I highly recommend that everyone with a dishwasher watch the two videos by Technology Connections that really go in depth into how dishwashers, pods, and powders work--that guy even cut a hole in his dishwasher and added a plastic viewing screen to it so he could see what the dishwasher was doing as it ran its cycles. Knowing more about how dishwashers function and following his recommendation for powder use, I now get clean dishes without pre-washing AND without rinsing off egg yolks, milk, and tomato-based sauces as this video recommends. I've been steering people away from pods ever since. They really sacrifice cleaning efficiency for convenience, and it's such a shame and a waste of money and water.
I saw those videos and they were very eye opening, especially how some dish washing detergent companies "buy" their way into being recommended by the dishwasher manufacturer.
The Technology Connections video on that subject was excellent and switched from expensive tablets to inexpensive Target brand powder. Works like a charm, it's cheap and works.
I use Finish Packs,and rinse aid.I sold appliances for 8 years and told folks it depends on the machine, the maintenance of the machine and your water quality.I clean the filters and use a cleaner once a month.I have probably the hardest water in the country and my dishwashers stainless tub is just as sparkly and clean as day 1 almost 6 years later.
Powder! Not only is it cheaper per "serving" but most of the time you aren't filling your dishwasher with large amounts of dried-on food. You can probably get away with filling up the dispenser only halfway and then spilling a little sprinkle in the tub to help the pre-wash out. Try that and if it works you're spending half as much on dishsoap. With the pods you have to use a full pod every time no matter how few dishes you have to clean.
@@keco185 actually, it depends. Lots of brands sell powder in plastic containers and lots of brands don't use plastic for their pods. If really depends but if they don't use it, I agree, it is a plus.
Most modern dishwashers will use less than 4 gallons of water (depending on cycle) due to Energy Star standards. The pods/packs are basically just pre-packaged powder, so if you have any ability to dose, you can save a ton of money on powder. The Walmart Great Value powder is like $4 per box and we fill ours half-full and half-fill the prewash.
@@Christobevii3it doesn't. Don't really know where that idea came from but it is not true. Besides, pods are basically compacted powder so they would have the same effect.
Just bought a new home. Very nice except previous owners loved smelly soaps, drying sheets, dishwasher detergents and rinse agents. Soap used in washing machine was smelly, too. I think they’d smelled products so long as it was even on their walls they didn’t realize how potent it was. Highly sensitive to perfumes, some of my guests had to stop visiting. My allergies returned, big time. I now know more about how to deodorize dishwashers and even their filters, dryers. I learned baking soda does wonders to deodorize the inside of your dryer. All vents including dryer, and HVAC had to be seriously cleaned. My message is there is no need to add one more smell or perfume to household cleaning. Save a child’s breathing and yours. Don’t use those smelly pods.
I know exactly what you’re talking about. I can smell my neighbor’s laundry from their clothes dryer and their house is 150 feet away. It’s so unnecessary and unhealthy.
I've lived overseas for over 20 years and every dishwasher I have come across has a dispenser. This was still great information though, I appreciate it.
Mostly, Asian dishwashers don't come with a dispenser, they just have a measuring hole in the door. What he said about pre-wash may be true in America but not Europe. For example if you start a normal cycle on a European one it will have a pre-wash of 15min, that has enough time to activate and use the detergent.
the problem is americans talking about "outside of america". Asia has completely different dishwashers from Europe. Both are "outside of america", but try to explain that to americans.
I use a pod in the door and then sprinkle a little powder for the pre rinse. 17 year old Kitchen Aid that still cleans as good today as the day I installed it.
I use either pods or powder for the main container and liquid gel for the pre-wash I've got surprisingly good results doing it that way. and now I know why
i switched from pods to powder some years ago. works way better for me for like half the cost. also idk whats that about dispensers being a US-only thing. i've never seen a dishwasher without it and i'm from europe and been to all continents.
I just recently tried a liquid (gel) for the first time. It was useless, it tends to run out of the dispenser even before it opens, so it's all gone before the main wash even kicks in.,
@@bartonnen coincidentally I am using the somat all in one and have used the finish gel on older machines from the 80s and modern one and never had a leak. Maybe I got lucky
Yeah, I'm gonna go with powder and using the pre-wash cup (or sprinkling a little extra in the tub before you start washing). I don't know about the dishwashers being sold today, but my 5 year old top-of-the-line LG has a proper prewash cycle that lasts around 15-20 minutes, so plenty of time to get the surface food off of the dishes. Plus, the vast majority of dishwashers out there are not brand new, so I'm sure that they have a long enough pre-wash cycle to use the detergent.
People don't think about the pre-wash whenever they buy pods. Pods are useless during a prewash cycle. Essentially they're just washing with plain water.
I live in Denmark and often the drain problem clog because the dishwasher tab. So many people in this country changes to gel and it works fantastic and are cheap. Filling full of the machine are fully and are very dirty. Or else i keep eco program and half fill up, it’s my to go.🤙
I repair these dishwashers and I will tell you your dishes will get cleaner with no detergent better than with too much detergent. First of all your dishwasher needs to be clean. Very important. You also need to have hot water going into the dishwasher at at least 125°. Powder is the best a teaspoon is all you need in each cup anymore and it just gets washed away. From 15 years of experience I can tell you the pods and the gels destroy the machines. They do not rinse away completely and leave residue that builds up over time and simulates a dishwasher that is need of repair when all it needs is just to be cleaned powders don't make that happen. Every dishwasher that I replace with a new one always has build up from that crap in those pods and the gels. I do a really good cleaning on them and they're good to go and they're put back in service and someone else's house. Powder all the way.
@@apAvocado Believe it or not the cheap Walmart brand is the best One teaspoon in a cup and one teaspoon on the door Don't put it in the pocket sometimes it doesn't dissolve
Using pods skips the whole pre wash cycle of your dishwasher. The liquid detergents can be placed in your pre wash and main wash. Thus, your dishwasher does a full wash with detergent. I used pods for a long time and the dishes come cleaner using liquid because it actually does the pre wash.
@@stealthinator00 I switched from cascade packs to generic powder because of THAT video. I’m no longer pre-rinsing, and my dishes are getting cleaner with a little bit of powder sprinkled in the bottom for the prewash.
@@jesse6865 maybe it does. The pre wash on the dishwasher isn't marked in any place at the programs dial. It is just a phase during normal cycles at which the dishes are just soaked in water before the detergent is added. Yours probably does it too
I keep a 1 tbsp scoop in the DW powder, in a big container. A quick scoop into a the pre wash and 1 into the wash. Easy and works perfectly. Can easily scale up or down as needed depending on how grimy the dishes are.
excellent video! I put my pod in the flatware caddy that is filled with the most flatware. It acts as a prewash and slowly dissolves to be enough for the main wash. I also do this to make sure I have no soap residue on my dishes and no perfume scent on my glasses, dishes, etc. Cascade pods are the ones that work best for our machine and they also keep my kitchen pipes grease-free. Unfortunately, all the eco-friendly dishwasher detergents were not dissolving the grease on my dishes and I ended up with grease- filled kitchen pipes. The plumber's bill was $300. I went straight back to Cascade (3 years ago) and have never had that problem again.
