Dishwasher pacs

[jkbff]

I'm confused...

Now that I have a modern dishwasher, I am trying to figure out what pacs to buy... I've been searching on the forums for a bit, but am getting even more confused.

What is the best combination of cleaning power and cost savings?

Are sam's club Member's mark pacs really that crappy? They don't have good reviews on samsclub.com at all.. I was thinking of trying Cascade Platinum but I can't find anything that comes in the 105 ct packages?

What is the largest buckets of the best cleaning pacs available? I don't get why Cascade doesn't list their package quantities on their sites so I can just search for the stuff..

Does anyone know what the different color of gels in the pacs do?

Is sunlight any good?

Also, does anyone use melaleuca's dish detergent? I've noticed on my new Maytag, the detergent doesn't clean as well as it did in my EdgeStar.. I dunno if its because I use the hi-temp wash settings, or what but the stuff seems to act differently..

I know this particular issue has been discussed many times but for some reason, I'm not finding what I need. Thanks for any help

 

[bravos4me]

Finish PowerBall Tabs...

We've been using those exclusively for several years in our newer (non-Hobart) KitchenAids. Can't imagine anything working better than these. Never a problem with the dirtiest loads, and those loads always include pots and pans.

They are sold at both Costco and BJ's in boxes of 100-120 (depending on how they are being promoted) for under $15 (and there are often store-specific coupons). Maybe Sam's has them in these large boxes, as well.

Also, Consumer Reports always rates them either #1, or close to it, in their ratings. I can see why.

 

[frigilux]

Everything about my new dishwasher steers a person toward using pacs. It's in the user's manual; written on the detergent dispenser; the shape of the dispenser is perfect for housing a pac; and the prewash is very brief--more of an excuse to purge the hot water line, wet the dishes and move on to the main wash.

I use Cascade Platinum Pacs for most loads. It contains a chemical that keeps the stainless steel interior of the machine very shiny--noticeably so, compared to other detergents. It scores lower than top-of-the-heap Cascade Complete Action Pacs because of a middling score for cleaning pots/pans. CR tests in hard water; mine is soft, and I find Platinum does a great job on pots/pans. For really tough loads, I use Cascade Complete Powder, with large doses in both the prewash and main wash compartments.

Here is what Consumer Reports has to say:

Cascade Complete Action Pacs: Overall Score of 84; $.29 per load
Finish Powerball Tabs: 82; $.18 per load
Finish Quantum Powerball Capsules: 80; $.24 per load
Great Value Powder Pacs (WalMart): 79; $.17 per load
Cascade Complete Powder: 79; $.21 per load
Cascade Platinum Pacs: 78; $.29 per load

Frankly, I wouldn't bother with a brand that scores lower than these, and at $.17 per load, WalMart's Great Value Powder Pacs are a bargain.

 

[MikeS]

Another Vote For Powerball Tabs

I agree with the praise for Finish Powerball Tabs. They clean great without leaving a haze on glasses, and when Costco has an instant rebate offer on the 100-plus tablet box, I snap one up. (By the way, my partner and I only run our Bosch dishwasher once every three days; despite the lack of pre-rinsing, the dishes come out shiny!) Cascade's pacs are also very good, but Finish is far cheaper. I agree with Frigilux--why bother with the cheap packs and powders that don't clean as well? Life is too short.

 

[washer111]

Personally prefer Finish Powder, but in Australia we still have Phosphates (Thank God!). That's generally more than enough for our heavy but fresh soils. 

 

If its not that, Fairy Platinum, which are identical to those Eugene (Frigilux) mentioned above. No powder detergent can clear the "splotching" of cooking off our stainless saucepan, or make the cutlery shine quite the same way as it does (and the added Phosphates make it even better!). 

Unfortunately, my local stores no longer sell the stuff, and I've got about 6 tablets to go, and am trying to save them... Will have to order from the U.S. or online reseller locally. 

 

[mich]

If you have soft water...

Stay away from Finish, with a 10 foot pole, unless you don't mind your glassware being etched to death. Finish is amazing, for hard water, and controlling spots & film, but, if you already have soft water, all that extra power, is too abrasive for your dishes. 

 

Cascade Complete Powder or Cascade Complete Gel Tabs, will give you the performance you want, while keeping your glassware looking like new. 

 

Once again though, if you have Hard Water. Buy those Finish Powerball Tabs, or Quantum. 

 

 

[kb0nes]

I have used the Finish Powerball Tablets for a few years now and they clean well overall. They leave the glassware clean with no film or visible etching. My city water is really hard but I have a whole house softener so the water to the DW is very soft.

The only rub I have had with the Powerball Tablets is that they cause serious foaming likely due the rinse agent that is built in. I have generally kept the liquid rinse agent dispenser full of Jet Dry, I'm sure this only aggravates the issue. I have disabled my dispenser for testing.

After reading Frigilux's glowing words about the Cascade Platinum packs I bought a bag of those. They worked well cleaning and there is no sudsing problems even with the rinse aid dispenser functional. I'll have to decide which way to go after more testing.

My suggestion to you is to buy several of the smallest bags of various products and see what you like. I only learned of my serious foaming issues with the Powerball Tablets after buying a HUGE quantity of them... I was trying to figure out who to give them to. Hopefully not using the Jet Dry will eliminate the sudsing.

 

[joe_in_philly]

You may be able to get a good deal on the Finish Tabs if you have a Target near you. Over the weekend, I saw the "Buy 2, get one Free" 3 box package of tabs on clearance for under $10. The price came to less than 10 cents per load. It was in the seasonal bulk bargain area, not the detergent section.

 

[mich]

Finish

Is definitely a great value. Plus they practically give away boxes, of the stuff, twice a year with coupons. I love the concept, they contain oxygen bleach & enzymes, for a really good clean.

