The 11 Best Laundry Pods of 2021

What to Look for in Laundry Pods

Ingredients

When considering different laundry pod brands, you'll want to check the ingredients lists. As with most cleaning products, a lot of the ingredients will be a mouthful of chemical compound terms. With that said, many are made with surfactants (cleaning agents), like alcohol ethoxy sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, propylene glycol, triethanolamine, glycerin, and fatty acids.

Some pacs contain enzymes that break down stains, such as mannanase, amylase, and subtilisin. Others contain a small amount of hydrolyzed keratin, which helps protect fabrics and keep them elastic. You'll likely also see some sort of polymer listed, like polyvinyl alcohol, which is the clear water-soluble pouch that holds the rest of the ingredients.

Scent

There will probably always be a demand for scented laundry soap, as many people find it comforting and refreshing. However, fragrances can be irritating for babies and folks with sensitive skin, and others simply prefer unscented detergents.

There's no shortage of scented and fragrance-free laundry pods on the market. The fragrance (or lack thereof) will typically be shown on the packaging, so just make sure to check before buying if you prefer one or the other.

Price

Most online retailers show the cost per laundry pac right next to the total price of the product. If you don't see it, you can calculate it by dividing the total price by the number of pods that come in the package.

We've seen budget-friendly options as low as $0.10 per pod, though most come out to around $0.25 to $0.35 each. For whatever reason, natural and unscented laundry pacs tend to be priced a little higher.

FAQs

Do laundry pods work as well as liquid detergent?

Laundry pods can work just as well as liquid detergent, but not all are created equal. The most effective options contain a high concentration of cleaning agents (even higher than their liquid counterparts), allowing you to achieve the same result with a smaller amount of soap. 

It's also crucial that the filmy pouches are water-soluble so they dissolve quickly in hot or cold water. Additionally, if you need to get rid of marks and deep soils, you'll want to look for an option containing stain-fighting enzymes.

What happens to the plastic casing after they run through a wash cycle?

Most laundry pods have plastic casings made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The substance is water-soluble, meaning it dissolves when it comes into contact with water. (You'll want to store your pods in a cool, dry place to make sure they don't dissolve prematurely.)

After the casing dissolves, it rinses out and drains with the rest of the water in your washing machine. While there are some mixed opinions on the issue, PVA is thought to be biodegradable and not harmful to the environment.

Are laundry pods bad for your washer?

Laundry pods aren't bad for your washer. The only concern is if the casing doesn't dissolve properly, as it could potentially leave gooey blobs in your drum. If you see this, remove them before your next load, and if it keeps happening, we recommend trying another brand or switching back to liquid detergent.

Can laundry pods stick to clothing?

When laundry pods aren't dissolving properly (whether because the drum is too full or the water is too cold), the PVA casing might stick to your clothes in the wash. To prevent this, get in the habit of putting the detergent pac in first before adding water or clothes. This will give it the best shot at dissolving completely.

Why Trust The Spruce?

Theresa Holland has several years of experience covering home goods and cleaning products. While she's partial to liquid laundry detergents, she's a sucker for Tide's original scent and has gone through a couple of boxes of Dropps in the past. Theresa has been writing for The Spruce since 2019 and also contributes regularly to MyDomaine, Verywell Mind, and Byrdie.