Somat Dishwasher Cleaner

[logixx]

I was sent this sample of the new Somat dishwasher cleaner to review. Not too impressed.

 

Since this was done for a marketing agency, what do you think of dishwasher cleaners, Somat's performance here and how do you clean you dishwasher? Opinions welcome, as they will be passed on to Henkel.

 

 

[henene4]

I was always sceptical of descaling a DW due to the water softner. But now knowing most DW aim for about 6 degrees german hardness, a descale once upon a time is a sound idea.
Removal of fat is necessary as well, especially with BSH DW and their water pockets known to clog up. Even the new version still has some buildup.

I think some citric acid and standard DW detergent should do the job. However, these would have to be applied seperatly and both in an individual Intensive/Pots&Pans cycle, maybe with sanitizing options. Or if avaible the machine clean cycle.
But, because most DW run at least 1 prewash cycle on such cycles and the detergent containers hold 50ml top, you'd have to add the acid manualy in the main wash. About 100-300g should be a good measure and yieled acidities of about 3-10% in modern DWs.

But due to the hazzle of adding the acid manualy and the 2 cycles, we usually use these presealed DW cleaner bottles. I know for sure the stuff is released at the proper time, and I only have to run 1 cycle due to the cleaner having a good acidity and tensides designed to work in that enviroment.

I watched a german TV documentary recently that showed that DW seals often are contaminated with bacteria and fungi. They said they would not easily transfer to dishes though. But that made me wipe that seal area more often.

 

[logixx]

Yes, I saw that documentary as well! My door seals are pristine because I never let food drip onto the edge of the door and close it.

Have you tried phosphate-free detergent yet? I see that Somat is replacing phosphate with citric acid in their detergents now.

 

[logixx]

So... I just read the FAQ section for this product. It is actually made to remove invisible build-up.

Guess I'd also only pay invisible money for it, then.

 

[mrboilwash]

With the excepion of all in one dishwasher tabs, which seem to work surprisingly well these days most through the wash products (think of built in fabric softener) never gave the same results as separate products.
The fact that it has to be mild enough for dishes while cleaning and decaling the dishwasher speaks for itself.

Skimming off some extra money with short lived "innovations" like Tide Odor Rescue and so on is not only reserved to American detergent manufacturers.

 

[henene4]

Phosphate-free

No, not yet. We are using cheap DM denkmit detergent tablets, which still use tons of phosphate, and even though they were rated not that great by our test magazin, because they are hopelessly overdosed for our smaller 18" DW loads, they still achieve pristine results.

I'm really "looking forward" to the DW detergent market crash when 2017 comes around here in Europe.

Replacing the phosphate with citric acid probably came along with a change in their choice of surfactants. Should in theory give pretty similar results.

 

[combo52]

Dishwasher Cleaners ????

The inside of a DW should NEVER need cleaning if the DW is working properly and producing clean dishes and glassware.

 

I have never needed to or even thought about cleaning my 1987 Whirlpool DW, as I have two DWs it is only run every other day, but still after well over 5000 loads the inside of it is probably one of the cleanest spots in my kitchen.

 

Likewise washer cleaners are another completely unnecessary item for a properly used washer, after over ten years use my SQ FL washer still smells so good inside that I have been known to put my head in it and take deep breaths of that great washer smell from the rubber door boot etc.

 

John L.

 

[henene4]

Its true that with most usual situations, there is no real need to do cleanups.

However, with washers, even when used with relativeley much care, from a certain water hardness on, there will eventualy be some mineral buildup, especially with EU washers executing multiple rinse with tap-hard water.
With dishwashers, there are often small hard to reach areas, which might eventually get kind of mucky. For example, BSH DWs over here had a pressure gap in the drain path way which clogged up with fat and other soil due to a design flaw. There, regular hot washes helped as well as good machine cleaning.

It's like with dryers: There shouldn't be any buildup, but there will be eventually. So you take care of it.