How are you coping with the new dishwasher detergents?

[joeekaitis]

Thirty-minute COLD water soak in just enough water the cover the soiled dishes and utensils followed by a thorough scraping before loading the machine.

Full dose of detergent, cancel the cycle after the main wash, reload the dispenser with detergent and Lemi Shine, allow to complete.

More work but it works.

You?

 

[kenmoreguy64]

With all that, it seems like it would be easier to handwash.

 

[bugsyjones]

I tried using the new formula Cascade with terrible results. Even in a KitchenAid Custom 21.

I use commercial Cascade. I buy it from an industrial supplier.

It still contains phosphates (for now) and I have a sneaking hunch it has some sort of bleach as well.

Sparkling dishes every time.

~Tim

 

[rp2813]

I can't cope. I bought up a bunch of phosphated Cascade before it disappeared completely off the store shelves.

No matter how you slice it, phosphate-free detergents create more work. Either as you described, or on the other end of things after the load has been washed and all the film needs to be removed.

This will not stand! I hope!

 

[spookiness]

don't see the fuss

everything in my area has seemed to be non-phosphate for awhile now. I scrape, throw the dishes in the machine, usually run pots & pans cycle (Kenmore UltraWash). Sometimes they sit a couple days and get dry and crusty before I run them.

Usually use Finish powder, and its ok. I got some Reeva last week and it seems maybe a little better. In any case, a spot or two here or there doesn't not give me seizures.

 

[whirlcool]

STPP is the answer!

 

[dixieland]

Although I know "miss" the phosphates there are some very good non-phosphated detergents out there like ecover. I have had good luck with new Finish powder, albeit I have a brand-new dishwasher that takes hours to complete a cycle. Maybe that is the key, you need a longer cycle with the newer detergents.

 

[golittlesport]

The new DW detergent was leaving a white film on everything, but I bought some STPP and add a bit with the new detergent in the dispenser and everything is coming out sparkling again.

 

[cleanteamofny]

STPP will make a BIG difference. My aluminum pots are shining!

 

[DADoES]

 
<blockquote>How are you coping with the new dishwasher detergents?</blockquote>STPP.  Load-and-go.

 

[nmassman44]

I have been using the Finish Tabs with Powerballs and get great results on everything. My Cascade days are over.

 

[laundryboy]

Cascade Complete

BJ's here in Orlando still has the Phosphate cascade available, I bought 7 bottles today. They had about 4 pallets stacked up..

 

[sudsmaster]

I'm not

I decided not even to try the new non-phosphated dw detergents.

Instead I snapped up as much of the old stuff at clearance stores as I could reasonably afford and store.

I figure I have about 10 years' worth now, as well as a large supply of STPP should the need arise to mix that with some of the new non-phosphated stuff.

Since Europe has backtracked on banning phosphate from DW detergents, perhaps by that time various US states will have realized that the average human toilet discharges far more phosphorus into the sewer system than the average phosphated dishwasher, and the bans would all have been lifted.

One can only hope.

 

[mrb627]

Miele

Seems to work just fine in my Miele. Of course the entire program take around 3 hours. But without noise intrusion into my living space, I could care less.

Malcolm

 

[nmassman44]

If my dishwasher didnt have the built in water softener I would be bitching like everyone else...but luckily my Miele is up to the task. I am wondering if Miele will offer a free program upgrade for the new detergents.

 

[passatdoc]

@joe in Rialto

I bought four or five 100-count packages of Finish Powerballs at Costco.

I noticed your location is Rialto. Have phosphated detergents disappeared off the shelves of stores in CA? I bought the stash from Costco about three weeks ago. Given I run the DW twice a week, I figure I have a five year supply.

 

[frigilux]

Mike---I purchased a box of non-phosphate Finish Gel Pacs and a box of Powerballs last week and they both do a great job. I'm impressed with the Gel Pacs, as they are quite inexpensive compared to Cascade pacs. And in soft water, at any rate, they clean really well---even starch rings on stainless steel pots/pans.

I have two 150-use Cascade Action Pacs (with phosphates) to use up, and then I'm probably going to switch over to Finish, too. I still like having Cascade Complete Gel (non-phosphate) for my worst loads, as I can easily up the dosage, and use detergent in both the pre-and main washes.

 

[a440]

Well....

I was totally out tonight and the rain storm was wild....
I went to BJ's club (kind of like Sam's club if you don't have them) and bought a 9.63 pound box of Cascade with Dawn for $8.99.
I picked up several boxes and found that all of them where only filled up to 3/4 of the huge box. I thought what the heck, I will give it a try since my last purchase was from Walmart. Their Value brand. And I must say that the Value brand did quite well....it did not leave any film on plastics and cleaned quite well in my KDS-18 machines.
Anyhow being turned off at the Cascade box being only 3/4 full, my box that I left with was "full".
I will use it and tell you what I think. Hopefully it will clean as well as my Walmart brand that I tested.
I still cannot find any of the old stuff with Phosphates.
Brent

 

[mattl]

I've been using the Finish QUANTUMATIC and have to say I'm impressed, but not sold. Everything comes out very clean and shinny, only drawback is the price. I picked up the initial apparatus for $2, and a 10 load cartridge, but I'm not willing to pay $10 for 20 washes. I'm used to buying a big box of Cascade for $5 and having it last for 2 or 3 months.

I have stocked up on Cascade Complete with phosphates, 4 or 5 boxes with should last over a year. After that I may try the commercial stuff if it still has phosphates or go the additive route. But, if you don't mind the price I can heartily recommend the Finish QUANTUMATIC system.