I've been using liquid and I'm happy with it. We bought an off brand that did a horrible job, but Cascade Complete liquid does a good job, and it is just super simple to pour into the main dispenser and I put a little in the pre-wash. Much cheaper than the tablets. I didn't like how messy things got trying to pour powder, but I guess if I miss a little then that just helps the pre-wash a bit.
I use Finish Powder for my dishdrawers. The cost savings is significant. $4.69 for a 75 oz box. I use a medicine cup to measure about 15-20 grams/load. I also use a dishwasher cleaner monthly to ensure the dishwasher stays clean and in good working order. That, snd cleaning the filters and spray arms are a must!!!
I switched to Lemishine recently and I love it. Works just as good as the 2 big expensive brands and costs less. Also, supposedly better for the environment. Thanks for the video.
I use the cascade powder with the lemishine powder because of my hard water and it works great. I only do a single wash cycle with heated dry and my dishes come out perfect every time. They used to have spots and chunks on them all the time without the lemishine and with the gel packs but since we switched there has never been an issue. Now to convince my parents that washing their pots and knifes in the dishwasher won't hurt them lol
Don’t forget to clean out the filters inside your dishwasher! I just did and it was crazy how much build up of old food etc was clogging everything up! Make sure the holes are clear where the water shoots out of the rotating blades too. There are videos on RUclips that show you how to do this.
Solid leftover foods should be scraped off into an insinkerator or waste bin before loading dishes into the diswasher. NO MANUAL RINSING does not mean putting solids into the machine - you just do not rinse off the oil and grease. All detergents are designed for use AFTER the user scrapes leftover food from the dishes before washing. My 30 yo dishwasher filters and jets are always very clean. Fairy (=Cascate) Platinum (no plus) pods are excellent.
Those filters get disgusting. I absolutely preclean my plates because of that. Even so, I still find stuff that must have been stuck under a plate or something but the prefilter gets it before it gets down to the grease trap part. So gross.
Great Video! Just one thing that made me think, what? I am from Germany and our Dishwashers have Dispensers too, I work in an electronics store for 15 years now and have never seen a Dishwasher without one.
The sad thing is that powder detergents, at least in my area, is getting harder to find. At the store I shop at they only carry 2 different brands of powder but at least a dozen different gel packs or liquid. I like powder as like you said , it is economical. I never have had an issue with etching, but I also use a rinse agent.
I use Costco Kirkland packs that are powder filled. Also use finish rinse aid in tandem. I lightly rinse them in the sink to get the big food particles.
Hmmm, I have tried all three and gel is the only thing that got all my dishes clean and dry. I thought it was a problem with the dishwasher so I agree to change soap, it can make a big difference if you're having problems.
An overload of great info! I've never rinsed before loading and have always gotten good results. Luckily for powder users there are still some dishwashers on the market that have double dispensers.
I buy dish powder from a local package-free store, so we can get it in smaller increments (~500g instead of like 2kg), and we also keep it in an air- and water-tight jar, so it's perfectly protected under the sink!
Thanks for the clairification👍 I’ve had a few glassware over the years that got milky. I live by my self so i only fill the dishwasher every 1.5-2 weeks, and it’l start smelling pretty quick i i didn’t pre-rinse😅👍 Powder from now on👌
I've heard people say you should leave food on your dishes, but I just can't do that and a lot of other people can't either. Because it takes two days for me to fill up the washer before I can run it, and in the interim, every time I would open the door, the smell of old food will come out into my kitchen. Disgusting!
Have you considered running your dishwasher at half-load? (Less than maximum full.) Depends on what you care about. If it's resource usage, and you are pre rinsing, it is likely you are using more water than running your dishwasher more frequently. Also, you wont have to spend your time pre-rinsing. And/or Have you checked to see if your dishwasher has a 'rinse' setting? My dishwasher's manual suggests trying a rinse cycle to knock off messes that harden over time. (Speaking of, consider reading the manual. It's possible there are useful features that are non-obvious written in there.)
Same with me with the two-day period. I rinse most of the dishes before placing them into the dishwasher but do not use either a cloth or a brush to remove anything further. And even if I have to use one because there is too much stuff left on the dish after simple rinsing, I do not try cleaning the dish completely and usually has some residue left. So there is nearly always some food residue on the dishes going into to the dishwasher but not too much and neither my dishwasher stinks nor the dishes come out dirt to any extent.
I got a question, hoping for an answer : I'm a future first time dishwasher buyer, and I live alone . Living alone means relatively few dishes per day. Without a dishwasher, I used to rinse the plates & cook ware and let them hang in the sink for a 2-3 days until I had time / will to do the dishes . The rinsing was mainly to avoid sticky stuff hardening & to avoid the eventual odors . How should I approach dishwashing with a machine ? 1- Not rinse and pile the dishes for a few days into the machine until it's halfway full ? 2- Rinse and keep piling the dishes outside or inside the machine until it's halfway full ? 3- Wash daily with the machine ? Seems wasteful . 4- Don't buy a dishwasher machine ? But I want one ... 😅 . Thanks in advance !
Use white vinegar as your rinsing agent leaves everything spotless including your dishwasher, leaves it looking new every time and only costs 2 dollars a gallon...
I don't mind spending extra on the pods, but I really do hate the amount of plastic packaging that usually comes with them (thinking of the bulk, resealable packs). I tried using powder, and it worked well at first. But like a dingus, I stored it under the sink, so that's a good tip to be aware of.
I use both the liquid gel and the pod - the gel for the pre-wash and the pod for the regular/main wash. I used to use a pod for both the pre-wash and the regular wash. Then I saw a RUclips video showing how the pod does not do well for the pre-wash and the liquid gel was recommended for the pre-wash cycle. My dishes with very few exceptions come on nice and clean. They also come on dry as I do use a rinse agent as well.
It's the best explanation you have seen so far because you have not watched the RUclips channel TECHNOLOGY CONNECTIONS 2 videos on dishwashers. After you watch them come back here and thank me.
I use a teaspoon of Seventh Generation powder in the dispenser, with their rinse aid. My dishes have never been cleaner. When I do an empty cleaning cycle every couple of weeks, I use the Cascade pods with the built-in Dawn and Oxi. The Dawn cleans the interior of the greasy film from the filter and keeps the drain pipes clean and the oxygen bleach gets rid of the other stuff.
