dishwasher tabs and packets

[launderess]

Think About It

Take greasy/dirty dishes, put them into the sink and fill with water. Hot, warm or whatever, much of that gunk is going to sit right around the sink and dishes making a god awful mess.

Same with a dishwasher, which is why we always have something in the first detergent cup.

As for tablets, gelpacs, and so forth, haven't a bit of use for them.

Electrasol tabs caused no end of sudsing problems in our dishwasher, even when using only 1/2 tablet. Also really do not like being locked into using a premeasured dosage of detergent. It can be wasteful and takes away the flexibility one has to dose detergent according to soil level and load size.

 

[foraloysius]

I have an AEG dishwasher for around 15 years now. I have never put detergent in the prewash compartment (there is hardly one) and my dishwasher still looks immaculate from the inside. Perhaps it matters that my dishwasher is connected to cold water only, the prerinse is with cold.

 

[bosch2460]

My 2 cents...

I have had the same dishwasher for almost 13 years. A MOL Whirlpool. I have never put detergent in the pre-wash cup. It is so short, it seems a waste to me. It looks almost brand new inside. Even if there water is greasy and disgusting during the pre-wash, there should be plenty of detergent, and hotter water during the main wash to get rid of any residue. I never pre-rinse, and I barely shake off the food before I load it.

I also have mechanically softened water. Filling the main wash detergent cup more than 1/3 full causes excess suds and will etch my glasses. Tabs are wayyyy too much detergent for me, even with really heavy soils. While admittedly, the loss of phosphates has affected detergent ability, I rarely notice the change due to soft water. I do notice that an occasional pan will not come clean these days, where it would have before, and I know that is due to the detergent. I would not recommend tabs to anyone unless they had pretty hard water, and a machine that performs better with them (like Bosch or Miele). I think the dosing is too high, otherwise. To add to that, they are much more expensive per use, and you have no control over how much you are dosing.

Just my thoughts....

Joel

 

[kqkenmore]

Thank you for all of the information

This is why I love this site so much great information I have learned so much from it.

What I did the other day was use a Finish quantum pac and I put it in with the sliverware and all of the dishes were clean and the dishwasher was clean too. Yesterday I washed a full load and they came out clean too I put a Finish quantum tab in the bottom of the dishwasher this time.I just cannot get rid of all of the packs that I have also with them getting rid of the phosphates because the phosphate free stuff is crap and it ruins dishes.I think that I will get the same results with the Cascade.

I am going to try this for a couple of months and get Sears out to check it and we will evaluate and go from there.

Thanks again Happy 4th. Carl

 

[frigilux]

Malcolm---$500 for a new pump and installation labor?! That's outrageous!

On subject: I use regular Cascade pacs for most loads, Cascade Complete pacs for heavily soiled loads, and Cascade Complete gel for really grimy pots/pans loads.

All have quietly gone phosphate-free, but I see no change in cleaning ability whatsoever. I have mechanically-softened water, so that may make a difference.

 

[retropia]

I am beginning to believe that if you have soft water, you don't need phosphates.