.
--Nony
Yay for clean laundry! I use Tide powder on my cloth diapers. It’s the only detergent strong enough to get the stink out. After that I can fearlessly snuff them. 🙂
Same here. Tide Powder is the way to go. And everytime someone tells me that they only use natural detergents on their cloth diapers because Tide is so rough, I will politely explain why they should use regular detergent (so their kids don’t get ammonia burns.)
YES! I almost quit cloth diapers 8 years ago with my first baby. All those “natural cloth diaper safe” EXPENSIVE detergents.
I found an underground following for Tide. (haha! kidding! kinda! no seriously… just try saying Tide and cloth diapers in the same sentence in a room of moms… BOMB!)
Overnight, our cloth experience was saved… my babies ammonia burned bum was saved, the stink that shows up only once they’re peed in was gone.
I’d never used Tide in my life before that, but once we switched we’ve never gone back to anything else. It WORKS!.
I switched to Tide while cloth diapering, too. My boys are potty trained now, but I still use Tide powder because it works well. We have hard water.
I used to make my own laundry detergent. We loved it!!!!! Until about 9 months is, everything started having a weird smell. Everything!!!!! That did not save me money!!!!! So true that our fabrics and machines are so much different than years ago. My mom still washes by color loads!!!! A black load, a white load, dark blue load, light blue load, reds, etc….
I’m surprised that most people don’t still wash by color! Guess I need to learn some new tricks. Are you saying that you can do all colors together??
My mom does too and it’s really weird to me. I do laundry by type – a load of work clothes, a load of heavies (jeans and sweatshirts), a load of t-shirts and pajama pants, and a load socks and undies. My toddler’s stuff is all it’s own load because we’re potty training and still cloth diapering. But I don’t worry about colors at all.
This was really cool to read! I hadn’t thought of throwing in two pods. I must remember that for the baby’s laundry. Spaghetti sauce and “other” baby stains do not come out with the hacks, but I hadn’t thought of two pods!
I’ve never used these but I am going to try them! Thank you for these kinds of posts, really explaining how this and swifter work. I assume it’s a gimmick until I hear it from you.
Thank you for the chance to win!
I love Tide PODS! They have simplified my laundry AND I feel like all of my kids can wash their own loads without me fearing they are using too much or too little detergent. And Tide ALWAYS gets things clean, even funky towels!
I would love to give these a try. My t shirts have under arm stink and I can’t get it out. Yuck!
I would love to try these. Thanks for sharing what you learned. I love reading your blog and listening to your podcasts and reading your books! 🙂
I’m always looking for the best laundry cleaning solutions. Would love to try the new Tide ultra Oxi pods! Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
Hmmm… I am a Persil Pro Clean liquid user, but I have a few loads that I don’t want to wash warm. Thanks for validating why my husbands synthetic gym clothes don’t get completely clean, even with add ins! Any other thoughts on cold water washing?
Tide pods would be a great way for kids to learn to do their own laundry!
I found this all so fascinating. Especially the tip about using 2 pods for large loads. I stuff my HE full and never thought about needing 2 pods. I’m anxious to try the new pods options.
Thanks for sharing, Dana! I do love the ease of laundry pods to toss it—no measuring & less mess. I’m out of laundry soap (but not out of dirty laundry). I’m eager to see which Tide Pods that Sam’s Club has in stock. Yay for bulk purchasing—mother of 4 in sunny Florida!
super effective visuals there at the end!
I’ve been hesitant to try pods again (they never broke down well using our old well water), but this post gave me a little nudge.
A little over 2 years ago I quit using homemade detergent bc it didn’t seem to consistently get our clothes clean. I have been using Tide Pods since then & I love them!
super effective visuals there at the end!
What does Tide have for bras that need to be hand washed. Something that will keep the elastic from degrading. Or do they recommend putting them in the washer with the regular laundry? Thanks
Amazing! Thanks for the Tide revelations and the updated laundry facts. I’ve been using the liquid free and gentle, but now I have to try the pods. Completely of the wall comment: “T-I-D-E, Tide!” was the first word I ever spelled. It was sung often on a radio commercial when I was a preschooler.
Same here. Only use tide free. Never tried pods. Will give it a shot
I love using Pods and would love to try to Tide Pods with Oxi to see if I could use less stain remover. My 3DD is a messy eater and I don’t let her white shirts out when we are eating which cuts out some cute clothes.
I love my Tide Pods and will not even looking at any other option. I have not tried these ones with Oxi though. I think I will the next time I run out. Glad to know I may need to use two pods as my washing machine is huge.
Thanks for a great blog post! With 3 teen/grown men and a hubby, I NEED clean!!
Hmmm. I haven’t used Tide for years but it sounds like it might tackle my stinky laundry issues too. I may have to try it again! Thanks!