All dishwashers are designed to use powder detergent. That's what the little marks are for inside the detergent cup and that little indentation on the lid of the cup is for you to add a little powder for the prewash. Powder will keep your machine cleaner and cleans just as well as expensive pods or gels. What no one talks about is how the pods contain micro plastics that do not biodegrade and will eventually clog up your dishwasher's pump or filter.
F.U.D. (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) The TRUE reality is this! “PVA shouldn’t be vilified.” “We can’t speculate,” he added. “We have the tools to do the analysis. We should do the analysis and learn how it actually behaves.” Research into this and other water-soluble polymers is “in the zero year,” he said. “There is still everything to do.” The REAL amount of PVA that would be need to clog pump or filter would take DECADES way pass the warranty of the actual unit! Rootbeer tastes like peppermint due to the main ingredient Sarsaparilla was found to be carcinogenic in the early days, and replaced with Wintergreen. The amount or volume it would take for Sarsaparilla to be anywhere near a real heath issue would be years and gallons ingested. You should try out for a politician if your not already one! LOL!!
@@SundayFoggyNotions Your response doesn't make any sense. Who are you quoting? If you think PVA is so safe, why don't you try eating it? And if anyone sounds like a politician, it's YOU!
@@littlegreeny8510BAAHAHAHAAAA!!! Now your making a point from simply NOT having Spatial awareness in your argument when your original point was clogging pumps and filters, to EATING IT? NO WHERE IN MY REPLY STATES ITS SAFE, RATHER QUANTITY IT WOULD REQURE! HOW FAR DOWN THE WELL ARE YOU WILLING TO GO?!! OVER WHAT?? YOU BEING RIGHT OVER PVA AT ALL COSTS? VALIDATE YOUR INSANITY ELSEWHERE!! GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK!! JESUS CHRIST DUDE!!! YOU STAND UNDER THE CNN TOWER WHEN A PENNY DROPS RETARDED RETORT!! 😵💫
....also your reply no YOU sound like a politician deflective comment automatically voids your argument much like upsetting a chess board. Your better than this... BEEEE Better Than This!!
Hate the gel pods. They have to go in dry…but it’s so hard to keep the little drawer dry. And my hands are wet if working in the sink. Was using the tablets, but decided to try the powder to save money. Can’t tell the difference, it works great! I keep it in a plastic tub and scoop it out, no issues with getting wet. I have super hard well water and the only thing that helped (with any of the detergents) was to add *citric acid*. That’s what is in the Lemishine products.
The model washer you showed has an indent in the top of the lid for the soap to put some extra on for the first rinse cycle. Also if you don't have that with a new one and only one spot, can put some powder/gel on the bottom of the door before you close it.
Those loud food grinder is an us invention. Europe never had them. I have a miele m and a bosch of course i use powder and i don't rinse of course i scrape
Great video, background music loops too frequently, but it's ok. I have been using gel since it's cheaper than the packs, and far less messy than the powder. I figured powder was the orignal form, and is a bit dated, but still there for those who don't like change. It seems that is somewhat true. I figured the gel packs are only to make extra profil from people's laziness, I didn't think they would be better. I never thought the colors have any function other than... look how many diffeernt chemicals are in this, to appear it must work better. When I hear pre wash, I figured it meant rinsing, people really full wash their dishes with soap, then put them in the dishwasher? It's right in the name... dish washer. Do these pople hand wash their clothes with detergent before putting them in their washer?
I personally use powder because it doesn't come in a plastic container. So it's a nice way to cut down on plastic use. I did not, however, grow up using it. So that's another reason, though probably not a common one.
I like powder the most. however, in my country, I can only find Finish classic powder or classic powder from other brands. They have the weakest cleaning abities. Switching to all in 1 max gel or pods, they work noticeably better due to higher amount of cleaning agents, but still not 100% clean
I have a Bosch 800. We do not have hard water. After watching the Technology Connections video, I use powder detergent, because it is cheaper and I am not adding to the plastic pollution. If you use powders, you will need to watch out that you keep it *inside* the Bosch detergent container, and not on the "runners" for the little door that slides closed, otherwise the door will eventually refuse to close. My husband had to take the thing apart to get it to work again. It appears to be designed exclusively for pods--which is certainly quicker-- but I continue to use powder; I just have to carefully spoon it in, and I do not fill the container full. I put a spoonful of powder on the door for prewashing.
Powder. Simply because you decide how much to use. Pods are usually 2 to 3 times too much soap, and liquid is more expensive. Read your manual too. Most dishwashers I looked into before buying mine actually have a rinse step. And not putthing soap there may cause issues. Dishwashers are something that it's easy to misuse.
thank you for this video very helpful. I use target brand pods. I have no problems with them as far as leaving your dishes kind of dirty before you use the machine. I don't do that because I don't want them sitting in there. I don't use it. I'll just rinse them and run it every two or three days, so mine are pretty well rinsed before I put them in there, the other thing was someone told me that the pods clog up the pipes but you didn't mention that and I have not had that issue if you care to comment on that I would appreciate it
Bought my house 3 years ago. One of the first things I did was install a new dishwasher. The new came with Finish pods. Used em,were very meh. Then I switched to cascade platinum and will never use anything else. It will clean anything
My experience is the exact opposite of yours. Pods/packs are the worst by a country mile or 10 for several reasons: 1. Way too much detergent - always leaves residue on dishes 2. No pre-wash separation means my dishes aren't as clean as with gel or powder (Tried both) 3. More expensive
Interesting. I've used name brand gels for as long as I can remember. I had better results compared to store brand gels. I always keep rinse agent (either finish or jet-dry) in the dishwasher also. I recently bought some pods that were on clearance, and the cost per load was roughly the same compared to the Cascade gel I used. In my case, the pods cleaned my dishes noticeable better, with no residue. Many of my glasses had a chalky/frosted look to them, which went away after a couple washes using the pods. My dishes seem to dry better and just look cleaner. My water is relatively soft and the dishwasher is a frigidaire gallery circa 2018.
Using a Siemens StudioLine dishwasher, nothing but pods for many years, mix of 1hr program and regular 2:30hr program, never clean anything before I put it in ( Just take the food bites off) Everything comes out 110% clean, shiny, no spots, never any bad odors in machine and all filters are clean. I use some fancy Finish Ultimate pods, that are a mix of powder, blue or yellow gel and small red gel
I like powder, genuinely couldn’t tell you why. But I do and i’m in my 30’s, so now I can have a harsh opinion on a home care thing without reasoning for it.
