Cascade dishwasher pods or tablets are essential for homeowners to keep their dishes very clean.
Therefore, it is necessary to know its quality and how long it is guaranteed to last before investing in buying as many dishwasher pods as possible.
Also, it is great to understand the steps to take to extend its effectiveness for as long as possible.
Cascade Pods will not technically go bad, as they can remain in excellent quality for months but only become less effective the longer they stay in storage. It is possible for Cascade Dishwasher Pods to last months and even longer before it stops cleaning your dishes as well as they used to.
Can Cascade Pods Go Bad?
Though Cascade Pods do not go bad in the literal sense of the word, their quality begins to deteriorate once it is past their shelf life.
Although many dishwasher pod manufacturers claim that their dishwasher pods do not expire, it is common knowledge that cleaning products do not remain in good condition infinitely.
Cascade Dishwasher Pods are wrapped in a water-soluble, storage-friendly plastic made of Polyvinyl Alcohol, PVA.
Users can conveniently keep these pods away, knowing they will only dissolve in the right environment, basically in water.
It will then dissolve to activate the enzymes in the detergent within the pod to do its work.
At the same time, these enzymes present in the detergent make it difficult for microorganisms to grow in them.
This means that the chances of your dishwasher pod going bad due to bacterial or fungal mold growth are highly unlikely.
However, in some sporadic incidences, fungi survive in the harsh conditions of the pod when it soaks up enough moisture from the surroundings, and it multiplies.
These enzymes are responsible for getting rid of tough stains on dishes during the dishwashing process.
You should know that the more time passes with the Cascade Dishwasher pod on the shelf, the more the enzymes in the pods slowly decrease.
How well a Cascade Dishwasher pod cleans your dishes depends on how high the amount of enzymes in the pod is.
The more the enzymes count decreases, the less clean your dishes.
On the bright side, the date the pods on the shelf expire tells us when the enzyme count is too low for the pod to be used.
Dishwasher pods can technically still work with a low enzyme count, but not as well.
This is because the enzymes in dishwasher pods are dormant when dry and need water to activate; once the pod gets hydrated, the enzymes stay in action for an hour and then stop working.
This can make a Cascade pod deteriorate because in humid areas, or in cases where the stored dishwasher pods are exposed to humidity, the dishwasher pod can absorb the moisture and activate the dishwasher pod at the wrong time.
Therefore, that pod can not work when needed, so its usefulness has technically been worn off.
Cascade Pods Turned Yellow?
Cascade Dishwasher pods go bad and turn yellow or brown as they age.
This happens when you store your dishwasher pods in a place that is not always at room temperature. This condition can cause discoloration as time passes.
Proper storage, however, will not prevent your dishwasher pods from getting less effective over time, but it will prevent discoloration and untimely expiry.
The proper storage of Cascade Dishwasher pods includes:
#1. Air-Tight Containers
To prevent the dishwasher pods from dissolving prematurely by absorbing moisture from the air and humid surroundings, you should store them in a perfectly dry space without humidity exposure.
One strong recommendation is to store your Cascade Dishwasher pods in a dry airtight container.
This effectively locks out moisture, and the container keeps the Polyvinyl from dissolving.
#2. Room Temperature
The optimal temperature for Cascade Dishwasher pods to be stored at room temperature.
Once the temperature leans away from room temperature, the quality of the dishwasher pods will start to deteriorate.
The enzymes within the pod can also be affected by the unfavorable temperatures, leading to yellowish discoloration of the dishwasher pod.
This ultimately shortens the shelf life of the dishwasher pods.
Shelf Life Of Cascade Pods?
Cascade Pods typically have a shelf life of 18 months.
Therefore, it is not advisable to stock up on Cascade Dishwasher Pods in large numbers, as stockpiling will increase the odds of your Cascade Dishwasher Pods going bad.
Cascade Dishwasher detergent also has a 15-18 months similar shelf life. In addition, detergents can last two years in mint condition.
Naturally, after this stipulated period, the dishwasher detergent expires.
This also applies to the time after which toilet paper will expire. If it is not stored correctly in a cool, dry place, its shelf life will not last as long as it should with proper storage.
How Long Do Cascade Dishwasher Pods Last?
After a duration of time ranging from a couple of months to two years, the Cascade Dishwasher Pods begin to lose their distinctive smell and effectiveness.
However, dishwasher detergents and pods last long in proper storage and within the stipulated time frame given by the manufacturing brand.
Using dishwasher pods that have lasted longer than their shelf life will leave your dishes half clean and promote bacterial growth in your dishwasher.
You can put these old Cascade Dishwasher pods and tablets to good use without putting your dishes or dishwasher at risk.
You do not lose the money for the expired dishwasher pods either.
The other ways of using old dishwasher tablets and pods are pointed out below.
- Clean Outdoor Furniture. An old dishwasher pod can easily scrub off the grime and stains on outdoor furniture while leaving it clean and polished.
- Clean the toilet. Dissolving the dishwasher pods and cleaning the toilet with them is set to yield good results.
- Clean Ovens. With old dishwasher tablets, you can scrape and scrub off food residues in your oven. It easily dissolves grease and fat, leaving your ovens clean and shiny.
Conclusion
It is also advised to use Rinse Aid and your Cascade Dishwasher pods to ensure that tiny water droplets leave no residues.
With Rinse Aid, it is all rinsed away, and natural evaporation does not leave deposits on your dishes, making them cleaner.
In handling dishwasher pods, ensure your hands are dry to avoid accidentally dissolving them.