Very interesting! I really like hearing the science behind the products I use, and I especially was struck by the ways in which laundry needs have changed over the years. I’ve seen that myself.
I started making my own sented laundry detergent because of your book and blog. It saves me money. Are you now saying Tide pods are better for laundry than what we make? I want the best for the least amount of money. It would be great to win to try Tide Pods out.
Are you sure it was my book? I’ve never made my own laundry detergent.
I do like the convenience of Tide Pods- but then I just plain like Tide!
This is interesting. I didn’t know that synthetics hold on to dirt more than natural fibers do. The only drawback to Tide is that it’s expensive.
I have always used Tide and after reading this, I’m glad I still use it!
Thanks for a chance to win. I love Tide Oxi. Never tried Pods. God Bless! Have a great day!
I love using Pods because I don’t like the mess of using powder or liquid detergents! Also much easier for my teenagers to use without using too much or making a huge mess.
I’d love to try these out now that I know there’s a Free and Clear version.
Interesting seeing the science behind why old methods don’t work so well any more.
I love anything that makes laundry smell better & look better! Yay for Tide.
My washer hasn’t been doing a stellar job lately. Maybe I just need to change my detergent.
Tide is good
Absolutely. TIDE Pods are my go-to, especially since my retired and opened a woodworking business in the shop attached to the house! Yeow. Two artists in one house make a laundry challenge every day. I can’t wait to try the Ultra Oxi ones.
I haven’t tried Tide pods, but I’d love to win some!
I’ve eager to try Tide Pods. I’m a homemade laundry detergent user, but I question it’s effectiveness at times.
So cool! Does Tide make anything for delicates (bras, fancy clothes)? It seems like Woolite brand has a monopoly on this area and I don’t understand why!
I’m wondering how Tide compares to some of the “network marketing” brand detergents. I have dingy yellow/gray whites and now wonder if it’s my detergent. Will have to pick up some Tide if I don’t win and give it a try! Thanks for the information and the opportunity to win some.
You might try adding an extra rinse onto the end of your cycle when you wash whites. My MIL swears by this trick. She says that all of the detergent doesn’t always wash out and it shows up on the whites as dingy-ness/gray-ness.
Interesting! I love Tide but it’s a rare treat. I’d like to smell the Coral Blast scent!
Thank you for the chance, I’ve never splurged for Tide Pods yet.
Wow, I’ve never tried Tide, but you have me wanting to after this post!
Yay for Tide. Great giveaway.
I used to use Tide but they test on animals so I’m looking for a new detergent.
I am a big Tide fan but haven’t tried the pods yet. I just had a crayon make it into the dryer. I was sure the clothes were ruined but I rubbed Tide on the marks and washed it on warm. Totally worked.
now I’m curious what the one verse two pod threshold is….
I’m eager to try them out
I’ve been wanting to try a different detergent for a while to see if it would work better than the one I use now, but it’s been hard to justify the cost not knowing if it would even make a difference. Now I can try the Tide without worrying that it will be a waste of money. Thanks for your very thorough review!
My family of 5 loves TIDE, & even tried the Free & Clear unscented cause since I’ve turned 40, seem allergic to everything that touches my skin! So thanks for doing ALL the testing for us! 😉
I so would have loved to geek out at the Tide labs! I actually love doing laundry. It’s the putting away that I am not so good at.
I have used Tide for years. Tried other brands, but came back to Tide. Nothing has come close to working as good as it does.
First, Dana, did you get to keep that COOL lab coat and goggles so this Halloween you can be a SCIENTIST?!?! You looked like you fit right in with them
Second, TIDE was the ONLY brand my mother used and I have continued the tradition. I have not tried the pods, but YOUR endorsement is good enough for me.
Thirdly, I still SORT my laundry by colors – is that no necessary any more?????
Finally, a reminder: KEEP PODS OUT OF THE REACH OF THE KIDS. I have heard of even older ones (on dares) putting them in their mouths!
Peace, Love, Blessings, Health and Happiness
You make even this cheapskate want to try Tide.
I have to say I really dislike it when I get all excited because there is a new blog post and it turns out to be a glorified ad….I realize you have to make a living, but it is a big disappointment.
Fascinating! I’d never considered the differences in laundry “then and now”. I too have tried making my own detergent and was not impressed either. It worked well at first, then clothing got that unpleasant odor another reader mentioned. Back to the real thing!
I’d like to try these! Thanks Dana!
I make my own laundry detergent, but this has me wondering if it gets my clothes as clean as it should. I my pick up some tide and do some of my own testing.
I would love to win some Tide Pods so my teenage son can wash his own stinky clothes! Thanks!
Love this post! Yes an ad, but I didn’t realize that my laundry could be done all in one load in cold water without extra treatment. If that’s true, I want to try Tide pods!
