What is your choice for Dishwasher Detergent?

[partscounterman]

I'll take the tabs !

I really like the Electrasol 2 in 1 tabs. I used to get the 3 in 1 kind, but am already using a rinse aid in the dispenser.

I do not hand rinse. I do not add any pre-wash detergent. My machine only goes though three water changes: Pre-rinse, main wash and one solitary rinse. I would prefer more rinsing, but my dishes are very clean and no one has died here yet. My Whirlpool pool built Kenmore machine is one of the best machines I have ever owned and I got it for FREE!

The last time we were out of Dw detergent, it was just before payday and was feeling very thrifty so decided I would try the Walmart powder, as I had previously seen the comments here. We were not bowled over-had to fill the cup all the way to get good results. Dennis squawked about the dishes not being as clean. I used the box up but now have gone back to the Electrasol tabs. Besides I have a cool metal tin for them with a picture of Jane Jetson-on one side she is loading her space age dishwasher and on the other side she is doing the the Dishwasher Dance of Joy. Dennis and I also do that dance as we no longer have a horrid dishdrainer eating up half our counterspace and we no longer have to wash dishes by hand. No wonder my friend's Mom called the dishwasher "The King of Appliances"!

I am not sure about the hardness of our water here. The sign at the Home Depot (where they are trying to sell water softeners) says it is 10 grains, but a test strip I tried here at our house showed to be 3-4 grains. All I do know is that Dennis must take a pumice stone to the nasty black ring that forms in our "terlet" regularly

 

[cleanfresh]

My favs are...

Electrasol and Great Value powder. I refuse to purchase the Electrasol tabs or balls. They ARE NOT getting my money on those forms. The cost difference between the powder and the tabs is ridiculous in my opinion. It takes me seconds to add the powder to my dishwasher cups. I, personally can't see any advantage to using the other forms.

 

[vacuumfreeeke]

partscounterman... I totally agree with you about having a dishwasher. And, I love the use of the word terlet... I actually say that sometimes and people wonder where in the world I got it from!

 

[DADoES]

Whelp, I use the WM GV powder. Haven't tried anything else in years, but perhaps I should.

Picked up a small box of Sun or Sunsations, whichever, at Dollar Tree (for $1), used about half the box to clean-treat RJ's washer, but haven't run any of it in the dishwasher yet. Somewhere I heard it's not good. Maybe on THS forum??

David, I also get the rings in my terlets, took a pumice stone to them recently. A Kinetico salesdroid tested my water, claimed it to be 11 grains. I got a home testing kit, which also pronounced it to be hard (I passed all the other tests), but I don't remember the figure now (got it written somewhere). I think the test strip read by several ranges instead of targeting specific numbers.

 

[buffster]

Electrasol 2-in-1 tabs vs. Cascade 2 in 1 Action Packs with

Robert, you mentioned that you prefer the Cascade 2 in 1 Action Packs over all other products. What do you think of the Electrasol 2-in-1 tabs? As someone wrote above, Costco often has them on sale and I stocked up--seemed like such a great deal.

 

[~sudsshane]

Sunlight 2 in 1 tabs..

Has anyone tried this yet? If so, any thoughts or comments?

 

[pturo]

Anytime I don't use Cascade, I am disapointed either at home(Maytag tall tub) or at the summer place, GE/Hotpoint. Hard water in both places, and I think Cascade adresses that best,and cleans best in hard water.

 

[polkanut]

I have a bottle of Palmolive gel w/ baking soda, and let me tell you folks, I'm not impressed at all. I used some the other night for a load of lightly soiled dishes and mixing bowls. When I went to unload the dishwasher the next morning the dishes looked like I had only rinsed them and let them air dry. There was schmutz all over them. The best thing about it will be when it's gone.

P.S. I didn't load any differently than otherwise, and the soap cup was empty. Our Whirlpool performs flawlessly otherwise.

 

[frigilux]

Tim--- I tried a gel several years ago, before enzymes came along to improve their performance, and had results similar to yours. Never bought one again. And frankly, if a product doesn't work well, I don't wait for it to run out; It goes in the trash.

