Is It Bad to Toss Dishwasher Pods Directly Into the Dishwasher?

TikTok abounds with some pretty clever cleaning tips and tricks that make life so much easier—but there are also some pretty questionable ideas floating around the app as well. Among those is a “hack” that recommends tossing your dish detergent pods directly into your dishwasher instead of placing them in the dispenser typically located on the door. 

The theory is that this provides a better clean, partly because it means there’s zero chance of your pod getting stuck in the dispenser and because your dishware is exposed to the detergent from the very start of the cycle. But is this really true? We asked experts to confirm if this tactic is as beneficial as TikTokers claim it is, and what the longterm effects—if any—are on your dinnerware and dishwasher. 

Is It a Good Idea to Toss Your Detergent Pod Into Your Dishwasher?

According to our experts, the answer is definitely not. It might be the more convenient method, but it’s certainly not an effective one, says Dirk Sappok, director of category management for kitchen appliances at Miele North American Region. “Users may feel as though the placement in the dispenser may inhibit the effectiveness of the detergent, but the opposite is actually the case,” Sappok says. 

Cascade’s principal scientist, Morgan Eberhard, agrees. “It significantly reduces cleaning effectiveness,” she says. She explained that most dishwashers have a prewash cycle that runs for about 10 to 15 minutes and drains before the detergent is released, so if you place your detergent pod in the bottom of the machine or in the cutlery basket, it will dissolve completely in the prewash water and most of it will drain away before the main wash cycle begins.

“Many people may not fully understand the intricate workings of their dishwashers, particularly the precise timing that the dispenser provides,” she adds. “The detergent dispenser is designed to release the detergent at the precise moment in the beginning of the wash cycle, when the water has reached the optimal temperature and pressure.”

That’s why it’s crucial to load your pod in the correct spot within the dispenser—this ensures that the detergent has the appropriate amount of time to interact with food soils, breaking them down and removing them from your dishes.

So, Is it Bad for Your Dishes or Dishwasher?

Sappok confirms that tossing your pods into the dishwasher will not ruin your dishwasher. But Eberhard says your dishes might not look so great, especially in the long run. “Without the proper release timing, the detergent may not be fully utilized, leading to residue, stuck-on food, or streaky dishes,” she explains.

She adds that having less time for the detergent to break down food particles during the dishwasher cycle could also lead to more buildup inside your machine and filter over time, requiring more regular cleaning and maintenance. You’ll need to be even more diligent about cleaning your dishwasher—which most people are not.

If you’re resorting to tossing the pod directly into the dishwasher because it gets caught when it’s trying to release from the dispenser, Eberhard has a few tips. “It’s important to make sure your hands and the dispenser are dry, and that there aren’t any large dishes in the front that could block the dispenser from opening fully,” she recommends. 

So just take a few extra seconds now and drop the pod into the dispenser to save yourself the time it would take to rewash streaky, dirty dishes later.