I've sworn off powders ever since I've had to beat out years of powder detergent buildup in drains, drain pumps and spray arms doing appliance repair. They also absolutely love to attack heating elements. I've never had issues using enzyme liquids for a while.
zip lock bag for the powder works well. suds build up with most gel or powder packets and certain dishwashers do not work well there are suds and it builds up so many suds it leaks out the corners rusting the bottom corners of the door. not rinsing causes food particulate buildup in the sump and filter. liquid is the best I think
I live in an area where we get the white crust in toilets and dripping sinks. You cant leave a glass somewhere where it will evaporate. We used cascade and it left the dishes looking pretty bad, and we would clean them with clr once in a while. During covid and the stores running out of everything I ended up having to buy a large container of the finish toss in blocks with the rinse aid red dot at a very high price. I have to admit I now only buy that brand I am so impressed with how everything comes out without white crust or spots. If you dont have hard water dont spend more.
Packs can’t be released in the pre wash cycle. So you reduce your washing effectiveness. And Maytag definitely runs the pre wash longer than a few seconds. My in-laws LG also has a few minutes of a pre wash cycle
Can you clarify that aside about dishwashers not using pre-wash cycles? Seems like most folks in the comments share my impression that the pods’ weakness is not supplying any detergent for that cycle. If there’s an actually good reason for the industry to switch to pods other than profit motive, would be good to know.
One thing to add because i noticed most people forget this: Do not only use the green/eco/light washing programs. At least once every 2 weeks use the strong/hot/crust/pot program, so that the water get heated to >60 degrees celsius and flushes away all the fat buildup. If you do this, you won't have problems with buildup, smells or a clogged drain.
We are on a well, so we have very hard water. The second your dishwasher ends, drape a long towel in the door, this will catch the hard water steam from settling.
Some dishwashers have a bad smell because people didn't rinse food off of the plates and there's rotting food in the drain. The same people who complain about the bad smell are the same people who complain about people who rinse dishes but then again, complain when they have to break the drain apart inside the dishwasher to clean out all the food trapped there. Some detergents have silica in it. Kind of like sand. And people wonder why their dishes are etched?
I use Aldi liquid dish soap. A six month supply costs $3.99. Dollar Tree has a powder soap, called ultra shine for a buck 25. lasts about a month. Does a great job.
I used to use Finish Powder with Finish rinse aid until i tried Fairy "Platinum" capsules and found the dishes and bowls and glasses and pots and pans are so much more clean and shinny. Even the machine racks and cutlery basket now looks like new. Since I still use Finish rinse aid, I do not need the more expensive Fairy "Platinum PLUS". I always buy the Fairy "Platinum" capsules whenever it is sold at 1/2 price (50% discounted). (My Finish dishwater Powder is now used to unclog drain pipes of greases).
Only Powder and gels allow you to add detergent during the first rince part of the wash cycle. That's what the indent or second receptacle is for. Tablets and packs do not. So they have to compensate.
The problem is that when food hardens the washing cycle does not clean the dishes. Also, particles of food clog the drain and that is why where I work we rinse the dishes of food before putting them in the dishwasher
After having to do the disgusting job of cleaning out that mess in the drain system I now always rinse off large particles of food before putting them in the dishwasher. Today I looked at my filters for the first time in 2 years and they needed cleaning but were fine.
From what I understand, non-stick pans should not be washed in the dishwasher unless otherwise specified. The wash can remove the coating which makes it no longer non-stick and actually can end up leaching toxic material into your food. But I would consider asking someone with more expertise. Thank you for the question!
Pods and powder are the same ingredients plus or minus some fragrance or small discrepancies. One is just in a membrane. If one will etch your glassware, the other will to. Multistage dishwasher cycles with a nominal amount of prewash detergent are better. If you load your dishwasher with filthy dishes and a single pod, and your cycle does a 10 second rinse, drain, and then fills for a main wash, that gallon of water is going to circulate for an hour and will be vile the entire time.
Excellent video I learned a lot from this . Thank you On a side note, what is your opinion and or have you done a video on, washing hats in the dishwasher?
Glad the video was helpful! As far as the washing hats goes, we can't guarantee it wouldn't hurt anything in the unit, but the only thing we can imagine it would damage is the hat itself. Do you wash hats in the dishwasher often?
@BoulevardHome I haven't tried it yet, but ball cap washers I have purchased say to use it in the dishwasher vs washing machine. Thought I'd ask an expert about it. Thanks again
Thanks for the informative video. I guess I'm was not also educated on dishwasher detergent but also made aware that I'm at that age now... damn Also I didn't know that water was getting that much expensive in the US that it would be worth even to discuss it. It's pretty cheap in Germany. One thing though. I've never seen a dishwasher without an dispenser in my lifetime (born in 1986) and I was purchasing them for one of the big 5 online shops for 2-3 years. We bought from everywhere in the EU (i.e. Poland, Luxemburg, Austria....etc.).
Just get the cheapest powder detergent. All the detergents are basicly the same. Pods are the same as the powder, but sold with higher price and packaked seperately.
to add to the hard water situation, European dishwasher include water softener in the machine, How do you know if your machine has it? If it takes dishwasher salt it has this feature the Dishwasher salt is there to recharge the water softener and isn't just simply table salt.
So i half agree with this guy. He has given a lot of good info. However, if you need gel in the pre rinse, liquid detergent would be best for that. So if you use 2 pods and the 1st one during the rinse cycle doesn't dissolve properly, then you aren't getting the full effect of the rinse cycle. You do need the rinse cycle as most dishwashers have the pre rinse slot. I have never seen one without it. Powder might be a good option, too, but also seems to be lacking in the pre rinse slot. I can't wait to test this out! A lot of people do not know about the rinse cycle. It actually uses different water than the main cycle. Otherwise its all a scam, and you should just wash them by hand. It's faster and uses less electricity. I get free hot water in my apt, but if im using the dishwasher, im paying for that electricity now, just to have to wash them by hand anyway.
They keep telling us to not pre-rinse the pots - but I only run the dishwasher every two days. So by the second day the food on the first days pots has dried on solid.
How would you compare two dishwashers that both give the option of using auto dose? The Miele G7000 series uses powder inside a container and the Asko Dw60 uses liquid for auto dose. I assume the best would be the Miele option then? Funny thing both brands uses liquid for auto dose in their washing machines
Powder is obviously the right choice, it works just as well as packs and it works better than liquid because you can have both bleach and detergent in a stable formula, and you’re able to control how much detergent you use based on how hard your water is
never in my life have i used rinse aids nor prewash. I have also always quickly just ran my plate/bowl under some running water to get rid of the worst parts, no scrubbing or soap, just a quick rinse. Never have i had problems with the dishes coming out dirty, wet or any problems with glass ruined or water droplets leaving marks, nor would i care, it's just water. But i also dont live with "hard" water.
I have a 14 year old washer that runs amazingly, due to each of these factors : 1) walmart powder or whatever is cheapest plus a bit spilled for prewash, 2) softened water, 3) hot cycle, 4) rinse aid, and 5) clean the filter sometimes. When we got the house, the same washer was stinky and ineffective due to having none of those factors in play. The only thing I do is stop it at the end of rinse cycle and before dry cycle to pull out plastics for air drying, and dump out any pooled water on dishes. Everything else stays in and comes out 100% clean and dry, no smells.
