Modern detergent for semi vintage dishwashers?

[mattl]

A cousin has a 12-15 Y/O KA dishwasher, at this point nothing is coming out clean. It has performed well in the past, but the cycle times are short and I suspect there is not enough time for modern detergents to do their thing.  Any suggestions?

 

Also this is the hardest DW to load, the bottom rack has a row of tines across the front of the rack and behind that is a removable section with two rows of tines turned 90 degrees from the front, weird. It was one of the first DWs with a third rack, designed for silverware and even that suffers cleaning wise.

 

[launderess]

Use Cascade "Complete" and regular in my GE Mobile Maid with no problems. Mind you these are from a stash of stuff before phosphates were removed.

For badly soiled load, and or things that have been sitting (we don't run DW sometimes for several days), will stop machine, and reset it to do another main wash to be on safe side.

 

[cam2s]

Fryer boil out or bubble bandit are “old school” phosphated detergents that work well in older machines. That being said 12-15 years is not that old in the grand scheme of things. I use modern detergents in my 1980s Potscrubber with no issue. You may need to run a more aggressive cycle, but more importantly I would check the dishwasher itself for issues, potentially clogged filters, low fill, clogged wash arms, etc.

 

[mattl]

My KA with the long cycle times gives me spotless dishes every time using Cascade.  She has cleaned and checked the machine - as have I - can't find an issue.  Her water is HOT, she uses Cascade, and when I run it I choose the most aggressive cycle, no difference. Might have her try some Bubble Bandit.

 

[logixx]

I still have my 1993 Bosch countertop dishwasher is storage. My tap water is about 150F and that small dishwasher will heat using a 2.000 watt heater - so the wash is basically hot throughout. It cleans flawlessly with all the enzyme detergents we have.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Have you checked to make sure the support for the lowest wash arm is intact and the fine mesh under it is still intact and the backwash jet is not clogged? I'm not sure of the components of the machine under discussion, but those were things that would deteriorate in older machines and cause performance to plummet. I have been getting GREAT results like even pasta and rice starch residue is totally removed with the green bottle of Cascade goo and a bissel (maybe a teaspoon or less) of STPP in both washes with both my KDS18 and my Kenmore Ultra-Clean. The incoming water is 140F, but when the first wash drains the water is just warm. I use the wash water to wash my stainless steel sinks and the disposer so I have a paper towel in the water draining out of the unicouple and it is not hot. The second wash is hotter, but with the STPP, both washes have really silky water and I guess that with the enzymes and the first wash in just warm water the starch is removed before it is cooked on. The first wash on the water saver cycle is 7 minutes. The main wash is longer and heated so it drains hotter, but there is no thermal hold automatically selected so I guess for at least part of the main wash the little enzymes are still alive and eating. If I do not add the STPP, the water is not at all silky when the wash water drains. I can vouch for great performance enhancement by adding STPP to modern detergents.

 

[mattl]

Good suggestion Tom, I have not tore into it but my cousin has.  She might have not known what to look for when she cleaned  under the wash arm a few months ago.  If I get a chance I'll pull it apart.

 

[lakewebsterkid]

detergent

I have been using Cascade powder in the prewash and Fryer Boil Out in the main wash will killer results. I know others have used something similar as well with great results too.

 

[philcobendixduo]

Cascade Complete....

....in the green foil box (sold currently - not old formula) is what I use in my 1994 Maytag and the dishes always come out sparkling clean using the "normal cycle" with temperature boost.
No pre-rinsing is done and no rinse and hold cycle is used.
It usually takes me a week to fill the machine so by that time, older dishes have dried on food residue.
No problem for the Cascade (or the Maytag).
Clean dishes every time!

 

[mattl]

We've tried everything and stuff is still coming out a mess.  Going to have to really dig in and see what the issue is, mainly 2nd and 3 racks.  Wash arm is rotating so it's getting water, will have to check the flow though.