Dishwasher virgin - which detergent?

[posieflump]

We have bought our first ever dishwasher - it is a Hotpoint one. Can we use any detergent with it? thanks

Yes but don't forget to add salt and rinse aid - I thought you didn't need to with the new all in one tablets .... you do!! You'll never look back - enjoy!

thanks
can't wait to put it on for the 1st time

We use fairy dishwasher tablets, the ones which don't have a wrapper and you can just bing them in - haven't needed salt and rinse aid with them.

not worth buy expensive branded ones either, supermarket cheapo are fine.

recent which? report put tesco value tablets as a best buy - we have just switched to them as a result - we used to use finish but seem to get similar results for alot less money

now you have a dishwasher you will never be able to live without one!!

oh and we found that if you switch it off at the beginnning of the drying cycle and open the door a fraction, it dries everything better and saves oodles on your electric bill

daisysteiner - apparently according to dishwasher manufacturers it is a myth that the 3 or 5 in one tables can mean the machine don't need salt. Even if the tablet says salt the machine still needs dishwasher salt If the machine breaks and you haven't been using salt, you wil invalidate your warrentee

Well given that it's 10 years old I don't think the warrantee will be much use now anyway

Worth knowing though, thanks.

thanks everyone. God I'm so excited, I need to get a life!!

furball, my new bosch came with finish 5 in 1 samples, and definately states you needn't use anything else unless in a hard water area, when salt is required.

Furball -i didnt know about the salt.i havent been using it!whoops

I didn't add salt for about a year!!! Just thought it didn't work very well! We live in a very hard water area and the difference with salt (and rinse aid) is amazing - I felt soooo stupid for not knowing!!! I love that feeling when it is full to the brim with dirty stuff and then next time I look its sparkling clean!! Sad too I know! X

Definitely add salt even if using those 4 in 1 sachets. We have a Miele diswasher and the chap said just use the biggest box powder rather than the sachets as they are extremely expensive per wash.

I use whatever is on offer in tescos, I have always used the 3 in1 tablets and never used salt separatly and all is well

When do people turn it on? I'm having trouble filling it as I keep automatically washing up things!

you will get over that VERY SOON Posieflump

how exciting for you, i love my dishwasher

we used to use tescos own lemon stuff and it was fine...recently switched to tesco's version of ecover and it does the job too!