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toploader55

toploader55

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As a Child I always remebered Cascade for it's chlorine wicked clean scent. I also remember it had a silicone additive to lubricate the pump, impeller, or any thing that was pumping water. My two choces at this time owning a Kenwhirl, Kd2, and Mobile Maid is either Cascade Powder or Electrisol Powder. Gel pacs and little soap blobs (gel pacs) power balls don't do it for me. What do you guys think ? Especially for older machines ?
 
I use Wal Mart's Great Value detergent...does a great job. Cascade Pure Rinse also seemed to work pretty well for me.
 
I'm a recent convert to Cascade gel packs (blue ones). I refused to use them for the longest time---despite great cleaning reviews from Consumer Reports---because I couldn't get past not having detergent in the pre-wash. Now, I use them for all but my grungiest pots/pans loads (which get a big dose of Quixtar's "Dish Drops", the only detergent I've found that outcleans the Cascade gel packs on pots/pans.

Talk about easy; just drop one in the main wash compartment. No muss, no fuss. Great results. Some people have complained about their sudsiness, but I haven't found that, even in my ultra-soft water.
 
The active ingredient in a product like Jet Dry is mixture of low or no foaming surfactants. To my knowledge these surfactants have not been shown to be carcinogenic. The concentrated product is described in the MSDS as possible minor irritant to skin or eyes.

If your machine has a rinse aid setting, try setting it to the lowest dose that still prevents water spotting and promotes drying.
 
I have found Cascade gel paks with Dawn to be the best detergent I have ever used. It stripped ground-in greasy fingerprints from a water glass that my mom uses all day long to keep hydrated. I have scrubbed the outside of the glass with a brillo pad and could not cut through the greasy film. I have run it through the d/w quite often, but it always came out with a cloudy film on the outside of the glass. When I used the gelpaks with dawn, it came out almost squeaky clean..you could see where it had stripped the film down. I never thought that glass would come clean again. Also Walmart Great Value brand performs very well, as does Sunsations at the dollar store. Enzymes in the formula really make all the difference.
 
I use Fairy Active Bursts (UK version of Cascade/Dawn Action Pacs) - currently using the Pure Clean ones - not sure what the difference is to normal Fairy Active Bursts, but anyway....I also have a couple of packets of Cascade Action Pacs from a recent trip to NYC.

1-16-2008-05-40-35--spoodles.jpg
 
I've been using the Great Value stuff for some time and no matter what else I try, gelpacs, tabs, etc., I always go back to the GV because it's so darn inexpensive and performs superbly! Less than two dollars for a box that lasts for over a month - how can you go wrong?

I don't use Jet-Dry very often - I have softened water and combined with the KitchenAid forced air drying and sani-rinse temps, I found it really isn't necessary.
 
Powder for me

Electrasol. I formerly used the 2-in-1 tabs, but since the KDS17A came to live in my kitchen I switched to plain Electrasol powder and have no complaints.
Greg I will have to try a box of the GV stuff..
 
I haven't used powder ever since liquid came out. Not gel--that is a useless product--but liquid. My mom had a BOL portable Signature top loader when powders were still the only thing on the market. It was routine to find bits of detergent still on glasses, etc. Same thing happened with her MOL Kenmore later on. When I got my KA DW new in 1990, there was no question about detergent, no powder would be allowed. We have fairly hard water in my area so that could definitely be a contributing factor.

If I find a deal on Cascade/Dawn gel packs I may try them, but thus far gel has been very disappointing.

Re: Jet Dry, I am not sure if it's the problem, but I have found that after my glass coffee maker carafe has gone through the DW, when I fill it with water for coffee the surface of the water will have some light suds/foam accumulation. I now routinely rinse out the carafe before filling it after it has been run through the DW. I have to assume whatever residue is on the carafe is on everything else and I may forego Jet Dry for a while to see if that's the problem.
 
Bosch owner too,

I use Palmolive gel, it works very well. I have tried many other brands and keep coming back to the Palmolive. Cleans great, is very low in phosphates, and the baking powder scent basically has no scent, which I prefer. For rinse aid I use Ecos brand Wave Jet. It is a "natural" product, no petrochemicals in it. Ingredients are: "Water, earth salts, coconut oil derived surfactants. Does not contain SLS". I have the Bosch set on the lowest setting for rinse aid, and with my slightly hard water have no spotting at all. I am going to try the Aldi brand diswasher gel next time, as it is even lower in phosphates than the Palmolive. I'll let you know how it works out.
 
Kitchenaid Imperial Dishwasher w/o Rinse Aid Dispenser

Hey Guys!

Are those Rinse Aid baskets that were used in dishwashers without the built-in dispenser still available anywhere?

I cannot find them. What does one substitute? Is there a detergent that has the rinse aid built?

Louis
 
dishwasher detergent

We use Costco liquid. It comes 2 bottles in a bundle. It works very well even with the biggest and dirtiest loads. It usually runs about $6.00 and some change. We also use the HI-TEMP wash setting on our Whirlpool dishwasher.
 
Rinse Aid Baskets

Louis,

Jet Dry rinse aid is still available in basket form at various grocery stores in my area. If you don't see it on the shelf, ask them to start stocking it. They should have no problem getting some in for you.

Ralph
 
Hi Peter,

Finish powder is now enzyme based and still has a hint of the original smell. We buy it in 3kg bottles every few months and love it to bits :)

There is no longer the levels of chlorine that used to make my eyes water if you opened the door mid cycle, you now just get a wiff.

If I can buy the 1L bottles of Finish rinse aid I do, otherwise I just use the store brand.
 

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