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Major life improvement: get detergent that has protease enzymes. Now that phosphates have been removed, the bargain bin detergent won't cut it. But if you buy
by Spellman 7y ago
Major life improvement: get detergent that has protease enzymes.
Now that phosphates have been removed, the bargain bin detergent won't cut it. But if you buy ones with enzymes they will cut through the caked on proteins and clean your dishes properly.
From Wirecutter:
(source https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-best-dishwasher/ https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/the-best-dishwasher/)
Dishwashers and detergents have changed. They used to blast the hell out of dishes with tons of hot water sprayed at high pressure, using strong detergents. But starting in the 1990s, efficiency regulations forced dishwashers to gradually become thriftier with water and energy. Then in 2010, phosphates disappeared from detergents.2 The industry switched to enzyme-based detergents, which work by breaking down food into smaller molecules (like the enzymes in your gut), and are biodegradable and easy to remove from water. After a few rough years of adjusting to this gentler, more-efficient paradigm, dishwashers and detergents emerged better than before. “Today’s dishwashers are really cleaning better than anything out there and use less water,” Barry said. “The key is that you have to use them properly, you need to load them properly, and use the right detergent.”
EDIT: also from the article, don't pre-rinse. It's counter intuitive, but modern systems have sensors and if the water looks too clean, they can stop the cycle prematurely. So leave on some food and let the enzymes handle it.
- Eric_WVGG 7y agoHm. I have absolutely no idea what this writer is talking about. I had no dishwasher for about twenty years, then bought one about three years ago, and it’s magnificent. Not even an expensive one, just a countertop Sunpentown. I’ve always bought “good” (not cheap) detergent and “rinse-aid”, so I wouldn’t be at all surprised if you’re right.
- Spellman 7y agoRight, most repair and reviewers note that if you buy good detergent and rinse-aid, modern dishwashers work great! But if you're doing what folks used to do with cheap detergent, never cleaning out the filters, and such, then you're going to get bad results because of the changes in the industry over time. And honestly it's not that much more to opt for detergent with enzymes. We personally skip the rinse-aid and haven't had an issue.
- grawprog 7y agoI have to agree, moved into a place with a dishwasher for the first time about 7 months ago. It was probably my favourite thing about the place. It always worked really well and I just bought the cheaps bags of Sunlight detergent and didn't really put that much care into loading it. I usually just filled it until I couldn't fit anything else in.
- olyjohn 7y agoWhen I moved into my current house, I must have purchased the "good stuff" without even knowing it. I didn't really research detergent, just bought something at the store. My dishwasher worked great, and I was quite happy. Well one day, my dishes started looking foggy and food wasn't getting broken down. I realized that coincided with the fact that I purchased a different detergent. Even the drain and screen were getting clogged with a nasty goo. I really thought something was wrong with the dishwasher and I was getting ready to replace it. Well I decided before swapping out the whole unit, that I should try the old detergent again. Boom, everything came out sparkly clean, and the inside of the dishwasher looked like new again. I never thought detergents would make that much difference, but apparently they do. How you're supposed to know for sure when buying is beyond me. I guess just keep trying different detergents until you find one that gets your stuff clean.
- madengr 7y agoJust put in a teaspoon of TSP with the normal detergent: https://www.homedepot.com/p/SAVOGRAN-1-lb-Box-TSP-Heavy-Duty-Cleaner-10621/202935861 https://www.homedepot.com/p/SAVOGRAN-1-lb-Box-TSP-Heavy-Duty...
- mceachen 7y agoI've always used TSP to etch a surface to prep it for painting. How long have you used that? Is it dilute enough not to damage?
- madengr 7y agoI was doing doing it for 2 years on the old (Kenmore branded Bosch) dishwasher, using the Cascade and Kirkland detergents from Costco. That dishwasher crapped beyond economical repair. Have had a new (Bosch) dishwasher for the last 2 years, and have not needed to use it with the Cascade from Costco. I don't think it caused any issues. It definitely made the dishes cleaner. I don't know if this new washer is better, or the detergent is better (vs 2 years ago).
- sjg007 7y agoI mean your not supposed to put the phosphates back in..
- madengr 7y agoYep, sort of like holding the flusher on your toilet, or replacing your shower head with a real one.
- jhayward 7y agoWe live in a society.
- mceachen 7y agoYes! Also: if you have hard water/mineral deposits (like much of California), also try something like Lemi Shine (no relation other than a consumer). (I don't know if the high citric acid content is hostile to the enzymes, but dishes are still clean, and it certainly avoids the mineral deposits).
- phatmaus 7y agoOr, you can buy pure:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trisodium_phosphate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trisodium_phosphate in the paint section of your local Home Depot for peanuts and add it to your detergent(it's marketed as a paint stripper, but it's safe, all detergents used to have it) and add it yourself. You can buy commercial grade dishwasher detergents that are allowed to contain it due to an exemption, but this way you can add it to the washing machine too, for which there are no exemptions.