I was right about dishwasher pods and now I can prove it [video]

Dishwasher Heating, Hot Water, and Regional Differences

• Large subthread on how dishwashers heat water:
  • In North America many machines are plumbed to hot water but have weak internal heaters (10–15A, 110V; often ~800–1200W), so purging cold water from the line can materially improve pre‑wash temps.
  • In 230V regions (EU, AU, NZ), machines more often take cold water only and heat it quickly with stronger elements; hot connection is less common or even discouraged.
  • Some argue newer machines will just heat longer if inlet water is cold; others note many models time heating rather than targeting temperature, so they never reach optimal enzymatic temps in pre‑wash.
  • Debate over whether manuals actually tell users to run the tap first; some do, some don’t.

Pre‑Wash Cycles and Detergent Dosing

• Many commenters confirm that most dishwashers have a pre‑wash, even when not obvious in the UI; you can detect it by a short run–drain–then long wash.
• Where there’s a latching detergent door, people infer a pre‑wash exists (door opens later). Some machines also have explicit pre‑wash trays.
• Others report models (especially newer Bosch/Miele) where manuals explicitly say pre‑wash detergent isn’t needed, and some drop the pod almost immediately. Program behavior (Eco vs Quick vs Heavy) varies a lot.

Pods vs Powder: Performance, Cost, and Availability

• Strong divide in experience:
  • Several say cheap powder cleans as well or better than pods, especially when some is added for pre‑wash; pods are seen as expensive, overdosed, and single‑stage.
  • Others find pods (especially “premium” ones) clearly outperform available powders, especially on difficult soils or plastics; some report faster, shorter “auto” cycles and less odor buildup with pods.
• Suspicion that big manufacturers deliberately under‑formulate boxed powder to push higher‑margin pods; others note this isn’t provable from the limited disclosed testing.
• In some countries (UK, Poland) dishwasher powder has become hard to find; in others (NZ, parts of EU) it’s still common.

Convenience, Safety, and Environmental Concerns

• Fans of pods emphasize simplicity, no measuring, less spillage, safer around kids and pets, and fewer user‑error issues (overdosing, clogging dispensers).
• Powder proponents emphasize: much lower cost per load, adjustable dosing for load size and pre‑wash, less plastic, and better machine longevity.
• Some worry about pod films as microplastics; others counter that they’re designed to dissolve completely.
• Rinse aid: widely acknowledged as effective for drying, especially with modern non‑heated dry cycles, but a minority cite studies suggesting potential gut effects at high exposure; pushback notes tiny household doses and ubiquitous commercial use.

Critiques of the Video and Promoted Product

• Several enjoy the deep technical dive and cycle tracing; others find the style verbose, somewhat hand‑wavy, and built around a single relatively crude test dishwasher.
• Skepticism around the promoted “better powder”:
  • It is substantially more expensive per load than even premium pods, undermining earlier cost‑savings arguments for powder.
  • Some see the video as a well‑produced infomercial with limited transparency (no linked study; no head‑to‑head with mainstream powders).
• Others are unbothered, treating the channel as primarily educational/entertainment and appreciating any clear, evidence‑backed improvement tips.

Practical Takeaways Users Report

• Commonly adopted tips from this and earlier videos:
  • Purge hot water at the nearby sink before starting (where the machine is on hot).
  • Use some loose detergent in the tub or pre‑wash area plus more in the main dispenser.
  • Experiment with non‑obvious program combinations (e.g., Normal + high‑temp/sanitize) rather than default “Heavy” or “Eco”, whose labels often don’t match real energy/water use.
  • Regularly clean filters and understand your specific machine’s manual and hidden cycle diagrams.