Hi, my name is Renae and I'm an appliance repair tech. Now I know you guys want my opinion on using dishwasher detergent pods inside your washing machine. And I noticed because I've been tagged in this video over a dozen times in the last 24 hours. So here you go. No, you should never use a detergent pod inside your washing machine. I know it seems like a cheap alternative to using a washing machine cleaning product, but here's why you shouldn't do it. First of all, dishwasher detergent pods are designed to break down at much higher temperatures because your dishwasher uses hotter temperatures than your washing machine does. This means that they might not break down all the way. And even if you can't see it, it can leave a buildup in between your tub and your drum. And a lot of those detergent pods include bleach, which means if you use a detergent pod inside your washing machine and it leaves a buildup, you might get bleach spots on your clothes.

Most dishwasher, detergent pods also includes some sort of a foaming agent. That means they're designed to make some more bubbles. Whereas washing machine detergents and washing machine cleaners are designed specifically to be low or no suds. This can mess with the pressure sensor in your washing machine, which is the part that tells your machine whether or not it's overflowing. Additionally, washing machine parts are not designed to handle some of the chemicals that are inside dishwasher detergent tabs. There's a good chance that over time, those chemicals might eat away at some of the parts inside of your washer, including gaskets and hoses.

Most dishwasher detergent tabs also include rinse aid. I forgot to say it in the video, but rinse aid helps your dishes dry better. Rinse aid does this lowering the surface tension of the water that it's dissolved in, which allows water to slick right off your dishes. So if you get a build-up of rinse aid inside of your washing machine and it winds up mixing in with the water in future loads, your clothes might not be able to absorb water as well anymore, which means they won't get as clean.

And if all of that is not enough to deter you from using dishwasher detergent tabs in your washing machine, keep in mind is that if any damage is caused to your washing machine by using those dishwasher tabs, it can void your washing machine's warranty or service contract because you were using the machine in a way that it was not designed to be used. So I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but yeah, please do not use dishwasher detergent tabs inside your washing machine. If you want to clean your washing machine effectively, there are products specifically designed to clean it. Some of the most common brands of washing machine cleaners include Affresh, Glisten, and Lemi shine, among others. And they can usually be found pretty easily in the laundry detergent aisle. So in conclusion, keep the dishwasher detergent tabs in the dishwasher and the laundry detergent tabs in the washing machine. They're designed that way for a reason.