Best dishwashing detergent in soft water

[tomdawg]

I have. Soft water system in my house, and I’ve been struggling with the best automatic dishwashing detergent.

I generally use finish powerball pacs from Costco but they recently switched to quantum power pacs, I’m not sure if I like the new stuff. I notice it cleans better, but I feel there is still a soap film on the dishes. I’ve always had cascade complete powder that I would use for small loads, I’m now using it on bigger/dirtier loads. I use one teaspoon, but sometimes the load still smells like food. I have been increasing to 2 teaspoons.

Do you guys have a favorite detergent you like to use? Thinking of switching to cascade complete liquid

 

[jamiel]

with softened water a full tablet/pod can be excessive. on the other hand, teaspoons of dishwasher detergent really aren't enough. I'd use a minimum of 1 tablespoon (3 teaspoons) per load--you need to shift the grease.

 

[philcobendixduo]

Cascade Complete Powder....

....is what I have used for years in my 1994 Maytag.
I have softened water.
I fill both detergent cups and always get great results.

 

[askolover]

Is your DW new or older?  Both of my 90's models I use Premiere powder with chlorine or Palmolive gel with chlorine.  Packs and tabs foam way too much with my softened water. Dishes smell clean and usually leave nothing behind.

 

[tomdawg]

I have a Bosch 800 series. I bought it in December of 2020

Yes, I have noticed too, when I open the dishwasher mid cycle. There is a lot of foam. I have read on here, some people think foam is hard on the dishwashers.

 

[qsd-dan]

Foam means too much detergent. It's not hard on the dishwasher but performance will nosedive when it's anything beyond a haze. Try as gel based product with chlorine like Greg mentioned above.

 

[sudsmaster]

The water here is relatively soft (4 or lower). I use Finish Powerball Max-In-1 tabs. They consistently work very well in the Bosch SHU43C.

 

[egress]

we've had great luck with cascade complete powder. filled to the halfway line in our new kitchenaid dishwasher and it cleans great & doesn't leave a film on dishes or anything. Personally I'd stay away from pods or pacs, like others have mentioned they can cause foaming issues. gel detergent is just mediocre IMO, theres not much reason to use it over a powder.