Dishwasher pods, otherwise known as dishwasher tablets, are essential to getting clean dishes from your dishwasher. Hence, they must be of high integrity and effectiveness.
Perhaps you have questions regarding the possibility of expiry of your dishwasher pod/tablet and the possible consequence this might have on your dishwasher’s ability to clean the dishes.
Look no further; we have all the answers right in this article!
Yes, they do. On average, dishwasher pods/tablets have retained efficacy 9 to 10 months after production. However, while the pod might not be harmful after exceeding the usual company indication of expiry up to 15-month shelf life, it does not cause a proper cleansing action up to that period.
Do Cascade Dishwasher Pods Expire?
There is a thin line between the popular meaning of ‘expiry’ in the general sense of product usefulness versus the peculiar significance of dishwasher pods/tablets.
While dishwasher pod expiry does not necessarily imply a possibility of toxicity during use, after the ‘expiry date,’ it has come to mean the possibility of toxicity or unexpected results from the use of other products.
Just like we have mentioned earlier, dishwasher pods typically do not expire in the real sense of the word.
However, production companies often put dates on their products to indicate the shelf life months.
That is, how long the product can be safely stored and kept for effective use after the production date.
You must note the word ‘stored for effective use in the preceding paragraph in the preceding paragraph.’
The comment points out the tendency of dishwasher pods to lose efficacy over time, particularly when you store for more than two years.
Cascade dishwasher pod producers give an 18-month shelf life. After this period, the dishwasher pod/tablet would have drastically lost its cleansing ability, although it’s not going to be toxic.
Furthermore, the sustained efficacy of the Cascade dishwasher pods for the indicated shelf life months is subject to storage of the pods under adequate conditions.
Hence, the pods could lose effectiveness much earlier than the date stated on the package and undergo unfavorable storage conditions.
Now, because dishwasher pods lose their cleansing efficacy over time, or expire, as many call it, one might consider buying other cleaning agents such as Cascade dishwasher detergent or liquid soap in bulk.
But, of course, this consideration might depend on an economic point of view.
However, researchers have compared the cleansing ability of the cascade dishwasher detergent versus the cascade pod tablet.
Hence, the cascade pod tablet is much more effective than the cascade dishwasher detergent and liquid soap.
Furthermore, they are stored under adequate conditions and used before the indicated expiry or best before date.
Why Are My Dishwasher Pods Yellow?
Typically, dishwasher pods contain sensitive chemical components.
These components initiate a chemical reaction and undergo chemical changes once any stringent conditions under which you store them do not adhere.
One major cause of yellowing on the dishwasher pods connects to the storage of the pods under conditions of temperature higher than room temperature, i.e., 77°F.
You might have stored it above room temperature. The high temperature causes them to become yellow as they age.
This reaction relates to various chemical reactions between the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) coating, which looks like the plastic coating on the dishwasher pods, and moisture in the environment, or a heat catalyzed reaction between the layer and the dishwasher pod components.
Many Cascade dishwasher pod users have reported turning brown or yellow in their dishwasher pod. Just after this incident, they also write a decrease in the cleansing ability of the pod.
It usually happens around the eighth or ninth month of use instead of the indicated 18-month shelf life.
However, despite company recommendations on the shelf life of your dishwasher pod, you have a massive role in providing adequate storage conditions, particularly a storage unit with a temperature below room temperature.
How Long Do Dishwashing Pods Last?
Dishwashing pods last very long – up to 2 years for most. However, according to user reports, most dishwashing pods retain their adequate cleansing ability for 9 to 10 months.
However, manufacturers indicate that their dishwashing pods last up to 2 years.
None of the observations and indications above are wrong. Although, we must note that, while dishwashing pods last very long, their efficacy decreases over time.
Hence, we can submit that dishwashing pods last long with an exhibition of reduced cleansing power over time, particularly after the ninth to tenth month.
However, it is interesting to note that many companies indicate that their dishwashing pod does not expire.
This information is a marketing statement aimed at improving the chances of the sales of their products.
Instead, when dishwashing pods/tablets are purchased, one should pay much attention to providing a suitable storage environment for the dishwashing pod.
Keep dishwashing pods under temperature conditions lesser than room temperature (77°F).
Then, you can be sure that your dishwashing pods could last very long, even up to the 2-year claim of the manufacturers.
Furthermore, to optimize the durability of your dishwasher pod, ensure you store the pods in an airtight and dry container.
This action would go a long way in preserving the integrity of the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) coating.
This information on the importance of providing adequate storage conditions applies much more to individuals and households.
For example, those who purchase their laundry items on a bulk basis intend to store some for usage over long periods.
To prevent wastage, ensure you keep the dishwashing pods well. This simple action would ensure you get value for money.
Conclusion
On average, most companies indicate up to two years of shelf life months or expiry date for their product. However, dishwasher pod expiry suggests a decrease in the effectiveness of the pod.
While dishwasher pods do not become toxic or harmful after the best before date, the cleansing ability of the dishwasher pod becomes markedly reduced.
