Q about dishwashing powder, salt etc

savingqueen

Hi

We were given a dishwasher a while ago but lost instructions before we used it. I use the 5-in-1 tablets as not sure what to do with all the separate power, salt, rinse aid etc.:o

Q- is it cheaper/better to use separate powder etc and what exactly do I need? I am currently cutting tablets in half which I find a pain.

Thanks in advance

touch*my*food*feel*myfork

I use the fairy tablets which have the rinse aid included and add the salt as usual (from aldi).
I always buy my tablets when on offer, i believe they are currently £4 for a pack of 36 at asda - have just checked online and they are £4 for a pack of 57 (45+ extra free)
My instructions say that if using 'in 1' tablets no rinse aid etc needs to be added extra.
hope this helps

newlywed

I use aldi/lidl 5 in 1 tablets £3 for 40 - but then add salt because we are in a hard water area. And find rinse aid does make a difference to glass lids and glass bowls.

busiscoming2

I use Tesco basic (stripey) dishasher tablets, can't remember how much they are, but I find them the best. I do use salt but it hardly ever seem to need refilling. I don't use rinse aid.

Sunnyday

We are in a hard water area so i always use salt but it lasts a long time.

Mr M`s dishwasher powder is less than £2 per kilo and i only half fill the dispenser so that lasts a good while too nd instead of rinse aid i use Mr A`s smartprice malt vinegar, this is only 13p a bottle and it is very good.

Somewhere on here is very useful and informative article about why it`s best for the machine to use all 3 seperately and if i find it again i`ll post a link.

HTH
SD

Sunnyday

Here is a link. It`s not the one that i was looking for but is basically the same.

http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=116

HTH
SD

beemuzed

Sunnyday, thanks for that link! I usually use half a tablet (basic) plus add rinse-aid and salt whenever the machine's waring lights come on. May go back to using powder (but only a minimum, as my dishes always appear squeaky clean with less than recommended amount).

savingqueen

Sunnyday wrote: »

Here is a link. It`s not the one that i was looking for but is basically the same.

http://www.ukwhitegoods.co.uk/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=116

HTH
SD

Thanks for the link. :T I'm going to try the cheapy dishwasher powder, cheapie malt vinegar & dishwasher salt and see what the results are.

Kittikins

Hi everyone - I recently signed up to a month's trial of Which and have discovered that the Tesco Value dishwasher tablets came out top (and are cheap as chips!). I rarely bother to fill the salt and rinseaid containers in my machine and things come out just as clean as when they are full.....so very moneysaving

newlywed

Kittikins wrote: »

Hi everyone - I recently signed up to a month's trial of Which and have discovered that the Tesco Value dishwasher tablets came out top (and are cheap as chips!). I rarely bother to fill the salt and rinseaid containers in my machine and things come out just as clean as when they are full.....so very moneysaving

Where did the Aldi/Lidl ones come? Were they included in the trial?

grimerking

I no longer have a dishwasher. However, I can vouch for Tescos value tablets. They are normally 'hidden' on ground level and they don't normally say how much they cost per tablet (instead it is priced per kg, unlike all the other tablets). They are by far the best value and do a great job. I really do believe that all tablets are exactly the same. Don't be taken in by the '5-in-1 nonsense'