Opening washing clothes products.. It's now completely ridiculous.

[Scissor]

I understand you don't want children eating washing products but I'm only early 50's still have teenagers, with hypermobility, I have used garden secateurs to chop through the side of a box of washing tabs because I cannot at all open the sodding box.

Another vote for laundry sheets! They come in an envelope and look like sheets of paper, and they work really well. Really handy for travelling too.

Plus you can tear them up if you don't need a full sheet.

how are laundry sheets different than pressed powder tablets or bars?

I know the format is different, obviously, but the detergent is the same as powder, or is it?

Thank you. Xx

Why are any of you using these pods at all?
Genuine question.
Before they existed, everyone used either powder or laundry liquid. What problem did the pods solve? They work out more expensive per wash and sound really inconvenient.

pods amd other pre-dosed laundry products are great for people who have dexterity issues if they can get the box open

I find these really difficult to open and I don't have any issues with arthritis or other conditions. I've often thought about what I will do when I get older and possibly start to have problems with my hands.
I used to use pods which came in a plastic container - that was really difficult to get the lid off so once I'd got it off, it didn't go back on again. (I don't have any small children living here so not a safety issue).
Now I use pods which come in a cardboard container - it's impossible to open without getting stabby with a knife. You're supposed to push a tab down and then slide to the side to reveal the opening, which is tiny and very difficult to get the pods out of.

I don’t have a small child anymore. I’ve no idea if this is kid proof, but I just bought this to store was products

Old fashioned washing powder here. Can't be bothered with anything new fangled, they all do the same job. I decant from the large box and I mix washing soda crystals with the powder and store in an easy open container. Two scoops of that mix does a great job for me anyway.

Use powder?

yanbu, I decant mine into a large jar when I buy them, and opening 2 or 3 boxes in a row kills my fingers. My hands are unsteady and I struggle with carrying powder/liquid in the small containers, spill it everywhere etc. Such a pain!

As someone else has said, laundry sheets are so much better. Eco friendly, take up less room and so easy to open. No plastic tubs.

I always took a pair of scissors to our awful plastic box, angrily stabbing the top and then cutting out a square, so that I could lift out the pods!

I now buy the more favourable recyclable cardboard box with two holes either side, the lid lifts off beautifully - bliss!

Second laundry sheets. So much easier.
Am using Dr Beckmann which I like but interested to hear which other brands people rate.

I use Laundrythings pods from Homethings. All plastic free, come in a very easy to open cardboard box.
https://amzn.eu/d/6ujilla
Ive also used Clothes doctor laundry liquid which is excellent but a bit pricey. That comes in refillable stainless steel bottles.
https://clothes-doctor.com/products/basil-and-mandarin-leaf-eco-liquid-detergent

there are so many great plastic free alternatives around now

Thank you for those who suggested laundry sheets, I'll give those a shot.

I agree that the big boxes of powder are probably more economical and easier to open / dispose of, but they're a bugger to store for those of us living in small flats or houses without the benefit of a utility room or large amounts of cupboard space.

I don't want to be all 'check your laundry privilege', but not everybody has the same housing set-up. 😉

On the odd occasion I’ve bought them I just leave the box open, once I’ve finally opened the bastard things.

I usually use powder as it is easier and much cheaper. Smaller boxes of powder are available.

I really liked the original boxes they were great for storage.

we buy laundry powder.
cheaper and easier.

I find them not very disability friendly to be honest. There's a lot of adults with disabilities, mobility issues, and chronic illnesses that flare up.

It doesn't seem right to me that adults (who are the target users) should struggle to use product more because some people want to leave their candy coloured smelly wash beads on the kitchen side.

The Smol packaging is the worst! I can never get in, I either have to just sort of rip it open or... give it to my 6 year old who seems to have figured it out 😩 (He has no interest in eating them)

I stopped using powder as I lived in a very damp house and it used to set solid in the bottom of the box. Now use liquid because I frequently have to hand wash small items and a pod gave too much wash-stuff (I only need a small squeeze). Have now moved into a warmer and drier house and will move back to powder again just as soon as I find a cupboard I can put it in without it getting knocked over every time I put something else into the cupboard (chronically clumsy).

I just use liquid and pour it straight into the drawer.

or gel that you squirt into its cap and place that in the drum, on top of the washing.
quite easy to use, doesn't have to be precise, avoids fiddly little drawer sections, spilling etc.
can get a small bottle in savers for £1.50, for those in small flats.

@FlorencenotRatchet I've tried the one I linked to and the others that performed well on the Independent test reviews

I have been happy with all them, always tend to use a stain spray anyway and don't like over scented products

www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/house-garden/eco-friendly-laundry-sheets-detergent-b2088706.html