Best dishwasher tablets?

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I am about to lose my mind with my dishwasher. No matter what I do, my dishes are still dirty when they come out. And now so is my cutlery. I pre rinse everything, the filter is clean, rinse aid and salt topped up, tried the fairy power soak stuff too. It’s always properly dried on too, so it’s not just a case of re rinsing - I have to actually wash up stuff that comes out.

Is there a trick I’m missing? Is there some amazing dishwasher tablets on the market I simply must have? Please help before I rip the thing out and buy a new one

Same. The Aldi posh lemon ones

always clean and I don’t rinse /soak

Trying not to be very bitter at everyone here who doesn’t have to rinse! I’m going to clean all of the arms tomorrow when DC are out, and I’ll open mid cycle tonight to see if the water is hot. I’ll properly deep clean it and refill salt and rinse aid, buy the fairy platinum plus tablets and if it’s still not cleaning properly I’ll call Miele. DH reckons it’s in warranty 🤞 You’re all very lovely and helpful thank you, I know where i’ll come next time I have a cleaning dilemma!

Is it the type that you put the tablet in a little section and it pops open after about 15 minutes?

Tesco ones and the cycle that can go up to 60. Rinsing too much before loading atuff in can apparently be counter productive as the first part of the cycle is rinsing everything then sensing how much waste collects. If your dishes are already clean then then the dishwasher won't wash as intensively.

We use Lidl or Aldi tablets, plus top up salt and clean / vary the programme regularly We never rinse as it impacts cleaning, but it does sound like the machine is struggling. Some machines are lemons and worth seeing if it can be changed as not fit for purpose possibly

You do put the tablet in a little section but gods knows if it opens up

The compartment would be open at the end of the wash and the tablet would have dissolved

Also try a drain cleaner in the drain that connects to the dishwasher waste. If there’s a blockage or debris further down, then the water won’t drain away and you’ll get backwash into the dishwasher which will then dry onto the dishes. I like the HG enzyme cleaner but you could also do a sinkful of very hot water and a cup of vinegar.

Is anyone else waiting to see if cleaning the arms is the answer? I hope so as it sounds like it’s going to be a pain otherwise.

Is it open at the end?

I ask because those style of dishwashers are meant to have a pre wash detergent between turning on and the tablet popping out.

You can buy powder dishwasher detergent and put a coffee scoop size in before you turn it on and the machine suddenly does what it is supposed to do.

Yes it’s open at the end. Yeah, it has the dishwasher detergent in but it’s not making a difference.

I’ve cleaned the entire dishwasher including all the hand things, and put it on a wash cycle with dishwasher cleaner in. Just put on a test wash so fingers crossed for me please, it’s taken fucking hours

Apologies if it has been covered already, but on Miele there is a dial by the salt hole that you turn to set the amount of salt. The booklet tells you what is should be depending on water hardness.

our Miele wasn’t working well and the repair man who was very experienced gave us that tip and also said:

don’t use tablet, use separate salt rinse aid and powder (Waitrose is what we use)
don’t use the eco programme, use a hot short one
don't put in very dirty things without clearing the bits off first

Ours works fine now.

No. You need a separate detergent in before the tablet is released. Thats gets rid of the main debris.

Yes sorry if I wasn’t clear, I put the detergent in as well as the tablet!

Aldis are the cheapest and work just fine.

I always throw the tablet under the bottom rack. Much better than in the compartment where it is meant to go.
Technician from Miele told me to always use the Auto cycle.

Someone’s taking a backhander, cos Finish dishwasher stuff is bloody awful!

this has just come out of the dishwasher :( I think we need somebody to come and take a look, thanks everyone for your suggestions

Call the engineer.

Maybe it isn't going through all its programmes properly or something, but that isn't a result of the wrong tablet.

I have a cheap and basic dishwasher, and use cheapo Sainsbury's Own tablets and everything comes out spotless and sparkly.

@blankcanvas3 any update please?

It’s been a nightmare, I wouldn’t recommend Miele to anybody! Engineer came out and agreed there was a problem, he ‘fixed’ the issue (it was something to do with the water not heating up so a PP had been right), but it still wasn’t cleaning properly afterwards. Another engineer came, saw that it wasn’t cleaning properly but couldn’t find a diagnosable fault so couldn’t do much other than suggest they replace. Miele have refused to replace even though it’s under warranty because the first engineer ‘fixed the problem’ even though the problem isn’t fixed. It’s just a massive pain because it’s integrated into the kitchen so is going to be a big ish job to replace, but we’re going to have to suck it up and get a new one. Hopefully we’ll be able to claim something back from Miele/home insurance

I’ve replaced an integrated dishwasher. It’s actually not that big a job so I wouldn’t worry about that element.

Apparently rinsing stuff inder the tap can actually reduce the effectiveness of the clean. You should scrape off loose food and that's it. There is a sensor that detects how dirty the load is and adjusts the wash accordingly. This was on Inside The Factory on 27th January about Kellogs Cornflakes. They had a feature on how to load and use a dishwasher properly. It might help 🙂

Only Fairy Platinum Plus works with my dishwasher. All other tablets leave dishes unwashed. I only use short cycle- 30mins- usually, and it works brilliantly.

No don’t accept being fobbed off by Miele. Call them back and explain again that the problem is still there and it is NOT fixed.