Bubble Bandit

[mark_wpduet]

I'm going to try some as soon as I run out of my institutional cascade....

It's strange to see glowing and horrible reviews for Hytron and Bubble Bandit.

On Amazon - institutional Cascade gets glowing reviews. Personally, I think it's just OK. Definitely BETTER Than the non-phosphate cascade (for my water conditions) but not as good as Finish Quantum or powerball.

I do like that bubble bandit has enzymes AND phosphates and non-chlorine bleach for stains. The institutional Cascade can not have enzymes because of the chlorine bleach, and it shows when running my crock pot through the dishwasher.

 

[appnut]

Fromt the Cascade with Phosphates thread

I bought a shipment of Institutional Cascade (5 or 6 85 oz boxes and I believe) I"m on my 2nd box. It does ok on many soils, but for very difficult, burned on, baked on food and some intense starchy stuff, it just cannot cut it. I keep testing it to its limits. I still have a few more packs of old fashioned Cascade Complete that I use for some of those needs stated above. I use it sparingly. I hope this Bubble Bandit will do the trick because I don't believe in soaking or pre-rinsing anythihng. I've not soaked anything in my sinks for over 25 years after I got the GSD1200.  The dishwasher has to tackle this job not me.

 

 

[launderess]

One Great Thing About Enzyme DW Detergents

Is they really do a great job of softening food crud on dishware including pots/pans.

Often when washing items with badly burnt or caked on foods that history had taught me will not come totally clean, will stop the DW and open the door after the prewash water drains and with a paper towel wipe off what is left of the heavy muck. It comes off quite easily and once that is done close up and allow the DW to get on.

Ok, not totally "automatic", but it beats opening the machine later and having to rewash/rinse things that have bits still remaining.

 

[launderess]

From Bubble Bandit's Website

"PRODUCT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT"

"The following 17 States have legislation in place that limits the sale of dishwasher detergent containing phosphate. If you live in one of these states, you may only purchase Bubble Bandit Dishwasher Detergent with phosphate by acknowledging you are buying it for commercial or institutional use: Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin."

 

[mayguy]

The product has come today!

I did a bunch of baking, and threw all the bowls of cookie dough, sugar loaded pan from making frosting, and many other stuff into the dishwasher!

The results came out clean!! Even had that old time smell that these detergent used to smelled like!

 

[mark_wpduet]

Old time smell?

Good to hear you got good results, but I remember the old time smell being chlorine? Am I wrong?

 

[roto204]

Buzz Killington

I tried Bubble Bandit in both the MW Westinghouse impeller last night, and the KDI-20, and it was atrocious in both machines. I had thought it was a water temp issue, or just the joy of (*flutters eyes*) using old-school dishwashing technology on the part of the MW, but no, the KitchenAid used to perform great with standard powdered detergent spiked with phosphates.

Everything was chalky, and in the KA, the Bubble Bandit didn't wash completely out of the dispenser. Wash arms turned fine, yadda, yadda...and I've used powders before in this dispenser without issue.

Water temp measures at 140, and there's only about a three-minute pause on the KA before the thermostat gives it the green light and it takes off into washing.

It's a brand-new pack of Bubble Bandit--measured carefully per instructions with the scoop.

I must be cursed! I'm going back to my doctored stand-by.

I know our water's hard, but it's not bricks and pebbles out of the faucet. Besides, Bubble Bandit is supposed to address just exactly that situation. Go figure!

 

[toploader55]

Hytron...

I ran one of my "One Armed Wonders" last night. The Regency on the Soak and Scrub Cycle with a Pyrex Pan that I Roasted a chicken in 2 days ago. No pretreating by any means. Just Dry and Crusty. Now mind that there is no sump heater in this machine.

Came out absolutely Spotless. We have hard water here too, and as Nate said "Not Bricks and Pebbles". A Chemical Tech. for my Commercial Machines a long time ago said "Powders Clean Best". I can't think of a time Powders ever let me down. (Dishwashing that is).

