I was right about dishwasher pods, and now I can prove it

The Case for Loose Powder Detergent [0:11]

• The speaker expresses a strong preference for loose powders over pre-dosed dishwasher pods and tablets, attributing this to the dishwasher's standard washing program design.
• Dishwashers typically have a detergent dispenser with two compartments: one for a small pre-wash dose and a larger one for the main wash.
• The pre-wash cycle is designed to handle easily dissolved food particles like sugars and syrups, and then the water is drained and replaced for the main wash.
• Adding a small amount of detergent to the pre-wash helps break down oils and fats, reducing the workload for the main wash detergent.
• Many modern dishwasher products, by forcing a single predetermined dosing structure, disrespect these fundamental design principles.

"The entire reason your dishwasher has that thing is so that it can delay when detergent gets added to the washing water."

Independent Testing and Product Development [08:01]

• A new loose powder dishwasher detergent was developed in partnership with Green Llama and an individual named Matt Keezy, with the goal of proving powders can be as effective as pods.
• The product underwent independent blinded ASM testing against a major brand's powder and their most premium detergent pod.
• The testing revealed that the brand's powder was worse than their pods, but Matt's powder formulation met or exceeded the cleaning performance of the best pods in nearly every category.
• The new powder formulation also performed equally well in spotting and filming tests, with no spotting observed and a slightly better score for filming compared to the brand-name pod.

"And Matt's powder formulation meets or exceeds the cleaning performance of the best pods that brand sells in nearly every category tested."

The Critical Importance of Hot Water Fills [16:13]

• For households with 120-volt power (common in North America), dishwashers have less powerful heating elements, making it essential to purge cold water from pipes before starting.
• Dishwashers are designed to be connected to a hot water supply, and running the kitchen faucet until it's piping hot ensures the dishwasher fills with hot water.
• This step is crucial because the dishwasher's heating element is not very efficient at rapidly heating cold water.
• Filling with cold water dramatically hurts cleaning performance, as many food soils require high temperatures to soften, and modern enzyme-based detergents are most effective at around 60°C (140°F).
• Without hot water, the dishwasher may not reach optimal temperatures, leading to incomplete cleaning and rinsing.

"But if they fill with water that's already hot, then the heating element gets a head start."

Demonstrating the Impact of Water Temperature [21:35]

• A test was devised using peanut butter and butter coated in jars and mugs to demonstrate the difference between cold and hot water fills.
• The dishwasher was set up to fill with either cold or hot water, and a temperature logger was used to monitor the water temperature.
• When filled with cold water, the pre-wash and main wash cycles struggled to remove the peanut butter and butter, with the water barely reaching above room temperature.
• With a hot water fill, the detergent was immediately effective, and the peanut butter and butter were dissolved and washed away significantly faster, resulting in a nearly clean load in approximately 20 minutes less time.

"And with the help of my trusty temperature data loggers, a plastic bag, some rubber bands, a zip tie, and a dishwasher with a hole in its side, I can show you the difference between a dishwasher which fills with room temperature water and a dishwasher that fills with hot water."

Understanding Dishwasher Cycles and Heating [30:00]

• Further investigation revealed that the dishwasher's heating element often runs for a fixed period rather than based on reaching a target temperature, especially in its standard cycles.
• The thermister temperature sensor is only actively used to control the heating element if the sanitize or high-temp wash options are selected.
• The "high-temp wash" modifier significantly alters the normal wash sequence, introducing multiple pre-washes, with the final one being heated, ensuring the water is around 110°F before the main wash begins.
• The unmodified normal wash cycle is found to be less effective, particularly in rinsing.

"The hightemp wash option doesn't simply make the wash a hightemp wash. That's what you'd think, right? That's what it says. But in fact, it wildly changes the normal wash sequence."

The Advantage of Pre-Wash Detergent [35:22]

• A third peanut butter test was conducted, this time including a small amount of detergent in the pre-wash water.
• The addition of pre-wash detergent allowed the water to absorb fats and oils immediately, making the butter dislodge much faster.
• While the difference might seem subtle in the footage, the drained water was significantly cloudier, indicating that more peanut butter was removed during the pre-wash.
• Using pre-wash detergent helps break down tough soils before the main wash, making the overall cleaning process more effective.

"Taking the same amount of detergent and spreading its work between two fills of water is often more effective than asking it to do everything all at once."