Dishwasher detergents and Phosphates ???

[volsboy1]

I have been buying detergent for my dishwasher at Walmart and when I got home yesterday the same detergent I have been using is Phosphate free..I washed the dishes but they werent clean like normal.We have a Kenmore powerclean dishwasher which is very powerful.I went today and got Finnish gel packs well it suds locks my dishwasher BAD I mean running out the door suds..My Mom is a Botanist and she has boxes and boxes of chemicals and we have a huge tub of Phosphates for her plants and our farm.I was wondering if I could add some to the detergent and just make my own?These enzymes they use dont work,and here in the U.S. the most tech advanced contry in the world can't use what they use in Europe plus make decent applicance's that last,well like they used to before Whirlpool ate everybody.They want less and less water used which I really don't understand in the first place.Water is not like Oil or what not it goes right back to the river and it brought back in and cleaned so these new dishwasher's can't wash and then they castrate the detergents that go in them.I have a box of Walmart detergent it is a 6.5 pound box I wonder how much Phosphates to add to it?I read on here that Calgonite not sure of the spelling had 12% Phosphates in it but and Cascasde complete used to have 8.9 the last time I looked at it but I am sure that is going down more and more..My Aunt who was came up has one of thoese new Kitchenaid H.E. T.O.L. dishwasher and I installed it for her and loaded it like I do ours.Well it can't clean that is for sure It ran and ran all night and the filter that they told her was self cleaning was full of food.She spent the week with us and she told me the dishwasher will still be running when she gets up at 6 Am she goes to bed at 11 P.M. she has to use the soak and the longest setting to even get them useable.She keeps her water heater turned way down so I know that adds time but when they droped off her dishwasher they took her 1993 Kitcheaid which stll ran good.She wants it back now.That new one was 1500 bucks she is getting rid of it and getting a new Miele 24" LaPerla II Series and a commercial one Miele also because she is one of thoese Atlata social lites and she has large dinners.I am in sticker shock to say the least in both machines.She asked me what the most powerful dishwasher you can get and one of the best and she ordered them here from Abt.I cant wait to use that commercial machine 106 Gallons a min with a 10Min wash and 10Min dry that is some water movement.I can't afford a Miele anything but these new detergeants don't work and until I find me a Kdi21 or a Kds18 Kitchenaid DW I have got to do something I had to run it twice today.How much would be a good Idea to add I have tried everything adding Borax and still dont clean right.

 

[jeffg]

If your water is hard, phosphates may help. But you didn't mention what kinds of phosphates you have, e.g. for STPP try adding a scant tablespoon to the main wash.

If your water isn't hot enough to do the job (at least 140F), nothing is going to solve that problem. I mean, in your aunt's case it's downright ridiculous: whatever money she might be saving on water heater bills are being spent (and then some) on SEVEN HOUR dishwasher cycles. Just absurd!

If you've fallen for the same gag and have your water heater turned down, turn it up and see how much (or if) your cleaning performance improves. That'll tell you what the problem is.

 

[frigilux]

Something's wrong with that machine. My water comes out of the kitchen tap at about 120 degrees. My LG has no problem heating the water quickly to 140 during the main wash. It also heats to a sanitizing 160 much faster than my Maytag or Frigidaire ever did.

It heats the water so quickly that I've stopped running the kitchen tap to purge the line of cold water when I start a cycle.

Even using the soak cycle plus all options (steam, sanitize rinse, extra rinse) the LG gets it done in 3 hours or less.

 

[dj-gabriele]

I still don't understand why you can't use machines with inbuilt heaters that actually work.
Mine heats from tap cold to 65°C and does a complete wash in 72 minutes and I have never prerinsed anything in my life, even burned on stuff, yet, that model is AAA using only 16 L of water and 1kWh of power. Plus it was the cheapest model on the market!

 

[volsboy1]

Its not me whos is doing this it my Aunt.My dishwasher is a Kenmore powerclean standard tub and its a great DW(Well until I get my KDS18 Kitchenaid)..My water is set at 125F and it cleans great now.My Aunt just like my Mom are very set in there ways,but she hates the Kitchenaid Dw.I think the there is something wrong with it or its just such a water miser model it just sucks..My Experiment worked GREAT and I mean great.I took some terrible detergent and turned into something that blows Cascade complete or any I have seen away.I added Phosphates to it and I dumped tons of food in the washer,I used the main cup only and it all came out SPOTLESS..You do have to get the mix right though or it will have a dirt smell kinda and it didnt take much I added about 4 tablesspoons to a 6.5 pound box..