# I was right about dishwasher pods, and now I can prove it

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAX2_mPr9W8
Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/DAX2_mPr9W8
Generated: 2025-11-04T18:33:52.173+00:00

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## Quick Overview

The dishwasher powder formula, which lacks the pre-wash detergent step common in pods, successfully cleans dishes using hot water, but the overall cleaning cycle is significantly longer due to the machine's lower heating element wattage compared to models designed for pods.

**Key Points:**
- The dishwasher powder formula, tested against store-brand pods, achieved comparable or better cleaning performance across various food soils (cheese, bolognese, tea, egg yolk, starch, minced meat) in ASTM D3556 testing.
- The powder formulation cleans effectively without requiring a pre-wash detergent step, unlike the pods which are designed to release detergent in two stages.
- Dishwashers sold in North America, like the tested Frigidaire, often have lower heating element wattage (800-1000W) compared to other regions, making hot water pre-soaking necessary for optimal cleaning with powder.
- The test demonstrated that the powder fully dissolved during the pre-wash (9 minutes, 40 seconds), while the pod's PVA film took significantly longer to dissolve.
- When using the dishwasher's hot water supply (81°F/27.2°C pre-test), the powder's main wash cycle was notably shorter than when using cold water, which required an extra 20 minutes of heating time.
- The experiment confirmed that the powder's ingredients, including enzymes like protease and amylase, effectively break down fats and proteins, showing superior performance on greasy items like peanut butter when compared to pods.
- The manufacturer's design, which relies on the main wash to dispense the pre-wash detergent, is ineffective if the water entering the machine is cold.

![Screenshot at 01:00: The video compares the dissolution and cleaning results of dishwasher pods \(shown dissolving in water\) versus the powder detergent, visually highlighting the difference in how quickly the pod's PVA film dissolves compared to the powder.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/DAX2_mPr9W8/00-01-00.png)

**Context:** The video features a product review and demonstration comparing a new dishwasher powder formula (Green Llama Dishwasher Powder) against pre-measured dishwasher pods, focusing on cleaning efficacy, especially for tough, oily soils like peanut butter. The presenter conducts controlled tests using a portable dishwasher hooked up to a utility sink with a temperature logger to measure water temperature throughout the cycles, aiming to prove that powder detergents can outperform pods, even when the machine lacks high-wattage heating elements common in some older models.

## Detailed Analysis

The presenter demonstrates that the Green Llama Dishwasher Powder cleans as well as, or better than, leading brand dishwasher pods across six standardized food soil tests (cheese, spaghetti bolognese, tea, egg yolk/milk, starch, minced meat) in 100mg/L CaCO3 water. The powder formula, which utilizes enzymes like protease and amylase to break down fats and proteins, proved effective even against peanut butter, which pods struggled to remove completely in the cold-fill test. A key finding is that the powder's pre-wash function, which relies on the main wash cycle dispensing the detergent, is highly dependent on the initial water temperature. When using cold water (around 81°F/27.2°C), the machine took 15 minutes longer to reach the necessary temperature for the main wash to start effectively dissolving the detergent, resulting in poor cleaning performance on the peanut butter test. In contrast, when the machine was fed hot water (around 138°F/58.9°C), the powder started dissolving almost immediately, leading to significantly better results, comparable to or better than the pods. The presenter also notes that the powder's packaging is 100% compostable, unlike the plastic film used for the pods, which he showed dissolving slowly in water (01:00). The manual for the Frigidaire dishwasher confirms that the heating element is only 800-1000W, explaining why hot water pre-filling is crucial for powder detergents to perform optimally.

### Dishwasher Detergent Comparison

- Powder outperformed pods on peanut butter and tea stains in the cold-fill test; pods left significant residue on peanut butter in the cold fill test (02:20).

### Testing Methodology

- Used a portable Frigidaire dishwasher connected to a utility sink, a temperature logger (Eletech RC-5) to record water temperature, and various food stains including peanut butter and honey (01:16, 02:47, 04:00).

### Pre-Wash Functionality

- The powder's pre-wash is activated when the main wash starts; cold water fill resulted in slow heating (peaking around 81°F/27.2°C) and poor cleaning compared to hot fill (peaking around 138°F/58.9°C) (02:30, 05:55, 06:07).

### Pod Dissolution Test

- A pod's PVA film dissolved much slower (over 45 minutes) than the powder, which dissolved in under 10 minutes (01:01, 04:44).

### Dishwasher Wattage

- The tested dishwasher's heating element is only 800-1000W, necessitating pre-purging the lines with hot water to ensure the main wash starts hot enough for the powder to be effective (06:57, 08:18).

![Screenshot at 00:05: Presenter introducing the 'No Effort November' series and the topic of dishwasher detergents.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/DAX2_mPr9W8/00-00-05.png)
![Screenshot at 01:13: Close-up of the Green Llama Dishwasher Powder packaging, highlighting its ingredients and 'Llama Approved' status.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/DAX2_mPr9W8/00-01-13.png)
![Screenshot at 02:09: A hand placing a multi-colored dishwasher pod into the main detergent dispenser compartment.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/DAX2_mPr9W8/00-02-09.png)
![Screenshot at 04:00: Side view of the disassembled dishwasher showing external hookups for water/drain and the hot water source.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/DAX2_mPr9W8/00-04-00.png)
![Screenshot at 04:45: Close-up of the dishwasher door's detergent dispenser showing two cups: 'MAIN WASH' and 'PRE WASH'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/DAX2_mPr9W8/00-04-45.png)
![Screenshot at 05:55: Comparison between a pod dissolving in cold water \(left\) and hot water \(right\), showing the pod dissolving much slower in the cold test \(05:55\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/DAX2_mPr9W8/00-05-55.png)
![Screenshot at 08:04: Four different artistic socks displayed on the table, referencing a related campaign.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/DAX2_mPr9W8/00-08-04.png)
![Screenshot at 10:40: A chart displaying Average Stain Removal Index \(SRI\) results comparing the powder against pods and another formula.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/DAX2_mPr9W8/00-10-40.png)
![Screenshot at 12:22: A close-up showing the fill light indicator illuminated on the dishwasher control panel, indicating the machine is filling with water.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/DAX2_mPr9W8/00-12-22.png)
![Screenshot at 13:33: The presenter holding up the Frigidaire dishwasher manual, pointing to the cycle selection options chart in the lower section.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/DAX2_mPr9W8/00-13-33.png)