![Best Dishwashers 2024 [don’t buy one before watching this]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/DVNHwFzDGMk/mqdefault.jpg)
Oh, right, I'm in my 30's now, this is now peak entertainment.
I’m 14 and this is entertaining. I also watched the dishwasher videos from technology connections.
Same😅
Im 21 and im already at peak entertainment when it comes to home stuff
I'm 17 and I love this typa stuff.
Foofoojuice is always funny
I highly recommend that everyone with a dishwasher watch the two videos by Technology Connections that really go in depth into how dishwashers, pods, and powders work--that guy even cut a hole in his dishwasher and added a plastic viewing screen to it so he could see what the dishwasher was doing as it ran its cycles. Knowing more about how dishwashers function and following his recommendation for powder use, I now get clean dishes without pre-washing AND without rinsing off egg yolks, milk, and tomato-based sauces as this video recommends. I've been steering people away from pods ever since. They really sacrifice cleaning efficiency for convenience, and it's such a shame and a waste of money and water.
Those are absolutely great to watch, thanks for the recommendation!
I saw those videos and they were very eye opening, especially how some dish washing detergent companies "buy" their way into being recommended by the dishwasher manufacturer.
seems like you should watch them and redo this poor showing lol @@BoulevardHome
The Technology Connections video on that subject was excellent and switched from expensive tablets to inexpensive Target brand powder. Works like a charm, it's cheap and works.
What do they recommend
I'm glad washing dishes by hand and looking out my window is therapeutic for me and i can make sure every single dish is spotless and clean 😂
I use Finish Packs,and rinse aid.I sold appliances for 8 years and told folks it depends on the machine, the maintenance of the machine and your water quality.I clean the filters and use a cleaner once a month.I have probably the hardest water in the country and my dishwashers stainless tub is just as sparkly and clean as day 1 almost 6 years later.
Powder! Not only is it cheaper per "serving" but most of the time you aren't filling your dishwasher with large amounts of dried-on food. You can probably get away with filling up the dispenser only halfway and then spilling a little sprinkle in the tub to help the pre-wash out. Try that and if it works you're spending half as much on dishsoap. With the pods you have to use a full pod every time no matter how few dishes you have to clean.
I changed to powder about a year ago, I do as you said and I highly recommend it!
Powder is great!
@@TheAllMightyGodofCod Powder is also better for the environment because it isn't packaged in plastic.
@@keco185 actually, it depends. Lots of brands sell powder in plastic containers and lots of brands don't use plastic for their pods.
If really depends but if they don't use it, I agree, it is a plus.
counterintuitive, but powder feels cleaner as you dont have to touch actual pod (worst ones are where you need to unpack them)
Why in the world are you running your dishwasher when it’s not full. What a waste.
Most modern dishwashers will use less than 4 gallons of water (depending on cycle) due to Energy Star standards. The pods/packs are basically just pre-packaged powder, so if you have any ability to dose, you can save a ton of money on powder. The Walmart Great Value powder is like $4 per box and we fill ours half-full and half-fill the prewash.
Does the powder contain the enzyme?
@@PenultimaGamrAKAhank yes
Why do reviews say powder etches glass? The pods are just the same crap for 5x the cost with no prewash option.
@@Christobevii3 Because people use too much powder. You don't really need a lot of powder, for normally soiled dishes a tablespoon is enough.
@@Christobevii3it doesn't. Don't really know where that idea came from but it is not true.
Besides, pods are basically compacted powder so they would have the same effect.
Just bought a new home. Very nice except previous owners loved smelly soaps, drying sheets, dishwasher detergents and rinse agents. Soap used in washing machine was smelly, too. I think they’d smelled products so long as it was even on their walls they didn’t realize how potent it was. Highly sensitive to perfumes, some of my guests had to stop visiting. My allergies returned, big time. I now know more about how to deodorize dishwashers and even their filters, dryers. I learned baking soda does wonders to deodorize the inside of your dryer. All vents including dryer, and HVAC had to be seriously cleaned. My message is there is no need to add one more smell or perfume to household cleaning. Save a child’s breathing and yours. Don’t use those smelly pods.
Thank you for sharing your experience! Sorry to hear about your allergy troubles, but glad you were able to learn about deodorizing everything!
A lot of those synthetic perfumes in so many products are undoubtedly toxic.
I know exactly what you’re talking about. I can smell my neighbor’s laundry from their clothes dryer and their house is 150 feet away. It’s so unnecessary and unhealthy.
I've lived overseas for over 20 years and every dishwasher I have come across has a dispenser. This was still great information though, I appreciate it.
yeah idk wth was that
Mostly, Asian dishwashers don't come with a dispenser, they just have a measuring hole in the door.
What he said about pre-wash may be true in America but not Europe. For example if you start a normal cycle on a European one it will have a pre-wash of 15min, that has enough time to activate and use the detergent.
Mine doesn’t have. I am in Singapore
the problem is americans talking about "outside of america". Asia has completely different dishwashers from Europe. Both are "outside of america", but try to explain that to americans.
I use a pod in the door and then sprinkle a little powder for the pre rinse. 17 year old Kitchen Aid that still cleans as good today as the day I installed it.
I use either pods or powder for the main container and liquid gel for the pre-wash I've got surprisingly good results doing it that way. and now I know why
Too much soap just pods
i switched from pods to powder some years ago. works way better for me for like half the cost.
also idk whats that about dispensers being a US-only thing. i've never seen a dishwasher without it and i'm from europe and been to all continents.
In Europe we do have dispensers. And the issue with pods not dropping is not blockage, but moisture in the dispenser which it sticks to.
To be honest I really like the liquid ones. They always clean great, and never leave any residue. Also dosable and no mess with the squeeze bottles.
I just recently tried a liquid (gel) for the first time. It was useless, it tends to run out of the dispenser even before it opens, so it's all gone before the main wash even kicks in.,
@@bartonnen ah that’s unfortunate. I have tested it on mine and it doesn’t leak out
@@birilol Maybe some are thicker than others. The one I tried was Somat Dual, I certainly won't be buying that again.
@@bartonnen coincidentally I am using the somat all in one and have used the finish gel on older machines from the 80s and modern one and never had a leak. Maybe I got lucky
Liquid can have either bleech OR enzymes. Powder or pods can have both bleech AND enzymes included.
Yeah, I'm gonna go with powder and using the pre-wash cup (or sprinkling a little extra in the tub before you start washing). I don't know about the dishwashers being sold today, but my 5 year old top-of-the-line LG has a proper prewash cycle that lasts around 15-20 minutes, so plenty of time to get the surface food off of the dishes. Plus, the vast majority of dishwashers out there are not brand new, so I'm sure that they have a long enough pre-wash cycle to use the detergent.