 

[magic_clean]

Nate

perhaps you've got a little too much thermal energy going on.

Recent detergents seem happier in lower temps......115-130f. So try again without lots of purging water at the tap & use rinse aid.

 

[roto204]

LOL

What, the dishwasher shouldn't glow a soft cherry red afterward?

I'll knock down the temps and see what the deal is, and try to strip the ick with Lemishine. Sheesh!

 

[mayguy]

Old time smell..

Maybe it's the chlorine smell?? I ran another load last night, but didn't open it till this morning, so didn't get a chance to sniff it again.. lol

 

[qsd-dan]

Maybe it's the chlorine smell?

There's no chlorine bleach in Bubble Bandit as it would kill the enzymes in it.

Maybe it's the STPP you smell ;>)

 

[mayguy]

Good point, gsd...

I have no ideal what STPP smells like, so maybe?

 

[washmeup]

Awesome

This product is amazing. I ordered it through Amazon and have used is twice. I will never use Cascade or Finish again now that I can get Bubble Bandit. I only wish it came in a box with a pour spout instead of a bag with a zip lock top. Oh well, you can't have everything? LOL

 

[gr81nknox]

Mine came earlier this week(went ahead and ordered 2 bags of it) and I tried it yesterday. One caveat, with me being busy because of the holidays recently I haven't done alot of cooking so I didn't have anything really baked on or filthy to wash. Just everyday dishes, bowls, and glasses. I did put a couple of wine glasses in for the wash as those seemed to be worst for showing spots when I used casade and Finish powder. They did better with the Finish gel packs, but still had some residue around the lip of the glass. Soooo well first thing I noticed when I opened the bag was the smell. Reminded of what I used to remember powder DW detergents smelling like before they started adding lemon, citris, or whatever scent. Per the instructions, filled the main wash cup only and then started the cycle. About 12 min into the main wash, I opened the door to check for foaming(see thread in Deluxe forum for more on this) and the only thing I saw was mildly soapy water and some suds, no foam! Let her finsh and once again, during the dry cycle, the smell coming from the DW was like what I used to remember smelling. It's hard to describe, it's not a harsh smell like chlorine or a fruity scented smell, just a pleasant smell that tells me the dishes are clean. When all was said and done, the wine glasses looked perfect. Everything came out clean(again, wasn't that dirty going in this time) and I can't wait to try it with a really dirty load. But after using Bubble Bandit one time, I'm liking it.

 

[mayguy]

Glad to hear you guys who just got it is liking it too!

I poured some (about a cup or so) into an air tight rubbermaid container, that way I don't have to worry about it caking up under the sink, adn rest of it is in the dry area in the laundry room.

Yeah, the smell is something and I enjoy it!

 

[mark_wpduet]

Can someone enlighten me

on this "old time smell"?

The reason I ask, is growing up in the 70s/80s, I remember all automatic dishwashing detergents smelling like chlorine. I don't remember any other smell. Didn't they all have chlorine back then? I don't think they had enzymes, or did they?

 

[mayguy]

I am not sure? We didn't have one when I was growing up, just at friends house at time when I smelled it.

 

[mich]

Bubble Bandit has Enzymes???

While I don't have a MSDS on hand, the bag only lists

Sodium Carbonate (Washing Soda) (Probably Filler )
Sodium TriPolyPhosphate (Water Softener & Cleaning Agent)
Sodium Metasilicate (Alkalinity Booster, Water Softener)
Sodium Polyacrylate (Water Absorbing Crystals (used in Swiffer Pads, and Diapers) ??? (What are these doing in here)
C6-10 alcohols ethoxylated propoxylated (disinfectant, possibly a spot remover?)

Unless I'm truly missing something, I really don't see Enzymes or Oxygen Bleach, or even Chlorine in there formulation.

This stuff looks very similar to something, Johnson Diversy makes for Glass Dishwashing...

 

[joeekaitis]

. . . a thousand words. 'nuff said.