Dishwasher Detergent Blues....

[danemodsandy]

I'm asking this for friends who are having really bad problems with their dishwasher:

Here in Waterloo, Iowa, we have exceptionally hard water; calcium buildup is just part of life here. In fact, we may be some of the C-L-R peoples' best customers.

Since the de-phosphating of dishwasher detergents, liming of dishes has been a really horrific problem for many people here; the friends I'm asking this for have dishes that look like they're covered in dried milk, it's so bad. The inside of the dishwasher is heavily limed as well.

Does anyone know of a current dishwasher detergent that performs well in hard water? Additives like STPP or Lemishine are not really an option, because the person in question has some disabilities that don't allow them to gauge the amount of such things needed very well. They can cope with "Buy this brand," but not "You add a little of this to that."

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[danemodsandy]

P.S.:

Cascade Institutional or similar limited-distribution detergents are also not an option; mobility problems make regular grocery store visits enough of a problem for the person in question.

Again, thanks!

 

[rp2813]

I can't advise, but am looking forward to seeing some suggestions.  Once my stock of phosphated Cascade runs out, I'll be in the same boat unless I invest in a giant drum of STPP.  Very hard water here, and I've heard that using a citric acid additive like Lemishine on a regular basis isn't good for the dishwasher.

 

[whirlcool]

You could get some STTP and premix it with regular detergent and store it in a container. That way the person wouldn't have to mix it themselves.

 

[DADoES]

 
Cascade Institutional is available in a case of 6 large boxes from RestockIt.com. Delivery to the door by the UPS or FedEx truck, no one needs to go anywhere to fetch it.  Whether it's suitably-formulated to solve the problem is the question.

 

[qsd-dan]

Two Words...

Bubble Bandit!

I've used them all and added lots of STPP to 'em. Blah-ish performance at best.

Bubble bandit de-limed my entire dishwasher and dishes in just a couple of loads.

Pool your finances together and get a big batch amongst yourselves.

 

[retropia]

The only grocery-store-available product I'd suggest trying is a package of Cascade Complete Action Pacs, which Consumer Reports says does well in hard water, even without phosphates.

 

[ozzie908]

Ok todays daft question...!

Don't US dishwashers have a water softener built in like UK/Euro ones? You can alter the amount of purification to cope with the hardness of the water.

Just my two penn'orth

Austin

 

[launderess]

Don't US dishwashers have a water softener built in like

No, they don't, the only DW's sold in the USA with built in water softeners are the European brands such as Miele, and IIRC Bosch, Asko and a few others.

Don't know why but American manufacturers are either not interested or don't think there probably will be a huge enough market for such machines to justify R&D and other costs.

 

[magic_clean]

KitchenAid

has a softener model

http://www.kitchenaid.com/flash.cmd?/#/product/KUDS30SXSS/

 

[magic_clean]

Softener

system instructions

Loading…

www.kitchenaid.com

 

[mysteryclock]

Having a Bosch DW with a built-in softener has been a real revelation. We were having significant liming issues with our rock-hard water here in MiddleTN that even regular LemiShine or additional STPP wasn't quite addressing. Since we got the Bosch every single thing has come out clean and shiny first time, every time. I think I'm on my second box of Somat salt since early this year, so the additional $ has been very inexpensive. If they are due for a DW replacement, finding one with is a softener might be your best option.

I have heard that Bubble Bandit is very good, btw. Having a softener I'm able to just use the readily-available Finish Quantum pacs with great results.

 

[gansky1]

I pre-mix Cascade powder with STPP for several people here - rocks and pebbles spew from the tap - and everyone is perfectly happy.  A 1 gallon rubbermaid pitcher with sealing lid-spout holds a large box of detergent.  You can use a smaller container with a scoop or pouring spout for daily use and the larger for "storage".

 

I've noticed more spotting of glassware with the Cascade Institutional formula - cleans like crazy though, gotta love chlorine bleach.

 

[washer111]

Hmmm

Rather than suggest spending lots of money continuously on STPP additives, which only benefit some parts of your machines, I would suggest a whole-home water softener, if possible. Depending on your home, a system of at least 24K (with generally 18K usable) would be enough, although 32, 38 or 42K depending on other factors, such as iron

That way, all your water bearing appliances will be 100% protected from Calcium/Magnesium.

I believe softeners on DW's are silly: Because there are still parts that are exposed to hard water that will wear out quickly in super hard water (20+ GPG).

Otherwise, buy lots of STPP, repackage and sell it to your friends!

 

[rayjay]

Bubble Bandit

Bubble Bandit............ The BEST. Enough said.
I have soft water so I use 1 TBSLP in pre wash cup and 2 TBLSP in second.

Best results hands down. I threw all my stash away and only use this.

 

[volsboy1]

Same here I have been using Bubble Bandit for a long time and its the only one that can get wash my dishes and also dispose of

all the food that I dump in my dishwasher.I never scrape my dishes let alone pre rinse them.I dump them up in the sink and if it

don't come off it goes it the dishwasher..I have a L.G. with a grinder here at this house and it washes great as long as I use this

detergent.I also use it at our farm and we have East Tenn Rock hard well water so much that it tastes carbonated and it washes beautifully.

 

[mikeklondon]

DW Water Softeners

Do US, DW's not have a built in softener because many homes have a softener or is a lot of the US a soft water area ? IN the UK it would be odd not to have a built in softener as most of the UK has hard water

 

[volsboy1]

No water softener's are not a feature that you will see much in the U.S. market of dishwasher's at all.Most people going to Sears,Lowes

Home depot would not see a dishwasher with a water softener in it.It's sad also our water her at the farm is from a very deep well and

is very hard,very clean but very hard.I wish they would make that standard on dishwasher's it would help alot..

  I bought a G.E. Monogram in 2010 and that is a 1300 machine and it was terrible at cleaning I gave it away it was so bad.I looked

at Bosch and others but did not want a filter really.So I bought a L.G. and its been great for me I know alot of folks hate them but

I love mine it cleans great.My next dishwasher purchase will be a Miele though after using my Aunts so much I have fell in love with

that dishwasher and it has every feature on it but should consider the cost but worth it if it lasts for as long as I hear they do..

 

[DADoES]

 
MikeLondon,

Household water softeners are not very common in my experience, although some people do have them.  Water hardness runs the gamut, although may not reach the extremes of the UK, so I suppose it could be considered "moderate" on average.  Mostly, people just make do with what they have.