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CTyankee

(68,102 posts)
Sat Feb 14, 2026, 08:49 PM Feb 14

Does anybody know what these 4 mysterious objects found in my dishwasher are?

Here is the link to the picture of the 4 mysterious objects I found in my dishwasher. Does anyone know what they could be? It's quite a mystery to me.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Lgc231UzDsgSfflBiwWx4f5gO6KUmY3g/view?usp=drive_link

39 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Does anybody know what these 4 mysterious objects found in my dishwasher are? (Original Post) CTyankee Feb 14 OP
Melted pods? SheltieLover Feb 14 #1
Do these pods bloom when they melt? I'm confused... CTyankee Feb 14 #5
No idea. I don't use them. SheltieLover Feb 14 #6
How large are they? herding cats Feb 14 #12
They're big. Maybe 3+ inches. CTyankee Feb 14 #16
3" is way too big to be a dishwasher pod. herding cats Feb 14 #19
the pod is small. 3# inches is the size of what I unload from my dishwasher! And it's always just ONE! CTyankee Feb 14 #20
I think that sounds like a brilliant plan! herding cats Feb 14 #21
Maybe try a non pod dishwasher detergent? SheltieLover Feb 15 #29
I guess I could try one. However, the pods are convenient and small which are good in a small apt. CTyankee Feb 15 #35
Pls let us know? SheltieLover Feb 15 #36
Take-out condiment containers? lpbk2713 Feb 14 #2
No. We don't usually eat take-out meals and these occur every single time we run the dishwasher. CTyankee Feb 14 #9
Trump's condoms? Ocelot II Feb 14 #3
those are too big rampartd Feb 14 #7
Yeah, boiii!!! JoseBalow Feb 15 #23
dishwasher rack roller wheels bucolic_frolic Feb 14 #4
Melted pudding cups The Blue Flower Feb 14 #8
We wouldn't put those in the dishwasher. CTyankee Feb 14 #10
Did you put any plastic bottles in the dishwasher? LuckyCharms Feb 14 #11
I don't think so but I will check that out. Thanks for the suggestion! CTyankee Feb 14 #13
The bottoms of plastic bottles would melt into that shape. Good luck! LuckyCharms Feb 14 #14
Did you maybe put some stretchy covers in the dishwasher which shrank a lot? herding cats Feb 14 #15
... 2naSalit Feb 14 #17
You know, it feels like that sometimes. I just open the dishwasher to unload it and there one is, on the top shelf of CTyankee Feb 14 #18
The theory of socks missing from the washing machine belies a pathway bobalew Feb 16 #39
Maybe one time write down everything you put in the dish washer... 3catwoman3 Feb 14 #22
They remind me of pudding cups. Do you have any plastic containers that size? HeartsCanHope Feb 15 #24
they look like protective covers that might be on the bases of something Kali Feb 15 #25
Have you run the dishwasher with nothing in it? johnp3907 Feb 15 #26
Looks like four feet that were attached to the bottom of a cutting board, jgo Feb 15 #27
What kind of dishwasher is it. Brand and model. Approximate age too please. bottomofthehill Feb 15 #28
Frigidaire. Probably new but I don't know for sure. And only one of these things appear at a time. CTyankee Feb 15 #32
Has to be the pod then SheltieLover Feb 15 #38
Beats me, but I love your beautiful counter top. Emile Feb 15 #30
Thanks but I am in an apartment in a retirement facility run by Masonicare. So the counter top is probably not genuine CTyankee Feb 15 #31
Alien species are reproducing every time you run the dishwasher. milestogo Feb 15 #33
Excellent guess! CTyankee Feb 15 #34
Dishwasher Rebl2 Feb 15 #37

CTyankee

(68,102 posts)
16. They're big. Maybe 3+ inches.
Sat Feb 14, 2026, 09:32 PM
Feb 14

And I don't know if we did change brands recently. Could be. Do you know of any other instances of this phenomenon?

herding cats

(20,046 posts)
19. 3" is way too big to be a dishwasher pod.
Sat Feb 14, 2026, 09:50 PM
Feb 14

I'm leaning toward the stretchy lid theory?

I'll ask around but so far I have not heard of anything which specifically matches this.

CTyankee

(68,102 posts)
20. the pod is small. 3# inches is the size of what I unload from my dishwasher! And it's always just ONE!
Sat Feb 14, 2026, 09:55 PM
Feb 14

Alright. I am going to try an experiment: I'll get another brand of dishwasher pods and try one of those. I'll tell you all here what happens and we'll take it from there. If it's different, I'll contact the maker of the pod detergent and send them what I have recovered and ask them what gives with them! I'll let you all know if they respond and what they say...

herding cats

(20,046 posts)
21. I think that sounds like a brilliant plan!
Sat Feb 14, 2026, 09:57 PM
Feb 14

I fail to see how they stretch out to that size, but I suppose it's a possibility.

