Don't Try This At Home Boys & Girls

[launderess]

Fed up with leaky rinse aid dispenser on the Mobile Maid dishwasher resolved to use solid version going forward. Fair enough but wasn't going to pay the highway robbery prices they want for those Jet Dry baskets in shops. What to do then? Well figured as always would turn to the commercial side of things and head things off at the pass as it were.

Nabbed a nice package of Ecolab solid "Jet Dry" for a good price and last night decided to see how things would go. Used an old tea strainer ball as a container and slipped the thing down into the machine as it filled for the final rinse. All went well for about one minute, then all heck broke loose! LOL*

Suddenly the powerful force of water generated by the MM became dimmer, and dimmer and the sound of froth louder and louder. Things got to the point the spray was more like a leak from what one could hear, not at all what one is used to. Popped open the lid, pulled out the rinse aid "ball" but the damage was done. There was quite a lot of froth in there but happily cycle is short and was soon enough done. Pumping out my MM was *NOT* happy about conditions on the ground and motor sounds indicated it's indignation.

Opened the lid and took a peek afterwards and have to say the results in terms of sparkle and dryness were that amazing. No water any where, not even where it normally pools on tops of cups and such. Even the sides and top of the inner tub where dry. Now this could be in part due to it being Winter and the boilers are now on for heat. Hot water out of the taps range 145F or more whereas over the Summer things were around 130F to 135F or so.

Clearly cannot have all that frothing in the final rinse so will have to ponder this situation carefully for a solution. This stuff is obviously much more concentrated than "domestic" rinse agent and or not designed for use in machines that use plenty of water and have powerful spray force as well.

 

[jeffg]

Adequate water temps in d/w's (140F minimum) usually eliminate the need for a rinse aid. That's not as true as it used to be, because today's models use barely a gallon of water per rinse cycle. It's simply not enough water to get the dishes hot enough to dry properly.

 

[askolover]

Water softeners help tremendously...no mineral deposits and 1/4 the detergent needed

 

[cycla-fabric]

Why don't you just open the lid on the final rinse and give a short squirt of jet dry into the rinse water, close it and let it resume, might work better than jet dry solid.

Doug

 

[roto204]

Ecolab solids

You and Ecolab!  I still remember that laundry detergent you sent us for the wash-in as being some of the best we've ever used.  

 

My guess is you need a minuscule amount if you're going to work it the way you described.  Most Ecolab solids are dispensed via a filling station when the machine calls for them at the proper cycle segment, such that a jet of water strikes the solid and carries it into the machine--and usually, for machines about 18-20 times the size of your Mobile Maid.  Maybe a tiny morsel would do the trick?

 

[launderess]

@cycla-fabric,

That was one's initial thought as well but the solid went for such a cheap price..... It is far easier to store this one block of "Jet-Dry" than would be the equal in bottled liquid versions. One always attempts to nab rinse agents either on sale or in job lots for good prices to keep costs down.

@roto204

What can one say? Ecolab products work! *LOL*
Long as you don't need their customer service (company is famous for *NOT* dealing with domestic users),there aren't any problems.

Yes, have figured out only a "dab will do", so will craft a cunning plan. Maybe just leaving the dosage ball in for a hot minute then taking it out of the final rinse. Or, simply going ahead and purchasing modern "Jet Dry" to get at one of those baskets. Then can just put a tiny amount in and ......

Still have about a three-quarter container full of the Ecolab laundry detergent. Use it for cleaning really grimy things around the house such as the air purifier filters. Being loaded with STPP the stuff is also great in the wash but not "HE" rated so use in the AEG is out.

 

[polkanut]

<span style="font-family: 'andale mono', times; font-size: 12pt;">Another solution one could try is an often overlooked use for 20 Mule Team Borax.  On the box it gives directions for usage in dw'ers.  Add ¼ cup of borax along with your regular amount of detergent to help soften the water.  This has worked for me, and no froth or spotting.</span>

[this post was last edited: 11/3/2014-06:12]

http://www.20muleteamlaundry.com/how-to-use-borax-boost-dishwasher-detergent/

 

[launderess]

Problem Solved

Instead of loading up the "basket" with enough product for several rinses, just put a tiny amount in the strainer for one cycle. Cannot believe how concentrated this stuff is; a *very* tiny amount much less than 1/4 teaspoon does the job.

Do not know if it is the Mobile Maid's force of water and amount of it or what, but some products seem to cause lots of suds. Still have to watch how much Cascade one uses.

OTHO will not have to purchase rinse agent ever again! *LOL*