EVERYBODY... READ.

[mich]

Disregard my Last Notice, P&G has stopped production of all automatic dishwashing formulations with phosphorus or phosphates. 

 

What this means is, Institutional Cascade is no longer in production as of 08/31/2013, due to environmental laws passed in the State of NY & following restrictions in other states requiring levels of phosphates to be limited to 0.5% in Commercial/Institutional Products.  Online Sources are now in Short Supply, and demand will soon eliminate any remaining stock. 

 

If your one who still uses the treasured formulation, <span style="text-decoration: underline;">Now is the time to stock up.</span> 

 

 

 

[whirlcool]

Who still has it?

 

[mich]

So Far...

The only Online Sources I've found (with Stock still available) is Restockit. Seems as Sams Club, Staples, and other usual sources have been OOS for a little while. 

 

However, if you have a GFS in your area, I'd buy all out the remaining stock before purchasing online. You'll come out $3 ahead on each one. (Call Ahead though, and confirm inventory)

 

http://www.restockit.com/cascade-automatic-dishwasher-detergent-85-oz-(34953pg).html

 

[stan]

Mich

I'm a little confused?
The add says it contains tri sodium phosphate. 0.9 grams per Tablespoon. Couldn't that just be replaced with the addition of TSP from the hardware store? Say 1/4 to 1/2 TSP added to each load with the new stuff. Or possibly using some Sodium Tri Poly Phosphate from the Chem store, Soap goods ect.

I don't have a dishwasher anymore, and it's been years since I have...
There has to be something wrong with my solution... Too simple! Help me out here!

 

[tomturbomatic]

TSP is not the same as STPP. You can add STPP to regular DW detergent; PITA, but worth it.

 

[polkanut]

For over a year I've been adding 1 ½tsp of STPP to the detergent cup and then filling it the rest of the way with detergent.  Great results every time.

 

[mich]

To be honest..

I, along with others, simply like the formula a bit better than the traditional offerings, on the market. It's got a nice clean, bleachy scent, and does a really good job on dishes. 

 

Adding STPP is a option, however, I wanted to warn fellow members, before it was all bought up, and sold at markup by Scalpers (ie eBay).

 

[dustin92]

I just threw out the last of my phosphated Institutional Cascade. It performed terribly in our dishwasher, and when I went to use it because I wanted to bleach a load of dishes, it had gotten wet and was hardened in the box. Oh well, no hurt feelings here- and into the trash it went. I have found that Cascade platinum tabs work as well as any phosphated detergent, and Finish gelpacs come in a close second.

 

[mich]

Dustin..

Anytime you have Detergent (not in use) it's best advises to store it in a nice, cool, dry area, away from moisture to prevent the clumping from happening. 

 

I myself, store each one of my Cascade boxes in Ziploc Bags, in a moisture controlled area of my home. I still have boxes, 8-10 years old, that are still free flowing, and as potent as when purchased

 

 

 

[mich]

Another Thing..

If you have Soft Water, be careful with those Finish Gel Tabs. Here, they whip up mountains of suds until the Dishwasher motor can't collect enough water to move the spray arm...

 

 

[mich]

See...

Too much Surfactant to actually clean.

 

[whirlcool]

I have found that adding STTP to regular DW detergent is better than the non phosphated stuff, but still not as good as the DW detergent with it already added by the manufacturer.

 

[pulsator]

I wonder what will happen to Bubble Bandit...

 

[tennblondie78]

Bubble Bandit

I currently use Bubble Bandit, and I went on the website to see if they had anything to say about it. As of right now, I could find nothing to indicate they were changing anything. I may try to contact them directly to find out more. In the meantime, I'm very tempted to order a couple cases just in case...

 

[pulsator]

Bubble Bandit

It seems they now offer a 50lb bag as an option... Is that new? Perhaps they are starting to sell it that way so consumers can easily stock up?

 

[tennblondie78]

I noticed

that too. That seems to be something new they just started. I was very tempted to order one, but in the end I just got another case of it. I'm afraid the bulk powder would absorb too much moisture unless you separated it into sealed containers when you opened the box, and that's just too much work for me. I like the convenience of getting it already bagged.

 

[dustin92]

I haven't had any trouble with the Finish gelpacs foaming- around here you drop a glass of water and it's a toss up of what's going to break- the water or the glass. Extremely hard water, and I use a little Lemishine in almost every load, maybe a teaspoon or else the cups and glasses come out with white rings on the bottom where water has collected. I am using up the last of the Finish Gelpacs, and starting on a batch of Cascade complete pacs.

 

[dustin92]

-and-

Just an example of how hard our water is, you can add a bit of hand dish liquid to a greasy load and it doesn't foam up. No suds with any detergent except Finish Quantum tabs. For some reason, Those will cause the dishwasher to actually overflow with suds.

 

[mich]

Funny Thing Is...

Those Finish Quantum Tabs, in my soft water, doesn't fill the tub with suds. It leaves a small trail of suds residue on the top of the water, and that's it. 

 

They clean very well, but, I'm not one to really like those dissoluble tablets. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I've never trusted them to actually dissolve, and I've *heard* (consider this rumor mill) that some of them just clog the dishwasher motors. 

 

Dustin, have you thought of trying to install a Water Softener? I know some people don't like the idea of Salt, however, they do make a big difference.