Dishwasher Gel vs Pods
Dishwashers are supposed to make your life easier. But you might be adding more stress than you bargained for if you’re using the wrong type of dishwasher soap.
Two of the most popular options are gel and pods. Both are familiar sights in kitchens worldwide. But is dishwasher gel or pods better for you and your family?
There is much to explore in the debate over dishwasher pods vs gel. Dishwasher gel, also known as liquid dishwasher soap, is an affordable option, but it can be messy, difficult to use, and wasteful. Dishwasher pods are pre-measured, offering the best results, ease of use, and minimal plastic waste.
However, it isn’t enough to just choose between dishwasher gel vs pods – you also need to choose the right brand. You want to select a product that has clean, effective ingredients to achieve the sparkling, shiny clean dishes you’re hoping for.
That’s where we come in. Our dishwasher pods are the best soap you can use to get spotless dishes. Clean People has one mission – to make cleaning easy and safe for your family and the environment.
We created eco-powered vegan dishwasher pods that pack a punch against stubborn grease. We do it without the nasty ingredients you’ll find in conventional dishwasher gel and pods. Check out our store to choose from one of 4 scents. You can experience the difference yourself thanks to our 30-day money-back guarantee and free shipping!
How Dishwasher Pods Work
Is dishwasher gel or pods better? The best way to get an accurate answer to that question is to look at each side of the dishwasher pods vs gel debate in full detail.
Dishwasher pods may look tiny, but they are a consistent and powerful weapon in the fight against grease and stains. Pods are round or rectangular objects wrapped in a water-soluble film. Inside is a precisely measured amount of detergent that delivers reliable cleaning results.
Benefits of Dishwasher Pods
A critical point of the dishwasher gel vs pods debate is ease of use. Pods are remarkably simple. The instructions for how to use dishwasher pods look like this:
- Place the pod into your dishwasher
- Run the dishwasher and enjoy your sparkling clean dishes!
Dishwasher pods are quite compact. A couple of months’ worth of loads takes up just a small amount of cabinet space. The small size of dishwashers also allows for eco-friendliness due to minimal packaging waste.
Pods tend to dissolve quicker than liquid gel. You’ll also see minimal residue on your dishes, since every load is consistently measured.
Considerations for Pods
Powerful cleaning results, eco-friendliness, and convenience are all fantastic benefits. But we wouldn’t be debating dishwasher pods vs gel if there weren’t a few potential drawbacks to consider.
First, there’s a vital question you must ask: What are dishwasher pods made of? Not all brands are equal. Some contain harmful ingredients like phosphates, bleach, and chlorine. The same is true for the other half of the dishwasher gel vs pods debate, so you have to research each brand thoroughly.
You also must ensure your dishwasher pods are compatible with your dishwasher. Some brands work well with all models – like our pods here at Clean People – but others won’t. The same is true of septic systems; some brands contain harsh ingredients that could damage your tank.
Another issue is dishwasher pods not dissolving properly. This is sometimes due to low-quality brands with questionable ingredients. Other common causes include low water temperature, hard water, and mechanical issues with your dishwasher.
Finally, make sure you drop the pod in and let it do the rest of the work. Don’t try to break the pod prematurely; instead, let the pod dissolve naturally as designed for the best results.
How Dishwasher Gel Works
Let’s shift to the other half of the dishwasher pods vs gel discussion. Gel detergent, also sometimes called liquid dishwasher soap, has a thick consistency that dissolves in water. As the soap hits your dishwasher’s rinse cycle, cleaning agents emerge to remove grease, stains, and leftover food.
Dishwasher gel requires manual measurements. You pour in exactly how much gel you want to use. This is a double-edged sword; you get to control the amount of soap but also risk spills, leftover residue, and too many suds.
Benefits of Dishwasher Gel
Liquid dishwasher soap has a couple of nice benefits. Versatility is one of the highlights. You can measure precise amounts of detergent, which gives you flexibility. Only washing a few dishes? You can add in a quarter or half of the usual amount without feeling like you’re wasting soap.
Dishwasher gel has a more extended history than pods, and is typically more compatible with different dishwasher models. That doesn’t mean all dishwasher gels work with all dishwashers, though, so you should still research your options.
Liquid dishwasher detergent is also slightly cheaper per unit compared to pods. However, that often comes at a cost of harsh ingredients and assumes you aren’t spilling any excess gel as you pour it into your machine.
Considerations for Gel
The flexibility of gel is also one of its key drawbacks. Liquid detergent is hard to measure by eye. It’s challenging to find the perfect amount each time. Think about it; every dishwasher load is different with a varied number of plates and glasses.
Instead of having a consistent amount of detergent with pods, you run the risk of over- or underpouring gel soap. Both have poor consequences. Underpouring your dishwasher soap will lead to leftover food residue, while overpouring causes excess suds and messy spills.
Most liquid gel detergents contain nasty ingredients like chlorine, phthalates, and parabens. We don’t currently offer a gel dishwasher soap for this very reason; it’s challenging to find suitable eco-friendly liquid ingredients compared to pods or powder.
So, is dishwasher gel or pods better? Let’s take a look.
Dishwasher Gel vs Pods: Which is Better for Cleaning Your Dishes?
The dishwasher gel vs pods discussion at face value is a simple one. On one side, the versatility of gel, on the other, the consistent, easy clean of pods.
But it’s crucial to look closer at this debate to make the best choice for you and your family.
Cost Per Load and Value
It’s tempting to choose the cheapest option in the dishwasher gel vs pods debate and move on with your day. But as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for.
