Another dishwasher detergent thread. Or, why do you use what you use?

[maytagbear]

I've had good luck with powders, mostly Cascade or Target brand.

Right now, I am using European Finish tablets that a friend sent (thanks, buddy!) They are dammed good.

I have used gels, but don't see the point. To me, they are absurdly expensive per use, especially Cascade Complete.

Not only am I asking WHAT you use, I would like to know WHY you use it. Oh, and what brand of rinse agent, if you use one. Finish/Jet-Dry liquid here.

Thanks!

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[petek]

I've used Electrosol tabs for years but only recently switched over to Cascade gelpaks , currently with bleach/Dawn. I think they work a little better than the 3in1 Electrosol tabs at getting dried on stuff from a utensil/bowl that isn't in a primo location on the racks.

 

[magic clean]

Lawrence

Electrasol/Finish tablets or Cascade Action Paks. Have had really good results with either of them as well as the new Finish Quantum tablets. Many of our dishloads sits unrinsed for day(s) and these products really clean up! Rarely is there something that requires rewashing.

Regarding rinse aid; Jet dry or Jet dry Turbo.

 

[DADoES]

 
Wal-Mart GreatValue, because it's inexpensive (although I suppose not as cheap now that it has gone phosphate-free and I'm adding STPP), a reasonable (small) package size, has enzymes, and works nicely. Last several bottles of rinse aid were Jet-Dry Turbo ... but the latest replenish is the standard "Finish Jet-Dry." I also typically leave accumulating loads sitting unrinsed for several days.

 

[brisnat81]

Finish Powder here for every day stuff, it comes in a 3kg Plastic bottle for $16 I can decide whether I want a Prewash dose or not and it does a great job with everthing other than some starch. Michaels Mum uses the Finish Classic Tabs as they are easier for her to work with, and they do the same job. Mum uses Finish Powder because her 30 yo dishlex uses about 8L per fill and you need to fill the detergent dispensor to get good results.

I use Finish liquid for Aluminium (Rangehood, Electric Frypans) and my Food Processor.

Use Finish Rinseaid, everything comes out dry in the Miele with the Condesor drying. No spots or marks.

 

[turquoisedude]

Powders for moi

I have always used powdered detergent - I found that the gel or liquid dishwasher detergent didn't quite do it for me. I am reluctant to try the gel-pack stuff on the GE's in Ogden for fear of messing them up somehow! I figure the older machines were designed for powders, so I stick to them. However, I did use an all-in-one tablet when I was test-driving the Frigidaire spray-tube unit and that did a really fine job. My favourite brand was Electrasol, now replaced by Finish, but I like Cascade too.

 

[spoodles]

I'm working my way through Finish Quantum tabs at the moment, bought purely for the fact they had 50% extra free and came in free storage tins. (I'm a sucker for a free tin!) I got the regular and lemon varieties - they do a really good job in general but struggle with the occasional thing, as do Fairy Platinum tabs which I also use and are great overall as well.

I've yet to find the perfect dishwasher detergent that doesn't struggle with something every now and again.

 

[ronhic]

Have used....

....most brands except Finish here...

...but have been using Aldi 2 in 1 tablets for 3yrs with brilliant results especially as our machine seems to not dispense powder properly. Don't bother with the prewash just drop the tablet in the bottom of the machine and use a 60c wash (1:08) with no drying...

...and Aldi rinse aid....spot free....

 

[frigilux]

Most loads: Cascade Pacs (relatively inexpensive; convenient; cleans well)

Tough loads: Cascade Complete Pacs (does a better job on pots/pans)

Super-tough loads: Cascade Complete Gel (I can dose each wash the way I want to. I use this only for really bad pots/pans loads. They always come out spotless.)

 

[appnut]

Cascade Complete powder and Jet Dry. I've very rarely moved from Cascade Complete since it first appeared on the market because I've not found anything that works as well--these new-fangled pac and tablets are so much more expensive without dosage variation, I can't see wasting hte money for something which might let me down and I'd be stuck with something I can't use satisfactorlly. I did use Jet Dry Turbo in the Kenmore Elite, but it foamed up so bad it would start caviating the pump for the last 5 minutes of the rinse cycle.

