Yes, I think we probably agree more than disagree. My approach is wash as much in cold water as I can unless and until I have a reason to use warm/hot. So if stains were not coming out or smells were lingering I would change my approach.
Or in other words, I use the least environmentally harmful approach that will be successful for my needs.
I really need things to be easier for you! Wtf laundry machine!!
Thanks! ONE DAY we will have a better working washing machine and life will be so easy.
Would the cost of a new washer be less than the annoyance of dealing with the one you have and hate?
Hopefully in a few years! We really need to replace our water heater and should replace our furnaces and add AC first. The washer is only 3.5 years old.
It seems like the least bad option is stick with the pods for now, which is the best I can do. It sounds like there isn’t an easy answer that meets my criteria which is good to know!
maybe I missed it - but why would you prefer no pods?
(I don’t like the pods because they don’t always dissolve, just wondering what your experience has been)
Oh just for environmental impact, they’re working totally fine for me otherwise. I know they also cut down the lifetime of the appliance, which is a feature not a bug if it means I can get a new washing machine sooner 
I buy them for the kids to take to summer camp, but other than that I don’t care for them either 
You can consider the environment cost of the pods vs the environmental benefits of both cold water wash AND getting a couple more years out of your machine and from that angle, it looks good!
I should clean my washing machine… And my dishwasher…
I uh - really should go do both of these things…
Here is my hot tip for remembering to clean your washing machine once a month! I do it on or around the day my dog gets his monthly flea/tick preventative. I remember this because I sort all of his pills into a pill sorter once a week, and I check my calendar as part of this process. So step 1 is adopt a high needs dog
I wound up with a sample of this. It claims to be “optimized for cold water” but I haven’t researched it.
It worked well, but I had no complaints about our other option (Blueland tablets) so we usually stick to that since I bulk order with other cleaners like dishwasher tabs.
Thanks, I will totally take “optimized!” Will order and report back.
I also use blueland tablets on cold wash and think my laundry is clean
I do have a top loader? And sometimes the tablets don’t fully dissolve so I’ve started running the soak cycle which has fixed it.
I think I get more food on delicate clothes than the average American (thank you toddler) so we are also just gross! Everyone else’s clothes are fine I’m sure
This is a STRUGGLE. We use powder detergent and I always have to soak out grease spots with liquid detergent.
I spill a lot because I tend to sprawl on the couch while eating and I’m generally a mess anyway. I can get stains out with dawn dish soap and a toothbrush but then my clothes fade/wear out so fast from that…definitely a struggle!
Also have at toddler and hard water that has iron. What has helped our laundry has been adding in the downy rice and refresh. It has something that magically makes things never stinky. We also use the seventh generation ultra concentrated stuff. It took a a while to figure it out here though.
I’m so glad you found something that works for you! We had hard water in our last place and it was a total pain.
I expect you’ve already considered this but just in case: I wash almost exclusively on cold in a (very fancy) front loader on cold with Kirkland Free and clear. But sometimes, items with a high polyester content hold a funk. I’ve been most successful with a washing soda soak or adding it into the machine. I use whatever basic powdered washing soda is in the laundry isle of my grocery store, but I found out it works by trying something called Laundry Enhancer from EnviroKlenz which does contain some additional ingredients.
I also got my fancy washer dryer set about half off 2nd hand, if you did want to try switching it out, but I do appreciate thats on the riskier side of things for most people.