I’d love to know what bargain detergent you used. I find it hard to justify the price of Tide when there are probably equally as effective cleaners out there that don’t spend all their money on marketing.
Thanks for giving so much evidence to support your support (ha!) of Tide. I usually skip over sponsored posts on blogs because I assume they’re just a promo regardless of the actual value of the product. I appreciate seeing the product in action with an explanation of what you learned. Thanks for sharing. 🙂 And thank you for the opportunity to win.
I want to try those pods! Thank you for sharing with us! That is really cool!
I have used Tide detergent (now Tide Pods), since my oldest peed on his sheets when he was around 3 years old. I used a bargain detergent and oxiclean (2Xs through the wash) and couldn’t get the smell out. I had a free sample of tide and it worked like magic. I decided that I will “spurge” on Tide from that point on.
Now, I’d try Tide pods, since you tested them! But I’m sensitive & prone to irritation.
I love Tide. One of the few that do not bother my child’s sensitive skin.
I can’t believe those visuals! ack. I’m almost out of detergent… This may be the nudge I need to try the pods and see what all the fuss is about 😉
I tried making my own detergent a while back and it was a big pain and did not work well AT ALL!
I’ve used Tide in the past, but your post makes me want to try it again!
very interesting, and yes, those representations of what we loose everyday is a little gross!
I definitely prefer a light or unscented detergent, but also need odor removing power. Especially for my yoga clothes, which are mostly synthetic blends. I have not tried PODS yet, but like liquid Tide. I use vinegar for extra deoderizing.
Well, I check all the boxes of modern laundry – cold water, synthetic fabrics, HE machine…. I’ll be trying the new Tide pods when my current supply (of Tide pods) runs out.
About a decade ago I tried some less expensive detergent and immediately noticed that our clothes looked less bright and were rough. I also tried a rinse of vinegar and oils. My son had a reaction from his underwear. So…all of his clothes went back into the laundry, with Tide this time, and I have never looked back. Our clothes last for years and still look new.
I have used Tide all my life, first the powder and then liquid. I will try Tide Ultra Oxi
now, especially since I often forget to get clothes into the dryer and have to deal with getting the smell out. Why do people like pods over liquid. It seems to me the pods are less environmentally safe and there have certainly been safety issues related to small children.
Thanks for doing the comparing for us and for the opportunity to get a freebie.
I have been buying store brand detergent forever, and I just figured some stains couldn’t be removed. Guess I need to try out some Tide and see if it is worth the extra money.
Sounds like a fun trip, good shout out on the free and clear!
I use so much stains remover. So do you think this would work even on stains that are up to a week old?
As a once a week laundry person, I asked this. And of course, they said the sooner the better. I’d try it but check to see how well it worked before you put it in the dryer.
I haven’t tried the Tide pods since I usually have a skin reaction to Tide. I haven’t tried their free and clear though.
Just got back from camping and did a ton of laundry! Wish I had had some Tide PODS to put to the ultimate test. Camping odors can be a special kind of stubborn!
I have never tried Tide because of the scent, but I guess since you said they have free and clear now, I would like to try it.
Thanks for the informative post. I prefer Tide but have bought other brands on sale. There are frequent sales on Tide products.
I am fascinated and completely grossed out by the bodily output representations! Yuck!
Right?? So horrifying!
What awesome information! That body soil representation makes me feel the urge to wash my sheets more often. Gross!!
So this is why the laundry detergent I lived years ago is not doing well now. I thought u was just getting picky. I’m convinced to try this especially because you say the free and clear is good. Sites it take out set in oil stains? Like the kind that come out of the dryer? Tky!
I didn’t realize Ride had a “free & clear” detergent. I will check it out. Thank you Dana, for this post!
Thank you so much for sharing this post, and for the opportunity to win a free container! I found it very helpful. It really does make sense, and the reasons you gave are all applicable to us today. I don’t separate laundry for our family of six, and I do expect colors not to fade and for the clothes to be clean using cold water. If we can afford the upgrade at some point, we will give it a try, especially for our boys and their uniforms. Stinky!
Interesting discussion of laundry changes over the years. Having become sensitive to scents, i’ll Have to try theFree and Clear too.
I love my Tide pods!
Tide has saved me money over the years. I switched to the pods when we got a new washer.
I would like to know more about the 2 pods as well.
I do lingerie in one load and remove the bras to line dry. I do this on the delicate cycle and in cold water.
I am old school in that I sort by colors or type. Jeans are one load and towels another. I try to pretreat everything. Infants still get Dreft…
I LOVE the smell of Dreft and have thought about using it on my own clothes!!
My mom always used Tide, but I veered away from it sometime since then. Might have to consider giving it another try.