 

[jamiel]

I actually like to rotate through some Palmolive gel...after using Electrasol tablets (got a huge container of those 6 months ago) there are some things (white poly cutting boards, the poly cup in which I make tea every day) which need the chlorine bleach to perk up and that the enzymes don't touch.

Plus with a white solid-surface sink, it's easier to splatter a bit of Palmolive gel into it to tidy it up (rather than drag out the cleanser)

 

[seeitrun2006]

Costco/Kirkland brand (YECCH!)

It does not clean well in our new Whirlpool diswasher model #DU1055XTP. Changed back to regular Cascade and everything is cleaned once again. The cascade does not seem to be as thick as the Kirkland stuff. The Kirkland brand left a detergent film with streaks on the silverware. The water coming into the DW is hot enough (130 degree+/-).We have one and a half bottles of the Kirkland brand that has not been used. Guess we'll just give it away or toss it. I guess that's why I hate to try off brands of detergents.

 

[dixieland]

I tried the Kirkland brand from Costco after reading everyone's experience.... I have had great success with the product. I have sent it through some tough tests too (lasagna pan, batter bowls, dried milk in glasses and more.

 

[polkanut]

Eugene,

I guess you would have to say that I'm too cheap to throw it out. I'll continue to bitch & complain until it's gone, and then not buy it ever again.

 

[frigilux]

Several at this site have raved about Cascade's Action-Pacs With Dawn. They've also been top-rated by Consumer Reports. I've never cared to try them because I like to have control over dosage, and it made no sense not to have 2 doses of detergent in a cycle. Curiosity got the best of me yesterday, and I bought a small package of them.

This morning I made oatmeal and really let the stuff cook on. Later, I fried up a bunch of Italian sausage (it's pizza buffet night for 8 at my house on Friday) and, again, really let the fond almost burn to the pan.

I loaded them into the might Maytag, tossed in 1 pac (as per instructions) and chose the same cycle I used to test Quixtar's Dish Drops--Heavy Wash with High-Temp Wash and Tough Scrub Plus options.

And here are the results. Sorry, I didn't take any before pics, but to see a very close approximation of the soiled pans, check the Dish Drops test thread.

The Dish Drops did a slightly better job with the starch ring on the oatmeal pan, but the results are very, very close---and much better than I expected. I also used a higher-than-recommended dose of Dish Drops in both detergent cups, so it had the edge.

These little pacs really pack a lot of punch. Outstanding performance and highly recommended. And not as expensive as Dish Drops, either.

 

[frigilux]

The product

 

[pturo]

Cascade for me, the regular powder. I tried the Cascade with Dawn, a terrible sudsing problem with of course bad washing results. The"Dawn" detergent was a way of P&G to captialize on the power of both. Cascade cuts grease better than any Dawn and the combination was stupid.

 

[frigilux]

Philip---I normally use regular Cascade powder too, and it does a great job on most loads. In fact, I have two big boxes of it from Sam's Club in the pantry, so it will continue to be my detergent for awhile. I'll have to check on sudsing next time I use the ActionPacs. My water is very soft and tends to make all detergents suds a lot. And the Maytag really pushes a lot of water---it's no shower spritz machine, as were my Frigidaires. Isn't it amazing how different our experiences can be when using the same product?

 

[lavamat78800]

My choice is....

Calgonit, really love the products of them.
Clean well and all is shiny, I´m using all seperate, cleaner, salt and "Klarspüler".
I don´t like Somat because it´s sudsing too much and the diswasher is always getting loud with a big amount of suds.

Just wanted to test Claro Powder but my mum forbid me to buy powder.

 

[SactoTeddyBear]

Re: Short & Simple:

I'ev been using Wal-Mart's brand called Great Value, with always great results. My Dishwasher as mentioned a few times is a 1st edition Maytag Taller-Tub, but with only the 2-Racks. It is White-On-White and I got a free 7-year Extended Warrantee upon Purchase time. It is the quietest Dishwasher that I've ever owned as well.

Peace and Spottless Dishes and Glasses, Steve
SactoTeddyBear...