Dishwasher Detergent

[windjammer]

Our dishwasher is not getting the dishes clean. It is noticed mostly on drinking glasses. My wife has changed automatic dishwashing detergents twice and it doesn't seem to help. She also uses Jet Dry, that liquid stuff that's supposed to prevent spotting.

The dishwasher is less than two years old and we have good water pressure.

My question is, do any of you have a recommendation of a brand of powdered dishwashing detergent that will get em' clean?

This has been going on for 3 or 4 months.

 

[Cobroller]

Make sure you clean the screen on the drain before each load. Also check that the line to the garbage disposal is not kinked or partially blocked. Always run the garbage disposal before washing dishes.
Hope that helps.

 

[Bob R]

This could be related to the fact that the phosphates are greatly reduced or being taken completely out of automatic dishwashing detergent.

You could be buying a reduced phosphate dishwashing detergent inadvertently.

I have to go to Idaho and sneak my dishwashing detergent back into Washington if I want phosphates and clean dishes.

bob

 

[gunlovingirl]

I stopped using the powder and switched to the little packets that have everything in them. More expensive, but they seem to work better. Also, I always run the hot water in the kitchen sink until it's good and hot before I start the dishwasher.

 

[Pasifikawv]

Cascade Complete (in bottle - not powder or packs) works best with our dishwasher and well water.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Ours used to do a so so job on the dishes. We had a water softener installed and now they come out looking like new dishes. Our water was so hard and had so much mineral gunk in it that it was hard for the solvents to do their job in the hard water. You might try having your water tested for the same issue.

 

[thndrchiken]

This could be related to the fact that the phosphates are greatly reduced or being taken completely out of automatic dishwashing detergent.

You could be buying a reduced phosphate dishwashing detergent inadvertently.

I have to go to Idaho and sneak my dishwashing detergent back into Washington if I want phosphates and clean dishes.

bob

I work for a high end appliance manufacturer and we hear this from our customer quite frequently over the past 6 months. First off when you say the dishes are not getting clean is it food particulate being left on the dishes, an oily film or a white or grayish film. Each can be caused by different things. Possible corrective actions may include:
Food particulate: Verify that the spray arms are not obstructed, i.e. large plates, serving trays, pots.
Ensure spray arm jets are clean and not clogged.
Oily film: Indicates an issue with the heating system, service is required.
White/gray film: Can be an issue with water harndess, i.e. hard water or too soft water with too much detergent.
Most likely though related to detergent. As was stated previously Many detergent manufacturers have greatly reduced the phosphate levels in the detergents, replacing phosphates with enzymes as the primary cleaning agent. Try to find a detergent that does not state phosphate free or environmentally friendly, reduce amount of detergent to approx 1 tsp and judge cleaning results, you can always add more.

Currently the one detergent that has been the most consistent is Electrosol. And please stay away from the gelpaks, that is the equivalent of completely filling the dispenser and adding an extra squirt of liquid, way too much for most machines.

 

[mgjohn]

This is due to the Lets be Green and Save the Planet people.

Another answer is to completly handwash the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher to be washed. (over heard to Lowes employes suggesting this to a customer)

 

[thndrchiken]

This is due to the Lets be Green and Save the Planet people.

Another answer is to completly handwash the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher to be washed. (over heard to Lowes employes suggesting this to a customer)

And he was completely wrong....The detergent needs some food particulate to interact with for best results.

 

[HAWKEYE10]

This is the reason your dishes aren't getting clean.

Phosphorus ban on dishwashing detergents goes into effect in 16 states; manufacturers roll out new cleaners nationwide

Try this site to buy commercial dishwasher detergents.

ReStockIt is a trusted supplier of dish detergent with phosphates.

 

[Damn Yankee]

Being that their is only two of us, the wife does them by hand. For a piece of toast or light sandwich use a cheap paper plate.

 

[Win75]

We use the little tablets with the red "power ball". I can't remember the brand name but they work very well.

 

[Andy Griffith]

We do them by hand, as we don't own an automatic dishwasher.

