Your Dishwasher Detergent Preference

[cehalstead]

it's probably too late

to worry about damage to the porcelain finish on the bathroom fixtures. They are 60 years old, and while I can't speak for their first ten years, I know my Mom (think June Cleaver or Donna Reed) scrubbed them with Comet from 1962-90, and I have done so since then. However, I do go gently on the "new" (1997) kitchen sink....

 

[rolls_rapide]

"You can remove the glaze with long time use..."

Scouring powders can do that. That is why P&G in the UK advocated the use of "Flash".

"Flash cleans without scratching!", cackled aged Molly Weir in the 1970s.

She is actually visible for a couple of seconds in the "50 Years of Shine & Freshness" advert: about 6 seconds into the advert.

http://www.tellyads.com/show_movie.php?filename=TA15167

 

[polkanut]

Lately we've been using Hytron dw detergent pods with great results.

 

http://https//www.stearnspkg.com/consumer-brands/item/152-hytron-automatic-dishwasher-detergent-in-water-soluble-packets.html

 

[eurekastar]

I use Walmart's store brand, along with 1 Tablespoon of STPP. Dishes come out clean, streak free, and film free every single time!

 

[mrsalvo]

Very pleasantly suprised with Walgreen's Nice dishwasher packs. They clean well, and a lot cheaper than Cascade. I'll use that or Cascade if I run out.

Barry

 

[DADoES]

 
I've been using Cascade Institutional powder, aka Fryer Boil Out, 7+ years to great success.

 

[washingpowder]

Oh what a thread LOL

Somewhat treehugging household here, but there's a cheap, cruelty-free, somewhat 'chemical' German brand that I miss - Domol. Every visit of a relative is welcome for as long as they want to stay - unless I don't get me a stash of Domol in their suitcases.

Some of their dishwasher tablets clean up everything - even nasty, baked on grease on cookie sheets; the kind that normally requires overnight ammonia and elbow grease.

 

[iowabear]

Fryer Boil Out

I looked this up when you mentioned it before.  To get it at reasonable price ($12 a box) I'd have to buy 6 boxes. I only run my machine once-a-week.  Six 85 ounce boxes would take me a long time to use up.

 

So for now I'm sticking with the Cascade Platinum pacs.  No complaints, for me they work as well as the old powdered detergents before the phosphate ban.  No doubt they are expensive at around .35 per pac in the smaller bags of them I usually buy.

 

If I ran the dishwasher every day I might investigate cheaper options.

 

 

 

[DADoES]

 
Jim, perhaps divvy-up an order with family and/or friends.  I've only ordered twice for the duration.  Last order an aunt took a couple boxes and my mother took a box.

 

[iowabear]

Sharing the Fryer Boil Out

Not a bad idea, although I'm trying to imagine the skepticism from my sister given its dubious name and generic looking packaging.

 

I'm sure she'd think I was trying to pass off some dollar store closeout, LOL.

 

[lakewebsterkid]

Dishwasher Detergent

Currently I am using Finish Quantum (the older harder version). I add 1 tsp of STPP to the dispenser. There is not very many things that need extra attention before going into the dishwasher. I am not the biggest fan of the newer style pacs. I feel like there is a bit more redepositing and the smell is horrible. I am considering trying some of the Cascade Platinum plus pacs from Amazon.

 

[abcomatic]

Bubble Bandit.

 

[nickuk]

Fairy / Cascade pacs oversudsing

We discussed this a while ago on a different thread, but we seemed to be divided on whether or not Fairy / Cascade dishwasher pods oversudsed.

I was firmly in the crazy `oversudsing' camp.

I just wanted to report that I think the issue is Rinse Aid. My machine ran out and I didn't bother to refill. Never had a single oversudsing issue with these pods since. I think that whatever of the rinse aid solution which is left over in the sump or around the machine causes havoc when the next cycle is run.

I would like to hear any response like `nup - never used rinse aid and they still oversuds' out of interest?? If so - fine - but I thought it only fair to report back on my discovery!

 

[johnb300m]

I started using Cascade Complete pacs when I got the new KDTE304G.
They worked fantastic.
I had a few light loads though, and on the very light soil loads, I DID have some excessive sudsing issues with the Complete pacs.
So I got a box of Complete powder, and I custom dose that with my soft water on light soil loads, and that seems to work great.
So I now use the pacs only for full, heavy soil loads and they work like a charm.

 

[nickuk]

thanks for the feedback John

....and I am pleased that you now have a solution which works for you with alternating the detergents.

May I ask if you also use a separate rinse aid?

 

[johnb300m]

I DO use a separate rinse aid.
I've swtiched to Cascade Platinum over the Finish Jet Dry that seems to be the standard.
And I have it dosed on the medium-high side to acidify the water a bit.
I had some bad etching issues with my soft water and my past GE dishwasher.

The new KA has been great with it thus far.
It does a few things which I think help prohibit etching on my glassware.
- it does far less pre-rinsing, so the detergent gets to work in much dirtier water, leaving less to attack the glass.

- it washes using much cooler, 105F main wash water on Normal. And only does the final rinse at 140F.

- it has two Heat Dry settings. One short, and one long. So I use the shorter Heat Dry setting to not overheat the dishware, which also aggravates etching in soft water.