Science

What's Inside: Tide Pods

That squishy, swirly pocket of goo looks delicious, but we promise you pressure-packed soap is not tasty.
This image may contain Ice Outdoors and Nature
  • 01

    Fatty Acid Salts

    Otherwise known as soap. It works by attaching its hydrocarbon chain to the grease or oil in a clothing stain, allowing both to be washed away by water.
  • 02

    Polyvinyl Alcohol

    This stuff forms the film that holds the rest of the ingredients in a jolly, candylike form.
  • 03

    Denatonium Benzoate

    The bitterest known substance was added in 2015 to strengthen the outer layer and discourage kids from eating pods. (We all know how that worked out.)
  • 04

    Diethylenetriamine Pentaacetate, Sodium Salt

    Say that five times fast. This molecule softens your wash water, which enables enzymes to work more effectively.
  • 05

    Calcium Formate

    Enzymes will devour each other over time or become denatured when exposed to heat, but this substance is added to ensure they’re still around when you need them.
  • 06

    Mannanase

    This enzyme breaks apart guar gum, a thickener used in ice cream and salad dressing that can leave behind hard-to-remove stains.
  • 07

    Disodium Distyrylbiphenyl Disulfonate

    DDD (or "triple D," if you’re a hey-fellow-kids kind of scientist) absorbs ultraviolet light and emits it in the visible range, providing a faint blue glow that counteracts the natural yellowing of old clothes.
  • 08

    Subtilisin

    All the dead skin cells you leave on your clothes are toast because of this protein enzyme, which breaks down your bodily grime.
  • 09

    Alcoholethoxy Sulfate

    As with soap, one end of the molecule binds to grease and dirt that’s stuck to your clothes; the other binds to water molecules in the washing machine. Agitation helps lift the stain off fabric and down the drain.
  • 10

    Amylase

    These enzymes attack starch-based stain like those from gravy and baby food. So next time you spill mashed potatoes on your shirt, you know you’re covered.

Comments

Back to topTriangle
TopicsAMP Stories
Read More
What's Inside Triple-Action Mace? Chili Peppers and UV Dye
When you push the button, nitrogen shoves a pungent, debilitating cocktail out of the canister.
What's Inside a Magical Grease-Lifting Cleaner
K2r spot-lifter erases greasy stains with a delicate balance of chemicals.
What's Inside: Vodka
Ethanol Vodka, by definition, is ethanol cut with water to at least 80 proof (40 percent purity). Despite its common sobriquet of “potato juice,” it’s actually pretty hard to make it from spuds—the tuber tends to produce more methanol (poison) than grain feedstocks, requiring additional distillation. More often, commercial vodkas are fermented and distilled from […]
Catnip Ain't the Only Plant That'll Send Your Kitty to Blissville
Three other plants tweak your feline's neurons.
Inside the Magically Mundane Lab of a Nobel Prize Winner
Ben Feringa is a pioneer in nanotechnology, and this is his world.
Bill Atkinson, Macintosh Pioneer and Inventor of Hypercard, Dies at 74
Atkinson’s gleeful brilliance helped people draw on computer screens and access information via links.
24 Best Deals on Father's Day Gifts
Get Dad a WIRED-approved weather station, pair of headphones, or treadmill for less.
The Best Backpacking Tents for Getting Away From It All
The right shelter makes all the difference in the backcountry. Here are the best tents we’ve tested and love.
Tech Up Your Sourdough With These Upper-Crust Baking Gadgets
Sourdough bread is one of the most wonderful things you can make with your hands, but it can be fussy and hard to perfect. Now technology takes out most of the pesky guesswork.
Which Samsung Galaxy Phone Should You Buy?
From flagship and budget to flipping and folding, Samsung’s Galaxy range spans the breadth of the smartphone cosmos. WIRED’s here to help you make your choice.
Everything You Need to Know About MicroSD Express
What is the latest MicroSD iteration, and why does your Nintendo Switch need it?
The Best Weighted Blankets
If you’re looking for the sensation of a hug, these weighted blankets—plus weighted robes, eye masks, and more—will snuggle you back.