Dishwasher Detergents and rinse aids

[maytagbear]

For those lucky ones who have multiple dishwashers, do you use the same detergent in all of them?

I like the new enzyme detergents, a lot. Right now, I am using Cascade Complete--on sale and I had a coupon.

I usually use powder, but I thought I'd be wild and get gel this time. Do any of you regularly use the gel type?

Even though I am far from a fan of Wal*Mart, I reluctantly agree that Great Value detergent is just that.

Any of you ever use the Cascade Plastic Booster? I read the label, and it said it was mostly Benzoyl Peroxide. Geeze, maybe Clearasil might be cheaper?

Last night, I noticed as I was buying rinse aid, laundry detergent, cat food, and sesame bagels that there wasn't any Jet Dry in the little baskets (Who wants a little basket, anyway?) I wound up with a bottle of the Cascade...because it was cheaper than Jet Dry. There seems to be less variation in rinse aids than in detergents, or do I need to get out more often?

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[petek]

I don't vary

much when it comes to the DW. I'm sticking with Electrasol tabs because they work well. I buy the big round canister of 80 tabs and that will last me months. There's always a coupon for it somewhere if not right on the store shelf display, so for around $10 I'm good to go. Normally I buy Jet Dry in the big big bottles at Costco and that will last over a year. I can set the amount dispensed on the dw quite low and it seems to go on forever before needing refills, helps that my wataer is already soft to begin with.

 

[dalangdon]

eco-detergents

I have a lot of vintage dinnerware and am concerned about pattern fading (which seems to be a particularly bad problem with Metlox) so I use something called "Seventh Generation" that works great, but seems "gentler" on the dishes (doesn't that sound like a commercial?)

I also use something called "planet" in my washing machine because it seems to be gentler on the collection of Hawaiian and bowling shirts I've got, which need all the help they can get.

 

[toggleswitch]

Ddo those "tree-hugger" detergents work effectively?

 

[launderess]

Prefer Electrasol tabs, but most shops near us only carry the built in rinse aid version, much IMHO makes to much suds. Did snap up several boxes when various shops put them on closeout.

Recently have begun using Cascade "Pure Rinse" and "Complete" as both were on sale. Each is very low sudsing and cleans just as well as the Electrasol tabs IMHO, with the added benefit of being able to easily adjust dosage.

Tabs are great because each is wrapped so they will stay fresh for quite sometime. Powder really has to be used within several weeks of being opened,especially during hot/humid weather.

Our dw tech told us we can use 1/2 Electrasol tab and we do with great results. One thing he strongly suggested was to make sure to divide dosage between the pre-wash and wash cups, not to put the tab in the main wash compartment as Electrasol suggests. Theory goes that during the pre-wash all gunk, soils and oils are being slug around with the water all over your dishes and dishwasher, making an oily mess, and possibly harming dishes as well.

Am a real "nut" about rinsing, so like Ecover's natural rinse aid as it leave no taste altering residue the way Jet Dry even in small amounts can.

So long as can stock up on Cascade when on sale, probably will stick to the powder, unless I find another close-out of Electrasol tabs.

Launderess

 

[appnut]

Cascade Complete for me as well as the Cascade rinse agent.

 

[dalangdon]

The "tree huggers" work for me - but I have low standards: Since I'm too lazy to prewash anything, and am of the "jam-it-all-in-and-unload-it-when-you-think-about-it" school of laundry and dishwashering, I'm just happy that the stuff comes out clean looking and not faded or broken

 

[toggleswitch]

Quote: Am a real "nut" about rinsing, so like Ecover's natural rinse aid as it leave no taste altering residue the way Jet Dry even in small amounts can.

Thank you Laundress!

Hugely infomrative and useful tidbits like this just warm my heart..seriously.

-Steve

 

[veg-o-matic]

I think I've tried all the dishwasher detergents out there and I always end up going back to Cascade. I think it's one of those situations where you really do get what you pay for. I'm not sure which version of Cascade I buy. I'm more of a big-picture kind of guy
As for rinse aids, I always get Jet Dry in the little baskets, even though my dishwasher has a dispenser. I can never tell if the dispenser's full or not so I either go months without actually using any rinse aid or I overfill it. With the little baskets, I can see exactly when I need to replace 'em.

Plus, they make great purses for Barbie!

veg

 

[maytagbear]

But what if...

Barbie Millicent Roberts wants a less vertical and more horizontal handbag?

Just wondering.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[veg-o-matic]

Oh, no

A horizontal handbag widens the hips.