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Hmmm, how interesting. I use the cheapo stuff and I'll try using less!

I've grown accustomed to old fashioned hand washing having lived sans dishwasher for a year and a half (although, I don't have much of a choice!). That isn't to say I don't long for one after surveying the damage after a dinner party or baking freak out.....

Speaking of hand washing (sorry for getting off topic), why do regular sponges get that awful smell after a few uses, but the smaller sponges with the handles do not?

Hi~ I use th calgonit tabs, but I cut them in half with a knife and only use half each time (the powerball in the middle slices just perfectly). The dishes come out just as clean, and we all win.

Just got a dishwasher for the first time in my life (there are SOME perks to a forced move!). It makes me very, very happy, and my husband is downright ecstatic. We use the pricey Seventh Generation chlorine, phosphate, and bleach free powder, and fill the cup about 1/2 to 2/3 full. I don't know if I'll still be shelling out for this in a few months when the novelty wears off, but since I've successfully cleaned dishes for decades sans chlorine or bleach, it creeped me out to spray that stuff all over my dishes.

The amount of detergent you need depends on how hard/soft your local water is. If you water is fairly soft then you don't need much at all. However, if your water is hard, you'll need to use more. I like to experiment with things like this to see just how little I can get away with using. Of course, we don't use the dishwasher too often, since there are only two of us in the house.


BTW, the same idea holds true for laundry detergent.

As far as what product to use, I like Seventh Generation. Mainly because their products actually work like they say they do.

Regarding dishwasher detergent amount: if you live in an area with hard water, but you (or your landlord) soften your water, then for dishwashing purposes your water is soft.

Possibly a dumb question, but is there any meaningful difference between powder vs. liquid?

I was wondering the same thing in relation to laundry detergent, too. Now that we finally have our own machine, schlepping the detergent around isn't an issue. From the looks of things, liquid is way more popular (4x shelf space at the store), but my mom always used powder, and I like the non-plastic packaging of it.

Woo! It sounds like we've been doing things right with our Bosch: Cascade, filled to the first line. We were using less mainly so a bottle of detergent would last longer (i.e., we were being cheap), but it's good to know that the repair guy actually recommends this.

Thanks for posting this! It's one of those things you wonder about, but feel a bit silly (or at least I do) asking other dishwasher-owners.

We use Bi-O-Kleen and don't even fill to the first line. It is concentrated and our dishes come out great.

I use Trader Joe's stuff - i think i put in a different amount every time - probably use too much, fill both of the compartments, but not up all the way.

Thank you for this post. We just purchased a Bosch dishwasher and use ECOVER tablets purchase at Whole Foods. No chlorine etc, etc. After your post, I cut them in half- ran the dishwasher and the dishes are spotless. I will take your advise and use less.

I am using Seventh Generation Free & Clear Automatic Dishwashing Powder. So far its pretty good.

http://www.seventhgeneration.com/our_products/free_and_clear.php?tid=169

Prior to this, I used a container of cascade that came with the dishwasher. I can't say I've noticed a difference.

Cheers.

I too am using a dishwasher for the first time in my life.

I am a grad student and very 'po.

I use the cheapest of whatever's on sale, and wish like heck I could afford the crunchy granola brands but just can't.

We dump the cheap powder into a container and add half that amount in baking soda just to dilute/stretch it out. Then we use as little as we can get away with per wash and we can make a box last a couple of months. Thank god for cheap bulk baking soda!

My boyfriend thought there was something wrong with his dishwasher, since all his glasses were coming out cloudy. Then one day I ran it, using my usual method of filling up the compartments with detergent (powder, in his case). He expressed surprise, because he usually put in way less to save money, but we went ahead with it anyway. And his glasses came out sparkling clean.

I never imagined those electrasol tabs could be wasteful--we buy them because they're supposed to be exactly the amount of detergent we need, darn it!

And Kari-Anne, maybe there's less room for the smaller sponges to hold moisture and thus mildew? To be safe, after a few uses we microwave our wet sponges for a few seconds (do NOT do this when they're dry!). It kills any nasty things lurking in the sponge and purges the smell. Be warned, though--it will briefly make your microwave smell like an old sponge!

renata, we use powder because it hit me one day that buying liquid soap of any kind (hand soap, detergent, what-have-you) is basically overpaying for water. That's the bulk of any liquid product. I have a tap. I just need the cleaning stuff.

That said, I actually prefer liquid hand soaps and shower gels to bar soaps, but the cheapie in me wins this one. EXCEPT in the kitchen, where a bar of soap gets too gross and actually contributes to the mess. There I have a pump bottle of liquid soap.

I have the simplest one of all:

Mix and use per dishwasher load:
1 Tablespoon Borax
1 Tablespoon Baking soda

I was using Electrasol tabs as well till my dishwasher got broke. It was awful. It took me one month to find the right appliance parts to repair it. The guy that repair it told me it was because of the detergent i was using as well and he recommended the Miele detergent tabs. I had no problem with my dishwasher since then.