Got a dishwasher? HUGE savings!

Rockingit

This might sound trivial, but potentially over a lifetime there's huge savings to be made in dishwasher salt.

The stuff you'll buy in the supermarkets from the name and own brands will cost you what, £3 - 5 for a 1kg packet?

Did you know that you can buy it bulk in 25Kg bags for about £7-8 a time?

Just ask your local hardware shop (I've got a great old fashioned one right by me) for water softener salt. It's exactly the same stuff. Admittedly it's not quite as easy to carry or store (although we live in a flat and manage quite well).

It's also great for salting paths and steps with in the winter.

rdwarr

Good tip. We buy the 25kg bags for the water softener. Of course that means that we don't need salt in the dishwasher as it comes in pre-softened.
Buying six bags at a time works out at £5.50 for 25kg (which is 22p per kg or 10p per lb). This is from a plumbing supplier who probably stock larger quantities than a hardware shop.

geo555

With all these 3/4/5 in 1 tablets, do you still really need to put salt in your dishwasher?

Rikki

geo555 wrote:

With all these 3/4/5 in 1 tablets, do you still really need to put salt in your dishwasher?

Yes. Otherwise it doesn't wash the dishes properly. It leaves smeers and residue on the plates and glasses etc.

shelly

I use Finish 4 in 1 tabs and never ever use salt. I don't get smears on cutlery, crockery or glassware.

rushnowt

I use the 3 or 4 in one tabs too, i've only ever used salt once when i first bought my dishwasher, i was informed once that most areas don't need salt in their dishwashers cos the water was fine, i live in a softwater area apparently, think it's hard water areas that are mean't to use salt, but i would have thought the 3/4 in 1 tabs would have been sufficient, i've never had smears on anything

bigglesinc

been using the Aldi 3 in 1 and they are great. Use half a tab for extra savings. No need for anything else.

SHEILA54

Hi

I live in a hard water area and did use the 4 in 1 tablets on thier own. My heating element furred over and burnt through and the engineer told me that the tablets are not enough and to add salt as well. He told me that many people don't realise this and end up paying a fortune in bills because of it!!

Rockingit

We live in a very hard water area, and there is absolutely no way I would ever not use salt.

Free cheese only comes on mousetraps (this site being the only exception I know of!), and these supposed 3/4 in 1 tabs only have one objective in mind - to make you think they clean your stuff the best so you buy them again, not to be considerate to the mechanics of your machine which would cost more money to manufacture.

If anyone knows of a cheap way of doing a 'Calgon' equivalent for your washing machine I'm all ears....

mummysaver

Sounds like a bargain to me, will try to find a hardware shop, or try the local plumbing supply shop. Thanks!

markdavey

geo555 wrote:

With all these 3/4/5 in 1 tablets, do you still really need to put salt in your dishwasher?

I believe that these 3-in-1 tablets do NOT replenish the DW's built in water softener, my manual says that even if you use the 3-in-1 tabs, unless you also use DW salt, the warrenty will not be valid. See this website for good dishwasher tips: -

http://www.dishwasher-care.org.uk/best.html