Dishwasher tips and questions

Badgergal

Ooh thanks lots for all the tips. Its true I like to bake and cook from scratch but the mountain of washing-up is so depressing so this should encourage me. And, like my washing machine, it will not be going on unless it is full. Think I will need salt living in London...

Ooh I am excited. Thinking of specially saving some washing up for Sunday but then the man who delivers/installs it will think "What a slovenly cow..." Haha! It'll get the stuff cleaner than I do, that's for sure...

Rebob

pandas66 wrote:

Shame on your hubby, disgracful - withhold his favourite treat till instalation immediatly See who gets theres first

Tried that 6 months since! Cannot complain as he works a lot of hours and since we bought this house 2 years ago he has re-wired it, re-plumbed it, fitted a new kitchen and a new bathroom. :T I have started the hints like bricks again though! :rotfl:

pandas66

Rebob wrote:

Tried that 6 months since! Cannot complain as he works a lot of hours and since we bought this house 2 years ago he has re-wired it, re-plumbed it, fitted a new kitchen and a new bathroom. :T I have started the hints like bricks again though! :rotfl:

So has he gone without a Sunday morning fry-up for 6 months aw bless.
When I got my 1st d/washer I went through the cupboards and did everything, all the crockery and glasses. sparkly sparkly :j

badgermonkey

When we first got ours we held a glass up to the light and cooed over it for a good few minutes. Never seen a glass so clean in our house before (I am seriously crap at washing-up).

Sad or what?!

Paulie'sGirl

Bump!

I know this thread is old, but it had some good tips

I too am getting a benchtop dishwasher just for me and OH. I have a seriously knackered back (degenerative discs) so standing at the sink for even just the 15 minutes is too much.

I read the thread about using washing powder. Does this damage your glassware or other things?

What's rinse aid and do I need it?

Why do powders have salt in them? I gather its to do with your water. We live in a fairly soft water area - do I need salt? If I use washing powder should I also add table salt?

I know this is fairly blonde basic stuff, but none of my family have ever had one, so this is really new to me

Thanks in advance!

PGxx

Chris25

blue-kat's post above says that she lives in a soft water area so doesn't need salt. I've never thought about it before but then I'm in a hard water area
Rinse-aid prevents streaks on your glasswear & cutlery and really makes them shine. Our dishwasher takes 3 drops per load. Your supplier will tell you how many are needed for your area and should set the machine for you to release them automatically if your machine allows, otherwise you'll have to do it manually.
I did try washing powder but not for long, I just use basic supermarket tablets (not lemon ones though - when I bought some cutlery it didn't recommend it) in half and add my own rinse-aid & salt rather than buy the 4 or 3in1 type.

Paulie'sGirl

Thanks Chris25 - that was really helpful

turfy6

I use dw powder comes in a big container & is very economical. Ive used different kinds of rinse aid, then one day took the trouble to read the label and found the same thingsin it as in good old stardrops, so once I'd used the old stuff up I diluted stardrops with water and that has been my rinse aid for about 6 months, Im delighted with the results too.

richardc1983

Paulie'sGirl wrote: »

Bump!

I know this thread is old, but it had some good tips

I too am getting a benchtop dishwasher just for me and OH. I have a seriously knackered back (degenerative discs) so standing at the sink for even just the 15 minutes is too much.

I read the thread about using washing powder. Does this damage your glassware or other things?

What's rinse aid and do I need it?

Why do powders have salt in them? I gather its to do with your water. We live in a fairly soft water area - do I need salt? If I use washing powder should I also add table salt?

I know this is fairly blonde basic stuff, but none of my family have ever had one, so this is really new to me

Thanks in advance!

PGxx

Hello

Make sure you go for a bosch, they got the best reviews and are made to last.

I have also got one had it 3 yrs now and not a problem at all, and it wasnt even new when I got it.

The model is a skt5102 they can be picked up on ebay much cheaper but heres google products search results http://www.google.co.uk/products?num=100&hl=en&q=bosch+skt5102&safe=on&scoring=p

If you get one of the older models you can upgrade the wash arm for an extra tenner so it performs the same as the new models.

Mine is great, I overload it all the time with far too much and never have to put anytthing back in again it cleans it up every time.

You must NEVER put normal table salt in the salt container, its a diff kind of salt. YOu must use dishwasher salt. You will damage the water softener if you put normal salt or anything else for that matter in the salt compartment.

Small table top dishwashers should not be used with tablets they are too powerful for it and they will foam up all over the place. Use finish powder will last you ages, use any brand of rinse aid they are all the same. If you want to use tablets I use the tesco value tablets and just break in half and put this in, works ok and doesnt foam up. They got which review for tablets and came out really well. I mention powder, you can use powder but its got to be dishwasher powder, not washing machine clothes powder!

Fruball

Hi

Can I use soda crystals in the DW?

I am not going out til later and could really do with putting it on soon but have no DW powder... I seem to remember doing it once before but finding everything horribly squeaky IYSWIM but not sure if I am imagining it!!

Anyone else tried this?