Why you shouldn’t use Detergent Pods

Detergent pods are small plastic pouches that contain detergent for use in a dishwasher. They are made by various companies and usually come in a box or tub that easily opens. There has been a lot of concern about their safety recently after a rash of children have ended up hospitalized after eating them.
Detergent pods are extremely hazardous if eaten. Because of that the Consumer Product Safety Commission put out a safety alert on them, according to CBS News. They have hurt hundreds of kids. Cases are up nationwide.
Part of the problem with detergent pods is their benign appearance. To many kids they look like candy. They come in small packets and are soft and squishy. The come in bright colors. They are easy for kids to bite into and can be easily swallowed. Also, the plastic is meant to dissolve when in the dishwasher so even if a child doesn’t bite into them, they can still start to release the chemicals into the child’s mouth. Children can end up on ventilators, needing surgery or worse. In severe cases, it can be fatal.
One does not have to swallow a lot of the detergent in the detergent pods to have a severe reaction that can land him or her in the hospital. The chemicals are extremely concentrated. The CDC reports that 48 percent of laundry detergent exposures in a period of time were because of these pods. The pods are only a very small fraction of the detergent market and they are extremely overrepresented in this study. This shows that you may be far more likely to have a problem with these pods than if you had a different form of detergent such as a powder.
If you do choose to use detergent pods, make sure that you do so safely. Of course any product that has detergent or cleaning supplies must be treated with the same care. They need to be kept out of the children’s reach completely. Because the box is usually easily opened they should be locked up. Also do not think you are safe if you put the pod in the machine and walk away. Many young children can open machines and grab the pod out of it. Always supervise the child.
Because detergent pods cause so many more problems than other types of detergents, parents should consider safer alternatives for children. No matter what, keep all harmful materials away from children.