Laundry capsule boxes

[Fairysteps11]

The new cardboard one where you poke your fingers in the side to get the lid off, and the plastic ones where you need to flick the tabs up.

I can't get them open. However much I follow the instructions, I cannot open them. I have tried one handed, both hands, asked dp to show me - slowly. He does it easily.

Is it just me?! I can change spark plugs, tighten sink pipes, hang wallpaper but not these. Impossible.

I'm OK with these, but I can't manage bottles with a pump dispenser. Most of the time I break them on first use.

Buy the big refill packs - just a zip lock!

I use brute strength to open break the plastic ones we buy and then transfer the contents into a cardboard one that I can actually manage to open.

Exactly - what is the point of capsules supposed to be? If it's the premeasured aspect, no good for me as have water softener and need less detergent. I just buy a big box of washing powder.

They are insane. Parents need to put them out of the way of their kids, and take responsibility, not make the rest of us, particularly the elderly or disabled, struggle endlessly. 🤬

Can you smell the fragrance? I got put off by a lot of the smells when pregnant. Some still make me feel queasy 😆 but I like to smell the nice ones

I have RA and can't open the box. Agree that they are terrible for your machine and the environment. I have gone back to ordinary big box powder. It works fine and keeps the machine clean.

Are detergent tablets available anywhere ?
Does any company make them anymore ?

Difficulty in opening the wretched plastic boxes was on reason I stopped buying capsules and went back to powder.

The other was reading (courtesy of Piglet John) on here, that capsules (and conditioner) gum up your washing machine with gunk. He recommended a very hot empty wash with just soda crystals to see. I did, and was shocked at all the dirty grey foam that appeared. Have used powder and soda crystals ever since.

Loathsome things. Once I’ve managed to rip them open I decant the contents into a separate lidded jar.

This sort of thing could easily happen with those boxes...

You have to squeeze both sides at the same time ie both holes to take off the lid

Not just me then. Have to say I found the plastic ones a bugger too.

I use a pair of pliers for better grip and pull with detergent boxes. I have also used said pliers on those ring locks on bottles.

Pliers really save your fingernails.

I've just bought them, after Ariel stopped doing colour powder. No issue opening the cardboard, just ripped it open. Foul things finding residue inside my machine and on my clothes. Dangerous for children. Expensive. Nothing really going for them.

Anyone know of a decent colour powder anymore....

We use Ecover detergent powder that you just pour loose into the tray. Works great, cardboard box is easy to open. No plastic. Don’t use fabric condition either, that’s just a rip off and bad for the environment.

Now dishwasher tablets - a whole other topic! We tried Smol and didn’t get in with them, plus worried about where the plastic actually goes. Back to Ecover capsules which are easy to open but have individual little plastic wrappers so produce loads of plastic waste to be recycled.

There must be somewhere that you can buy detergent tablets.

I prefer them to loose detergent powder, I find them more convenient.

yep this!

Fully agree. My thoughts entirely. My kids never ate the washing pods because I was supervising them