Dishwasher question about salt

cotsvale

Can anyone help me please. If I am using 3 in 1 or 4 in 1 dishwasher tablets that say they include salt do I still need to fill up the salt section thingy in the bottom of the dishwasher with loads of salt????Thank you for any help offered.

Princess_Fiona_2

Ever since i changed from using powder, salt and rinse agent to using tabs i havent added any salt. PF

sarahlouise210

I use tablets and when the light comes on for more salt I do not rush to fill it. It washes ok with just tablets. Having said that, when I use salt and tablets - spectacular results!!!

dora37

I think it depends on the hardeness of the water. We use 3 in 1 and still have to use salt otherwise we get cloudy stains on the glasses. However using the salt as well, nice & sparkly!

larmy16

I use 3 in 1 but definitely can tell when the salt needs topping up (cheap model - no light!). I also put some white vinegar (cheap) in the rinse aid compartment.

This combo gives the best results - I am in very hard water area.

robnye

sarahlouise210 wrote:

I use tablets and when the light comes on for more salt I do not rush to fill it. It washes ok with just tablets. Having said that, when I use salt and tablets - spectacular results!!!

same here.... with our previous dish washer, we didnt use salt, when we bought the new one, we where told to use it, plus it had an indicator light, so as mentioned before.... great results without, even better with.....

Lorian

If you ring the helpline number for you water supply company and say "I have a new dishwasher and need to know the hardness of my water supply" then they should put you through to someone who knows. My local supplier obviously gets asked a lot, as the young lady who answered the phone knew how to look it up.

Then if you look at the manual it will convert it to settings on the machine for you. There is some more info on conversion here

I'm lucky, I live in a soft water area and no salt is needed at all.

Jnelhams

larmy16 wrote:

I use 3 in 1 but definitely can tell when the salt needs topping up (cheap model - no light!). I also put some white vinegar (cheap) in the rinse aid compartment.

This combo gives the best results - I am in very hard water area.

Always sounds kind of scary "Hard Water" like it has criminal connections :rotfl:

But have you tried having one of those magnetic descaler thingys put on the mains water supply?

larmy16

Just seen this post so sorry for not replying, they are expensive are they not???

across

within a first couple of months a few years ago my dishwasher needed a whole new salt unit fitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the engineer told me not to use salt it causes more problems and i dont need it in soft water area!!!!! so ive never used it for the last 4 -5 yrs and it washes just the same!
i say dont use salt in soft water area!!!!!!!!

ariba10

We live in a soft water area and have not used salt in the nine years we have had the dishwasher.