 

[frigilux]

Bob, I was very skeptical about the Cascade Pacs until I finally tried them. I had a hard time knowing there was no detergent in the first wash. But they clean so well, I've kept using them. I can only vouch for Cascade Pacs.

One thing I've not tried: For super-tough loads, rather than using massive doses Cascade Complete Gel, I could try throwing one pac into the tub for the first wash, and put a 2nd one in the detergent dispenser for the main wash. Or just put two in the main wash compartment.

Wonder if that would clean really cooked-on foods as well as Cascade Complete Gel?

 

[kqkenmore]

I am using finish quantum now because of the price and coupons we just had one last weekend for 50% off.I have used cascade in the past and now if the price is good.I love cascade complete but it is expensive.the reason that I use these is because they get the dishes very clean without prerinsing.If I can find it I like the insitutional cascade it is the old formula that is the best with chlorine bleach.rinse agent jet dry or cascade crystal clear or jet dry turbo.

 

[appnut]

Eugene, it's rare I put detergent in the first wash cup. Usually, I only put detergent in the main wash cup and have had no issues. Guess I've become more Europeanized.

 

[mattywashboy]

I have begun using Finish Liquid. I must say it works very well. I work in a supermarket and we always keep in touch with suppliers about the reviews that certain products have got, particularly new to the market ones.
It seems powder detergents have been deemed to be quite harsh on dishes and that liquid dishwasher detergent is much gentler yet still cleaning very well.

I was dubious but thought i might give it a try. Its a great detergent, cleans excellently and i might consider buying it every time now, depending on whats on offer. Our daily driver has always been Finish PowerBall All in One Tabs. We have previously used Morning Fresh Complete tabs. I still buy Morning Fresh Rinse Aid as shown.

Happy DishWashing
Matt

 

[spiralator60]

Automatic Dishwashing

Electrasol/Finish liquid, Fresh Scent version, for detergent.

I had been using Cascade liquid up to a year ago, but Target had the Electrasol product on sale, 2 for $5. This was about the time that the Finish branding was being rolled out here, and Electrasol had worked reasonably well for me in the past, in terms of cleaning and dealing with water spotting, so into the shopping basket it went.

My dishwasher gets run 2-3 times per week, and what we now know as Finish does a reasonably good job on items that have been in the machine a day or two. Overall, Finish and Cascade perform about the same for me. I have used Finish more lately, mainly because it costs less, but still keep Cascade on hand for those times that I want to use it. I am happy with both liquid and powder, buying whichever type is on sale to have in supply at home.

For rinse additive, Jet Dry.

 

[whirlcool]

We use the WalMart powdered detergent for normal dirty loads, works well enough for us at a cheap price.
For baked on and hard to clean messes we use the Finish Power Ball tabs. With that, it'll even remove baked on dirt off of pans and baking dishes. Besides, it is what the dishwasher mfg recommended (Maytag).
We use Finish Jet Dry in the dispenser in the DW. But we have a condumrum. The finish tabs contain jet dry. So we get a double dose of jet dry in our rinse water. Fortunately, our DW has an adjustment for how much Jet Dry is dispensed. We have it set to the lowest setting.

 

[mayguy]

I'm using the Electrasol/Finish powdered and I think they do better.. I have never used the gel stuff.

I did try the Electrasol/Finish tabblet, and did do a good job, but I think it's kinda spendy, so I switched back to the powdered one.

 

[DADoES]

The only way rinse aid could work by way of inclusion in the detergent is if there's enough detergent residue left in the final rinse to be effective. Is that likely in the case of two or three after-rinses? I suspect it's largely ineffective, like the laundry detergent+softener products of years past.

 

[supersuds]

I can't tell any difference in cleaning between the Finish tablets or powder or any of the variants of Cascade -- although the Cinnamon Cascade gelpacs do smell lovely. I use Sunlight powder (getting hard to find) at times because it has chlorine bleach and it reoves tea stains from white mugs.

The reformulated Wal-Mart Great Value has been poor, however -- I get a haze on glassware from it.

 

[CheertoAll]

Back to the Board after a few years

Hi Everyone, I'm Andrew from Orinda, CA. I've been away from the board for a few years, and have just joined again.

