Cascade Powder w/phosphates VS Cascade non-phosphate w/stpp added

[nurdlinger]

So I am confused about Institutional Cascade

The 54.XX box stuff. Does it contain chlorine bleach or not? Claims are made both ways earlier in the thread. I have some KA tall tub dishwasher with a stainless steel interior. I don't want to use bleach in it, and I don't want to spend the $$ for the Institutional Cascade if it indeed contains bleach.

 

[tomturbomatic]

A properly formulated detergent containing chlorine will not hurt the tank any more than it would hurt your stainless flatware or pans. On what are you basing this fear?

 

[appnut]

Commercial dishwashers do indeed have stainless stel interiors, so I wouldn't worry!!! 

 

[mark_wpduet]

It DOES have chlorine bleach! I can smell it and tell how it bleaches the inside of the dishwasher.

The non-phosphate cascade powder with "extra bleach" doesn't have real chlorine bleach.

I'm glad you told me about your experience with Hytron. I had never heard of it until a few days ago and had it bookmarked for future just in case.

Dumb question: Does GFS stand for Gordon Food Service?

 

[maytagbear]

Yes,

"GFS" stands for Gordon Food Service. That is how I know it, and how my friends refer to it. I am going on Thursday for more Institutional Cascade.

As for the Hytron, it again points up how important variations in water can be! It might be a competent to excellent performer in hard, hard water.

My water is just on the edge of hard. European dishwasher detergents, which still have (for a while) lots of phosphate, tend to suds in my water. They still clean quite well, but I have to manually add a rinse.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[nurdlinger]

OK thanks

I never thought about bleach in the stainless steel lined dishwasher before reading this thread. Some posts in here made me anxious over it. If it's really not a cause for worry, I am glad to hear it.

 

[macboy91si]

GFS

Yeah, Gordon Food Service, there is one over behind Chik-Fil-A on Plaudit Pl. over near the Liquor Barn in Hamburg, if you've never been there, give it a whirl, it's a neat place.

 

-Tim

 

[maytagbear]

I get a lot of baking supplies at GFS

They have excellent prices on things like bread yeast in the 1 pound package. Amazingly enough, a pound of yeast lasts a nice time in the freezer, but I go through about a pound of yeast a year.

They also have a selection of decent cookware at or slightly below Wally World prices.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[Jsneaker]

Polkanut & Mark_wpduet's comments & some advice

The Hytron detergent's phosphate content is misleading. A phosphate content of .05% is the "residual" amount that might remain in non-phosphate versions of any detergent, dishwashing or laundry. I find the jar of the Hytron is misleading and deceptive. it says in the ingredients that is contains phosphate, with the asterisk, denoting "less than...". If one wants the benefit of chlorine detergent, do what I sometimes do: add 1/4 cup of liquid chlorine bleach to the very first pre wash(after any purge or drain-I start my machine on pre wash with no 2-minute-plus drain cycle) on your dishwasher, when the water isn't very hot yet. You will then get the benefit of both chlorine and enzymes. My dishwasher is a POS bottom-line "Tragic Chef" with just one 20-minute rinse. I let the first rinse go for about two minutes, then switch the machine to "rinse & hold". This way I get thoroughly-rinsed items. I also still have 1975 chlorine and 12.6% phosphate all dishwasher powder, that works fine, but only leaves some powder residue on the dishes as it's so old. We have very soft water on LI, and my hot water can get to 140 or more easily-it STEAMS a lot at 9-10 at night when I do my dishes.

 

[whirlcool]

After awhile I've noticed that the dishwasher tends to retain the odor of the DW detergent that you are using. So if you add 1/4 cup bleach just before starting up the machine, when it finishes not only will you have nice white coffee cups, but the dishwasher doesn't have any odor at all.

We do this about twice a month.

 

[Jsneaker]

My DW Detergents

I currently use non-phosphate Cascade with Dawn action Pacs, "New Zealand Spring" scent. I can't wait to finish these, as the scent is WAY too strong! I guess these stinkers appeal to several ethnic groups? I also use Finish Powerball Tabs Citrus Scent, also non-phosphate, and those work quite well. I have used Cascade Complete Pacs, and they work better than the regular Action Pacs, though they cost more. I still have a bag of 8% phosphate Action Pacs left, but am saving it for my collection.

 

[polkanut]

Our city water is medium hard, so maybe in softer water it does foam more, IDK.  I've always found it to be a good performer, and I love the smell of the chlorine coming out of the machine.  I'm currently using a 50/50 mixture of Hytron & Cascade w/ 6% phosphate.  Great results so far. (fingers crossed) 

 

[DADoES]

 
Have run a couple loads with the Cascade.  The bleach content has a nice effect on stained plastics, such as the funnel of my iced tea maker which never came fully white with the enzyme formulations.

 

[Jsneaker]

Try this...

Reckitt-Benckiser has a product available in some supermarkets here called "Finish Glass Magic". I was told by a company representative that it has phosphates and chlorine in it, and was exempt from the DW detergent phosphate regulations. I have looked at a box, and sure enough, it has 21% phosphate and dry chlorine bleach. You are supposed to use it in the first pre-wash to help eliminate stains on glassware. It will also clean-out your dishwasher. It costs 4.29 at Shop-Rite by me, but I have not noticed it in Targets or Walmarts.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Just ordered

My phosphated Cascade. Can't wait to see how it works.

 

[mich]

Well.. Curiosity got the best of me, and I opened a box of Institutional Cascade. Sadly.. this stuff is formulated differently from the Cascade Gel, and Electrasol Chlorine Powder Detergent formulations I remember. It simply cannot dissolve through food In Fact, in my case, it actually left a nasty, gritty, residue from a small amount of Mashed Potatoes left on a plate..

I'm not sure what the difference in Formulation is, from there Old Sheeting Action Forumla (20oz Boxes) and this stuff, besides the STPP Level, 7.5 vs 7.0. The old stuff could dissolve through food very thoroughly, even Mac & Cheese, and Oatmeal. I'm guessing the Bleach Content isin't the same, or the Sheeting Action Forumla has a additional ingredient, or surfactant to work on that stuff.

On the Bright Side, Tubberware & Glassware will come out, super sparkling, if everything is pre-rinsed beforehand. For now.. I'm gonna stay with My Cascade Complete Powder, with Phosphates

 

[DADoES]

 
I haven't had that experience.  Everything I've thrown at it has come out nicely.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

I've used nothing but Institutional Cascade

for 1.5 years now.  Nothing but sparkling dishes and a clean smelling dishwasher afterwards. 

WK78

 

[whirlcool]

We still have a stash of the old Cascade Action Packs with 8% STTP we use for heavy loads. Most of the time we have been using the new Cascade Complete packets with Dawn and no STTP.

When the load is done with the newer Cascade Complete it leaves a strange sweet kind of scent behind. I don't particularly care for it. The older Cascade Action packs with Dawn leave a more neutral clean scent behind. The newer stuff cleans OK, but I don't like the odor it has.

 

[retromania]

I saw Cascade in institutional packaging at my local Ace Hardware a few years back. Wonder if that's the same product you described. Will have to go and read the label if they still have it. I love Cascade. Getting harder and harder around here to find it without lemon. I now settle for Cascade with Dawn. Like I've said in other posts, our water is soft here and I don't have to fill bothe detergent cups. Always kind of figured that was to make you use more of the detergent.