Eating Laundry Pods – An Internet Joke With Serious Consequences

In 2025, the Missouri Poison Center received reports of 219 exposures to laundry detergent pods in children or adolescents. 31 of the 219 were seen in a healthcare setting.

These laundry pods can be attractive to both children and adults; however, serious effects may occur if swallowed. The pods look like play items because they are soft and colorful and often resemble familiar products like candy, toys, and fidget items like squishies.

What is a laundry pod?

A laundry pod is a single-use packet that contains a concentrated amount of liquid laundry detergent. Each pod is wrapped in a thin, water-soluble film that dissolves during the wash cycle, releasing the detergent into the washing machine. Laundry pods are designed to make doing laundry more convenient by providing a premeasured amount of detergent for each load.

Although they are safe to use as directed, laundry pods can be dangerous if they are swallowed, bitten, or squeezed. If the outer film breaks, the concentrated detergent can quickly come into contact with the mouth, eyes, or skin, increasing the risk of injury. For this reason, laundry pods should always be stored in their original container, kept tightly sealed, and placed up high and out of the reach of children.

What was the Tide Pod Challenge?

It’s been a while since the online trend where teens and adults joke about eating Tide Pods. There are videos and images placing Tide Pods in food items and then asking, “What if?” There are also videos of teens and adults chewing or biting the laundry pods, then spitting them out. Some individuals have taken it a step further and have actually ingested the product while posting their experience online. Biting into a laundry pod is no joke since there is the potential for serious symptoms.

Although the Tide Pod Challenge has largely faded from social media, poison centers continue to receive calls about laundry detergent pod exposures every year. Most cases involve young children who mistake the colorful pods for candy, but intentional ingestion by teens and adults can still occur. 

What happens if you eat a Tide Pod?

Highly concentrated single-load liquid laundry packets (also known as laundry pods, or as the brand name, Tide Pods®) can cause serious harm to young children. Each year, poison centers receive many calls about children getting into laundry detergent pods. Swallowing it often causes mild stomach upset, but poison center experts have noted that the highly concentrated single-load liquid laundry detergent packets can cause more concerning symptoms. 

Ingestion of the liquid has caused excessive vomiting, wheezing, and gasping. Some children exposed get very sleepy. Some have had breathing problems serious enough to need a ventilator to help them breathe. There have also been reports of corneal abrasions (scratches to the eyes) when the detergent gets into the eyes of either a child or an adult.

How To Prevent Your Child From Eating Laundry Pods

• Always keep detergent containers closed, sealed, and stored up high, out of the reach of children.
• Follow the instructions on the product label.
• Call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 immediately if you suspect someone has come in contact with this detergent.

What should you do if someone eats a Tide Pod?

If someone bites into or swallows a laundry detergent pod, stay calm and act quickly. Wipe any remaining detergent from the mouth and rinse the mouth gently with water. If the person is awake and able to swallow, give a few small sips of water. Do not make them vomit, as vomiting can increase the risk of choking or breathing problems. 

Watch closely for symptoms such as repeated vomiting, coughing, difficulty swallowing, trouble breathing, or unusual sleepiness. If any of these symptoms develop, seek medical attention immediately. Call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222 right away for expert guidance. Specially trained nurses and pharmacists are available 24 hours a day and can recommend the best next steps based on the person’s age, symptoms, and the amount involved.

Are laundry pods more dangerous than regular liquid detergent?

Laundry detergent pods contain highly concentrated detergent that is sealed inside a dissolvable outer membrane. While swallowing any laundry detergent can cause stomach upset, the concentrated ingredients in laundry pods have been associated with more serious symptoms, particularly in young children.

The pods can also burst easily when bitten or squeezed, allowing the detergent to enter the mouth, eyes, or airways. Their bright colors and soft texture may make them look like candy or toys. This increases the risk that young children will pick them up and put them in their mouths. For these reasons, laundry detergent pods should always be stored securely and kept out of the sight and reach of children.