I've been using Finish/Electrasol powder or gel or Cascade gel because they still contain bleach. My dishes are white, and the enzyme detergents don't get rid of coffee/tea stains.

I tried the Finish powerball tablets, but in soft water, they really over-sudsed. I gave up on rinse agents for the same reason.

A few years ago, the, "Maytag Man," told me to only use plain Cascade powder in my new Maytag dishwasher (circa 2005). After a few months of dingy dishes, I switched back to detergents with bleach.

It's nice to be back with you guys!

 

[mixfinder]

Its only cents amortized over a year

Gel Packs, Gel Pack, Gel Packs! Spotless dishes and no fooling around trying to open slick lumps of detergent.

 

[mattl]

I use powdered Cascade Complete with Jet Dry too but the Finish Quantum tabs are very tempting. I guess I got a better deal than most, with the $2.50 coupon they only cost $.99. I like them and if the price was cheaper I'd use them, but Cascade does the job for less. But for some reason with the Finish the dishes just felt 'cleaner" might be the rinse agent they put in them. I really like how the dishes felt for some reason.

 

[toploader55]

Cascade !

I just like Cascade Powder. I usually fill both cups in the KDS 18 because I usually throw everything in and the rest of the fleet, it depends on the soil level. I never use Drying Agent. Glasses and Silverware come out spotless.

 

[rp2813]

Interesting to see a comment about over-sudsing and cavitation related to Jet Dry Turbo. I have experienced that same situation since dumping a whole bottle of that stuff into my rinse aid dispenser. Now all I can do is let it run its course, but the dispenser itself is suspect and could be leaking rinse aid into the tub when it's not supposed to.

I'm not a fan of gels. They don't seem to work as well as the white liquids. I may try powder for the first time in 20 years as I continue to play with a "new" dishwasher that should be showing up in pix around here sometime soon. I can't warm up to the packets. They'd be overkill for lightly soiled loads and they tend to be more expensive.

 

[whitekingd]

Cascade!

I love Cascade Pure Rinse or Cascade Complete. Both give me superior results. Every time I have given Electrosol a try, immediately about 1/3 of my dishes do not come clean. Therefore, I am SOLD on Cascade!

I used to like Jet-Dry, but they changed the formula and made it very "thin" (almost like water). It leaks out of my rinse dispenser on the KDS-14. The Safeway brand is the consistency Jet-Dry used to be so I've switched to it with excellent results. No leaks anymore. Yeah!!

 

[polkanut]

Hytron,

I use Hytron powder in the green container, which btw reminds me of original Electra-Sol. It has a very strong chlorine scent, and is still loaded with STPP. It is also approved for institutional use. It is available from Mills Fleet Farm, a regional farm and home supply store (MN, WI), and is manufactured by Stearns Packaging, Madison, WI.

http://www.stearnspkg.com/all_tek/464tek.pdf

 

[mrb627]

Finish Tabs

I use the Finish tabs with the little red ball poking out of one side. Mainly because I like to know how many doses I have left in the box. Gels, damnit, can never get the last bit out of the bottle. Too much of a P I T A.

Malcolm

 

[tlee618]

I have had excellent results with powdered Cascade with bleach. Sadly it seems they had discontinued it as I can't find it any longer. When this box is gone I'm not sure what I will go to.

 

[neptuneguy27]

I use

Finish All in One tabs along with Miele Rinse Aid. I have tried the Quantum Tabs and they do work very well. But the price is a little bit too high for me. I am currently using Cascade Complete with HydroClean Bleach (powder)as an experiment to see which one cleans better. Honestly, I really cannot tell a difference between the two. I have a ton of the Finish Tabs on hand because Costco had a wonderful offer of "Buy one, get one free". I kinda went overboard. :-/ So once the Cascade is gone, I'll be back to the Finish.

As far as removing coffee and tea stains, the Finish does remarkably well as does the Cascade. I have yet to take something out of the dishwasher that still had stains on it. One difference I do notice though between the two, is that Finish seems to be able to deal with tomato sauce better than the Cascade. Plastics do not come out orange when using the Finish in a load that has a lot of tomato sauce in it. Which is always nice.

Chris

 

[dogboy44]

No Gel

Gels do not do as good a job for me. I get whatever powder or tabs are on sale. Cascade does the best job when I get it.