As a mom of three, I am always looking for the quickest and cleanest, but also safest way of doing things. With little ones running around and mounds of laundry piled in the laundry room, I have to admit that I have had one too many laundry detergent spills. I also have often wondered if I put too much detergent in, or too little…. I mean what line on the cap am I supposed to be using anyway?
The latest trend of the laundry pacs intrigued me, but I was a little concerned about safety after some reports I had read. In case you aren’t familiar, laundry pacs are little capsules of detergent that you just throw in the washing machine drum before the clothing; the outer casing dissolves as the clothes go through the wash cycle, and voila! – the perfect amount of detergent is in! Recently, I was given the opportunity to review Tide PODS, and I have to say, I am in love! It really is as simple as throwing these little bundles in depending on the amount of laundry I need to tackle! They are also twice as concentrated and use less water than typical concentrated liquid laundry detergent. So they work great, but what about the safety issues?
Tide has partnered with Safe Kids Worldwide to help address and educate parents on safety measures to take when storing laundry pacs in a home with young children. Many of us will “baby proof” our kitchen or bathroom, but I admit I didn't really think about the laundry room until now. A normal and important part of a young child’s development is to explore the world around them… with any means they have. This can include using hands and even their mouths. That is why it is super important to keep laundry pacs Up, Up, and Away – seal pacs Up, store pacs Up, and keep pacs Away from your children. Like all household cleaners, laundry pacs can be very dangerous if put in the mouth. Other things you can do to ensure safety is keep the pacs in a cabinet with a safety lock and after each use close the lid of the container. The makers of Tide have also taken some steps to discourage children from “exploring” laundry pacs including making the casing strong enough to withstand a typical child’s squeeze, and ensuring the packaging is opaque so kids cannot see the packs inside. Later this year, Tide PODS will also have a bittering agent. If your child does put a laundry pac in his or her mouth or get detergent in the eye, call Poison Control immediately at 1-800-222-1222.
For more information on laundry safety and the #UpUpandAway campaign visit the AAP’s HealthyChildren.org or SafeKids.org. 
I received complimentary Tide Pods for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own.
