Dishwasher tablets not recommended for short wash cycles

[danny99]

Having just installed a new dishwasher with a particularly fast quick wash optional program of only 30 minutes, I saw that the user guide says to use detergent rather than tablets for short washes. (No matter that it seems a major supermarket chain like Asda only stocks tablets!)

i have noticed however that you can get Fairy tablets designated as “best for short cycle” or “quick dissolve”. But I read in another thread that this brand is definitely not favoured by mumsnet members!

I think the problem with tablets on short cycles is probably that they don’t have long enough to dissolve fully?

what do people think about the user manual advice?

Fast wash settings generally use more energy as it heats the water hotter. We hardly ever use it but find no issue using a fairy dishwashing pod when we do.

Off to Google why fairy aren’t good to use though, keen to know what people use instead. I’ve never had anything else clean as well and not leave food on the plates, whether long wash or quick hot wash.

Tx for that - is your short wash only half an hour though? Mine is on a low temperature (only for lightly soiled articles). I imagine a lower temperature shortens the overall time as it doesn’t take as long to heat the water.

A couple of points - 1. Do you use the fairy tablets which are designed as either “for short washes” or “fast dissolving”? 2. For other readers - has anyone experienced a problem with any type of tablet at all on short wash programmes?

I use Finish Ultimate Infinity Shine and my short cycle is 29 mins. I didn't buy them as quick dissolving but they do.

I buy the cheapest ones I can get from Home Bargains or Aldi, use a fast wash and never have a problem. Same at work, with what look like more expensive tablets.

Yes I used Aldi ones before. How long is your quick wash cycle and at what temperature (perhaps they dissolve quicker in hotter water)?

30m - not sure re temp but pretty hot.

I put the tablet at the bottom of the dishwasher, I always use a quick cycle.

Yes short wash is 30 mins.
No, just regular fairy tablets.

Tx 4 that.

The main issue with fairy tablets I read about in another thread here, was with an unpleasantly lingering smell being left on items. And when reading Amazon reviews on the platinum plus tablets, their smell features often - although this is usually linked to favourable comments about the dishwasher after use.

Checking on the Asda web-site, you can get ones which are not lemon scented, but they are more expensive. I am going to give a small pack of the lemon-scented ones a go to see how I get on with them. As I believe they are more liquid based (?) there shouldn’t be a problem with them not having time to dissolve on a short cycle (bearing in mind that my short cycle is actually the coolest cycle, which might make the dissolving process slower).

At the end of the day I don’t suppose it makes much difference though - it’s probably just a case of the dishwasher manufacturer being over cautious and worrying users unnecessarily - especially when only tablets and not the recommended powder detergent are all that is stocked in a large supermarket anyway)!

On another aspect, I can programme half loads; but there is no advice in the user manual on using less detergent for these programmes, which I would have thought would make sense. But there again, I don’t think dishwasher tablets are designed to be broken in half anyway.

I use fairy, they are capsules more than tablets really.

Never had a problem with them.

I never use short cycles after the Miele rep told me always use Auto for everything, it will help your dishwasher to last a longer time.

I use lidls tablets and only ever do a short cycle (33 minutes). I've no idea of the exact temperature but it's hot (too hot to comfortably hold a glass when it's just finished). Never had any issues, tablets always dissolve.

Tablets are too expensive, I vary my supermarket shops looking for powder and when I find it I buy several boxes. Sainsbury was the last place I found powder. I sprinkle it on the door, probably use less than recommended, but I'm working on the same basis as for washing machines, the manufacturers always suggest you use more than is actually needed.
I was finding no matter what cycle I used, eco, quick or 70 degrees there was always a residue left over with the tablets, and I always threw them in the bottom, so they were dissolving at the start of every cycle.

Sainsbury’s do a dishwasher gel in a bottle that would work well. Just squirt it in the dispenser (half full). I’m sure other supermarkets would do similar.

Meh, I have a slimline dishwasher that is 20+ years old. Always use the 30min cycle, always use tabs - currently Finish all-in-one as I can get the big boxes in costco (but have used supermarket own brand in the past). Still going strong, no residue, everything sparkling.

Thanks all is there anything like a like button to acknowledge replies with?

Ds2 and I can taste the soap on the dishes if we use an expensive tablet on the short cycle. Ds1 and DH can't.

I swapped to powder or cheapy tablets for the short washes and that seems to have done the trick.

I use fairy platinum pods on a short dish wash and had no problems.