I can’t stand the smell of scented laundry detergent and would be interested in trying the unscented pods to see if my laundry gets cleaner.
Thanks for the giveaway. I’d love to try the unscented ones too.
Love Tide pods!! I have experimented with cheaper brands but always come back to Tide!
I had no idea Tide had a free and clear option. I am so allergic to things and laundry is my nemesis. I started working full time and I swear things do not stay clean. Maybe my front loader is just not handling things?? I’d love a chance to try these. Thanks Dana!
Tide for the win. While I love the idea of not using so many chemicals to clean my home, I have tried MANY natural cleaners and cheaper brands with boosters added. Nothing comes even close to getting out the deodorant residue and general funk like Tide. I can get away with using cheaper stuff with my kids’ clothes or once a month doing a special soak with something more natural, but that is in addition to using Tide.
Living on a working cattle ranch with three teenagers I can appreciate a good laundry detergent! I am thankful to find anything that will get cow poo out of my kids work and show clothes. I have used the Tide liquid sport detergent but found the smell a bit over powering.
We recently bought a new washer & dryer and have been trying out different detergents because we’re also trying to go with healthier products. Would love to try out the new Tide Ultra Oxi pods. We’re currently using the Tide free & clear liquid. Seems like we always eventually end up back with Tide. It just works.
Thx for this really good report. I like Tide and use the pods, but it does have its isolated pitfalls. That said, I realize no detergent is perfect and no product can take out everything. I’ll switch to being a Tide Ultra Oxi Better-Than-You-Could’ve Ever-Thought user asa it hits my locale.
Was anything said about getting yellowed whites back to being white again? I mean, hotels do it. Why can’t we mere mortals?
Thanks, Noni, and keep up the good detective work. Even if that includes the gross did-you-know body references.
Tide is soooo expensive! Still, I’ve been thinking about using it because I can’t seem to get the “boy” smell out of my kids’s Clothes. Yuck! Plus one has allergies and my apartment only lets us wash in cold, so I imagine things aren’t getting clean nor disinfected. Plus I teach Zumba and Bootcamp, so my clothes definitely need some powerful detergent.
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
I grew up with my mom and grandma using Tide, so when I got married, I was surprised that Tide had competition! I was born in mmmm…. 1955 so Tide and me have been BFFs for most of my life! Before a Tide, my mom used Ivory Snow for baby clothes.
I remember my husband saying, wow, my mom used a Tide too when I lugged my first box of Tide home!
Wonderful product, reliable and dependable. Love it! ❤️
I would love to try these pods. Had used regular tide up until recently when discovered I had suddenly developed an allergic reaction. These ultra gentle oxi tabs just might be what I need to use now. Thanks Dana. P.S. love your books!
I use Tide already, but not the pods. I think I’m sold, but would love to try them out first. Thanks for the giveaway and the opportunity.
I love me some Tide Pods!
I have been a loyal fan of Tide for my entire adult life. The only time I used something different was when I had my first child. And it was only because someone bought me Dreft. I used it a few times and then gave it away. I always used mountain spring until my boys started playing football, and it didn’t seem to get the funk out. So, I switched to Tide Sport, and I love it. It works perfectly!
Thank you so much for sharing this! Experimenting so we don’t have to!!
I’m one that always thought one detergent isn’t really better or worse than another, so I found this interesting. My challenge: my whites get gray so quickly! I bought 6 pair of bright white socks after Christmas; every single pair is gray already! I don’t know if it’s my well water or too little/too much bleaching. I would love to try the Tide Pods!
I have 2 boys playing sports, I need to try these!
I just searched and see that I can get these pods unscented and it’s safe for my HE machine… I am going to try them. Thank you!
I’ve been making homemade for years, but now they (whoever “they” are) are saying it leaves a residue on clothes. Ick. Because it’s not made for HE machines. Same idea: modern detergent for modern laundry. Guess I’ll have to start looking at new ideas as well. The visual aids: GAG! Twice for my teenage boy AT LEAST!!!
Once ya go Tide, ya in for the ride!
Been using tide pods since they came out. Love them. AND I LOVE YOUR BOOKS!!! I listen to the audible version while I declutter. Your somewhat bossy tone makes me feel like you’re watching me actually do what I need to do!
Somewhat bossy? I’m going to take that as a compliment? But thank you so much! So glad you like them! (And I do love being bossy!)
I love using the Tide pods – especially since it has made it super simple for my boys (10, 12, 13) to do their own laundry…and they are stinky active boys! Tide works great!
Carol, your comment was chosen as the winner! Watch for an email from me and reply within 48 hours please!!!
I use Tide Pods but have never used two. Time for this old timer to get with the program.
Right? Not sure why I’d never thought of this!
I might take the plunge and stop separating clothes. EEEk!
I still separate! But since I do laundry day, it makes sense to!
Interesting article! I love using Tide. Thanks for the chance to win.
Would love to try the pods. I normally buy the sam’s club brand, but would switch if I noticed a big difference!
I tried Tide a few years ago and was disappointed when it ruined BOTH of my girls’ Christmas dresses. They had a glitter sheen to them that washed out and made them look horrible. I would like to try the new and improved version because with 3 young kids I have lots of stains that require a ton of work…just maybe not on their “good clothes”.
Thank you for sharing! This is fascinating! Now I know why workout clothes still don’t smell clean. I would love to try Tide Pods!
I would LOVE to try PODS!!
Thanks for the opportunity to try Tide Pods.
Looks like it’s time to try Tide again! I’ve been using whatever is on sale for the past few years.
I will try Tide Pods, thanks for the info on your experience.
Tide products are expensive, but it’s also expensive to rewash items that don’t come clean the first time. I can’t wait to try the new Oxi formula pods. Thank you for the opportunity.
Would love to try the unscented pods. Never used a pod before. Always liquid. Thanks
I have to say, adopting your method of laundry day has seriously changed my life! It has been the single biggest thing to make a lasting change in my house overall. (My husband does the dishes every night, so that situation was already under control). I no longer have piles of laundry at various stages hanging about all over the house and it feel so much better!
I’ve always used budget detergent; probably because we have so many clothes that I can generally dispose of the ones that don’t get the stains out. Here’s the thing though: now that I get through all of the laundry once a week, my children are choosing their favourite clothes over and over… and I don’t want to throw out their favourites because I can’t get the stains out. Sounds like it might be time to give Tide a try!
Isn’t it interesting how it all works together?
Even if I don’t win free pods, I will still feel like a winner for this new knowledge.
I would love to try the new Oxi Tide Pods. I am constantly doing laundry and I am willing to try anything that will make the process easier!
This all makes a lot of sense, but I’m afraid I’m still going to have to pry my wallet out of my tightly clenched fist to get myself to buy Tide–I’m just not used to using brand-name products. Perhaps I’ll change my mind after trying the new Tide formula. Thanks for sharing your experience.
It was surprisingly fun to read about a field trip to a laundry detergent factory! I have been using homemade laundry stuff so now I’m kind of excited to try this out and see the difference. Thanks for a chance to win a sample!
From the time my youngest daughter (33) was born I used tide, then a powder. One day while shopping i compared prices and opted for the cheaper detergent. Tide had always cleaned any stains and my clothes smelled great. Well, after using the bargain brand for about a week, my daughter, then 17 started to have welts. She visited her doctor and got an allergy shot. The only thing that had changed was the detergent. I have not used any other brand but Tide since that incident and that’s what she uses. Besides, Tide cleans better!!
I just so happened to buy a bag of the pods the other day. Haven’t tried them yet but I will look forward to my extra clean and white sheets that have become dingy!
I’ve always used Tide, mostly because that’s what my mum used. Now, I’ll keep using it because SCIENCE! (But seriously, its great to know that they keep researching and innovating to keep up with modern clothing.)
Interesting. I found Tide to be harsher on my clothes than other brands. Anyone else find this? Never tried the baking soda or vinegar trick…. anyone care to share how that works exactly?
And totally would be willing to try again if I got a free sample! Detergents change and if Tide reformulated then I should try it. But it is so expensive and with a couple of very messy kids under 5 years… Yeah laundry is a pain and I would be willing to spend a little more if it worked well!!!
I would love the chance to try some Tide pods. I usually stick with the bargain detergent.
Thank you for the opportunity to win.
I am a bargain shopper when it makes no difference. You are convincing me to dive in and give Tide Free a go. Thanks for your insight and honest reviews. I’m an avid podcast listener and love when I’m able to read your blogs as well. Thanks for all you do!
I love Tide! It is pretty much the only detergent I use.
I would love to win Tide Ultra Oxi Pods so that I can try it on my son’s mystery odors from football.
This has been really interesting! I only use Tide as my laundry detergent for personal and business use…but I have never tried the PODS. It will be fun to give these a go!
I’ve always loved Tide and would love to win!! So awesome! Thanks for the article ! Very informative !
Sounds like I need to ditch my homemade laundry detergent!
Thank you for this story! This was great information! I’m always trying to make things last as long as possible and use the least I can, but I will try the 2 PODs the next time and see if that makes the difference I need.
cool stuff! That is awesome that they let you tour it & shared so much that you are now passing on to us! THANK YOu!
Pair a Tide sale with a coupon and the cost isn’t so bad. Especially if it works well.
I love tide but can’t use the pods because my washer is very small. Here’s hoping the liquid use is as effective!
I love my pods! Makes life so much easier.
I don’t wish to be entered into the contest but i want to remind all to keep any detergent pods out of reach if children- their colors and wrap make children think they’re sweets and the results can be deadly.