People don't think about the pre-wash whenever they buy pods. Pods are useless during a prewash cycle. Essentially they're just washing with plain water.
I live in Denmark and often the drain problem clog because the dishwasher tab. So many people in this country changes to gel and it works fantastic and are cheap. Filling full of the machine are fully and are very dirty. Or else i keep eco program and half fill up, it’s my to go.🤙
I repair these dishwashers and I will tell you your dishes will get cleaner with no detergent better than with too much detergent. First of all your dishwasher needs to be clean. Very important. You also need to have hot water going into the dishwasher at at least 125°. Powder is the best a teaspoon is all you need in each cup anymore and it just gets washed away. From 15 years of experience I can tell you the pods and the gels destroy the machines. They do not rinse away completely and leave residue that builds up over time and simulates a dishwasher that is need of repair when all it needs is just to be cleaned powders don't make that happen. Every dishwasher that I replace with a new one always has build up from that crap in those pods and the gels. I do a really good cleaning on them and they're good to go and they're put back in service and someone else's house. Powder all the way.
What brand of powder do you recommend?
@@apAvocado Believe it or not the cheap Walmart brand is the best One teaspoon in a cup and one teaspoon on the door Don't put it in the pocket sometimes it doesn't dissolve
Thank you! @@ronaldmacaluso107
@ronaldmacaluso107 what do you mean 1 teaspoon in a cup?
Using pods skips the whole pre wash cycle of your dishwasher. The liquid detergents can be placed in your pre wash and main wash. Thus, your dishwasher does a full wash with detergent. I used pods for a long time and the dishes come cleaner using liquid because it actually does the pre wash.
Technology connection did a video of why he dislikes dishwasher tabs.
@@stealthinator00 I switched from cascade packs to generic powder because of THAT video. I’m no longer pre-rinsing, and my dishes are getting cleaner with a little bit of powder sprinkled in the bottom for the prewash.
Changed because of that video also!
About pre wash... Well, my results don't vary that much that I see a difference either I do it or not.
My dishwasher doesn’t have a pre wash cycle. Many don’t - just like the video we’re commenting on said.
@@jesse6865 maybe it does. The pre wash on the dishwasher isn't marked in any place at the programs dial. It is just a phase during normal cycles at which the dishes are just soaked in water before the detergent is added.
Yours probably does it too
I keep a 1 tbsp scoop in the DW powder, in a big container. A quick scoop into a the pre wash and 1 into the wash. Easy and works perfectly. Can easily scale up or down as needed depending on how grimy the dishes are.
excellent video! I put my pod in the flatware caddy that is filled with the most flatware. It acts as a prewash and slowly dissolves to be enough for the main wash. I also do this to make sure I have no soap residue on my dishes and no perfume scent on my glasses, dishes, etc. Cascade pods are the ones that work best for our machine and they also keep my kitchen pipes grease-free. Unfortunately, all the eco-friendly dishwasher detergents were not dissolving the grease on my dishes and I ended up with grease- filled kitchen pipes. The plumber's bill was $300. I went straight back to Cascade (3 years ago) and have never had that problem again.
I use gel for both pre and main wash. Then I put cleaning vinegar in the drying aid. Works great. Just need to clean the filters often
I've been using liquid and I'm happy with it. We bought an off brand that did a horrible job, but Cascade Complete liquid does a good job, and it is just super simple to pour into the main dispenser and I put a little in the pre-wash. Much cheaper than the tablets. I didn't like how messy things got trying to pour powder, but I guess if I miss a little then that just helps the pre-wash a bit.
I use Finish Powder for my dishdrawers. The cost savings is significant. $4.69 for a 75 oz box. I use a medicine cup to measure about 15-20 grams/load. I also use a dishwasher cleaner monthly to ensure the dishwasher stays clean and in good working order. That, snd cleaning the filters and spray arms are a must!!!
Good for you
What is the cleaner you are using? The powder pods seems fine on my end, just the cleaning product that is expensive (10$ for 2 cleaning pods)
Finish just discontinued their powder. Better try to stock up before it's gone for good.
I switched to Lemishine recently and I love it. Works just as good as the 2 big expensive brands and costs less. Also, supposedly better for the environment. Thanks for the video.
I use the cascade powder with the lemishine powder because of my hard water and it works great. I only do a single wash cycle with heated dry and my dishes come out perfect every time. They used to have spots and chunks on them all the time without the lemishine and with the gel packs but since we switched there has never been an issue. Now to convince my parents that washing their pots and knifes in the dishwasher won't hurt them lol
Don’t forget to clean out the filters inside your dishwasher! I just did and it was crazy how much build up of old food etc was clogging everything up! Make sure the holes are clear where the water shoots out of the rotating blades too. There are videos on RUclips that show you how to do this.
Absolutely! It's very important to keep your filter clean so your washing can work its best!
great reminder!
Solid leftover foods should be scraped off into an insinkerator or waste bin before loading dishes into the diswasher.
NO MANUAL RINSING does not mean putting solids into the machine - you just do not rinse off the oil and grease.
All detergents are designed for use AFTER the user scrapes leftover food from the dishes before washing.
My 30 yo dishwasher filters and jets are always very clean.
Fairy (=Cascate) Platinum (no plus) pods are excellent.
Those filters get disgusting. I absolutely preclean my plates because of that. Even so, I still find stuff that must have been stuck under a plate or something but the prefilter gets it before it gets down to the grease trap part. So gross.
A lot of my rotating blades are clogged and I can’t seem to figure out how to clean them out.
My dog pre-washes my dishes. I don't have the heart to take that job from her ;).
We might have to judge you if you did! Let the good girl keep her job
Great Video! Just one thing that made me think, what? I am from Germany and our Dishwashers have Dispensers too, I work in an electronics store for 15 years now and have never seen a Dishwasher without one.
The sad thing is that powder detergents, at least in my area, is getting harder to find. At the store I shop at they only carry 2 different brands of powder but at least a dozen different gel packs or liquid.
I like powder as like you said , it is economical. I never have had an issue with etching, but I also use a rinse agent.
I use Costco Kirkland packs that are powder filled. Also use finish rinse aid in tandem.
I lightly rinse them in the sink to get the big food particles.
Hmmm, I have tried all three and gel is the only thing that got all my dishes clean and dry. I thought it was a problem with the dishwasher so I agree to change soap, it can make a big difference if you're having problems.
An overload of great info! I've never rinsed before loading and have always gotten good results. Luckily for powder users there are still some dishwashers on the market that have double dispensers.
I buy dish powder from a local package-free store, so we can get it in smaller increments (~500g instead of like 2kg), and we also keep it in an air- and water-tight jar, so it's perfectly protected under the sink!
Sounds like a great setup!
