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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate the dishwasher taste

42 replies

LovingLivingLife · 06/09/2023 22:23

Obviously not the dishwasher itself (which I haven't had the pleasure of tasting yet) but the taste it leaves on certain things?

Biggest offenders seem to be kids cups, any plastic bottles, bottles with straws, tupperware and generally anything not ceramic. They all seem to have a chemical lemony taste.

Can it be undone? Or am I losing my marbles and imagining it as my DH seems to think?

OP posts:
SmokeMeAKipperIllBeBackForBreakfast · 06/09/2023 22:26

YANBU!
There are things I refuse to put in the dishwasher because of the taste. It taints the food.
Some plastics I have found are okay on the top rack but there are some I can’t put in at all. The non stick pans can’t go in either or it cooks the taste into the food.

TheBeesKnee · 06/09/2023 22:26

YANBU, this is why I replaced our silicone spatulas etc with wood and metal. It's horrible.

DS is a few months off weaning yet but I will not be buying plastic or silicone things.

HungryandIknowit · 06/09/2023 22:28

Agree. It's horrible. I also can't stand the smell. Makes me wonder what horrible chemicals we are washing our dishes in.

Teisenau · 06/09/2023 22:30

I don't like it much, but are there other 'scent' options?

Stripeypyjamas · 06/09/2023 22:30

Yanbu. I do wash the plastic bottles in it as it sterilizes them but always rinse them through with water before filling again.

gherkeen · 06/09/2023 22:32

LovingLivingLife · 06/09/2023 22:23

Obviously not the dishwasher itself (which I haven't had the pleasure of tasting yet) but the taste it leaves on certain things?

Biggest offenders seem to be kids cups, any plastic bottles, bottles with straws, tupperware and generally anything not ceramic. They all seem to have a chemical lemony taste.

Can it be undone? Or am I losing my marbles and imagining it as my DH seems to think?

Ceramic things and anything with straws should not go in the dishwasher,! The former gets ruined and the latter doesn't wash and rinser effectively

PollyPut · 06/09/2023 22:38

@LovingLivingLife have you tried non-lemony dishwasher tablets? They really vary and the non-lemony ones are better. Ditto the rinse aid.

Original poster
LovingLivingLife · 06/09/2023 22:38

I'm so glad to hear I'm not insane.

Washing the dishes is my DHs chore so he just wants to load everything in as quickly as possible and doesn't seem to care. I have just had to throw away another batch of bottles because he put them in again despite being asked several times not to do it.

Not really sure what the answer is. Throw away the dishwasher entirely?? 😅

OP posts:
Original poster
LovingLivingLife · 06/09/2023 22:39

HungryandIknowit · 06/09/2023 22:28

Agree. It's horrible. I also can't stand the smell. Makes me wonder what horrible chemicals we are washing our dishes in.

Yes to this also!

OP posts:
Original poster
LovingLivingLife · 06/09/2023 22:40

TheBeesKnee · 06/09/2023 22:26

YANBU, this is why I replaced our silicone spatulas etc with wood and metal. It's horrible.

DS is a few months off weaning yet but I will not be buying plastic or silicone things.

In that case also steer clear of the bamboo ones, they're definitely affected too! In fact I'm not if there's any kids options that don't pick up the scent?

OP posts:
HereIAmThereYouAre · 06/09/2023 22:41

I know what you mean - we changed to Ecover dishwasher tablets as they don't have that effect.

Original poster
LovingLivingLife · 06/09/2023 22:42

PollyPut · 06/09/2023 22:38

@LovingLivingLife have you tried non-lemony dishwasher tablets? They really vary and the non-lemony ones are better. Ditto the rinse aid.

I hadn't even thought about the rinse aid! We switched about 6 months ago and definitely it's been worse since then!

OP posts:
Original poster
LovingLivingLife · 06/09/2023 22:43

HereIAmThereYouAre · 06/09/2023 22:41

I know what you mean - we changed to Ecover dishwasher tablets as they don't have that effect.

How effective are they at cleaning? We use the max power ones usually fairy and other than the taste they seem to do a good job

OP posts:
HereIAmThereYouAre · 06/09/2023 22:44

They work perfectly - everything comes out just as clean as when we used the big brands eg Finish etc.

justabigdisco · 06/09/2023 22:44

It’s the lemon scented dishwasher tablets. Stick to ‘original’ and you won’t have the problem anymore

Frances0911 · 06/09/2023 22:44

I use Finish 0% as they are unscented, and clean just as well as the scented ones. Absolutely no strange taste on anything, problem sorted!

Moonlamp · 06/09/2023 22:45

I threw an entire dishwasher out because of this. Put a wine rack in the space. Best decision ever!

Seriously though, the smell of a warm dishwasher being opened makes me feel physically sick, and everything that comes out of it has THAT taste/smell, even when fastidiously cleaned. Awful things. 🤮

picturethispatsy · 06/09/2023 22:47

I second ecover, they have no scent and work just as well.
Other thoughts on this are that it’s not good to put plastic in any sort of heat anyway. Over time it can degrade the plastic which leaches the chemicals out of the plastic. Not good for you or the planet.

Original poster
LovingLivingLife · 06/09/2023 22:48

Thanks everyone some great suggestions, I will try the different brands. Perhaps I can fix this one small problem in my life!

Next challenge, how to motivate myself to fold and put away the washing... 🎉

OP posts:
JohnNolan · 07/09/2023 00:05

I don't wash anything plastic in the dishwasher - only plates, pots & pans, cutlery, glasses & mugs.

TheNightTroll · 07/09/2023 00:07

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Chocolatelabradorsarethebest · 07/09/2023 00:17

I was getting obsessed with my coffee tasting of lemon when I used my keep cup and realised it was something in the lemon dishwasher tablets staying on the plastic. My DH thought I was going mad so I’m glad it’s not just me! I now make sure we just get ‘original’ tablets / rinse aid and it’s all fine.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 07/09/2023 00:19

Use plain tablets and not lemon scented ones?

NoSaladThanks · 07/09/2023 00:24

I always use a cup of white vinegar in the dishwasher rather than dishwash stuff for that reason.