Tide gives me itchy hives anyway. :(

I'm

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not sure what detergent pods are

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Only the best thing ever for laundry. Toss a pod in the washer and done. No measuring, no jugs or big boxes to handle, and all detergent brands have them now. I don't see how you cannot see them in the store.

My first bed-size quilt was a white background whole cloth, embroidered quilt, with the dreaded red borders. Having had discussions with my cousin who had her own quilt shop, I knew there was a possibility of the red fabric bleeding -- it did, it bled rivers. I tried epsom salts, vinegar (2 gallons), and that accomplished nothing other than a waste of my time and money. I researched online and found a product which I always use if I have a bleeder, so I Test every solid color or printed fabric. If the test reveals bleeding, I treat the fabric, run it through the wash cycle, dry and iron, if needed. Plus, discretion is the better part of valor, so when the quilt is laundered prior to gifting or prior to using, I use color catchers. My grandfather always said he was a safety man, he used both a belt and suspenders, so like my grandfather, I will play it safe and use color catchers. As to detergents, I don't use any special soaps. I don't launder large quilts in my household washer -- I usually take those to the laundromat and use the extra-large machines. One caution: Most of our fabric today is chemically dyed, and since the dye is not organic, the use of vinegar, baking soda and/or epsom salts just simply doesn't work!

Is THAT what has happened to my nails??? I used to have GREAT nails! Now they are shell-y and break constantly.

Sorry, off topic...back to your regularly scheduled programme!

Watson

Mine doesn"t, thank goodness. Not at all economical.

I'm not a prewasher but I don't see why you couldn't use your usual soap, unless you're using antique fabric or making something for someone with sensitive skin. I wash in my usual soap when the projects done with a couple color catchers. Do whatever works for ya :).

1. You don't need to use special detergent at any time. If it gets clothes clean, it'll get your quilts clean.
2. I highly recommend soaking each color separately in a sink of warm water to check for bleeders. Those
can get washed in a lingerie bag on gentle, with 2 Color Catchers per load. If you don't use a lingerie bag,
those small pieces could end up lost in the rim or lip of the washer.
3. Precuts will usually ravel in the wash. That's my biggest pet peeve. (I once got a batch of scraps that smelled smoky and so I washed them in a lingerie bag. What a mess to try to iron. Almost wasn't worth the hassle.) I wouldn't wash precuts that don't bleed in the sink.

4. You could try soaking each precut in a bowl with warm water and vinegar. Vinegar stops bleeding, usually.

Bottom line, precuts can save a lot of time and pain for your arthritic hands, but they are prone to shrinking and raveling, so you'd be least bothered by NOT washing any that don't bleed.

When a jug of Tide slipped out of my hand and most of it went behind the washer and two months later DH knocked over a box of powder detergent that was open and went between the washer dryer and everywhere else, that was the end of buying nothing but pods from then on. Worse cleaning jobs ever! Every time I mop the laundry room floor I still get soapy film. I buy the large refill bag of pods, very economical. The store stockers love them, easy to stock and no back breaking boxes of heavy jugs or boxes. Cost less for shipping, more packages per case. I think all brands will be all pods before long.

Chemicals are really nasty for your nails. I show cars and some of the chemicals used are not nail friendly. I've found that if I use a good strengthening base like Nailtiques and then polish, I'm okay. I've started doing the same thing when quilting. I make sure I have Nailtiques and polish on. It seems to protect my nails from the chemicals.

I think you are right.
At our small town grocery store this morning, nothing on the detergent aisle but pods. All different brands. Checker said it saved shelf space and easier to stock.