Dishwasher pods clean dishes with a complex mix of chemicals that work together to remove food residues. Simultaneously, they maintain your dishwasher, soften the water in the machine, and thus prevent streaks. In this article, we will explore the shelf life of dishwasher pods and how they perform past the expiration date.
What Determines The Shelf Life of Dishwasher Pods?
During a dishwashing cycle, the dishwasher fills itself with water that gets pumped around repeatedly. In brief, a dishwasher pod works by dissolving in the water inside the dishwasher and reacting with the filth it needs to remove. It does so with a combination of chemicals.
Typically, dishwasher pods feature a timed release of chemicals. As every dishwashing phase (rinse, wash, dry) has a different purpose, a specific mix of chemicals is released to support it. Dishwasher gels and powders lack this benefit. As a result, dishes won’t be as clean as with dishwasher pods or tablets.
Once the dishwasher is finished with its cycle the dishwasher pod should have dissolved completely, without residue.
The Chemicals in Dishwasher Pods
Sodium Carbonate
Increases PH level of the water. The alkaline water helps dissolve food residue.
Sodium Percarbonate
The reaction of this chemical with water creates hydrogen peroxide: a powerful cleaning agent.
Enzymes
Proteins that target specific types of food residues. Typically, enzymes specialized in breaking down protein, fats, and starches are added.
Surfactants
These chemicals decrease the surface tension of the water to make it easier for water to lift food particles.
Sodium Tripolyphosphate or Citrates
Both serve the purpose of preventing minerals from leaving a residue.
Sodium Tripolyphosphate is still common in the USA, but Europe has banned it and replaced it with citrate.
Polycarboxylates
A water softener that blocks food particles from resettling on the dishes. Soft water is also good for the dishwasher.
Sodium Silicate
Causes clotting of the food particles floating around in the water of the machine. This causes them to sink to the bottom, thus preventing them from getting in the way. Sodium Silicate also protects the dishwasher from corrosion.
Ethanol
Prevents streaks and spots by preventing water droplet formation in the final rinse. It also helps to dissolve filth.
Storage And Shelf Life of Dishwasher Pods
First, it is worth pointing out that dishwasher pods do expire. With time, the enzymes and sodium carbonates lose their potency, and the timed release of chemicals may become unreliable. Consequently, the dishes won’t be cleaned after the cycle is completed. However, the displayed expiration date is usually way before the actual expiration.
This is because the manufacturer does not want to risk its reputation. Therefore, they won’t display a date close to the actual expiration date on the packaging and risk a failing product. In addition, they are financially incentivized to display a short shelf life to boost product replacement.
Best way to store dishwasher pods:
- Low humidity
- Keep at room temperature
- No direct sunlight
Storing dishwasher pods correctly can extend the shelf life well beyond the expiration date. However, they slowly become less effective.
Nerdy Tip
It may be tempting to use two expired dishwasher pods for a cycle to compensate for the loss in potency. Yet, this can be harmful to the dishwasher. Once expired pods fail to clean the dishes it is time to get rid of the batch.
Is The Shelf Life Dishwasher Pods Better Than Dishwasher Tablets?
There is a simple solution for anyone looking to increase the shelf life of their dishwasher detergent. Just replace them with wrapper-free dishwasher tablets. Undeniably, they are better from every perspective. To illustrate, we summed it up in the following table.
| Dishwasher Pods | Dishwasher Tablets | |
| Shelf Life | 1.5 to 2.5 Years | 2-4 Years |
| Price | High | Low |
| Composition | Liquid: Low density of chemicals | Compressed powders: High density of chemicals |
| Effectivity | Medium | High |
Did you know you can put dishwasher tablets in the washing machine?
As can be seen, dishwasher pods clearly don’t have any benefits over dishwasher tablets. And like we said before, gels and powders don’t stand a chance over either dishwasher pods or tablets.
Conclusion
The shelf life of dishwasher pods usually extends well beyond what is displayed on the packaging. It doesn’t harm to try and use them until you start to notice less clean dishes. At that point, you are probably better off replacing your batch with new ones. Or even better, replace them with wrapper-free dishwasher tablets.
