Cascade Complete packs

[ea56]

I’ve been using Cascade Platinum Paks for three years now and have been very pleased up until last Wednesday. I did a load in my Whirlpool WDF330PAHW using the 1 hour cycle with heated dry option, just like always. I placed the one Platinum Pak’s in the dispenser, just like always, making sure to run the hot water at the sink until it was really hot before pressing start. When the cycle was complete and I opened the door I immediately knew something wasn’t right. There was a white film all over the clear glass items, and upon further inspection I found the partially dissolved Platinum Pak on the bottom, left side of the tub. The dishes hadn’t been cleaned thoroughly either and I had to rewash several items. This had never happened before and I was concerned that there was something wrong with the dishwasher. So I ran a cycle with no detergent and an empty tub to see if everything was OK with the machine, and it was.

The next day I bought a box of Cascade Complete Powder and gave it a try. I found that it cleaned just as well, if not better than the Platinum Paks, and at $5.99 for the large box, compared to $13.00 for the 36 pak Platinum Paks, this will now be my daily driver DW detergent.

To keep it fresh, I poured the entire box into a 2 quart Rubbermaid pitcher, so its sealed against any moister. Since our water is extremely hard here I’m filling the main cup to the max line and also the prewash cup as well, using one of those little plastic measuring cups that come with liquid medicine.

And like always, I’m using rinse aid too. The real difference I noticed immediately is that the coffee stains came out of the white Corelle Stoneware mugs, stains that the Platinum Paks always left behind.

Thanks to all the members here that have posted favorable comments about Cascade Complete Powder. Your input helped me come up with an excellent solution right away.
Eddie[this post was last edited: 3/19/2018-01:08]

 

[infusor]

I tried the new platinum packs

So i decided to try the "new and improved" platinum packs since i had trouble with tons of foam and these are even WORSE!!! They foam even MORE!! WHAT THE HELL!! I bought the new finish quantum packs too and they foam alot, the finish quantum was the only thing i could use besides something cheap. So what? We cant use anything anymore?????? (Dishwasher detergent is NOT supposed to foam!!!)

 

[infusor]

Lemi shine

Tried lemi shine. ZERO FOAM!

 

[iowabear]

That the worst thing about P&G products...the formulations and scents are constantly changing, sometimes announced on the the packaging, sometimes not.

 

Thanks for the report Eddie, maybe I'll give the Cascade powder another try.  I'm sure they have changed it since I last used it.  However since they'd rather people buy the premium pods (and lose the ability to dose them) they probably wouldn't have trumpeted the change on the box.

 

 

 

[maytagbear]

As I said in the HE powdered laundry thread........

How I wish Henkel would bring Somat dishwasher-ing to the States! (Perhaps they have, but I mean to supermarkets, Target..without having to "mail order" the stuff..)

Somat 9, which a kind friend sent me, is the only dishwasher detergent I prefer to Cascade Platinum.

I just scrape, I never ever rinse a blasted thing, and cringe when well-intentioned friends, trying to be helpful, rinse dishes before I can load them.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[johnb300m]

It makes you wonder.... if companies like P&G are even bothering with field testing anymore. Heck, even an internal employee test would be helpful.
Give some reformulated pacs to employees, test them for a few weeks and report back any good or bad findings.
We do internal field testing all the time. It's very informative.

Or are they just reformulating and tossing them out into the market?

 

[strongenough78]

I've been wanting to get a picture of the foam when I run a load and keep forgetting. I'm gonna go with the powder next time.

 

[DADoES]

 
I ran a DD load this morning with a Cascade Platinum pack.  There was considerable sudsing during the prewash.  Much less, although some, during the main wash.  I got a few pics but can't get them out of the camera because I didn't have a memory card inserted and I can't find the mini-USB cable to get them out of on-board memory.

The Platinum didn't clean a tea stain that Boil Out handles nicely.

 

[appnut]

I find the tea stain effectiveness varies.  When I use SmartWash and the load is quite dirty, soil removal is much better.  Main wash  has been clocked at 88 to 90 minutes.  Not sure if target temp is 130 or 140 in those scenarios.  But loads are far better dealt with when I opt for Sani-Rinse.  Main wash is 140+ and final rinse is 153 to 155.  And main wash can still be about 90 minutes. 

 

[DADoES]

 
Normal cycle.  Total time 115 mins (5 water changes), incl 23 or 28 mins dry.  140°F wash, 150°F rinse.

 

[perc-o-prince]

I'm only dealing with Miele...

I can't tell you how many households I've been in where the only trouble with their dishwasher has been the use of pods. Seriously. The excess detergent causes leakage, heating faults, drainage faults, incomplete rinsing.... In clothes washers, you can add in door lock faults, fill faults, spin faults....

They finally believe me when I run their washer to test it and there are suds in it. "That residue is on the last dishes/clothes you washed in this machine!"

Stop with the pods already! LOL!

Chuck

 

[coldspot66]

Hi Chuck,

I am NOT a fan of pods either...especially for a dishwasher. You cannot control the dosage. I've had customers that move into a new place and wash clean dishes with a pod, and think there is something wrong with the dishwasher because it oversuds and leaks!!!!!

Hope you and Rich are well....Happy Easter to you both!

 

[appnut]

I wish they'd make a Powder version of Platinum!! 

 

[DADoES]

 
A contributing issue with the DD is that a drawer load is 50-/60%-ish of a traditional unit.

 

[lakewebsterkid]

Pods/Pacs

I find that the Finish Quantum pacs work quite well. That is if they fully dissolve during the wash. Using the new Bosch I find that the Auto or Heavy cycle is required to dissolve the pacs faster. The Normal cycle does not use enough heat in lightly soiled loads for the pac to dissolve fast enough. After I use the next bag of Quantum, I might go back to the Cascade Complete powder mixed with about 20% STPP in volume. I too would buy a Platinum version of Cascade powder. Perhaps a little citric acid and maybe double the enzymes? One good thing about the pacs is that they can combine both powder and liquid ingredients together in one dose, which is kind of an engineering feat.

 

[mattl]

Not really sure why so much hate for pods, for me they just work.  I keep some powdered on had to use with odd or small loads, but never had a suds issue in my new KA, last time I looked mid cycle there was a small amount of suds on top of the puddle of water, certainly nothing I'd worry about.  Got to be the water in your area causing that.

 

[rolls_rapide]

"Not really sure why so much hate for pods..."

Because of the excessive foaming issues.

These pods are designed for a full load of dishes, in a full-size machine, with a filthy level of soiling, and hard water to boot.

God help us if we have a half load, a compact machine, light soiling, or soft water... we get excessive amounts of foam generated. Even more so, if several of the above factors come into play.

 

[strongenough78]

Finally got pictures.

The detergent cup just opened about 5 minutes before. The pack wasn't even dissolved all the way and already this much foam. I'm going to switch back to the powder. That's a good 2.5 inches of foam already from what I can tell. The tub is pretty deep.

 

[mattl]

<blockquote>
Because of the excessive foaming issues.

 

</blockquote>
As I have stated I've never had a similar issue.  I'm sure there are other factors in play here, as to the amount and type of water used.  If I remember I'll snap a picture of the little amount of suds I have using pods...

 

[mrboilwash]

Loading a sharp knife with its blade upside would be a sure way to cut my wrist in no time at all. Distracted as I usually am...

That is an impressive amount of foam. Can`t comment on the Cascade Packs, we didn`t have any P&G automatic DW products for a long time in stores, but I`ve always found if a DW detergent tends to be on the sudsy side it also seems to do a superior job for crystal clear glasses.
Guess if it chokes the pump it`s way too much.