Just got a dishwasher!What do I need?

[lunavix]

It says salt, rinseaid, and tablets/powder? Are there brands? What is best?

I buy finish powerball - on offer in sainsbury's at the mo' and use sainsbury's own brand salt and rinseaid -

Dishwasher salt FGS don't use normal salt
I use finish, I've tried loads of others, but still go back to that brand. Just try them out and you'll find one you like.

someone to empty it for you

Message withdrawn

do salt and rinsaid make any difference? I ask as i never used them, just the tablets

i meant to say dishwasher salt - salt and rinse aid help especially in hard water areas ....

Agree with ggirl..

a training session for DP/DH?

Read your booklet and it will explain if you need the salt and rinse aid. I don't use either as we have soft water (and therefore my warning lights really bug me...0 and you may not need to. I say read the booklet as my MIL didn't and thought she needed to add rinse aid with every wash along with a tablet...ended up spending a load on it the stupid mare.
FWIW I use any tablets, tesco or lidl are fine and have used finish when on offer but it makes everything very sqeaky and I think it's too harsh.

Soda crystals and vinegar - to clean the machine once a month, you throw about a tablespoon of the crystals in, then a slug of vinegar and put it on a hot cycle (with nothing in it) and it keeps it all new and sparkly and non-smelly.

I use Sainsburys own brand loose powder in a big yellow bottle - it works fine.

Hmmm.. only put salt and rinse aid in mine only when i bought it 4 years ago.. i use whatever is on special offer...i like the fairy ones the best though!

Numpty question here, what are soda crystals and where can you buy them? Am getting a d/w next month, so am planning ahead.

Also, would the soda crystals/vinegar combo work to clean a washing machine once a month too?

hippi - supermarkets and yes they work on washing machines too!

With the tablet thingys surely you don't need rinse aid and salt? They're all built in aren't they?

I use Fairy Activebursts and they seem to work well.

And DH empties it, so all sorted in the BIWI household.

No it's a big con you see, Finish do the salt, the rinse aid AND the all in one tablets and folks buy the lot