dishwasher running cost

mumpamela9

I've just discovered that my dishwasher will give me almost as good results on the 'quickwash' programme as it does on the main, longer, hotter wash. The difference is about 35mins as compared to about an hour and a half, and a temp of 35 instead of about 60 - 65 degrees. The odd thing has to be put back in, and badly baked-on dishes need a little help, but in general, it's about 95% efficient. It is such a saving of electricity, time, and possibly water (not sure about that) that I don't mind helping out a little!

MATH

Havn't got a quickwash but have an economy one which reduces the temp but not the time (never used it). Will give it a whirl and try to remember to post back the results of the MBTH jury.

MATH

Washed OK but it wasn't a very dirty load. Didn't dry as well though! Will try to remember to use it on 'lite' loads.

tru

Have you got a rinse option? Mine takes about 2 mins to rinse, so I do that first, then the quickest wash.

MATH

My rinse takes about 10mins, the longest of any machine I've had

mumpamela9

my dishwasher (Bosch) has a fifteen minute rinse cycle, using cold water, and which can be switched off at any point. I find it best to use when dirty stuff is going to be sitting in there for hours before the main wash. True, the quick wash doesn't work too well with a really heavy load, but I findit OK for most.
Also, if you have a LIDL store near you, their dishwasher tablets and salt are very much cheaper than anyone else as just as efficient.

MATH

Don't have a LIDL but have an ALDI. Find their dishwasher stuff cheap and very good. When I use their dishwash tabs I cut them in half and still get a good wash.

mumpamela9

further to the dishwasher saga- have just found an interesting and previously unheard of piece of advice in my dishwasher manual -'Due to different solvencies of detergent tabs, the cleaning efficiency may not be fully utilised by short progs. It is recommended to use washing powder for these progs.' (condensed)
Have just tried this with Ariel non-bio with pretty good results. Still not perfect though!
Very sorry man-bout-the-house if I misled you.

scouselass

I have just purchased a Neff Dishwasher, and they make Bosh too - my dishwasher instructions has the same comment about using powder when doing a short cycle, but I assumed this referred to dishwasher powder? When you mention Ariel non bio, do you mean you tried washing machine powder?

I don't think that would be any good for the machine, your dishes or your stomach (if there was unseen residue)!

MATH

I do 2 full DW loads a day and have used clothes washing powder (the cheeper the better) in my DW since I read about Cathy doing it for years. It is ok for most things. I use between a tsp and a tbsp depending how dirty/greasy. Occasionally I get a build up of tea/coffee stains particularly on the kidz plastic mugs so one wash a week I use 1/2 a DW tab which sorts this prob out.

loafer_2

Many new dishwashers are cold feed only these days... "so they can support the 35 degree glass wash" (sales pitch)

Mine does the following
1) cold rinse
2) hot wash
3) hot rinse/rinse aid
4) clean cold rinse (+aid?)
5) Hot Dry

I use 2/3's less electricity by switing it to a hot water feed, and we all know that heating water by gas is cheaper then by electricity right