I’ve tried everything for laundry detergent at one time or another over the years; made my own, environmentally friendly brands, store brands, major brands, you name it! I’ve always come back to Tide as my favorite and most effective brand. It is more expensive, but what good is saving money if your clothes don’t smell and look clean? I really like the pods, but usually get the liquid since I can “stretch” it by using a little less when I have smaller loads. Since I’m a once a week laundry girl I leave a stain pretreater near the hamper and have taught my family to (try to remember to) treat any stains before they put their clothing into the hamper. This works fairly well, but I’d love to try the Tide Oxi pods! Thanks Dana!
I enjoy your blog and podcast so much! You are helping me. Thank you!!
I have been using Gain pods for a few years. Makes me wonder if my clothes are getting as clean as they could be. May have to try Tide pods after reading this. Would love to win those pods, then I could try it for free!! LOL
Thanks for all your hard work checking things out for the rest of us!!!
I have literally have tried them all and Tide has always come out on top. Now I know why! Thanks for always making me feel like I am not alone in my life!!
Love Tide, use HE liquid!! Tour was great to see.
I found this article really informative. My husband does the laundry here, so I will pass this onto him. Maybe he will reconsider his cheapskate ways and go with something better quality in the detergent department. I think he also needs to reconsider the amount of detergent being used. He will use the bare minimum required but I’ve often wondered when I read the backs of detergent bottles how exactly does one quantify what a “large” load constitutes when washers come in so many different capacity sizes these days? I hate having to guess on things like this and it can really make a difference between using too much or too little detergent for the load.
I’ve been rather unhappy with the state of our laundry lately. Things don’t seem to get clean. Stains that used to come out no longer come out of our clothes and end up getting ruined. Who has time to touch every piece of laundry and pretreat for stains? And there is a building odor problem that I’m noticing with my sensitive nose. And we aren’t really a stinky family by any means with an average stinky husband who works in an office, wife and young girl that don’t really stink much. But, our clothes have a building odor, nonetheless.
I also found it interesting to learn how other readers sort their laundry. I do a quasi-sort by color AND fabric type but will often combine whatever is needed to make full loads. So, I will often put rougher, heavier fabrics that are light to medium colors in with darks and/or jeans and I’ll try to keep the softer more delicate feeling fabrics together, sometimes throwing into the whites since they tend to primarily be socks, underwear and tshirts. There is nothing worse than seeing a favorite garment roughed up and the fabric pilled by rubbing against other rugged, rough fabrics. I try to guess on the colorfastness of fabrics, too. I’ve had a lot of lights and whites ruined over the years because of fabric bleeding. So, in our house the sorting is a whole lot of art and pseudoscience. 😉 We also do a lot of drip dry hanging for many of our garments to prevent shrinkage and wear on certain items such as bras.
Speaking of bras, some readers wondered about delicates. I have always washed my bras in both agitator washers and front loaders. I wash them with all types of clothing except jeans/rough clothes. I buy higher quality bras to begin with. Then I always hang them to dry, no exceptions! My bras do not experience a lot of stretching out and last me many, many years. I can justify buying the more expensive better quality bras that hold up the girls better because I know they won’t be all worn out in less than a year. I also have enough bras to rotate so I don’t wear the same bra all week long. I only wear a bra about 2 days in a row and then it goes in the laundry. I’ve used these collective methods for decades and its worked well for me.
I’d love to win the Tide Pods and try them out. Maybe then my laundry-doing husband will be a convert.
PS I appreciate you don’t require those dumb rafflecopter type giveaway methods and make your readers jump through 20 different hoops just get an entry into the giveaway.
I am a long time Tide user I have tried others but always come back. Can’t wait to try the new pods!
Thanks for the new laundry lesson! I use another brand, but we will try TIde next. Did not know there was one for those of us with allergies.
I love Tide. I have not bought the pods as I was told by the salesmen that in my new electrolux front load that they are not recommended! Hmmmm….if I win some I’ll try them!
Hmmmm. Wonder why?
I love the tide pods! I have a questions, did they say anything about hard water? The water where we live is very hard and it was seriously affecting my laundry. Everything felt kinda scratchy. I had read that using vinegar helped with that. But that was before I started using the pods. Did they talk about hard water at all?
I can’t remember them saying something specifically, but they have SO many washers that they test things on, and they change the water type (using a computer and lots of science) to match the water types of the different regions for testing the products.
Tide powder has worked the best for us with about 200 ppm hardness. I add about a half cup of borax to every load, too. I learned these recommendations while cloth diapering. There is a Facebook group called Laundry Love and Science where I learned a whole lot. They have a website, too. (Not sure if it’s ok to post links.)
