Help have new dishwasher tabs ruined everything??????

[LoveBeingIgnoredByMardyBra]

I bought a different type of dishwashers tablets a couple of weeks ago and now pans, knives and forks etc have streaky marks and rainbow type marks. Lots of these marks are not coming off with hand washing. What is it? Has it knacked everything?

Mine only does that when it's low on salt or rinse aid - have you got enough of both in the machine?

I've never used salt, should I? Haven't checked the rinse aid recently though.

When I had my new dishwasher fitted (2006) I put in one of those one dose salt packs and forgot about it because I -wrongly- thought the salt in my 5-in-1 tablets would be okay.
When the machine had to be repaired ,we were told that it empties the salt resevoir once a month and flushes it through.

I live in a hard water area

Just had a look and it even says on the pack no need for rinse aid or salt

I always use extra salt/rinse aid regardless of what the pack says as the salt in the tablets doesnt recharge the salt reservoir in the machine. Check what your machine manual says as it may recommend using salt/rinse aid even when using tablets with added salt/rinse aid function.

Where would salt go, have never added it.

On most dishwashers there's a large cap in the bottom of the machine that you unscrew. You'll need to lift out the bottom tray to get to it. Salt goes in there.

the cap for our salt is also on the floor of the machine - unscrew and fill with salt and screw the cap back on.

dishwasher care

Thanks guys have had a look and sure enough large screw top in the bottom. Will get some salt.

Seona thanks for that will take a look.

engineers from both from Smeg and Bosch told me to add rinse aid and salt despite what tablets say

we use top tablets and always add...when we don't, it shows.

Thanks. Have now got rinse aid and salt and everything is sparkly

Oh, the power of Mumsnet!

Indeed, tis all lovely and shiny now