Are cheap dishwasher tablets any good?

[Bringiton2016]

Just that really. Anyone tried the basic/value type brands that are about 5p per tablet? I normally use Tesco own brand but was wondering if I could get away with using even cheaper. exciting Saturday night

God it's in my rental agreement to use finish with both a rinse aid and salt. Saying that though I've never used anything else, had a few dishwashers and no issues with any of them. My mum goes though a dishwasher every 18months in sure it's because she uses cheap tablets as she uses salt and rinse aid too.

18months! I've had mine 10 years in a hard water area. Previous one lasted 15yrs.

NEver used salt where I live.
Aldi's own are great.
Even disregarding the price, they have come out top in consumer tests by Which!
Factor in the price and it makes the even more appealing.

Some of the basic ones from Lidl and Asda covered the dishwasher with a white film which was a bigger to get off. Tescos basics are fine

• bugger

Another vote for Aldi magnum ones here

I used to use the premium ones, but with poor results. Switched to making sure rinse aid and salt were topped up, and using the very cheapest tabs from anywhere. Now get great results.

Yet another vote for the Aldi ones. Lidl are OK too.

If you want to use Finish, they are very cheap at home bargains.

I use whatever is cheapest at Tesco , so either their own brand or Daisy

I have to break them up a bit as they don't dissolve , and I never use rinse aid or dishwasher salt ( live in a soft water area )

We put the dishwasher on the Eco wash that takes over 3 hours , if that's relevant

I found the Aldi ones were dulling the cutlery and didn't clean too well. I buy the pouches of Fairy from Home Bargains, I got a pack of 90 Fairy Ultra Power tablets for £7.99 last week.

How can the Eco wash be better than the 2h wash? I've always been confused about that...

I use waitrose own brand all-in-one. They are fab, work much better than finish or fairy. I have a few Finish tabs in with them in the box and if I ever use one I can tell, the dishes aren't as clean.

I use Lidl or Aldi mostly are both are great, currently using finish (from Costco on offer) as was cheaper per tablet and have noticed no difference to the 'budget brands' I keep salt & rinse aid topped up X

I once bought Fairy dishwasher tabs because they were on special offer. They tainted everything plastic or silicone with a disgusting soapy taste which transferred to food when they were used again. Took ages to wash out of things. Never, ever again.

Tesco value tablets en route...

The salt is to clean the dishwashers internal water softener. It's not a water softening agent. If it packs up your fucked. You'll need to buy a new machine.

Eco cycles take longer but usually use less water and electric but it's best to check the manual to see which cycles use less.

We use Aldi cheapy, I think it's £2.99 for 50 but I snap them in half.

I boycott major brands, apart from Ecover, they still test on animals. The own brand ones aren't. Sainsburys is buav approved.

Lidl 5 in 1 excellent, though buy Fairy Platinum too but only when available at half price. Not keen on Finish

Fluffy when we bought our dishwasher it came with a kit for testing the water. For the reading we got, the instruction manual stated no salt was needed.

Yes but most of the U.K does need salt.

Fluffy I did make the point we have very soft water - not everybody does. Salt isn't for cleaning the water softener, it is used in the water softening unit to soften the water. The same reason why salt is needed in water softening units installed in hard water areas.

Very hard water here. Kitchen installer said always use salt regardless of how soft water is and rinse aid but use cheapest tablets. Once a month run hottest cycle to clean the dishwasher regardless of which cycle you use.

Aldi best and even home bargains do a box and find acceptable. No way can you justify the expensive ones by Finish that seem to be on endless offer.