Cheap but Good Dishwasher Tablets

Jazzy_B

On the "Old Style " board a several months ago, someone mentioned they used a teaspoon of value washing powder at around 50p a kilo. Since then I've been using it without any problems, and with no noticeable difference in the cleaning.

ferret

i'm unconvinced of these x-in-one tablets and think it is an excuse to push up prices

my dishwasher has electronic indicators that call for salt and rinse aid as required, and so i top these up.

So when i use an x-in-one tablet, does this effectively mean that i am usin double the amount of rinse aid and salt?

I don't want to ignore my machine when it tells me to top up rinse aid and salt but at the same time I hate paying for things i don't need

any advice?

Grabbit_2

I use salt tablets from costco that cost £3.50 for something like 10kg sack. While they are intended for a water softner, a mate pointed out that it's salt and all you are paying for in the granules is the packaging and the brand. I agreed and have never looked back. Have used them for 5 years with no problem.

Then I looked at the dishwasher powder and saw that what was powder became tablets and then became 2 in 1, then 3 in 1 then 4 and even 5 in 1. However the price went from £1.98 a kilo to £8.20 a kilo.

So instead of following the pack and buying salt in the tablet with rinse aid and all sorts of stuff, I went the opposite way and reverted back to plain and simple powder. As my local supermarket had decided that there was no shelf space for it any more (AKA more profit in 4 and 5 in 1 tablets) I bought it in bulk.

I now buy a 10kg drum of dishwasher power from the manufacturer that costs me £1.67 a kilo.

Works fine for me. Must have saved a mint too !

DebtphobicDeirdre

I like the Lidl 3-in 1 tablets. They have no "ball" which makes cutting them in half easier. I think they are called Allit or something similar.

suziewuzie

Don't forget you can usually halve these tablets for most washes - unless the dishes are exceptionally dirty - half a tablet works fine. I also use powder when tabs are not on a cheap offer, and I only use half the amount of that too. Remember, it is in the manufacturers interests to get you to use a lot.

suziewuzie

Oops - see someone else beat me to it with this advice!

Sui_Generis

ClaireBear23cats wrote:

We always used to use Finish 4 or 5 in 1 tabs - which if you can get the big packs on BOGOF are not too expensive.

But I have been buying from Lidl their Dishwasher 5 in 1 Tablets and they are really good - as good as Finish and alot cheaper. I don't have the price but they were about £3 for a big box full.

They are called 'ADRITT - Perfect 5'
Basically they are probably the equivalent of Finish 5 in 1 but the German brand!

Bought these a few months ago and ever since they ran out I keep getting asked to buy more as Finish isn't as good I'm told.

cabra1

Beckipeg wrote:

This offer is still on - brings cost down to about 10p per tablet for 3in1 version. Look out for the Finish Quantum tabs with 50% extra free at half price - they brought our glasses up cleaner than ever before.

I bought them too they are good,too expensive at regular
price,I usualy use any ones that are on offer cheap

I think so long as you have a decent machine,any of them
work as both powder & tablets work fine in mine.

I just buy when I see them on buy 1 get 1 free
or greatly reduced.Just let them stock pile

I recently bought a large box of Fairy, 75 for £2.99
in Super Drug and bought plenty of those
Quantam in Asda.The Tesco own brands
seem fine too,must try out the Aldi ones

bartman

I'm sure I remember reading some advice from a repair man on a forum that it is a good idea to continue to top up the salt in the machine even if you use the all in one tabs. Personally, I've only ever bought the tabs if they're on a good special offer, but recently my local Tesco has stopped selling decent sized containers of powder - where's the best place to buy it in bulk at reasonable cost?

vippymini

I was advised by a hotpoint repair man to use powder not the tablets as they are not good for machines and keep the salt and rinse aid topped up!!! Even with tablets.

All the supermarkets sell there own brand powder for £1.99 for a kilo and they are all the same. to me it seems to last longer and does the same job as the tablets.

personally i dont see the point of buying the tablets with added salt and rinse aid when the machine already has it in..:D