If you do use an automatic dishwasher, there are two easy and cheap steps to always having clean, spot free dishes (if you don't have hard water- then you need a softener).

A. Go to the hardware store and get a box of trisodium phosphate, and mix about 1/2 cup into your box of dish washing detergent powder. Your detergent will be back to its old self again.

B. Add about 1/4 cup of bleach to your dishwasher before you start the cycle. You'll never have that bad smell in your glasses again!

We always add a capfull of bleach to our dish water in the sink to sanitize everything- including the dishcloths. I have never used a sponge to wash dishes, and the dishcloths only get used once and then washed in the washing machine with hot water, detergent and plenty of bleach.

Also, if you've noticed, they've taken the phosphates out of laundry detergents too- add about 1/2 cup to your laundry powder and shake it up- that Hoppe's 9 stain will come right out of your favorite shirt. (I wouldn't mind the stain, if it kept on smelling like Hoppe's 9 )

 

[Rule3]

Also, I always run the hot water in the kitchen sink until it's good and hot before I start the dishwasher.

Absolutely. Unless you have instant hot water it takes a long time for the really hot water to reach our machine.

But we really do not need it as my Wife insists on pretty much washing everything before they go in the DW. Waste of water. showed her the reports etc etc, Just gotta pick your battles

 

[NMPinNYC]

With both hard city water and the removal of phosphates from the dishwashing liquids and powders, we're taken to putting about a half cup of vinegar in a bowl in the bottom of the rack of dishes along with the regular dishwashing detergent. Seems to help get that film off the glasses and helps make the clean "more satisfactory". Hope this helps.

 

[LedFowl]

It amazes me how long it takes our dishwasher to wash a load. On its shortest cycle, our dishwasher takes over 2 hours. I mean, the washing machine takes about 20 minutes doing clothes.

 

[JOERM]

Cascade Complete (in bottle - not powder or packs) works best with our dishwasher and well water.

Cascade will solve your problem. When I first installed our dishwasher about 2 years ago we used Cascade and never had a problem. Then one day my wife decided that Cascade was too expensive so she started buying stuff in a blue jug. As time went on our glasses were starting to "fog" up. You could not see through them. It really bugged me as to what was wrong. I insisted on going back to Cascade, bought new glasses. I was going to do an experiment so I put the old foggy glasses in with the new clear glasses and within a dozen washes the clear glasses were still clear and the foggy ones cleared UP! I could not believe it. I kept one of the foggy glasses out of the experiment and still have it. I thought about contacting Cascade and tell them about all this so that they could make a advertisment & I get rich. Yea right. Anyway, pay the extra buck and buy the good stuff.

 

[Fishslayer]

Make sure you clean the screen on the drain before each load. Also check that the line to the garbage disposal is not kinked or partially blocked. Always run the garbage disposal before washing dishes.
Hope that helps.

Hmph... this would explain the intermittent dirty batch I get from time to time.

I think you may have helped me! Thanks.

Oh... I also use Cascade & Jet Dry. Usually sparkly clean.

 

[JcMack]

I do the dishes in the tub with me, saves hot water. I gotta admit on Chili Night I don't come out squeaky clean.

 

[GKC]

And he was completely wrong....The detergent needs some food particulate to interact with for best results.

Hmmm....I always do the dishes, because my wife is disabled and it is hard for her to stand for any length of time (or so she tells me! )

Anyway, I always wash off all the food and gunk with dish soap and a scrubber before putting the dishes in the dishwasher. My wife kids me, saying I should just rinse them and dry them instead. I just can't put dishes in the dishwasher with food on them. For one thing, there is just the two of us, so I don't always have a full load, and I don't like to let the dishes sit in the dishwasher with food on them. Plus, I guess I am old fashioned and just don't trust it to get the dishes clean...I look at it more as a hot water rinse and dry machine.

We do use Cascade Gel....it works best, and everything seems clean and clear.

BTW, you can remove hard water spots and "fog" from glassware with vinegar...and run some through your coffee maker periodically too (not full strength, mixed with water.) Removes the mineral deposits.