Your dishwasher is like a sacred sanctuary to rogue dishes, mugs, or utensils. The dirty grease and grimes they bring with them is such a sight even a saint would want to gag.
Well, I may have overemphasized the condition, but as a neat freak, that is how it plays out in my head.
Now the two choices I often find difficult to discern between are the liquids and pods. Which one is better for the dishwasher you use? How do you know what to choose?
By the time you finish reading this piece, you will be wise enough to understand if the dishwasher pods or liquids are suitable for you.
Let us get started.
Dishwasher Pods vs. Liquid
What Are Dishwasher Pods?
This type of detergent comes in a cute little package. All you have to do is take the pod out from it and place it in the detergent dispenser, simple!
Shall we focus on the pod, then? Each pod contains concentrated detergent that has surfactants. In case you do not know what that is, a surfactant is a substance that loosens the surface tension with the assistance of liquid and air.
Back to the pod – many newbies may ask, would it not stick to your fingers when you touch the pod? The answer is no because the pod comes with a plastic-like film wrapped around it.
So, to cut things short, you put the pod in the dispenser drawer, close the dishwasher lid and turn it on. We will never know what goes on inside in the meantime, but let me give you an insider.
The pod goes down at the bottom and dissolves in the water. It is hot water, keep that in mind. Remember the film coat I mentioned a moment ago? It is made from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA).
Hence, it melts too. It is non-toxic and will break down as CO2 and water. In simple terms, the leftover will biodegrade in a suitable environment, unlike plastics.
Eventually, the appliance will undergo cycles of washes, during which the pod will spread out to clean the dishes till they sparkle.
Cascade dishwasher pods are one of the best in the markets.
What Are Dishwasher Liquids?
Explaining a dishwasher liquid will not take much time. It is the conventional way to use surfactant-based detergent. Some are eco-friendly, while other brands bend forward to make profits.
Anyhow, I had been using Cascade Complete Gel Dishwasher from the beginning, and the thought of replacing it kind of puts me off. Like I have said, it is conventional, and people hate to change their long-term habits.
The detergent drawer contains a slot where you pour the liquid. When I say liquid – dear beginners, do not mistake the density equivalence to water. Check out the Cascade Dishwasher Detergent Gel to get the gist.
Therefore, adding a little portion of the concentration will not drip down right away. So, close the slotted lid, then the appliance door, and start the machine.
Once again, the process of washing continues the repeated cycles to remove the grimes thoroughly.
Expect some suds, which reminds me to tell you not to add too much liquid to the dishwasher. It will be the major suds disaster on your kitchen floor.
Plus, excessive liquid may leave hints of chemical leftovers on the dishes.
Quality vs. Quantity
That is the argument people had been going about since ancient times. And we are a little tired of it. Common sense tells you the quality of an object depends on its design or formulation.
However, quantity is – how many can you acquire at a reasonable price?
1. Dishwasher Pods – Cascade Complete Dishwasher-Pods
So, dishwasher pods lose the battle here in terms of quantity but are a winner when quality is in question.
Remember when I said long-term habits are hard to break? Well, I technically broke it when I began to experiment with the pods. The reason I do not yet worship them is due to the limited counts each bundle offers.
On the other hand, there is no fear of chemical leftovers or overflowing suds. The perfectly measured concentrated pod with biodegradable film makes each item good as new.
2. Dishwasher Liquids – Cascade Complete Gel Dishwasher
It is the other way round when dishwasher liquids are in question. Nevertheless, the quality is not as bad as you may picture. It is a difficult situation, at least for me, to say anything against them.
In any case, the power of friction, which is the fundamental direction of cleaning dirty dishes, is excellent with liquids. Of course, the quality varies on the brand you use and the maintenance of the appliance.
People who love buying products in bulk will see dishwasher liquid as an advantage over the pods. They last longer but require careful contemplation. Do not forget the suds overflow if you miscalculate the pouring management.
Of course, you can always rely on the slot space as some kind of measurement. Still, we often end up doing the wrong thing, thinking that those greasy dishes might require more soap.
There you go, the dishwasher pods are super convenient in every way, but dishwasher liquids have the trump card over volume.
Quality Winner: Tie
Check Price: Cascade Dishwasher Pods
Check Price: Cascade Complete Gel Dishwasher
Check Price: Cascade Dishwasher Detergent Gel
Quantity Winner: Dishwasher Liquids
Check Price: Cascade Complete Gel Dishwasher
Check Price: Cascade Dishwasher Detergent Gel
Longevity
The next issue is the expiration date and number of wash cycles both types deliver. Here, it will depend on how often you use the dishwasher.
If you are a single person or have a small family, the easy math tells you the prolonged usability of both pods and liquids. So, I would suggest opting for the pods from Cascade or Kirkland for a hassle-free dishwashing method even though they are slightly expensive.
However, these pods have an expiration period. Try not to stock them up in mounds; buy the new batch only when the previous one is on the verge of emptying.
Since you hardly use the dishwasher, one pod per wash cycle seems reasonable to me.
It alters the view when you live in a crowded household, with plenty to cook and wash daily. The pods might not be a good choice despite their numerous qualities.
Even my kitchen is always busy with baking and cooking in large batches. It means the bulk purchase is my ultimate solution.
So, get the liquid container of Cascade Complete Gel Dishwasher instead; it lasts longer and offers more sales on larger volumes.
Longevity Winner: Dishwasher Liquid
Check Price: Cascade Complete Gel Dishwasher
Check Price: Cascade Dishwasher Detergent Gel
Which One Is the Messiest?
While the answer depends on appliance maintenance, my answer will be the dishwasher liquids. It is based purely on the one-time suds accident I had that took hours to clean.
So, dishwasher pods, with their convenient design, offer good advantages. Simply unpack, pop it in the dishwasher dispenser, and that is it!
Non-Mess Winner: Dishwasher Pods
Check Price: Cascade Dishwasher Pods
Check Price: Kirkland Dishwasher Pacs
Final Thoughts
Now, what you decide will entirely depend on the dishwasher model and the benefits you seek. Ask yourself some questions before going over the dishwasher pods vs. liquids.
Do you use the dishwasher constantly? Does the appliance model say anything specific regarding the detergent type? What is your monthly budget for groceries?
Address questions like these to find a suitable option for your dishwasher. My secret is that I keep the pods for occasional use while applying liquid for daily wash cycles.
What can I say – old habits die hard!