Tide Pods / Gain Flings

[dex08]

I have always used liquid Tide with our HE machine because I love Tide, and I always use the measuring cup up to either lines 1 or 2 depending upon the size of my load. I have always bought my Tide at Costco when it was on sale and the ginormous dispensing container claims it is enough to do 110 loads.

Last year I did a total of 178 loads of laundry (yes, I counted) and I went through more than one container of Liquid Tide from Costco... Probably about a whole one plus another 3/4 of another one maybe.

This week Tide Pods & Gain Flings are on sale at Target - buy three 57 load containers at $15 each, get a $10 Target gift card - plus using coupons from the paper and the $10 Tide/Gain mail in rebate, this would calculate out to $21 for 171 loads, not including tax which comes out to about 12.8 cents a load.

For those of you who use Tide Pods or Gain Flings, is one sachet enough for all loads?? It says on the packaging to use 2 for heavier soiled loads, but do you really need to?? Im just trying to figure out if switching to these Pods/Flings would be more efficient and a cost savings for us.

TIA for your responses!

 

[MSLRAC]

I have always used liquid Tide with our HE machine because I love Tide, and I always use the measuring cup up to either lines 1 or 2 depending upon the size of my load. I have always bought my Tide at Costco when it was on sale and the ginormous dispensing container claims it is enough to do 110 loads.

Last year I did a total of 178 loads of laundry (yes, I counted) and I went through more than one container of Liquid Tide from Costco... Probably about a whole one plus another 3/4 of another one maybe.

This week Tide Pods & Gain Flings are on sale at Target - buy three 57 load containers at $15 each, get a $10 Target gift card - plus using coupons from the paper and the $10 Tide/Gain mail in rebate, this would calculate out to $21 for 171 loads, not including tax which comes out to about 12.8 cents a load.

For those of you who use Tide Pods or Gain Flings, is one sachet enough for all loads?? It says on the packaging to use 2 for heavier soiled loads, but do you really need to?? Im just trying to figure out if switching to these Pods/Flings would be more efficient and a cost savings for us.

TIA for your responses!

I started using Gain Flings about 3 months ago because I never seemed to get half the loads out of the liquid as the bottle claimed. So far, I have not had to use more than one fling for any of our loads. Even dirty, nasty, mud covered riding gear went straight in the washer with just one fling and it all came out looking great. I actually just stocked up on them at Target last week because they had the smaller packets of them on clearance.

 

[ateam79828592]

178 / year!! yikes. I think that would be like 3 months at our house!

Anyway...one thing I've read about the pod style is that the little pouches they are in can not dissolve completely and end up backing up / clogging / damaging your washer.

Not sure how common that is...but I have avoided them after hearing that.

 

[sherry7]

178 / year!! yikes. I think that would be like 3 months at our house!

Anyway...one thing I've read about the pod style is that the little pouches they are in can not dissolve completely and end up backing up / clogging / damaging your washer.

Not sure how common that is...but I have avoided them after hearing that.

I heard the same thing about the laundry pouches, so I avoid them because of that, and because they're usually more expensive per load than regular detergent. Incidentally, the last time I bought dishwasher detergent, I bought the little pouches. (I typically get either powder or liquid.) I'm only half way through the Sam's club sized container, and the dispenser on my dishwasher has already gotten clogged 4 times, and I've had to pour boiling water in it to unclog it.

Oh, and I'm jealous about your 178 loads of laundry per year. We do 13 to 15 loads of laundry a week (family of 4), which is 676 to 780 loads per year.

 

[Brewersprts]

I love Gain Flings. Been using them for a while. I haven't had any issues at all

 

[MSLRAC]

I've not had any problems with the Flings dissolving properly or streaking (a complaint I've heard with the Tide pods).

 

[Disneefun]

If you're on septic. I'd avoid them. While they say septic safe, most septic companies advise against them b/c of the chance of the plastic not dissolving properly and wrecking the tank/field.

That said, I used them on a recent cruise and was disappointed. We had the spots/streak issue and I found little bits of the shell in my clothes. Don't know if it was the ship's washer, water, or what, but I wouldn't use them here at home, even if I didn't have septic.

 

[LorieDisneyLover]

I'm not on septic … and have a HE machine -- I had to stop using any type of pods.

I tried them about 2 years ago and my laundry room started to smell like stagnant water. I thought for sure we had a leak somewhere, but couldn't find any.

So I stopped using the pods -- smell went away in a few days.

Just to be sure I wasn't crazy I tried the pods again about 6 months later and the smell came back within a day or 2 of using the pods again.

Haven't used pods since and no smell whatsoever.

I have no idea why I have the issue … it's a Kenmore Elite Oasis HE machine about 5 years old.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

So funny I found this thread this afternoon. I just got back from target myself. I spent about 30 minutes in the laundry isle with my calculator trying to figure out what type to buy with my newspaper coupon and the buy 3 get $10 gift card promo. I have a front loader Kenmore Elite He washer. I usually use Gain He liquid, but was tempted to buy the Gain He powder this time around.

Any thoughts on using a powder vs a liquid in an He front load washer?

I think I will stay away from the pods.

 

[lvillotta1]

Save your money and make homemade detergent. I use equal parts borax,oxi clean,2 bars felps napa and washing soda. Use 2 Tbls per load. A batch last me 6 mos for almost nothing. And I do not do 176 loads a year.

 

[2minnies]

So funny I found this thread this afternoon. I just got back from target myself. I spent about 30 minutes in the laundry isle with my calculator trying to figure out what type to buy with my newspaper coupon and the buy 3 get $10 gift card promo. I have a front loader Kenmore Elite He washer. I usually use Gain He liquid, but was tempted to buy the Gain He powder this time around. Any thoughts on using a powder vs a liquid in an He front load washer? I think I will stay away from the pods.