Thanks for the clairification👍 I’ve had a few glassware over the years that got milky. I live by my self so i only fill the dishwasher every 1.5-2 weeks, and it’l start smelling pretty quick i i didn’t pre-rinse😅👍 Powder from now on👌
I've heard people say you should leave food on your dishes, but I just can't do that and a lot of other people can't either. Because it takes two days for me to fill up the washer before I can run it, and in the interim, every time I would open the door, the smell of old food will come out into my kitchen. Disgusting!
Have you considered running your dishwasher at half-load? (Less than maximum full.)
Depends on what you care about. If it's resource usage, and you are pre rinsing, it is likely you are using more water than running your dishwasher more frequently. Also, you wont have to spend your time pre-rinsing.
And/or Have you checked to see if your dishwasher has a 'rinse' setting? My dishwasher's manual suggests trying a rinse cycle to knock off messes that harden over time. (Speaking of, consider reading the manual. It's possible there are useful features that are non-obvious written in there.)
Same with me with the two-day period. I rinse most of the dishes before placing them into the dishwasher but do not use either a cloth or a brush to remove anything further. And even if I have to use one because there is too much stuff left on the dish after simple rinsing, I do not try cleaning the dish completely and usually has some residue left. So there is nearly always some food residue on the dishes going into to the dishwasher but not too much and neither my dishwasher stinks nor the dishes come out dirt to any extent.
You should run it daily. It does not consume much electricity, you will spend about 50cents per wash.
We use Cascade and it works quite well. We really should start using a rinse agent. Cheers!
I got a question, hoping for an answer :
I'm a future first time dishwasher buyer, and I live alone . Living alone means relatively few dishes per day.
Without a dishwasher, I used to rinse the plates & cook ware and let them hang in the sink for a 2-3 days until I had time / will to do the dishes .
The rinsing was mainly to avoid sticky stuff hardening & to avoid the eventual odors .
How should I approach dishwashing with a machine ?
1- Not rinse and pile the dishes for a few days into the machine until it's halfway full ?
2- Rinse and keep piling the dishes outside or inside the machine until it's halfway full ?
3- Wash daily with the machine ? Seems wasteful .
4- Don't buy a dishwasher machine ? But I want one ... 😅 .
Thanks in advance !
Use white vinegar as your rinsing agent leaves everything spotless including your dishwasher, leaves it looking new every time and only costs 2 dollars a gallon...
How you add it ?
@@Frankillz fill rinse slot
I don't mind spending extra on the pods, but I really do hate the amount of plastic packaging that usually comes with them (thinking of the bulk, resealable packs). I tried using powder, and it worked well at first. But like a dingus, I stored it under the sink, so that's a good tip to be aware of.
Sorry to hear about your powder, but we're glad that this information was useful!
Just put the box of power in a zip lock bag, problem solved....
My powder is always under the sink and I never had issues...
I use both the liquid gel and the pod - the gel for the pre-wash and the pod for the regular/main wash. I used to use a pod for both the pre-wash and the regular wash. Then I saw a RUclips video showing how the pod does not do well for the pre-wash and the liquid gel was recommended for the pre-wash cycle. My dishes with very few exceptions come on nice and clean. They also come on dry as I do use a rinse agent as well.
By far the best explanation I’ve watched so far 🖖🏼
It's the best explanation you have seen so far because you have not watched the RUclips channel TECHNOLOGY CONNECTIONS 2 videos on dishwashers.
After you watch them come back here and thank me.
I use a teaspoon of Seventh Generation powder in the dispenser, with their rinse aid. My dishes have never been cleaner. When I do an empty cleaning cycle every couple of weeks, I use the Cascade pods with the built-in Dawn and Oxi. The Dawn cleans the interior of the greasy film from the filter and keeps the drain pipes clean and the oxygen bleach gets rid of the other stuff.
Before watching this video, i will make a guess.
Powder. I bet it's more cost effective and works as good as the other options.
All dishwashers are designed to use powder detergent. That's what the little marks are for inside the detergent cup and that little indentation on the lid of the cup is for you to add a little powder for the prewash.
Powder will keep your machine cleaner and cleans just as well as expensive pods or gels. What no one talks about is how the pods contain micro plastics that do not biodegrade and will eventually clog up your dishwasher's pump or filter.
F.U.D. (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) The TRUE reality is this!
“PVA shouldn’t be vilified.”
“We can’t speculate,” he added. “We have the tools to do the analysis. We should do the analysis and learn how it actually behaves.” Research into this and other water-soluble polymers is “in the zero year,” he said. “There is still everything to do.”
The REAL amount of PVA that would be need to clog pump or filter would take DECADES way pass the warranty of the actual unit!
Rootbeer tastes like peppermint due to the main ingredient Sarsaparilla was found to be carcinogenic in the early days, and replaced with Wintergreen. The amount or volume it would take for Sarsaparilla to be anywhere near a real heath issue would be years and gallons ingested. You should try out for a politician if your not already one! LOL!!
@@SundayFoggyNotions Your response doesn't make any sense. Who are you quoting?
If you think PVA is so safe, why don't you try eating it? And if anyone sounds like a politician, it's YOU!
@@littlegreeny8510BAAHAHAHAAAA!!! Now your making a point from simply NOT having Spatial awareness in your argument when your original point was clogging pumps and filters, to EATING IT? NO WHERE IN MY REPLY STATES ITS SAFE, RATHER QUANTITY IT WOULD REQURE! HOW FAR DOWN THE WELL ARE YOU WILLING TO GO?!! OVER WHAT?? YOU BEING RIGHT OVER PVA AT ALL COSTS? VALIDATE YOUR INSANITY ELSEWHERE!! GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK!! JESUS CHRIST DUDE!!! YOU STAND UNDER THE CNN TOWER WHEN A PENNY DROPS RETARDED RETORT!! 😵💫
....also your reply no YOU sound like a politician deflective comment automatically voids your argument much like upsetting a chess board. Your better than this... BEEEE Better Than This!!
Hate the gel pods. They have to go in dry…but it’s so hard to keep the little drawer dry. And my hands are wet if working in the sink. Was using the tablets, but decided to try the powder to save money. Can’t tell the difference, it works great! I keep it in a plastic tub and scoop it out, no issues with getting wet. I have super hard well water and the only thing that helped (with any of the detergents) was to add *citric acid*. That’s what is in the Lemishine products.
Simple. Put the pod in before you start loading while your hands are still dry. Simple.
I don’t have a pre-wash dishwasher. Just main load. I’m going to try powder soon to see the quality.
I was bored and stumble on this video. I'm glad I watch it, very good information sir!!
Glas we could entertain and educate! Thanks for watching!
The model washer you showed has an indent in the top of the lid for the soap to put some extra on for the first rinse cycle.
