Dishwashing tablets an elaborate scam?

modsec802 on 15/04/2014 - 09:08

We used to use dishwashing tablets, but they used to over soap the dishwasher and clog the pipes etc.

They are often featured as OzBargain specials (such as the front page today).

About a year ago we spoke to a dishwasher service repair man from Fisher & Paykel who was servicing our dishwasher and he said not to use the tablets. The contain too much powder and block the pipes as well as leave residue.

He recommended to use a powder and only a tiny amount of it per load (about half or quarter of a teaspoon) as well as some rinse aid.

We've been doing this for over a year now and have had fantastic results with no clogging and no residue. Plus it is SO much cheaper even then buying the tablets on a bulk-buy special.

So, are tablets some form of elaborate scam sold for convenience that we don't need?

Home & Garden

Comments

v2 on 15/04/2014 - 09:39

+4

I remember choice did a review of the dishwashing powder few years ago and found generic Coles branded dishwashing powder to perform the best. Since then I've been using it with no fuss.
- NosDan on 16/04/2014 - 10:23
  
  sadly they stopped stocking it at my local coles and replaced it with tablets… which should also answer the OP's question…
  
  you can bet anything in a "single serve" your going to be paying a lot more for "convenience", it also usually forces you to use more than you usually would.
vincent0923 on 15/04/2014 - 10:03

Hi Juicypixel,

What powder do you use?
- modsec802 on 15/04/2014 - 10:09
  
  +2
  
  We actually use this one we get on sale at Woolworths: http://www.ecostore.com.au/products/auto-dish-powder
  You can sometimes get it on special at Woolworths, it's currently $6.99, down from the regular $9.66
  We find the ecostore products, bought on special, are very good as they're natural but effective
  We use the laundry powder too
  - [Deactivated] on 15/04/2014 - 22:37
    
    I love the eco store powder. I started using it because the Finish stuff gave me headaches, it would stink out the kitchen. Was a little worried the Eco stuff wouldn't work as well but it is great and only has a gentle smell. The dishwashing liquid is good too. I've only ever used a little bit of it at a time too. The container makes it easy to do - especially the new one.
  - vincent0923 on 16/04/2014 - 12:26
    
    thank Juice,
    I'm going to try your way after I finish my FINISH tablets.
    They leave a nasty smell on my dishes
  - Shibuya on 24/06/2015 - 12:29
    
    Hi Juicedpixels,
    It's been awhile since you posted this but when you use the ecostore dishwashing powder do you also use a rinse aid? If so which one do you use?
    
    Cheers
    - NosDan on 24/06/2015 - 12:35
      
      give cheap white vinegar a go. ive been using it for a couple of years now and extremely happy with it. for me it works better than all the commercial ones ive tried but i guess depending on water conditions YMMV
    - Shibuya on 24/06/2015 - 12:44
      
      @nosdan: Thanks nosdan, might try it. But will that make the dishes smell like vinegar?
    - NosDan on 24/06/2015 - 12:50
      
      @Shibuya: nope, its only uses a tiny amount per rinse, just enough so leave everything clean and streak free. i did notice a strange smell from the dishwasher the first few washes i did with vinegar but that could well have been nothing to actually do with the vinegar. not an offensive smell at all just different. vinegars also good for all kinds of cleaning, google it for ideas
    - Shibuya on 24/06/2015 - 13:00
      
      @nosdan: Thanks nosdan, I will give it a go on the weekend.
endotherm on 15/04/2014 - 11:24

+1

I don't know how "elaborate" a scam it is, but it is certainly something thought up by the marketing department to make you use more powder. Every serviceman/repairer I have ever spoken to has given the same advice about using a half a teaspoon of powder, which is even less that the machine recommends.

They do make dishwasher cleaners that you put into an empty machine and run a cycle, that dissolves excess powder and fats/grease from the pipes. It just seems you need to use them more often these days to deal with the detergent problems.

I only ever used to use Finish brand, I believe it is a special enzyme base and it is the only powder that would NOT blacken aluminium cookware. However recently, I have used Fairy Platinum and get remarkable results. It seems to be a smaller tablet, with various liquid pouches added. I wish it was available as a powder, but I'm sure the 3 or 4 liquids attached would be hard to dispense separately.

I do notice it is harder and harder these days just to buy a plain packet of powder, being displaced by many types of tablets. However there is always a plentiful supply of rinse aid. Go figure.
ESEMCE on 15/04/2014 - 12:24

+2

Tablets are to Dishwashers as Pods are to coffee machines.. They're an expensive alternative to a "messier" but far better and cheaper alternative.
There's a massive convenience factor to plonking in a tablet and closing the door versus measuring out powder/liquid and remembering to fill up the rinse-aid.
- endotherm on 15/04/2014 - 12:39
  
  The price of convenience: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1Jfi1R_JvQ
- NosDan on 16/04/2014 - 10:28
  
  There's a massive convenience factor to plonking in a tablet and closing the door versus measuring out powder/liquid and remembering to fill up the rinse-aid.
  
  "massive"? really? wow…
  
  at best i would have called it a slight convenience that you pay massively for. but in fact most people do it through simple stupidity/sheeple behaviour because its what they are told they should do in media/advertising/special deals etc. common sense isnt very common any more
rambutann on 15/04/2014 - 13:03

I used aldi dishwashing powder and it seemed to do the trick. Im currently using dishwashing tablets I got from a previous deal for free and they seem to be working just fine but I have had problems with them in the past not even leaving their compartments and therefore not washing the dishes.
- JayM on 15/04/2014 - 16:18
  
  I think the tip is to throw them in the bottom of the dishwasher as the compartment springs open once the dishwasher starts anyway. Plumber told me this when he installed our new dishwasher and says the tablets can get stuck or jam the compartment.
  
  The Woolies branded dishwasher tablets i find are much better than the Finish ones. The Finish ones leave residue on the glasses every time but the Woolies ones don't.
  - ozzie freddo on 17/04/2014 - 13:48
    
    +1
    
    Simpson and Smeg washers that I have experienced do not open the compartment immediately but only when the wash cycle starts (after the (cold?) rinsing phases). In fact putting it in the bottom is probably a waste because the detergent may be all washed away in the rinse phase leaving nothing there for the actual wash.
- Chuppa on 15/04/2014 - 19:06
  
  make sure it's the compartment is dry before putting them in or they'll stick there instead of falling out.
NamandSpam on 15/04/2014 - 15:46

-2

Why dont you just wash it by hand? You control the amount of detergent you use and the volume of water. Simple?
- modsec802 on 15/04/2014 - 15:49
  
  Dishwashers have been shown to be more efficient, effective and use less water than hand washing
airzone on 15/04/2014 - 16:36

F&P Dishwasher? Not a dish drawer by any chance? I used to have a pair in a rental unit I was in once, and you couldn't use tablets in it as they would over suds all the time.
vocadata on 16/04/2014 - 10:59

The Checkout explains all…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1Jfi1R_JvQ
Davros on 24/06/2015 - 12:41

I have a benchtop omega dishwasher installed as a dish draw
Never have an over soaping or clogging issue in several years of daily use using tablets.
Usually woolworths or aldi ones but sometimes finish.
15c a wash vs washing by hand, priceless.

Dishwashing tablets an elaborate scam?

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