Dishwasher advice please

[BunnyBeanz]

Hi
I've just got my very first dishwasher (Bosch) and need advice on detergent/tablets/rinse aid and salt...
Do the 'all in one' tablets mean just that, that's all you need, just 1 tablet for each wash, no rinse aid or salt needed?
What tablets do you find to be better than others?
Thanks!

Hi Bunny,

I have had 4 dishwashers over 32 years with the last 3 all being Bosch.
Good choice! 👍

Personally I’m not a fan of the all in one tablets but I do live in a hard water area. I use Aldi’s Classic Magnum tablets with separate salt and rinse aid - whichever brands are cheapest - and this works brilliantly for me.

Other people will probably have different ideas but you will find what suits you best by trial and testing.

Good luck!

Rinse aid is , I would think, added at the end once the all in one tablet is gone so I would always use rinse aid.

I have always found that the cheapest, plain tablets plus rinse aid and salt give the best results and this was stated, for the first time, in my latest dishwasher handbook.

I love my Bosch Logixx. I can recommend a combination of the cheapie dishwasher tablets / rinse aid and salt from Lidl or Aldi. The ridiculously expensive dishwasher stuff performs no better than the extremely cheap stuff.

Cheapest tablets and no rinse aid. When I tried it, I couldn't see much, if any, difference.

When I lived in a soft water area, I didn't use salt, but now I do because I've moved to an area where the water is really hard and limescale is an issue. Again, the cheapest. I only use the quick economy programme.

I believe that the products you use are only effective if you scrape plates, load sensibly and rinse filters and spray arms regularly. I also keep the door ajar when not in use.

I've found that a cheap tablet plus salt and rinse aid works best for me. I'm in a hard water area.

Currently using Asda tablets and Asda rinse aid. Got a huuuuge bag of Astonish tablets to try once the Asda ones are gone!

i use whatever is on offer tbh....I will say I prefer the blocky tablets to the jelly type, anything scented seems to taint silicon spatulas and wooden spoons and those fairy type jelly tabs are a bugger for stinking up the dishwasher.

I always use, rinseaid and salt...even though we are in a soft water area, they are not just to soften the water, they help with food and fat debris and making things shiny and clean.

My only tip is to vary the programmes you use, maybe I imagine it, but if I run mine on the same programme all the time it seems not to be so good as the week goes on. I mix and match the quick one and the eco one, with an occasional intense if I am feeling all domestic and have the cruddy baking trays out of the oven!

Dishwashers are great but do not leave them on at night or when you go out. We had an eight year old Bosch which had not given us any trouble until one evening. DH put it on and came to sit down to watch tv. The smoke alarm went off in the hall (thank goodness) and I went out to investigate. The instrument panel at the top of the machine was a mass of flames and dropping melted material on the floor. The fire was sudden and very fierce. If we had gone to bed or the smoke alarm hadn’t worked we would have lost our kitchen or worse. The same scenaria was reported on a tv programme where a house had been destroyed. So wonderful things but beware of taking them for granted.

Thanks for all the tips and advice!

I also keep the door ajar when not in use. Stops it from smelling. Some dishwashers open automatically at the end of the cycle, but if yours doesn't I would recommend opening as soon as it finishes. Stops the glasses going cloudy.

I always use own brand powders. You can use half the amount and still get good results.