Love my Tide HE Febreze. Nothing else works. Would love to try a new Tide!
I wonder if they would work well on towels and sweaters that have a set in body odor smell? I have such a tough time finding something that works.
What a great trip you had! Anything that helps our house of wrestlers -where singlets can walk on their own – is great by me! I would love the. Halle get of removing the odor from some Nike dryfitgear. Thanks for a great post! Xoxo
Yes! One of the stinkiest places I’ve ever been was the Olympic training facility in Colorado Springs in the wrestling gym!
I would love some Tide pods. Thanks for sharing the science behind modern laundry.
I have been using Tide for years and have recently started buying the pods. They are great since my grandson recently moved in with me. He never seemed to measure the liquid and we were always running out plus we don’t have the mess of spills. I would love to win this contest and get the new products.
Enjoyed reading about your experience at the Tide lab! The part about daily body soil production of an adult … had no idea! I’ve used Tide exclusively for many years – seems like they were the first to come out with fragrance free which was a “life-saver” to those of us with allergies. Thanks Tide.
Thanks for sharing the great info and the opportunity to win the Tide pods!
I use Tide would love to try new product.
I **LOVE** Tide Pods!!!! I started using them about a year ago, and they are the ONLY brand I buy now! I re-decorated my laundry room last summer, and the blue and green pods even match my color scheme!! I love to wash clothes now!!! The pods not only clean my clothes and make them smell great, but they also look very pretty in my glass apothecary jar!! LOL!!!
Love this!!! Thanks for sharing. For years I refused to give up my Tide, but finally did to save some money…so not worth it. Tide is just better! Would love to try the Pods. Haven’t done those yet.
I am afraid I am one who buys off brand detergents. But after reading this post, I will start buying Tide. I found the “science” behind Tide detergents interesting and how clothes and machines are so different today. The visuals of the body excretions wasn’t pleasant to view but hey it got the point across!
I’ve always liked Tide. I would love a chance to try the Tide pods. Thank you for the interesting story and the chance to win some.
I’ve been making my own detergent for about six months. I was trying to save money. The experiment failed. It was slightly cheaper to make my own up front. Add in the cost of band-aids – scrapped knuckles on grater and the clothes that were so stained they had to be disposed of – I’m switching back to my Tide pods. I love the convenience of popping one or two in the washer. Tide for me, thanks.
Thanks for the review, I’m interested in trying Tide.
Now, if you could get me a washing machine that lasts more than 5 years for 7 people…. that would be awesome!
I need to given them a try again.
My mom always used Tide, so it’s the smell that brings warm fuzzy memories. But I try to use no added colors and scents in my laundry. So I’m excited to hear the Free & Clear has he same cleansing capabilities without the additives. Even though it may not smell like my mom do I doing my laundry for me 😉
I love tide pods, but I have noticed recently that it’s just not getting the stains out. Especially grease stains on wicking shirts. I’ve tried two. I’ve tried warmer water. I’ve tried adding Oxi-Clean. And Vinegar. Nothing seems to get it out. So Tide Guru’s what’s the secret??
I’m in a Facebook group called laundry love and science. The recommendation there is PineSol (original) or Pinalen, dumped into the washer with clothes. I use DeSolvIt as a pre treatment, but I don’t love the smell. Once I use up my large jug, I’ll probably switch. You can also rub a bit of blue Dawn dish soap for small stains.
Pinesol? Hmm… Now that’s something I haven’t tried! I will pick some up this weekend and give it a try! Thanks!
I have 7 children, 5 are boys. They love performance active wear, but it always stinks even after multiple washes. I will give tide pods a try and see if they work! Thanks Dana!
I used homemade for years and came back to TIDE. I use regular and the one with bleach for my whites. I guess I should get brave and use the one with bleach for my coloreds too.
I am the oldest child in a large family, coming from meager means, and one of my jobs growing up was to help my mom with the massive amount of laundry. After moving out & getting married (also on a tight newly-wed budget), I never understood why my mom spent extra money on Tide vs a bargain brand (that I add either vinegar or Borax to – just now realizing maybe that didn’t end up saving any money, hmmm).
After reading your research and seeing your results, I’m going to give my dear mom a lot more credit for spending more on detergent that probably saved us a lot more by helping our clothes last longer. It’s only taken me 15 years of marriage to decide to buy some Tide this week and give it a go. Haha.
Thanks for your post & all the details of how & why Tide works so well!
I have always used the tide fabreeze sports since it smells great & got the clothes clean but with 4 small toddlers, 1 teenager, a husband working construction, and myself taking care of the lil ones 2 dogs and the entire house work (including chopping, hauling, stacking wood for the wood stove, burning the wood and cleaning the wood stove on a daily basis) I think we’re gonna try the oxi pods. Live the liquid detergent but willing to try the pods out to see if they do work better
I have some of hubbys colored T-shirt’s that I can’t get the stains out of. Not even with hot water. Will have to try the pods.
