In 2004, Procter & Gamble was looking for a hit. It had been two decades since the consumer products conglomerate introduced Tide liquid detergent, revolutionizing the way people washed their clothes.

Detergent pods are a popular choice for people who don't want to mess with liquids or laundry powders, which have a few downsides, when cleaning their clothes, and Tide pods regularly top the list of ...