Commcerical dish detergent ??

[volsboy1]

My friend is a Manager at a Restaurant and he brought me over a box full of Four round 5 pound dish machine detergent brand new in the box.I was wondering if I could use this stuff sense the stuff out today is so bad.I looked at the price for these there 200 bucks for just one of those round refill's. I remember them at Red-lobster for out dish machine.The stuff is hard as a rock and it sprays hot water up in them during fill to dispense.It does have Phosphates in it and I have busted one up and made like Rock size pieces but how much would I use or should I use?It says super concentrated and that I do know cause the burn hand pic of the side and all the warnings.My dishwasher is all stainless steel but will hurt something else if I use a like a teaspoon per wash.

 

[launderess]

If this is the Ecolab "solid" Stuff

You'll have to grind those rock size bits into a powder, otherwise they may not totally disslove during the wash cycle or cycles.

As you stated, those units are designed to dispense the proper amount of product via hot water being sprayed for a certain amount of time against the solid block. To keep the remaining product "fresh" and prevent other problems, most of these products have some sort of coating to make them a bit water resistant. Otherwise constant exposure to water would cause them to break apart and crumble. This would totally mess up the dispenser system.

My preferred method is to first whack at the solid block with a hammer or mallet, breaking off large chunks. Put said large chunks into a strong bin liner bag, then whack at the chunks until they are smaller bits.

Sift small bits through a strainer or sieve (first batch of powder), then put any remaining huge pieces into a blade coffee/spice grinder to make powder, and so forth.

Use this method with some Ecolab Solid Oxy-Guard bleach. Once it is gone won't bother ever again with this sort of proudct for obvious reasons. *LOL*

 

[launderess]

Or, Another Method

Mimics how one remembers the ladies who loaded the pass thru dishwasher whilest at school.

Simply bunk a chunk or two into the bottom of the dishwasher, allow all wash cycles to run, then fetch it out after the dw drains the final wash water and before the rinses.

 

[volsboy1]

Well I know the stuff is very strong it's not Eco-lab brand but looks just like it and I have one of those food saver systems my Mom bought me when I was in College,she will never cut those strings.I never used it but it would work great about keeping it fresh I ground up a little bit but I will have to do that outside cause it kinda burns the dust does..My dishwasher I think only heats during the main wash and that steam thing it does,I am not sure though cause I only have had it a week it's a t.o.l. G.E. profile/monogram .They have took off pots and pans,heavy, but there is the deep clean on the cycle selection.I would use very small pieces for the pre wash but I do know that when it starts the main wash the water is HOT HOT,cause the water sits there during the steam part and when I heard the cup open the water was scalding. I just don't want to ruin the pump or something cause of the acid reminder on the box.So if I start out with a tea spoon and work up from there..

 

[launderess]

Oh Yes, TheDust

Get yourself some of those surgical masks from the drug store, and WEAR IT when fooling around with this stuff.

Another thing you could do is get some cheese cloth and make small pouches (tied tight with string or even sewn closed) with good sized chunks of this detergent. Again once the wash cycles are finishes, fetch the thing out.

 

[miele_ge]

Please keep us posted on the cleaning performance on your GE

I was looking to get a Monogram unit for my brother when he does his kitchen and am curious to see how it works in real life.

Also, I am using the new Cascasde (in the light green box) without phosphates and am having no trouble whatsoever with it in our 9 year old Miele dishwasher. I don't pre rinse much and everything seems to come perfectly clean on the Normal, China and Short cycles.

What types of dishwashing challenges are you facing that make you want to seek out the commercial stuff?

Regards,

Alan