Best modern dishwasher soap for vintage (ish) kitchen aid

[wigwag]

I'm not happy with the cascade melty packs with the powder and blue liquid stuff. On the pots and pans cycle it won't get any soap on the dishes as the plastic has yet to dissolve to release the detergent and honestly I just don't think that detergent cleans well. I'd be curious to know what others use in their kitchen aids?

Thanks,
Steven

 

[rapunzel]

Finish powder

That's the one for me. It hasn't got that pesky blue stuff in it that goes all gooey and gunky underneath the lower wash arm. It cleans really well - my plates are shiny and they actually still squeak when I rub them with my finger. Squeaky clean is not a given with many other dishwasher detergents anymore I have found.

 

[washer111]

Seconded!

Certainly agree with what Rapunzel stated there. 

 

Although being in the U.S., I've read here the Finish powder is now nowhere as good as it once was since it is now Phosphate Free, so adding Phosphates could be an option.

 

If you are having issues with detergent dissolving, make sure that you are getting water that is 120ºF (or more) at your kitchen tap. You should be able to draw this amount of water in around 10 seconds, otherwise you might have to run the tap before starting the dishwasher. If the dishwasher is a newer iteration of KA (Whirlpool) the water heating may be cut short even before the correct temperature if water is only allowed to be heated, for say, 10 minutes. 

 

[combo52]

Best Detergents for DWs in the No-Phosphate Era

We recommend that our customers use a premium tablet in the detergent dispenser AND use 1-2or 3 table spoons of regular phosphate free liquid or power DW detergent directly on the inside of the door of the DW or they can put it in the pre-wash cup depending on which DW they have. This recipe seems to work well for most users, but as always it is important that the load has enough food soils and that most users use the hi-temp wash option.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Most importantly, it's not soap. It's detergent.

 

[jetcone]

Third

I agree Finish powder but I do have soft water

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[whirlykenmore78]

If you can get it

Institutional Cascade is the best thing going.  I buy it from Restockit.com.  It smells and works like the Cascade of old.  I have found nothing else that can match it. 

WK78

 

[dustin92]

Seriously, I think the new Cascade Platinum tabs are the best out there, although a bit spendy, they get everything clean the first time. If your tabs aren't even dissolving, you either have 1. no water in the tub, 2. Clogged filter or spray arms, or 3. the pump just isn't working properly. The cascade tabs should be dissolving even if the water isn't hot enough, so that leads me to believe there is a lack of water or water pressure.

 

[whirlcool]

Or you could have a pot or pan blocking the detergent dispenser. I've seen that before.

 

[jimmyb]

I agree WK78...

nothing beats Institutional Cascade!

 

[bajaespuma]

For very dirty/greasy loads I do basically what John suggested: I use Cascade liquid that has bleach for the pre-wash and then a powder with phosphates in the main dispenser and choose the heated water option. When I can get it, I like using Institutional Cascade with phosphates but all also use other industrial powders for professional machines; those formulas don't f**k around because professional machines only have a precious few minutes to wash the ware. For normal daily loads, I'll use the powder in the main wash dispenser and choose heated water if there are no edged or wooden handled knives or questionable plastic in the load. If so, that's when I really like using the liquid with chlorine bleach; it has a chance to sanitize at the lower temperatures. I don't like the packets because I think they are an overdose of detergent for my water area and I've found that the packages deteriorate in storage from humidity or just age. Also, because our water is relatively soft, I don't use the maximum dose recommended unless I'm washing a lot of very greasy non-pre rinsed stuff.

I wish the Dishwasher All of my youth was still available.