Thanks to you all...GE mini undercounter DW

[badgerdx]

I'm finally using my (17.5" wide) GE undercounter mini-dishwasher, thanks to you guys, after living in this rental for the past 8 years... Lo and behold: No sink of dirty dishes for a week plus; no "escapees" hiding out in the bedroom, livingroom, bathroom. I am slowly turning domestic and my house is slowly getting both cleaner and more "homelike". I blame you all: Yer guud inflewncez.

To the point of the matter. The machine hadn't been used in over a decade, and I notice now that I've run it about 7 or so loads, it's doing a better job each time; I still have to prewash, but each wash is cleaner.

HOWEVER the interior is still a bit, well, gross. What do I use to clean it without damaging it: Perferably something as eco-friendly as possible. Also... the Trader Joe's dishwaser detergent tended to not dissolve thoroughly on occasion, leaving a residue and granules on occasion. This might not be the proper thread for it, but what detergent do you recommend, as eco-friendly as possible? Also, should I run vinegar or something through it on occasion to help keep the jets cleaned or anything? It has a telescoping spray tower, like what you see on a sprinkler system. I'll post pictures if you all want.

 

[rp2813]

Vinegar is good for scale and detergent residue issues.  Maybe Barkeeper's Friend for the more stubborn areas of the interior.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

Dishwasher Chemistry

First of all, commercial formula Lime-A-Way from Ecolab will clean the machine best if you can access it otherwise use CLR. Secondly I have gotten the best results from any DW using Institutional Cascade with phosphates. Hope this helps.
WK78

 

[badgerdx]

I live on an Island... soap with Phosphates SO NOT ECO FRIENDLY here... But thanks for the advice whirlykenmore

 

[petek]

I swear by Mr.Clean Magic Erasers although I've never tried on on the interior plastic of a dishwasher.  It might be worth the couple of bucks to give them a shot.. 

 

 

[maytagbear]

The best phosphate free

dishwasher detergents these days wear the Finish label, and are the tablets.

With a real dishwasher, a person should never have to rinse, just scrape. Pre rinsing dishes wastes water and time!

Citric acid....food safe......get it at the counter at the pharmacy. Fill the dispenser with it, and run the cycle.

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[bwoods]

Congratulations

Congratulations on your first dishwasher, Bob!

If there is calcium reside, then CLR or Lime-Away will work nicely if the deposits aren't to severe. I had GE 2800 once that was so calcified I had to dilute and use muratic acid. But your should not require anything that drastic.

Since phosphates have been removed from home DW detergents you are pretty safe in using any of them. Finish "Powerball" received one of the highest rankings in Consumer Reports. Had the best rating for soil removal in Pots and Pan and was noted for not leaving white film on dishes, as many of the newer phospahte free detergents can do. I like it a lot, even better than Cascade and Cascade Complete.

I suspect your 18 incher may have been manufactured by another company with GE just putting it's logo on it. I believe this is the case with their newer compact units. Some others on this site may better informed about this.

BTW, What is is the temp of the water entering the machine??

 

[revvinkevin]

I live on an Island...

 

 

Hey Bob, do you live on Hayden Island?

 

Just wondering.

 

Kevin