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Use the dispenser, as throwing pods into your dishwasher is like throwing them away.

I've seen people repeat the false claim that dishwasher detergent pods should be thrown in the dishwasher, and not be placed into the automatic dispenser cup.

WRONG!!! Throwing your dishwasher detergent pod into the bottom of your dishwasher results in failed cleaning, as anything at the bottom of the dishwasher at the start of its cycle is quickly pushed down the drain.

Always put the dishwasher pod in the dispenser and close the lid
 

Why?  Because the very first thing a modern dishwasher tries to do is push out the majority of food debris. All the crumbs and ketchup and milk or whatever is quickly rinsed to the bottom of your dishwasher.  Then, everything on the bottom of your dishwasher is pumped out as waste, including your detergent pod.  Whoops!

Here are the details of the typical sequence performed during a modern dishwasher run:
  1. Debris Rinse Cycle: Fill with water.  Knock debris off of items for roughly 5 to 7 minutes. Drain.
  2. Wash with Detergent Cycle: Fill with water.  Heat water if required. Dispense detergent. Wash for a long time (35 to 120 minutes). Drain.
  3. Detergent Removal Cycle: Fill with water.  Rinse for about 5 to 10 minutes.  Drain.
  4. Rinse Cycle: Fill with water.  Heat water if required. Rinse for 30 to 90 minutes. Drain.
  5. Dry cycle.

As you can see from the above sequence of events, anything at the bottom of your dishwasher is quickly soaked with water and then pushed down the drain.  By using the dispenser cup, the soap is kept out of the drain until the washing cycle is complete.

Clothes washers?  They work differently.  Laundry pods can go right in the drum, because there is no "pre-rinse" cycle in a clothes washer.


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