For crying out loud, our dishwasher is not even 4 years old. It has done a crap job basically since we purchased it. It recently dawned on me that possibly it was the detergent we use.
Our dishwasher does a crap job when the trap is full. Most dishwashers have a trap near the drain. Finding it can be hard. Cleaning tends to be easy. Have you had a chance to the clean the trap recently?
Post by mrssavy42112 on May 24, 2012 12:03:15 GMT -5
These things have traps? We just moved into this apartment that has a dishwasher & I’ve never had one before. It was obviously used. It does an ok job on plates, but a crappy job on cups or plastic containers. We use Cascade Actionpacs.
These things have traps? We just moved into this apartment that has a dishwasher & I’ve never had one before. It was obviously used. It does an ok job on plates, but a crappy job on cups or plastic containers. We use Cascade Actionpacs.
We have hard well water with no softener. We've found that the only thing that works is Cascade complete liquid and Jet Dry.
OK, so here is another ignorant question. My dishwasher has a spot for dishwashing liquid (which is where we put the Cascade Actionpacs) and then another spot that says JetDry. Since I thought that was just another dishwashing liquid, is it really necessary to use both? I’m thinking yes, now that you said you do that. I’m so confused! <---first world problems
Jet Dry is a rinse aid, not a detergent. If we don't use it, we have a slight film left on our glasses. The actionpacs might have a rinse aid in them already, but I've never had luck with any of the tablets.
Are the action packs little packets of self-contained detergent that are supposed to burst open during the wash cycle? I learned the hard way that we can't use anything like that and must stick with liquid detergent. Moreover, we have to use Cascade; the generic Costco version wasn't cutting it.
Are the action packs little packets of self-contained detergent that are supposed to burst open during the wash cycle? I learned the hard way that we can't use anything like that and must stick with liquid detergent. Moreover, we have to use Cascade; the generic Costco version wasn't cutting it.
We also use Jet Dry.
Yes, it has a powder & gel in it. I think I'm going to get some Jet Dry also.
My apartment dishwasher is a POS basically, and we quit using it for about a year until we decided to go through a cycle of trying a bunch of detergents to see what would leave stuff clean and no crap/soap/what have you on them after. We came to the conclusion that only the hippie cleaning powders seemed to work - and our jet dry slot is hopeless - you pour it in and it comes right out the side of the dishwasher near the trim (maintenance 'fixing' that was a joke). We now use Nellie's All-Natural dishwashing powder with decent results without any rinse aid. The cascade packs - what we always used to use, are what made us quit using the dishwasher there was so much soap and grime left on stuff after a wash.
lolz, our Jet Dry leaks out as well if we fill it too full. On the upside, cleaning it off the floor leaves my otherwise dirty grout seriously clean. :-)
lolz, our Jet Dry leaks out as well if we fill it too full. On the upside, cleaning it off the floor leaves my otherwise dirty grout seriously clean. :-)
Post by sierramist03 on May 26, 2012 20:38:43 GMT -5
Our water is crappy so about once a month I run Clr through ours followed by tons of rinses. We were told to use granular not liquid and also jet dry or similar rinse agent it has helped a ton.
Post by polarbearfans on May 27, 2012 19:07:25 GMT -5
We use seventh generation (the lorax!). I think it works a thousand times better than those pods my husband was buying and even like it better than the Cascade Complete I loved previous to the never ending supply of pods. I couldn't figure out why the dishes kept coming out so dirty until I went to run the dishwasher AGAIN and found the pods. Husband usually does the dishes.
These things have traps? We just moved into this apartment that has a dishwasher & I’ve never had one before. It was obviously used. It does an ok job on plates, but a crappy job on cups or plastic containers. We use Cascade Actionpacs.
My thoughts exactly? Traps? LOL.
Ok, I will check it out.
Oh. Oh no. Where's a vomit face when you need one? I can't even imagine how dirty a filter/trap will be if it hasn't been cleaned in 4 years. It's pretty nasty after 6 mo.
On my old washer, the whole spinny thing at the bottom came off and there was a basket to empty out and then you just jigsaw puzzle it all back together again.
My "new" washer (new to me, not new, really quite old I think), has a little bitty filter up in the door, basically on the backside of the controls. It doesn't catch as much stuff and it almost impossible to clean. This dishwasher barely cleans, so I'm sure something is blocked somewhere.
lolz, our Jet Dry leaks out as well if we fill it too full. On the upside, cleaning it off the floor leaves my otherwise dirty grout seriously clean. :-)
I had thought that might be the case, but the indicator (dipstick?) was always dry and after 1 1/2 years putting even a little bit in makes it leak out the face. Goes with mistreated, old apartment appliances I assume.
And while packing for our soon-to-be new house move, I found we still have an almost full container of the stupid cascade packs under the sink. Speaking of 'cleaning & organizing'.
We thought the same thing about our dishes. A couple years ago a law passed banning phosphates in dw detergent. Cascade, along with everyone else, switched their formula but new cascade sucks. Read online reviews. People who used and raved about it for years have been having the same problem with the reformulated stuff!
We switched to Finish detergent and I buy an additive at Target called Lemi Shine and we haven't had any more problems. Alternatively get some TSP (trisodoumphosphate) from Lowe's or HD and add a teaspoon to your detergent. It costs $4 or $5 for a box and is the same stuff they banned from the detergents.
My dishes now sparkle, even if I don't rinse first. Cascade new formula always left a white film on our dishes sometimes to the point of being opaque. To remove the film, hand wash in vinegar water then never use Cascade again.
I use to have a hard time finding TSP and settled for the substitute, but within the past month went to Home Depot and saw some there. I bought the big box.
OMG. Found some TSP at HD. Added a mere 1/4 tsp to my dishwasher and it was like the good ol' days. I'm killing the streams, but damn my dishes are clean.
I was having a similar problem, and ended up having a repairman come to our house because it got so bad. He told me it was because I was using Cascade. I ran a couple of cycles with just vinegar to clean out the machine, and then I started using Finish detergent. No problems since! The vinegar is great as a rinse aid, but you should check with your manufacturer first. If the vinegar solution you're using is too acidic, it could damage your machine.