New dishwasher - do I need to use separate dishwasher salt?!

shesawsparks

We have just had a new kitchen installed and with it, a brand new slimline Bosch dishwasher. Having not had a working dishwasher for about the last 10 years though, I'm finding it quite confusing trying to decipher the instruction manual for first usage, which is what leads me here! We live in quite a hard water area and I'm unsure about whether or not we need to use separate/additional dishwasher salt if we're using 3-in-1 dishwasher tablets? The ones we've bought are Fairy Platinum.

POPPYOSCAR

Yes you do.

We were advised by a dishwasher repair man that even though there is salt in the three in one tablets it is not enough for a hard water area and so to still add the salt.

matelodave

Yes, you do

Talldave

You should also be able to check your water hardness with your water company and set the dishwasher accordingly. I found the information on my water company's website.

SMCG

Good evening. If you live in the Scottish area I would not put salt in for soft water reasons.

If you live in another area, I would put salt in. I stayed in Hampshire area (Southsea) and you had to put bubble bath in the bath to soften the water,

A £2 bag of salt will prolong the life of your dishwasher. Get these from LIDL as the Waitrose ones are expensive for no real reason.

shesawsparks

Thanks for your replies guys, that's really helpful. I went on our water company's website last night and checked our water hardness; in our postcode area the water is rated as "very hard," which tbh doesn't come as a surprise at all So I will definitely be buying some dishwasher salt in town today!

teakbank12

Without salt you will damage goods being washed in the machine.
Equally check rinse aid and keep filters clean.
We dont bother with those fancy 3 in 1 tabs but use basic 5p per tablet Aldi/Lidl and they clean better.
Please dont rinse plates etc before putting in washer as it will confuse the machine into thinking its cleaned the items.

D_M_E

Also put some dishwasher salt in your washing machine soap dispenser with whatever detergent you use - prolongs the machine's life is what the repair guy said.

Farway

teakbank12 wrote: »

Please don't rinse plates etc before putting in washer as it will confuse the machine into thinking its cleaned the items.

Blimey you must have a super duper machine, how can it possibly tell? Has it got some optical sensors in there?

PennineAcute

Farway wrote: »

Blimey you must have a super duper machine, how can it possibly tell? Has it got some optical sensors in there?

That's because they are using Lidl and Aldi's tablets. It does not confuse the machine if they use the 3 in 1s.

MoneyMate

D_M_E wrote: »

Also put some dishwasher salt in your washing machine soap dispenser with whatever detergent you use - prolongs the machine's life is what the repair guy said.

Sorry never seen dishwasher salt in soap dept B4 ? :eek: