Phosphate-Free Cascade Complete Gel: Let The Tests Begin!

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frigilux

frigilux

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I found this in the local grocery store yesterday, and snapped it up immediately. I want to give the new phosphate-free Cascade a tough test.

Having returned home from judging at a forensics speech contest all day, I got one of those 2nd winds and decided to get a head start on making food for a friend who has just gotten out of the hospital.

So.... I made the following:

1. Roast beef
2. Mashed Potatoes
3. Glazed Ham
4. Corn Pudding
5. Loaf of Sandwich Bread
6. Rigatoni With Sausage and Meatballs

First photo: The new Cascade Complete

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Here are three of the grungiest pans. From left to right: Spaghetti sauce, mashed potatoes, saute pan (sausages, meatballs, onions/red bell peppers/garlic) and the pasta pot. (The roast is still in the oven, as is the ham, so those pans will make up the 2nd load.)

All three pans have either a heavy starch coating (the pasta pot and mashed potato pan) or cooked-on food. The deep saute pan has an almost blackened fond.

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And this being AW, here are the obligatory dishwasher photos. Forgot to mention that I wash loads like this regularly with the phosphate-formula Cascade Complete Gel and everything comes out absolutely spotless.

We'll see of the new formula is up to the task.

The lower rack---

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I chose the Soak cycle, which is the most intensive one on my LG.

The display shows I've chose the steam option and an extra rinse (due to the double-dose of detergent). The cycle automatically defaults to the 160-degree rinse and highest-pressure spray.

The cycle never takes 3:31. I'm guessing it will come in around 2-1/2 to 2-3/4 hours.

I'll post the results later tonight or in the morning.

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It is a shame to waste that beautiful fond in the dishwasher. I would have put some of the spaghetti sauce in there to cook it off or what's the fancy term, "deglaze"? I learned years ago that making gravy was the easiest and tastiest way to clean a skillet.

I hope your pans come clean. I have been getting good results with the Cascade gel, but not the Complete formula. I use the cheaper stuff with bleach.
 
The Verdict: Fantastic!!

The entire load emerged as clean as when I use phosphate-formula Cascade Complete. The pans are gleaming.

I guess this means I won't have to hoard old-formula Cascade. Yay!

I've put the second load of pans and casseroles in the LG, this time using the less intensive Power Scrub cycle. It's about 45 minutes shorter than the Soak cycle and, of course, has no soak periods. Let's see how the new phosphate-free formula handles that.

My container of Biokleen phosphate-free detergent arrived via UPS at work on Friday. I tried it on a regular load of dishes and it did a great job. I'll give it a tougher test tomorrow when I cook for guests. We'll find out if it can compete with new Cascade Complete on pots/pans.

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UPDATE: The second load of (not quite so grungy) pots/pans/casseroles using the shorter Power Scrub cycle and the all-new phosphate-free formula Cascade Complete gel emerged spotless, as well.

Tom---Funny you mentioned wasting the fond, as that's exactly what I said when I put the pan into the dishwasher. But when performing non-scientific tests of new dw detergents, there are some things we simply must sacrifice, LOL!
 
Great news...

...and thanks for the detailed reviews too! Is your water there hard or soft? When you run low on your current selections, I'd be interested to see a similar wash-off with the new Finish phosphate-free tabs too. I've been very impressed with their Quantum Powerball tabs vs. Cascade All-In-Ones (which left glasses & SS filmy) with our fairly hard water here, so it would be interesting to see how their new P-free products compare.
 
Bob, to really test a dishwashers strength is how a pot is washed on the top rack. I've used two older model Kenmore's that will clean these items without a problem, it's the new machine that can not perform this task without leaving food byproduct behind.

This picture is what the last owners left behind with that Ultra Clean Kenmore that will out clean any current Kenmore on the market.

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Hi, guys! I have answers to your questions.

Larry---I've put pots/pans in the upper rack of my LG and had good results if I use the steam option. However, I can attest it would not have cleaned the deep saute pan shown in the above photos. There would be residue left behind.

Bob---I never thought I'd use a gel/liquid or those little pacs, but when CR's tests showed the pacs cleaned well, as did Cascade Complete gel, I tried both. I use the pacs for most loads, but for really tough loads, like the one pictured above, I use Cascade Complete gel. I believe both had slightly higher scores than the powdered version---which is what I used for years with great results. Now, I'd like to try the phosphate-free pacs and powders to see if they clean as well as their predecessors.

Ken---I washed a load containing three aluminum cake pans today (using Biokleen phosphate-free detergent) and they aren't any more discolored than when washed with traditional detergents. It's possible that the new Cascade will behave differently. I'll know Monday night, when I wash several cake pans, again. I'll let you know if anything strange happens.

John---I have mechanically-softened water. It is slippery-soft. The tap water in my little town is quite hard, so many of us have mechanical softeners. I've not tried the new Finish products, yet. Maybe I'll pick up a box of their pacs, which look pretty cool. Speaking of which, I love the bass in your photo. Are you a bass player, too?
 
I remember trying BioKleen in 2007. From what I can remember, it worked acceptably in my hard water. At least, it was good enough that I finished off my supply in the dishwasher, rather than tossing it.

Cascade and Electrosol were better cleaners with tougher loads, but for day to day use, I found that every "green" detergent I used worked fine. But--and this is probably a big but--the dishwasher was probably old enough to have some cleaning power. I knew someone who tried Trader Joe's dishwasher detergent, and positively hated it. It was rated well by Consumer Reports, but it simply did not work for her. But then, she had a newish, low-end Maytag.
 
I have a package of the phosphate free Quantum. Did a lasagna dish that was in the oven twice and in the fridge for a couple of days, in my Bosch on Auto Plus. The tabs cleaned very well. I had a glass head pin size spot on the handle of the dish, everything else was spotless. I was shocked, none of the PF detergents I've used would have cleaned as well.
 
The switcheroo is on

I went to HEEB today (I usually shop every two week). They've been sellin the Cascade Complete powder with Oxygen Bleath for about 2 years I think. There was one box left. I didn't get it. (I have an unopened new box in the laundry room). I still have a few loads worth left in the box I"m currently using. Since I only run my dishwasher two or three tiimes a week at the most, a good size box last me for 7-10 months with my Kenmore elite. It's rare I put a dose in for prewash. I want the detergent to have something to work on during the main wash.
 
very impressive ! Also LG DW are rare in EU. I have seen just once in a store a model close to yours but without cutlery rack.

Pity P&G here sells just action packs (here called Fairy caps)
Also Henkel's latest DW liquid (Somat/Pril Perfect Gel) works that great

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Er, No

Phosphates do much more than deal with water hardness.

They also help break down grease, fats, oils, and keep soils suspended in wash water. Phosphates also will break down and soaps and detergent residue in fabrics and return it to "soap", which helps deal with removing residue from laundry.

And so much more...

Indeed it takes a laundry list of chemicals to replace phosphates in laundry and automatic dishwasher detergents. No single substance to invented to date can do alone what phosphates do by themselves.
 
Well Personally

Am going off Zeolites, just as with the EU.

Cannot prove anything, but am sure my laundry feels softer when laundered in products without the stuff, especially linens, than when they are included.

Zeolites basically are an insoluable clay substance, and while one supposes they are required in a post phosphate world of laundry detergents, there are better methods, IMHO.

Am also dubious of the various polymers used in liquid detergents as well. Agian, cannot prove anything, but when using Tide HE "Free" liquid can swear my laundry feels "springy" or "spongy".
 

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