Speaking of mules...

[cuffs054]

I am using 20 Mule Team Borax in the KM stack at the Casa de Half Wide to help with the hard water. Reading the box you are encouraged to use it in dishwashers for the same reason. Anyone try this yet? LemonShine is getting almost impossible to find in my area and the Heier counter top DW doesn't do well without it.

 

[rp2813]

Hmmm.  Borax seems to be low-sudsing stuff, so it might be OK for a dishwasher.

 

Have you tried Target for Lemishine?  That's where I found it a couple of years ago and have been getting it there ever since.  Speak to a manager there and ask them to order it if you don't see it on the shelf.

 

[sudsmaster]

You could try Chemistry Store online and order some tech grade STPP (sodium tri poly phosphate) and add about 1 tsp per load of that in the main detergent dispenser. Less for a table top DW, I think. Maybe about 1/3 the normal detergent dosage, in volume or weight.

The STPP will work better with hard water than Borax.

 

[polkanut]

I tried borax before buying some STPP and the results were acceptable, but the STPP does a much better job at softening the water.  Like Ralph said, borax is non-sudsing so there is no worry about foam.  As for adding STPP, I've been using 1½tsp in the detergent cup, and filling it the rest of the way with detergent and the results have been great.  You may have to experiment with your dosage according to the hardness of your water. 

 

[tomturbomatic]

You could also search online for the institutional formula Cascade which is made with phosphates in it and gives excellent results with no additives. STPP in the wash gives much better laundry results than Borax, especially in hard water, although it does not deodorized like Borax. Borax is a precipitating water conditioner and will form something solid when dealing with hard water calcium-magnesium salts. STPP is a non-precipitating conditioner or builder.

 

[moparwash]

Borax

I used Borax with phosphate free Cascade ad it works well...having a KA23 series with water heating helps too!