Skip to main content Tom's Guide Tom's Guide Search Tom's Guide View Profile Newsletters Best Picks Entertainment Switch 2 Pre-Orders Best laptops Best Mattress Wordle Today Recommended reading This viral TikTok hack can totally ruin your floors — don't try it at home Home Appliances 7 laundry myths debunked by the experts This cheap hack to unshrink your clothes could do more damage than good — follow these 5 tips instead I tried this TikTok viral dishwasher trend to dry my dishes faster — and I can't believe the results Home Appliances This one item is your secret weapon against washing machine mold — and it's not vinegar or baking soda Home Appliances I wish I’d known about this freezer coin hack before — now I know if my food is safe to eat Here’s why you should never wash towels with clothes — from a hygiene expert Why are people freezing laundry detergent? Experts say this viral hack is a bad idea Cynthia Lawrence 2 June 2025 Just because it’s trending, doesn’t mean it’s good. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. (Image credit: Shutterstock) When it comes to laundry days, we all want to make light work of chores, which is why many households are switching to single-use laundry pods. Not only does this cut out the guess work of measuring traditional laundry detergent into your washing machine, but this is more convenient, less messy and easier to store. So it comes as no surprise that the ‘CleanTok’ community are coming up with their own easy ways to create their own DIY pods. You may like This viral TikTok hack can totally ruin your floors — don't try it at home 7 laundry myths debunked by the experts This cheap hack to unshrink your clothes could do more damage than good — follow these 5 tips instead Social media has become a popular platform for viral cleaning hacks, and people sharing their “genius” tips to make household chores quick and easy. However, experts are warning against this bizarre, laundry detergent trend that may cause more harm than good. Why are people freezing laundry detergent? TikTok users are now pouring liquid detergent into silicone trays, and freezing it for a few hours to make their homemade pods. In fact, some users have even added scent booster beads to their solution. So why are they doing this? This laundry hack is to prevent people from using way too much liquid detergent for each load, making it more efficient and convenient. Sign up to get the BEST of Tom's Guide direct to your inbox. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. Secondly, standard laundry pods contain a plastic coating that doesn’t always properly dissolve in the wash — making frozen pods more eco-friendly. @tashdafinesser I love it!.🥰Got my clothes smelling good ash!…☺️♬ Aesthetic - Tollan Kim But, while this may seem like a logical explanation and will save time, freezing laundry detergent is actually a bad idea. According to experts, certain liquid detergents can freeze more easily than others (leaving a slippery mess), and shouldn’t be exposed to extreme temperatures. Because chemical-based, liquid detergents were not designed to be frozen, the ingredients will separate once they thaw in the wash — affecting your overall clean. “Tide Liquid is specifically formulated to be highly concentrated, so it does not freeze completely due to its low water content,” says Kim Romine, Tide’s fabric care scientist to BHG. “Only detergents with high water content are likely to freeze.” What’s more, since chemical-based, liquid detergents were not designed to be frozen, the ingredients will separate once they thaw in the wash — affecting your overall clean. “Cooling down the temperature will result in some of the components losing their solubility,” added Bryan Quoc Le, PhD, food scientist and founder of Mendocino Food Consulting. “This is generally not a big deal if the detergent is chemical-based, but if the detergent is bio-based and contains enzymes, this can damage the enzymes and reduce their efficacy.” Expert advice is to always stick to the proper method by pouring the liquid detergent into the dispenser or directly into the machine drum. This will ensure that you always get the best cleaning results from your detergent. After all, the last thing you want is to re-wash your laundry — costing you housework time and money. Also, be sure to avoid these big laundry mistakes you're probably making. More from Tom's Guide 7 signs that you need a new washing machine 15 things you should never put in your washing machine This TikTok cleaning hack revealed why your dishwasher tablet isn't working Today's best Washing Machines deals 536 Amazon customer reviews $63.70View Deal ends Mon, Jun 16, 2025 We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices See more Home News Cynthia Lawrence Social Links Navigation Content Editor, Homes As the Homes Content Editor, Cynthia Lawrence covers all things homes, interior decorating, and garden-related. She has a wealth of editorial experience testing the latest, ‘must-have’ home appliances, writing buying guides and the handy ‘how to’ features. Her work has been published in various titles including, T3, Top Ten Reviews, Ideal Home, Real Homes, Livingetc. and House Beautiful, amongst many. With a rather unhealthy obsession for all things homes and interiors, she also has an interior design blog for style inspiration and savvy storage solutions (get rid of that clutter!). When she’s not testing cool products, she’ll be searching online for more decor ideas to spruce up her family home or looking for a great bargain! You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name. This viral TikTok hack can totally ruin your floors — don't try it at home 7 laundry myths debunked by the experts This cheap hack to unshrink your clothes could do more damage than good — follow these 5 tips instead I tried this TikTok viral dishwasher trend to dry my dishes faster — and I can't believe the results This one item is your secret weapon against washing machine mold — and it's not vinegar or baking soda I wish I’d known about this freezer coin hack before — now I know if my food is safe to eat Latest in Home This unlikely IKEA find will keep mosquitoes out of your home for under $5 How to stop ground ivy taking over your lawn I’ve done the math, and the results are in — the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI Ultra is a 5-star vacuum cleaner Philips 1000 Series FlexDrawer Air Fryer review I hate cleaning, but the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI Ultra vacuum makes me want to deep clean my carpets — here's why Banish cockroaches with this $2 ingredient that experts say they 'cannot stand' Latest in News Apple tipped to reveal 'macOS Tahoe' at WWDC next week — what we know This unlikely IKEA find will keep mosquitoes out of your home for under $5 Nvidia's rumored gaming laptop APU could match RTX 4070 performance — here's what we know Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge durability test ends in a surprising result Netflix confirms 'Nobody Wants This' season 2 release date — here's when the hit romantic comedy returns Nintendo Switch 2 pre-orders live — retailers to check for restock as launch week arrives LATEST ARTICLES Apple tipped to reveal 'macOS Tahoe' at WWDC next week — what we know Nvidia's rumored gaming laptop APU could match RTX 4070 performance — here's what we know This unlikely IKEA find will keep mosquitoes out of your home for under $5 Epic Nintendo Switch game sale is live from $9 — 17 deals I’d shop from Nintendo, Amazon and more Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge durability test ends in a surprising result Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. 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