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Housekeeping

Find cleaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Housekeeping forum.

Original poster

dishwasher tablets

43 replies

NinjaChipmunk · 14/04/2010 16:32

i've finally got my very first dishwasher (and i'm very excited about it) and now i need to buy tablets. I have absolutely no idea what i need to buy or if i need anything in addition to the tablets. I live in a hard water area and its an ignis dishwasher. If anyone can shed any light i'd be grateful as i need to get them tonight (i'll be the gormless looking one in the detergent isle).

OP posts:
BlackYellowRed · 14/04/2010 16:35

You need powder + rinse aid + salt.

Or you buy tablets with it all in.

I buy Fairy tablets. They are often half price at Tesco, so not that expensive then.

BlackYellowRed · 14/04/2010 16:36

And yay dishwashers are the best!

BecauseImWorthIt · 14/04/2010 16:38

I've tried loads of them, and can highly recommend Sainsbury's Basics. They're £1.78 for 30 tablets. You will also need rinse aid and dishwasher salt. (Tesco do a Value one for the same price)

Buy the cheapest of these too. It's the dishwasher that does all the work, not the stuff you put in it. And I was told that by somebody who works for one of the manufacturers of detergents!

Rockbird · 14/04/2010 16:41

Ha, I was just going to recommend Tesco Value tablets They were either first or second best in the Which review and they are really good but as BIWI said, you need rinse aid and salt with them. My previous heap of shite dishwasher was fed Quantum this and Finish that and it never cleaned so much as a spoon. Don't be fooled into buying the expensive ones. Enjoy

BlackYellowRed · 14/04/2010 16:43

I also buy some dishwasher cleaner occasionally.

Original poster
NinjaChipmunk · 14/04/2010 17:02

so do you use powder + rinse aid + salt every time if you don't buy them in an all in one?
am i supposed to clean it occasionally as well?

OP posts:
Abundantia · 14/04/2010 17:07

To clean mine I put in a cup of white vinegar (stood upright in the basket) and run it empty on the hottest wash.

I add rinse aid as and when it needs it and salt when I remember.

I also use half a tablet each time, unless there's a really dirty/greasy load.

BlackYellowRed · 14/04/2010 17:36

salt top up once a month
rinse aid once a week
some powder every wash

or all-in-one tablet

cleaner about every two months

MaggieW · 14/04/2010 19:09

I also second Tesco Value tablets. They wash as good as, if not better, than other ones which you need a mortgage to buy!

mrsflux · 14/04/2010 20:54

the dishwasher man who came to fix mine said ALWAYS use salt and rinse aid even if you buy all in one tablets.

i did as i was told like a good girl. much better results!

DaisymooSteiner · 14/04/2010 21:35

One of the Which Best Buys was Aldi's dishwasher tablets which were as good as Finish Quantum and another very posh one. Don't know whether they tested any value brands. I'm a Tesco Value Queen, but I have to admit I do think their dishwasher tablets aren't as good as some of the branded ones.

bibbitybobbityhat · 14/04/2010 21:38

Just stock up on whatever's on bogoff. They are all much of a muchness. The only ones I won't buy again are Ecover and that's a shame because I so wanted to like them.

AmeliaJaneAgain · 14/04/2010 21:41

We're in a really hard water area and salt does make a difference, even if you use the all in one tablets. We've never tried rinse aid though...

Sidge · 14/04/2010 21:41

Lidl's W5 dishwasher tabs are great, (not the 5 in 1 ones but the regular ones, they're about 1.80 a box).

Own brand dishwasher salt topped up monthly, own brand rinse aid topped up fortnightly and one tablet a day.

geraldinetheluckygoat · 14/04/2010 21:42

I use Lidl tablets, salt and rinse aid here, all pretty cheap and effective

WorzselMummage · 14/04/2010 21:45

I use the powder. A £4 bottle lasts me 3 months

DilysPrice · 14/04/2010 21:45

If you are in a hard water area then probably best to double up with salt and an all-in-one tab.

notso · 14/04/2010 22:03

I think if you use the salt and rinse-aid, then it doesn't matter what tabs you use, I just buy whatever is on offer.

realitychick · 14/04/2010 23:56

All in ones are easiest because if you forget to put the salt in the wash goes smeary. I get Sainsbury's own brand usually - they're better than Finish and many of the other more expensive brands.

nannynick · 15/04/2010 00:31

Always use Salt - it is used to regenerate the ion exchange resin. See: Dishwasher - Water Softening System for details.
The Lidl all-in-one tablets I find are great. I tend to also top up the rinse aid when I remember (so probably once every couple of months!) Rinse aid makes the dishes water repellant, so they come out feeling dry.

With regard to the salt container... make sure the top is screwed on correctly. Once I didn't tighten mine correctly and my cutlery went a bit rusty.

How It Works: Dishwasher - may be handy to read, as knowing how it works may help.

Oh... never put washing up liquid in a dishwasher, it will wreck it and make a big mess. Video

thehillsarealive · 15/04/2010 08:23

Aldi tablets are fantastic, after years of buying Finish expensive things we read Good Housekeeping review/Which review and decided to give them a try.

Next time I am near a Lidl will pop in and try their tablets.

Salt is a must - so is rinse aid, i use Tesco cheapo.

GoldenSnitch · 15/04/2010 08:40

I checked with Which? when we bought our dishwasher. Finish Max in 1's were the best cleaners with Tesco Value tablets also recommended as long as you are using separate salt and rinse aid.

As Mrsflux says though, I always find even the all in 1 tabs work better when using extra salt and rinse aid too. We've run out of salt at the moment and I can really tell the difference even with the Finish tabs.

Original poster
NinjaChipmunk · 15/04/2010 08:49

well i bought the finish all in ones as they were on offer but think i'll try tesco's own next time as my sainsburys doesn't stock many brands. thanks for all the ifo, i shall bookmark this till i remember it all.

OP posts:
GoldenSnitch · 15/04/2010 09:03

Finish All in 1 are different from Finish Max in 1.

The All in 1's are not as good IMO

Original poster
NinjaChipmunk · 15/04/2010 09:26

thanks for the tips re still using extra salt and rinse aid, will try it.
goldensnitch - our sainsburys basically had 3 different ones for sale and the finish were half price which is why they got bought. will head over to our big tescos next time.

OP posts:
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