Is dishwasher gel or pods better per dollar spent? Initially, liquid gel wins. You can often find it with cheaper price tags. Plus, there is the idea of being able to perfectly portion your liquid, not using more than you need.
Reality tells a different story. Measuring the exact amount you need is practically impossible. It’s far more common to either under- or overpour liquid detergent. That leads to waste; either of your time, money, or both.
Dishwasher pods can sometimes have a larger upfront price tag. However, they have a consistent, pre-measured amount of detergent. The consistent dosing ensures optimal cleaning results without ever going overboard and causing messes or damage to your dishwasher.
Cleaning Performance
Dishwasher pods offer the most reliable clean. They have a carefully balanced blend of ingredients that tackles stains effectively. The detergent, enzymes, rinsing aids, and fragrance are all carefully balanced to prevent any one of them from overpowering the others.
Liquid is naturally unbalanced. There’s no way to ensure that each ingredient has proper proportions when you pour gel dishwasher soap into your appliance. Each time you move around the liquid bottle, the balance further shifts.
This leads to inconsistent and spotty cleaning results for dishwasher gel. Gel will inevitably leave you with leftover food residue or streaky spots.
Ease of Use and Convenience
Why use a dishwasher at all if it’s going to cause you more headaches than manually scrubbing each dish? Convenience is crucial to the dishwasher gel vs pods debate. One option is as simple as possible, while the other involves careful measurements and spills.
Dishwasher pods are the clear winner. You just pop them in your dishwasher and let them do the rest. It is that easy, especially when you choose a reliable brand that is compatible with all dishwashers and plumbing systems.
Dishwasher gels will make you feel like a scientist in a laboratory. You have to judge how many plates and glasses are in your dishwasher, and then measure the perfect amount of detergent. Get it wrong and you’ll have a mess – either dirty dishes or a soap-covered floor.
Liquid detergent can also spill onto your hands and leave behind a sticky residue.
Storage and Sustainability
Dishwasher liquid is usually in a moderately sized plastic bottle. Dishwasher pods are compact, with several months’ worth of loads fitting inside a small box or pouch.
This makes all the difference for sustainability. Dishwasher liquid contributes to packaging and plastic waste, while dishwasher pods are more eco-friendly.
Of course, this also depends on the brand you buy from. There are detergent pods that are less sustainable than others. We encourage you to keep an eye out for minimal-waste options.
Ingredient Quality Matters Most
The fundamental difference between dishwasher gel vs pods is what’s inside each product. Some detergents use nasty ingredients like phthalates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. These compounds are ineffective at delivering results. They’re also dangerous for both your family’s health and the environment.
Conversely, eco-friendly and cruelty-free brands with high-quality ingredients will deliver the results you need. You’ll also have peace of mind knowing your local ecosystem and your family are safe.
So, is Dishwasher Gel or Pods Better?
We’ve explored all there is to know about the differences in dishwasher pods vs liquid gel detergent. So, which one should you choose?
We highly recommend dishwasher pods for all scenarios. Pods are effective, consistent, and sustainable. Their slight price increase is more than worth the peace of mind and ease of use.
Liquid dishwasher soap is versatile, but that’s a double-edged sword. We still prefer powder over liquid in that case, since it’s more sustainable and easier to measure. But overall, pods are our clear winner.
Of course, this is all dependent on you finding the right brand. We would always recommend an eco-friendly liquid detergent over a set of dishwasher pods with harmful ingredients. Thankfully, you can get the best of both worlds with Clean People!
Experience the Difference Firsthand at Clean People
We have the best dishwasher pods in the world. People love our products – and so does the planet.
We are committed to eco-friendliness. Our dishwasher pods are plant-based, cruelty-free, and free of any harmful ingredients. We offer 4 different fragrances (including a fragrance-free option), all made with natural components.
We use dissolvable biofilms that contribute 60% less plastic waste and 50% less emissions. Our commitment to clean products doesn’t take away from our fantastic cleaning results, either.
Our pods are effective at removing grease and leftover food residue from your dishes. When you pop open that dishwasher after using our pods, you’ll be met with sparkling, shining glasses and plates.
Each pod is suitable for all dishwasher brands and septic systems. You can try our products risk-free thanks to our free shipping and returns, along with our 30-day money-back guarantee.
Hear it from our amazing customers:
“We love these pods. I usually find at least 1 dirty dish from other products but we have found none since using yours! Thank you for such a great product!”
“I’ve used Casade dishwasher detergent forever. You know, platinum with all of the bells and whistles…and colors. Tried CP dishwasher pods with low expectations. Wow!! these are at least as effective as the high end grocery store varieties and without all of the dangerous funk! I am now a believer and life long customer.”
“I was very skeptical when there arrived. I thought they wouldn’t do a good job because they weren’t the pretty colors like other brands. But I was amazed at how great they work. Everything was spotless. A winner!”
Bringing Our Dishwasher Pods vs Gel Comparison to a Close
Dishwasher pods are simply superior to gel. They are convenient, consistent, and sustainable. Liquid detergent contributes to messes, plastic waste, and poor-quality results.
However, there’s a significant difference between typical dishwasher pod brands and the best of the best. You want to choose sustainable dishwasher pods with clean ingredients that keep you and your family safe.
Clean People is here to help. Our Vegan dishwasher pods have a simple yet effective ingredient mix that delivers the cleaning power you need. We’re committed to sustainability, with 60% less plastic waste and 50% less C02 emissions.
Our pods offer the best cleaning results, but we also provide dishwasher powder. We put similar clean ingredients in our powder to keep your family and the planet safe. Visit our store today to pick out your favorite fragrance and try it for yourself – you can do so risk-free with our 30-day money-back guarantee!