 

[mr_sparkle]

Its good to see that Finish prices are actually the same across the pond, I just worked it out and we pay 50 cents per wash here too - normallyt us Brits pay more!

I have not tried it but got VERY excited when I saw it. I only have a counter top Bosch so do not think I have the room for the dispenser.

The only thing I thought strange was it seems terribly wasteful to keep chucking that big bit of plastic in the bin each 12 washes, where if you buy bulk powder after a couple of months I can squash the box.

 

[mr_sparkle]

My Powder

This is my powder of choice, its cheap and cleans amazingly, plus its got a good pouring action on the spout.

I was wondering after reading this thread if England has phosphates, but looking at those ingredients its got 30% phosphates!

I shocked as our government normally bans all things polluting, which is why I am guessing they have stopped adding them in the US?

http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries/index.jsp?bmUID=1282031412010

 

[mr_sparkle]

Sorry just tried that link and it did not seem to work!

Here is a cut and paste!

Description
Lemon Dishwasher Powder


Sainsbury diswasher powder

Ingredients
Sainsburys Lemon Dishwash Powder contains amongst other ingredients: >30% Phosphates. 5-15% Oxygen Based Bleaching Agent. <5% Nonionic Surfactants. Contains Enzymes and Perfume

Country of Origin
Produced in United Kingdom

Size
3kg

Dosage

Storage
Store in a cool dry place.

Load your machine according to manufacturer's instructions.

Fill the dispenser to the fill level mark. If your machine has no such

mark, use 40g. powder (approx. 2 heaped tablespoons). In very hard water

conditions or very heavily soiled dishes, use slightly more powder, for

light loads or soft water, use slightly less powder.

To pour: Squeeze base of cap and lift back top. Replace lid immediately

after use.



Always ensure that the water softener unit is filled with dishwasher

salt. Use rinse aid to ensure sparkling results and prevent streaking.



Rinse and dry hands after use.

People with sensitive or damaged skin should avoid prolonged contact

with the product.

 

[re563]

I have been using Great Value (wal-mart) brand in my Bosch. Granted my Bosch does take 2 hrs for the Normal cycle, but like posted above, everything comes out clean and shinny. I have medium city water and no problems yet

 

[passatdoc]

$13 for 100 tabs at Costco

Mr Sparkle, my large container of Finish Powerball tabs cost $13.00 per 100 tabs, hence 13 cents per tab. I cannot find any mention of ingredients anywhere on the label, so I can't discern if this product still has phosphates or is now phosphate-free. If it IS phosphate-free, I can't seem to tell the difference. Normal cycle in my Bosch 300 series DW (year 2001 model) takes about two hours, PowerScrubPlus cycle more like 2 1/2 hours, but everything comes out clean. Bosch is so quiet that noise invading the rest of the house is not an issue, you can run it after dinner and then watch a movie without the noise becoming a bother. And this was a BOL model, not one of the higher end Bosch models that have lower decibel ratings.

 

[pulsator-power]

DW detergents

I was wondering what has been going on. Both Cascade Liquid and powder have been working like crap in the dw. Leaves film and I'd say at least 1/3 of the stuff needs to be rewashed. Real p.i.a!

What is STPP and where do you find it?
Jerry

 

[passatdoc]

I went on the Reckitt-Benheiser (Finish) website. There are no links to ingredients. The Finish Powerball container likewise has no information regarding ingredients. So I have no idea if my current supply is phosphate-free, or the old formula, but so far it seems to be working just fine.

 

[mrsalvo]

My Cascade days are over as well. I use Finish Powerballs and add 2 Tablespoons of Finish Magic Clean (water softener) in the other detergent dispenser....great results. If I'm out of the Magic Clean I spray a little Clorox Bleach clean up for counters in the tub and it does just as well. I have really hard water. Like everyone else I was experiencing horrid results with the new Cascade, white film build up on everything, so I'd rewash everything with detergent and a little bleach and all came out alright.

 

[whirlcool]

STPP or (Sodium Tripoly Phosphate) is a chemical phosphate used in Laundry Detergent and Dishwasher Detergent to condition the water for better cleaning. It is not a detergent in itself, it just softens and conditions the water to allow your detergent to do a better job.
The link will take you to the Chemical Store, which sells STPP.

Once you use it in both you laundry and dishwasher you'll wonder how you ever got by without it. Even set in stains usually will come out when it's added to the laundry, and your dishwasher will look like new on the inside. Your glassware will sparkle after you use it.

It's about as toxic as vinegar or butter. It's used in food preservation by commercial companies as well.

A little goes a long way. But shipping can cost as much as the product does. But a 5lb pail will probably last you 3-4 years.

http://www.chemistrystore.com/Chemicals_S_Z-Sodium_Tripolyphosphate.html

 

[mark_wpduet]

I wonder if this is the institutional Cascade that still has phosphates? What a shame if you bought it only to find that it was the phosphate free.

http://www.csnsupply.com/CASCADE-PAG00801CT-AXH1000.html

 

[mr_sparkle]

PassatDoc - that amount of powerball here would cost the equiv of about $34!

Rip off UK again!!!!!!!

I never buy Finish because of the high cost of it, and in all honesty I have found even the cheapest store brand "Basics" cleaners here were well.

I also read some bad reviews about Finish Quantum, so never took to it. Tried them free in my Bosch when I got it at Xmas and seemed ok but nothing special.