Consumer Reports Tests Dishwashing Powders/Tabs/Gels

[charger]

This subject is interesting to me because my 1993 KitchenAid is very picky about what dishwashing product is used, high end Cascade or Electrasol with the Jet-Dry dispenser filled gives good results as long as the machine is loaded carefully. The use of cheaper dishwashing product will result in disappointing silver and glasses – dishes are always clean regardless.

In my 2000 Maytag the results are always good regardless of what product is used even cheap crap from Costco and I almost never bother to fill the Jet-Dry tank.

I don’t know anything about the hardness of the water here but I have played with higher hot water temperatures and it does not seem to matter except that they are both slightly faster if the water does not need as much additional heating but cleaning is the same . Judging from the extra arms on the main dish wash system and the separate twin wash arms built into the upper rack you would think the KitchenAid would have the advantage. The Maytag does take about 20 Min longer to finish.

 

[ronhic]

MRX

I can believe that....

It used to be cheaper than the UK when I was there in 2000, but all of that seems to have changed...

 

[mysteryclock]

I use the Cascade All-in-Ones pictured above in our KitchenAid and they are the best performing things I've found. The only downside is the slight "Cascade smell" at the end of the cycle which I've never preferred, but it beats pre-washing everything. Of course our water is so hard here that I still have to add some Lemishine to each & every load or risk getting grey film buildup on the steel and glass items (and the SS tub too!)