We shall see! I eagerly await the update.

SheltieLover

(79,728 posts)
29. Maybe try a non pod dishwasher detergent?
Sun Feb 15, 2026, 09:01 AM
Feb 15

Pls let us know what you determine to be the cause.

CTyankee

(68,102 posts)
35. I guess I could try one. However, the pods are convenient and small which are good in a small apt.
Sun Feb 15, 2026, 07:00 PM
Feb 15

with a tiny kitchen.

However, I might try a non-pod detergent. If no plastic bloom appears, I'll know what caused it.

lpbk2713

(43,267 posts)
2. Take-out condiment containers?
Sat Feb 14, 2026, 08:53 PM
Feb 14


Good thing they didn't make contact with the heating element.

CTyankee

(68,102 posts)
9. No. We don't usually eat take-out meals and these occur every single time we run the dishwasher.
Sat Feb 14, 2026, 09:15 PM
Feb 14

herding cats

(20,046 posts)
15. Did you maybe put some stretchy covers in the dishwasher which shrank a lot?
Sat Feb 14, 2026, 09:21 PM
Feb 14

I had that happen once with ones I thought were silicone. They were not.

CTyankee

(68,102 posts)
18. You know, it feels like that sometimes. I just open the dishwasher to unload it and there one is, on the top shelf of
Sat Feb 14, 2026, 09:47 PM
Feb 14

dishwasher. It's the strangest feeling, looking at it. Almost like another "message" being sent to me from some strange force, saying "Here I am again, J-----."

bobalew

(427 posts)
39. The theory of socks missing from the washing machine belies a pathway
Mon Feb 16, 2026, 01:04 AM
Feb 16

to an alternate dimension or universe. The dryer also has a similar condition.

It is how Santa gains entry into your house when you don't have a chimney. It looks like the dishwasher shares the same sidereal feature..

3catwoman3

(29,251 posts)
22. Maybe one time write down everything you put in the dish washer...
Sat Feb 14, 2026, 11:06 PM
Feb 14

...and then when you empty it, see if anything is unaccounted for?

HeartsCanHope

(1,641 posts)
24. They remind me of pudding cups. Do you have any plastic containers that size?
Sun Feb 15, 2026, 01:46 AM
Feb 15

We used to make our own pudding cups and we used small plastic 1/2 cup containers. That's what it reminds me of.

Wow, what a mystery! If you can, please let us know what it is!

Kali

(56,809 posts)
25. they look like protective covers that might be on the bases of something
Sun Feb 15, 2026, 02:04 AM
Feb 15

or caps from the top of something.

google image search thinks they are crystal candle dishes. so much for that AI, can't tell plastic from glass.

johnp3907

(4,286 posts)
26. Have you run the dishwasher with nothing in it?
Sun Feb 15, 2026, 02:13 AM
Feb 15

Not sure what it might accomplish but it’s the kind of thing I would do. Like, I would be curious to see if they appear after an empty run.

jgo

(1,014 posts)
27. Looks like four feet that were attached to the bottom of a cutting board,
Sun Feb 15, 2026, 02:21 AM
Feb 15

and came off after the adhesive gave way over a period of time,
or four feet for something else that went through the dishwasher.

bottomofthehill

(9,375 posts)
28. What kind of dishwasher is it. Brand and model. Approximate age too please.
Sun Feb 15, 2026, 04:29 AM
Feb 15

Let’s see if it is a part of the dishwasher. It is not a pod. If it is on the top shelf, it is something you put in or something that fell from the top, nothing that got forced up from the bottom. And they occur individually not all 4 at the same time, correct?

CTyankee

(68,102 posts)
32. Frigidaire. Probably new but I don't know for sure. And only one of these things appear at a time.
Sun Feb 15, 2026, 10:25 AM
Feb 15

CTyankee

(68,102 posts)
31. Thanks but I am in an apartment in a retirement facility run by Masonicare. So the counter top is probably not genuine
Sun Feb 15, 2026, 10:22 AM
Feb 15

marble. But it IS a nice looking one and I appreciate your compliment!

milestogo

(22,985 posts)
33. Alien species are reproducing every time you run the dishwasher.
Sun Feb 15, 2026, 11:14 AM
Feb 15

They require heat and water.

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