Dishwashing products

[cilitbang]

A dishwasher/washing machine engineer recently told me to ditch the 5in1 tablets for the dishwasher and stick to old fashioned, rinse aid, salt and powder. Does anyone else do this and which ones do you find the best? I've only ever used the tablets so could do with a bit of guidance. Thanks.

i use the 5in1, but only coz the tesco ones are the cheapest. but i always add rinse aid and salt as well. told to me by an engineer type person as well.
i really do notice the difference in cleanliness when the salt or rinseaid has run out, and i havent replaced it.

also, in order to clean it. its best to just run it on empty at the hottest cycle with a tabllet in, rather than buying the expensive dishwasher cleaner bottles.

I also use separate powder tablets (not 5 in 1 ones), rinse aid and salt. I used to use Finish but found out that LIdl's own brand had come out as Which Best Buy so switched to those. They are a third of the price and are better I'd say. Still use Finish rinse aid and salt but may investigate other brands when I run out.

I was reading the Which report on dishwashing products the other day (too much time on my hands???) and it recommended the Tesco Value dishwasher tablets as a "best buy". I haven't tried them yet as I have a mountain of Finish/Fairy on BOGOFs to use up, but I will give them a whirl, in which case I'll need rinse aid and salt too. Still reckon it will be cheaper if the wash quality is good than buying the more premium brands.

I use 3-in-one tablets as well as rinse aid and salt, which is what the manufacturer advised.

I use whatever tablets are cheapest so it varies from own-brand value to Finish/Fairy if theres a good offer on.

I only ever use wilko cheapy rinse aid and salt.I agree with chainstitch you can tell the difference when they run out.

thats great thanks! Have added Tesco Value tabs to the shopping list, will give them a try. Will add rinse aid and salt to the machine,Tesco's 'Daisy'discount brand rinse aid is really reasonably priced - 1 litre for £1.95, so i'll try it.