Your posts have motivated me to empty out and purge closets and drawers and cupboards.
Thanks for the interesting info! That visual is stuck in my head! lol! I appreciate the chance to win Tide Pods!
Two boys, one girl, one husband & two dogs. Can’t WAIT to try these pods! 🙂
I used to use tide powder years ago when my children were small.Tide was a whole lot cheaper and coupons for the detergent were plentiful.As the years went by I had to stop buying tide and go to the cheaper stuff. I work as an flea market office manager now and the vendors there sell tide pods a little cheaper than the stores.Not by much but enough to buy a small pack of pods for my cleaning towels.(I also clean the restrooms at the market). I had just started buying the pods for the cleaning towels and love it.The towels get really clean and smell good. Unfortunately people have a habit of dumping their pets off at the market.My husband and I recused 1 dog and 3 cats. We have another dog that has been with us 7 yrs. I had been washing their doggie blankets with off brand detergent and vinegar.Could not get the doggie smell out. Finally broke down this week and used a tide pod on the blankets. My clothes will not see a tide pod but my pet blankets will smell outstanding from now on!
Cool! I love the idea of pods but feel like I can’t justify the price.
We are all getting over something (2 with Flu and 2 with just mild colds) and of course while I was sick a load of laundry was left in the washer. I’d been making my own detergent — soap flakes, borax and baking soda — because I’m sensitive to fragrances and though it worked. I have 2 scouts and their dry wick fiber clothes never seem to smell clean. They look ok but now I understand why. I also though the only solution was to get a scented detergent to mask the odor and wash them separately from my things. Is there more than one form of the unscented and if so, which is my best bet for dealing with the nasty odors? (Love both books — have them on kindle and audible!)
Good to know Tide comes in a free and clear version. My youngest son has sensitive skin but gets his clothes the dirtiest! Tide is a little out of my budget, but if it will save me from purchasing detergent plus spot treatment it may be worth the cost. And free up space in my laundry room too!
If the Tide pods can help get the stains out of baseball paints, I’m all in. That and we apparently need better clean-smelling laundry. Thanks Dana!
I love Tide. I started using it when I used cloth diapers and have kept using it. I’ve never tried to pods before, but I think I will next time I need more detergent!
Laundry stinks!
Wow, how fascinating! Those visuals of sweat, oil, salt, and skin cells are fascinating, yet gross. Haha. I love Tide powder in our hard water, but I’d love to try the Oxi pods, too. Thanks for the chance to win!
I’ve use tide for years. I’ve discovered that I only buy one product w/ liquid tide. I spot where I need to toss in it and everything gets clean. Why make life difficult? Tide has done all the work and I get to reap the benefits. Sounds like a win to me
I have not tried the pods yet. But I do use the tide detergent. Thanks for the entry!
I must admit that I have also found that Tide works well on almost any type of stain… and my three toddlers and husband create a lot of those, especially during the winter when we’re drowning in rain (and the accompanying mud!). Thanks for filling us in on why that stuff works so well!
My husband has very sensitive skin, so we have used Tide Free & Clear for years. I’d love to try the new pods! A few years ago I decided to try to make my own detergent. It definitely did not clean as well, and since I’m usually able to find Tide on sale, there really wasn’t even a big cost savings, just a whole lot more work. Thanks to your visit, now I know why Tide is better.
Thanks for the info. I’ve noticed using generic Dreft that my clothes aren’t getting as brightly clean as I’d like. I’m concerned about itching and rashes though, if I don’t use the baby detergent… I’d like to give it a try to see if it brightens my things up without causing itchiness.
Love your Tide post. I didn’t even need convincing! My grand daughters will be the fifth generation to be loyal Tide users in our family. I bet the Tide plant smelled great!
I use tide powder, like many others on here, for my cloth diapers. I use liquid on other regular loads. I prefer the free and gentle, but it’s not a strong as the original when washing dirty diapers.
Yes Yes Yes to this! I made my own detergent for years. I got so discouraged and with stains and started using oxi clean as a pre-treatment. Now I use Tide Pods and never ever have stains nor do I have to pretreat anything! It is so so worth it!
Umm, I do like Tide, it works well. That said, I despise synthetic fabrics. Does it still work for the regular old cotton/linen/wool/silk fabrics I love so much? Honestly, I only buy natural fabrics. I have been using Arm and Hammer, and been quite happy with it. And I do get dirty! I separate laundry by darks and whites, do add bleach to the cotton sheets and towels, but that’s the only “booster” that I do. Of course, undies get deli washed and hung to dry. Actually, so do my shirts. Thinking the real damage gets done by the dryer. But that’s what works for me!😉