I always use pods with mine and been fine. Only suggestion, says it in the manual also, is to put detergent pods and/or fabric refresher pods in the washer prior to clothes or whatever your washing. If you don't they could get mixed inbeween everything and leave marks on your clothes if the pods aren't white. But if they do, hasn't happened other than once since I made the mistake of throwing them in on top of the clothes, just run a quick wash of the items and comes right out. Hope this helps.