 

Just too strong, for our dishwasher. Will have to post pics, of the etching sometime. 

 

[jerrod6]

A vote for Finish Quantum. I usually alternate detergents, but have very good results with Quantum. Its cheap, usually on sale some place and nothing is left behind.

Can't speak to the etching, because I don't get that, with any detergent, but I don't have soft water either, but my DW does have a water softener. I think if you have soft water you should perhaps not be using any pak at all, since there is no way to control the amount of ingredients that are being dispensed.

Also remember that many times manufacturers enter into promotional agreements with detergent makers, so just because they recommend something doesn't mean it is the best thing for you to use.

 

[retropia]

A vote here for Cascade Complete pacs. I tested these on a load of dishes including cereal bowls with microwave-baked-on oatmeal, and they came clean. We have moderately hard water.

I'm still using up my stash of vintage Cascade with phosphates, but once that is completely gone, I'll switch to modern Cascade Complete pacs.

 

[logixx]

Bosch has had a "promotional agreement" ever since I got my first dishwasher some 20 years ago. Even back then, there was a sticker on the door that advised to use finish. I prefer Quantum over Cascade Platinum - maybe because our Quantum still has phosphates in it.

 

[joe_in_philly]

When I got my Bosch dishwasher in 2005, it had a sticker on it promoting Cascade. But they have since switched to promoting Finish in the US too. At one point, the brand Finish was stamped into the dispenser drawer. I don't know if they still do that, but I thought it a bit tacky.

 

[jkbff]

I did email P&G to ask what qtys the pacs of cascade come in and this is what I got:

Thanks for contacting Cascade, Joshua.

We appreciate you taking the time to inquire about our Cascade products. We have various sizes depending on the version and scent that you purchase. For the Cascade Platinum Pacs, we have sizes ranging from 2ct to 58ct packages, the Cascade Complete Pacs sizes ranges from 3ct to 110ct and for the Cascade Classic (Base) sizes ranges from 15 to 90ct packages and the Extra Action 110ct package.

In addition, the Cascade Platinum is an automatic dishwashing product that is an ultimate clean for dishes and helps keep dishwasher interiors sparkling. For the Cascade Complete, it is an automatic dishwashing product that has a superior formula with enzymes to remove tough soils and powers away 24-hour, stuck-on food. I hope this is helpful.

Thanks again for taking the time to write.

Tenecia S.
Cascade Team

I wonder why the Platinum only comes in 58 at the largest, everything else near or over 100 for their largest?

 

[washer111]

The thing is, we WOULDN'T NEED all this extra marketing BS if they had kept Phosphates in detergents."Metal Shine," "Salt," "Rinse-Aid" etc are ALL things that can be achieved with proper detergent and/or extra features/products on your dishwasher (Rinse-Aid dispenser, Salt Water-Softening Unit etc).

Powder with some Phosphate (or Bubble Bandit) is ALL you need, maybe Rinse-Aid if you like the toxic coctail on everything and have hard water (Yeah, bubbles in a clean class of water isn't very encouraging).

 

I like the Pacs purely because they are concentrated more, not because of Rinse-Aid, "Metal Shine" and so on. They do work nicely, but generally not enough to justify usage for me more than once or twice a month on the occaisional 'Cooking disaster' we deal with.

 

Conclusion:

For everyday usage and the odd Pots/Pans that have been used correctly, Powder and a longer cycle suffice.

If you need extra cleaning power for those loads of really crusty, dirty, horrible, disgracefully dirty Pots/Pans/Casseroles that have sat for 12 months, buy the tablets when they are on sale (*NOTE* That pacs with liquids in them {Particularly the Cascade/Fairy Pacs} may begin to leak and break down the wrappers on self-dispensing tabs).

 

 

[frigilux]

Phil-- I tried a package of Finish Powerball Tabs and found the same thing you did: They cleaned well, but sudsed like crazy in softened water. That prompted my switch back to Cascade products. I like the Platinum version because it really does keep the dishwasher's stainless interior shiny and film-free.

 

[mich]

@joe...

It's kinda funny. Before Cascade, they "recommended" Electrasol and only Electrasol for years. I've heard, online that for each dishwasher these manufactures sale, they get $5 - $10 for each Cascade or Finish sticker they stick on. 

 

 

You know those little Rinse Aid dispensers, in GE machines, that have a Jet Dry logo on them, and you press the bubble down, and it shows you if you have any rinse aid left. Reckitt Benckiser, (the makers of Electrasol/Finish & Jet Dry) at the time, paid for all of those rinse aid dispensers. 

 

I thought that was interesting.. Isn't it? Why paid to make your own Dishwashers, when, you can have a company pay for your parts. 

 

[whirlcool]

I find that just about any dishwasher/detergent combination will work well as long as the water going into the dishwasher is at last 140F. Better yet, if you have a dishwasher that will heat the incoming water.

We used Finish Quantuum tabs in our Maytag, recommended by Maytag in 2008. When we use those the machine sounds muffled and if you open it, it will be full of suds. So we alternate between Cascade Action Packs (w/phosphates) and Cascade Complete(current verion)box. On Maytag dishwashers the detergent cup has line markings on it. You find out how hard your water is and fill the detergent cup to the line that corresponds to your water hardness level. So we only fill ours 3/4 of the way.

 

[dustin92]

We have hard water here, and I really like the Cascade Platinum pacs, although they are expensive. Cascade Complete is also good, and slightly cheaper. Walmart's Great Value powder pacs are also decent. The only pacs I have had an issue with, and not poor cleaning, are the Finish Quantum. I don't know why, but they literally oversudsed the machine to the point that suds billowed out of the machine and across the floor! Not just one load, but every load I used them for! They cleaned the dishes just fine though (and the floor!)