Don't Do This! Laundry Pods Can Ruin Your Floors

Finding the best way to clean your floors can be a challenge. While there are several tips online to shorten and simplify the process, some of the recommendations can cause more harm than good. One example is the use of the laundry pod. Since this cleaning solution works on clothing, some people have used it believing it could be hassle-free way to clean their floors as well. In actuality, it will only lead to problems because they are not safe to use on flooring.

Laundry pods are formulated for clothing. They were never intended to be used on hard surfaces. The pods' chemical components will be too harsh on floors, so much so that it can dull the surface and weaken its strength and overall quality. This is especially true for finished hardwood floors as cleaning with laundry pods could break down the finish, causing it to waste away.  

In addition to knowing how to clean every type of flooring in your home without causing damage, it's important to note the ingredients in your household cleaning products. Laundry pods are comprised of a variety of chemicals that break down clothing stains. They also can include color dye. The plastic outer coating is made of polyvinyl alcohol, which Wired Magazine described as "a water-soluble polymer related to Elmer's Glue." If you clean your floors with laundry pods, the ingredients will linger in the air, which could cause irritation to children or pets.

Since laundry pods are designed for washing machines, they require a lot of water to activate (and dissolve) its cleaning abilities. If your laundry pods aren't dissolving, it's probably because more water is required. This means a typical bucket filled with roughly a gallon or two of water may not properly set off the cleaning properties of the laundry pod. The use of more water would not only be wasteful, but it would also negatively impact the floors as heavy exposure to water can cause damage to finishes such as hardwood and laminate. 

Washing machines do a good job of thoroughly rinsing detergent residue from clothing. When applied to floors, the water level needed for this step would be insufficient, which could leave behind a dangerous and damaging film on the surface. The chemicals within the pods could also stick to the floor, making them unsafe.

When cleaning your floors, you want to rely on proven methods that are known to work, such as vacuuming, sweeping, and mopping. When using floor cleaners and floor neutralizers, look for products with a neutral pH balance. They will be gentle on the floor surface and will be strong enough to keep it protected from wear and tear.