First dishwasher - talk dirty to me!

[Kindlynow]

So I am finally moving to a house that has space for a dishwasher and am unduly excited. However, I have zero experience using one and after a brief look at Tesco/Waitrose I am overwhelmed by the choices..
What do you ladies use tablet wise? And to clean the dishwasher? How often does it need cleaning, and with what? Any other maintenance tips?
Big thank you in advance, am looking forward to my kitchen looking less of a shit hole.

I use fairy or finish but only bought when on offer.
I use own make dishwasher salt and rinse aid.
I clean out the filters when I feel they need doing. I occasionally put a dishwasher cleaner through it

I use Fairy dishwasher tabs (cheaper in home bargains), others will say different brands work best for them. You may have to try a few different ones to see what suits your use/machine.

I clean the filter out after every cycle, there is stuff on it after every load. I can smell the dishes aren’t clean if it isn’t washed each time. Just with washing up liquid & a wipe with the dish sponge. Rinse well. You do NOT want anything going in the machine with washing up liquid on it -it froths up out of the side of the door & floods the kitchen floor.

I put a dishwasher cleaner through it monthly. I usually put the oven racks in on this cycle because the dishwasher cleaner, combined with the hot wash you have to put it on, leaves the racks then needing just a quick scrub to get them shining.

Congratulations. I’d never be without a dishwasher again.

Thanks, both!

Is the rinse aid/salts the same thing? What is their purpose?

You can put lots of things in dishwasher : bathroom mugs, dish sponges, cooker hood filters …. I’ve only had a dishwasher a few months and love mine. Kitchen also much tidier without plates & cups lying around…

@Kindlynow

Thanks, both!

Is the rinse aid/salts the same thing? What is their purpose?

Rinse aid is a liquid and helps dishes dry properly without water spots Dishwasher salt is salt and helps soften the water to improve the cleaning of your dishes.

Thanks Pixie, do you generally add both in for every wash or is it more a once a week type thing?

When you fill the compartments they last for a few weeks depending on your settings e.g. if you set the salt for soft water it will last longer than if you have hard water.

My machine tells you when either of them needs to be topped up.

Salt normally goes in a lidded compartment on the floor of the dishwasher. Rinse aid normally goes in a bit on the door near where you put your detergent pods/tablets/powder

read the manual!

tablets - the lidl 4in1always come up good in which tests and are cheap.
if you are in a hard water area you need dishwasher salt in addition.
the eco setting is great (though takes a long time). every couple of months the machine needs a long hot empty cycle with descaler.

good luck! soon you will wonder how you ever coped without.

I’ve never used rinse aid in mine. I just open the door a tiny crack when the load finishes & then the dishes dry without blobs of water on them -or maybe I just don’t look properly!

It's being left by the previous owners who don't have the Manuel anymore so it'll be a fun Google when we arrive and see what sort it is!

Really appreciate all the advice, I'm very excited, especially with a toddler and a new baby due in a few weeks!

I use Aldi dishwasher tablets - very cheap - and don't bother with salt (though aldi rinseaid does help the glasses look shiny). I clean out the filter every 2 weeks or so as it collects a disgusting amount of crap.

I have a Bosch with a top rack for cutlery and I love it.

If you are buying new, make sure you look at the racks. If you use bowls, make sure they fit wherever you want them. If you have plastic cups (for children), water bottles, lunchboxes etc, they should go on the top shelf. Bring a sample to the shop and see how they fit.

My first dishwasher was the cheapest I could get. My current dishwasher is about 50 quid more expensive and is fantastic.

x-post - what type is is?

Clean out the filter and run it through on a hottest wash with a dishwasher cleaner before you start [bleurggggghhhhhh]

Fairy platinum tablets all the way, I've tried others but find these the best. Salt isn't needed unless you live in a hard water area. Any old rinse aid will do the trick.

I use smol tablets. They're not the cheapest (or the most expensive), but I like their eco credentials. Before that, we always used own label, which did a perfect job - brands a rip off in all detergents (in my view).

No need to rinse things before they go in, but make sure there's no bits of food left - that's what clogs the filter.

You can use a dishwasher cleaner every so often (4-6 weeks), but we usually use soda crystals instead - way cheaper! Just put a few tbsp in the bottom of the machine and run it empty on a hot wash.

I use aldi cheapest tablets, no rinse aid and no salt. Not had any problems and current dishwasher on most days and still going strong after 9 years. Wash the filter with normal washing up liquid when I think of it (probably 3-4 times a year) 😚

I think those flexible plastic tablets work best. Such as quantum or platinum.

I don't use salt or rinse aid. I use the Finish Quantum tablets and use a Finish dishwasher cleaner once a month. I pick anything out of the filter after each wash. I don't seem to get water drop marks on the dishes etc.

I love my dishwasher! I use it once a day after the evening meal and it takes the whole day's dishes - which keeps them all nicely out of the way during the day.

@dementedpixie

I use fairy or finish but only bought when on offer. I use own make dishwasher salt and rinse aid. I clean out the filters when I feel they need doing. I occasionally put a dishwasher cleaner through it

This. We’ve recently got one too. Had one in previous house but wasn’t one in the new place. Such a relief now we have one again.

I use Aldi tablets. Have tried all the expensive brands and can see no difference. Aldi rinse aid. Aldi cleaner which I put through every 4-6 weeks.