If it wasn't for liquid Tide, I wouldn't have any clothes left. I pre-treat all of the black dirt from working on cars by poring the liquid Tide directly on the stains and using my fingernails to scratch it in/remove the mark. The jeans I'm wearing right now are perfectly clean, fresh Levi's that I could wear anywhere, (fancy restaurant, etc.), they have been black with auto dirt probably 100x. Same with my summer shorts, t-shirts, everything. I even wash my running shoes in the machine.
By the time I've pre-treated all of the stains and marks in the load of laundry, usually there is nothing left to pour into the little compartment on the machine. I start the machine and of course it all mixes in with the water and everything comes out great. I wear coveralls now for mechanical work and they get dirty fast. I cannot even begin to imagine how a pod or powder detergent would accomplish this, even powder Tide.
As a bonus, my fingernails get cleaned and they are always dirty.