I only use powder in my front loader...liquid detergent tends to leave a nasty smell (similar to problem mentioned above).

 

[MSLRAC]

Save your money and make homemade detergent. I use equal parts borax,oxi clean,2 bars felps napa and washing soda. Use 2 Tbls per load. A batch last me 6 mos for almost nothing. And I do not do 176 loads a year.

I made my own detergent for over a year and while it was cheaper, it did not get our clothes clean at all. Our whites were dingy, our darks and colors faded, and our towels got smelly and less absorbent.

 

[DawnM]

I have read that laundry detergent companies encourage you to use more detergent than you actually need.

I started using half the recommended amount a couple of years ago and my clothes get just as clean. I may use the recommended amount when the boys come back from camp or something, but half works beautifully. You cannot use just half a pod.

We tried homemade and used it for a while but it really didn't clean well.

I use Kirkland (Tide alternative and rated very high for half the cost) and then use half of that.

I typically get 200 loads for around $12 (I stock up when it goes on sale for $12) It comes to around .06 per load.

I have a 12 year old Kenmore Elite HE washer and am on a septic.

 

[dex08]

OP here... thanks everyone for the responses!

178 / year!! yikes. I think that would be like 3 months at our house!

Anyway...one thing I've read about the pod style is that the little pouches they are in can not dissolve completely and end up backing up / clogging / damaging your washer.

Not sure how common that is...but I have avoided them after hearing that.

I've read this too but most of the research I did came up with complaints about this being an issue a couple of years ago when they first came out. I'm hoping that they have modified their "pod materials" so that this won't be an issue anymore.

I clean out my front loading washer's drain monthly, and though I have never found anything in it, I'll be keeping a close eye out for problems and slow draining.

Oh, and I'm jealous about your 178 loads of laundry per year. We do 13 to 15 loads of laundry a week (family of 4), which is 676 to 780 loads per year.

Don't be jealous! We are DINKs who were not blessed with children (yet??) and were given the gift of unexplained infertility.

Any thoughts on using a powder vs a liquid in an He front load washer?

I used powder sometimes in my last front loader set before we moved and never had a problem with it. I just prefer liquid. Our old front loader had a setting where I could load the machine and set it to start so many hours later and the instructions said to use powder when using this feature so that's the only reason why I bought a box of powder.

Save your money and make homemade detergent.

No thanks!! My goal is to make the laundry process easier for me in a cost efficient manner and I have no desire to make my own laundry detergent! I don't care for powder detergent, but thanks for the suggestion! I'd rather pay extra pennies for store bought laundry detergent.

 

[dex08]

I use Kirkland (Tide alternative and rated very high for half the cost) and then use half of that.

I typically get 200 loads for around $12 (I stock up when it goes on sale for $12) It comes to around .06 per load.

I bought the Costco Kirkland's liquid detergent a few years ago and didn't care for the scent or the way clothes came out and suffered through a huge container of it. I tried...I really tried to like it, but it just wasn't for me.

 

[JanaDee]

Save your money and make homemade detergent. I use equal parts borax,oxi clean,2 bars felps napa and washing soda. Use 2 Tbls per load. A batch last me 6 mos for almost nothing. And I do not do 176 loads a year.

No thanks. I'd rather pay a little more for something that works.

 

[mbf]

I love Tide Pods!!!! They have been such a money saver for me. DH and my older kids (2 DD's) do their own laundry (just in our house we do about 5 loads a week for DH, DS, and I - both DD's are in college/on their own). It is like portion control for laundry detergent. DH was a "dumper" when it came to detergent (although he always denied it). I used to buy cheap detergents (Extra and Arm and Hammer) and even with the increase in cost with the Pods (I only ever use one per load) I really see the savings. We have septic and no problems as of yet. They are great for college students too.

 

[dreamin_disney]

anyone know where I can find printable coupons for Tide Pods? I havce cartwheel and redcard but no coupons. Thanks

 

[lazy daisy]

anyone know where I can find printable coupons for Tide Pods? I havce cartwheel and redcard but no coupons. Thanks

I don't remember what I paid but I got two large containers of the tide pods off amazon.

 

[Mrs. Ciz]

I have always used liquid Tide with our HE machine because I love Tide, and I always use the measuring cup up to either lines 1 or 2 depending upon the size of my load. I have always bought my Tide at Costco when it was on sale and the ginormous dispensing container claims it is enough to do 110 loads.

Last year I did a total of 178 loads of laundry (yes, I counted) and I went through more than one container of Liquid Tide from Costco... Probably about a whole one plus another 3/4 of another one maybe.

This week Tide Pods & Gain Flings are on sale at Target - buy three 57 load containers at $15 each, get a $10 Target gift card - plus using coupons from the paper and the $10 Tide/Gain mail in rebate, this would calculate out to $21 for 171 loads, not including tax which comes out to about 12.8 cents a load.

For those of you who use Tide Pods or Gain Flings, is one sachet enough for all loads?? It says on the packaging to use 2 for heavier soiled loads, but do you really need to?? Im just trying to figure out if switching to these Pods/Flings would be more efficient and a cost savings for us.

TIA for your responses!

Thanks OP, for mentioning the $10 mail in rebate. I went ahead and bought 3 boxes of Gain He Powder from Target yesterday (on sale - $14 for a 120 load box). I got the $10 Target card, had $1.50 off in newspaper coupons, and sent away for the $10 rebate. If I get the 120 loads they advertise out of a box it will cost me $.056 cents a load. Even if I have to use a little more powder per load it is still a very good deal.

I didn't know about the rebate until I read your question. Thank you very much!