Also if you don't have that with a new one and only one spot, can put some powder/gel on the bottom of the door before you close it.
not a fan of the pods, the powder sometimes I have difficult getting my Bosch to dissolve, liquid "complete" versions have been pretty solid overall.
Most of the newer machines don’t have soft food disposals anymore so therefore all the food scraps go nowhere so the dishes need to be scraped.
Exactly and I have a Bosch. I don't want to open it up to dirt dishes so I rinse also because of the smell.
Those loud food grinder is an us invention.
Europe never had them.
I have a miele m and a bosch of course i use powder and i don't rinse of course i scrape
Great video, background music loops too frequently, but it's ok. I have been using gel since it's cheaper than the packs, and far less messy than the powder. I figured powder was the orignal form, and is a bit dated, but still there for those who don't like change. It seems that is somewhat true. I figured the gel packs are only to make extra profil from people's laziness, I didn't think they would be better. I never thought the colors have any function other than... look how many diffeernt chemicals are in this, to appear it must work better. When I hear pre wash, I figured it meant rinsing, people really full wash their dishes with soap, then put them in the dishwasher? It's right in the name... dish washer. Do these pople hand wash their clothes with detergent before putting them in their washer?
I personally use powder because it doesn't come in a plastic container. So it's a nice way to cut down on plastic use. I did not, however, grow up using it. So that's another reason, though probably not a common one.
I really like your analogy, I will try it on my mom.
I like powder the most. however, in my country, I can only find Finish classic powder or classic powder from other brands. They have the weakest cleaning abities. Switching to all in 1 max gel or pods, they work noticeably better due to higher amount of cleaning agents, but still not 100% clean
I have a Bosch 800. We do not have hard water. After watching the Technology Connections video, I use powder detergent, because it is cheaper and I am not adding to the plastic pollution. If you use powders, you will need to watch out that you keep it *inside* the Bosch detergent container, and not on the "runners" for the little door that slides closed, otherwise the door will eventually refuse to close. My husband had to take the thing apart to get it to work again. It appears to be designed exclusively for pods--which is certainly quicker-- but I continue to use powder; I just have to carefully spoon it in, and I do not fill the container full. I put a spoonful of powder on the door for prewashing.
Powder. Simply because you decide how much to use. Pods are usually 2 to 3 times too much soap, and liquid is more expensive.
Read your manual too. Most dishwashers I looked into before buying mine actually have a rinse step. And not putthing soap there may cause issues.
Dishwashers are something that it's easy to misuse.
thank you for this video very helpful. I use target brand pods. I have no problems with them as far as leaving your dishes kind of dirty before you use the machine. I don't do that because I don't want them sitting in there. I don't use it. I'll just rinse them and run it every two or three days, so mine are pretty well rinsed before I put them in there, the other thing was someone told me that the pods clog up the pipes but you didn't mention that and I have not had that issue if you care to comment on that I would appreciate it
Bought my house 3 years ago. One of the first things I did was install a new dishwasher. The new came with Finish pods. Used em,were very meh. Then I switched to cascade platinum and will never use anything else. It will clean anything
My experience is the exact opposite of yours. Pods/packs are the worst by a country mile or 10 for several reasons:
1. Way too much detergent - always leaves residue on dishes
2. No pre-wash separation means my dishes aren't as clean as with gel or powder (Tried both)
3. More expensive
Interesting. I've used name brand gels for as long as I can remember. I had better results compared to store brand gels. I always keep rinse agent (either finish or jet-dry) in the dishwasher also. I recently bought some pods that were on clearance, and the cost per load was roughly the same compared to the Cascade gel I used. In my case, the pods cleaned my dishes noticeable better, with no residue. Many of my glasses had a chalky/frosted look to them, which went away after a couple washes using the pods. My dishes seem to dry better and just look cleaner. My water is relatively soft and the dishwasher is a frigidaire gallery circa 2018.
If you liked this video you'll love the technology connections video on dishwashers.
Using a Siemens StudioLine dishwasher, nothing but pods for many years, mix of 1hr program and regular 2:30hr program, never clean anything before I put it in ( Just take the food bites off)
Everything comes out 110% clean, shiny, no spots, never any bad odors in machine and all filters are clean.
I use some fancy Finish Ultimate pods, that are a mix of powder, blue or yellow gel and small red gel
Technology connections fans rise up!
I like powder, genuinely couldn’t tell you why. But I do and i’m in my 30’s, so now I can have a harsh opinion on a home care thing without reasoning for it.
2:00 or you can just put powder detergent on the bottom of the dishwasher for prewash
Whoa whoa whoa
We’re rinsing milk tomato and egg yolk‽ these are exceptions to the DO NOT RINSE rule?
Hello! Did you happen to find out? I’d like to know also, thank you!
I've sworn off powders ever since I've had to beat out years of powder detergent buildup in drains, drain pumps and spray arms doing appliance repair. They also absolutely love to attack heating elements. I've never had issues using enzyme liquids for a while.
zip lock bag for the powder works well. suds build up with most gel or powder packets and certain dishwashers do not work well there are suds and it builds up so many suds it leaks out the corners rusting the bottom corners of the door. not rinsing causes food particulate buildup in the sump and filter. liquid is the best I think
I live in an area where we get the white crust in toilets and dripping sinks. You cant leave a glass somewhere where it will evaporate. We used cascade and it left the dishes looking pretty bad, and we would clean them with clr once in a while. During covid and the stores running out of everything I ended up having to buy a large container of the finish toss in blocks with the rinse aid red dot at a very high price. I have to admit I now only buy that brand I am so impressed with how everything comes out without white crust or spots.
If you dont have hard water dont spend more.
Packs can’t be released in the pre wash cycle. So you reduce your washing effectiveness. And Maytag definitely runs the pre wash longer than a few seconds. My in-laws LG also has a few minutes of a pre wash cycle
Can you clarify that aside about dishwashers not using pre-wash cycles? Seems like most folks in the comments share my impression that the pods’ weakness is not supplying any detergent for that cycle. If there’s an actually good reason for the industry to switch to pods other than profit motive, would be good to know.
One thing to add because i noticed most people forget this: Do not only use the green/eco/light washing programs. At least once every 2 weeks use the strong/hot/crust/pot program, so that the water get heated to >60 degrees celsius and flushes away all the fat buildup. If you do this, you won't have problems with buildup, smells or a clogged drain.
We have hard water (well) and after using packs for many years I switched to cascade gel about 5 months ago and I much prefer how it cleans.
I always put a cup of ammonia into the dishwasher at the start. Best cleaning and disinfecting solution.
Go with a powder every time. That way you can dose the load as necessary. Always use a rinse aid.
I never use a rinse aid and zero problems.
We are on a well, so we have very hard water. The second your dishwasher ends, drape a long towel in the door, this will catch the hard water steam from settling.
I don’t pre-wash but I do rinse off extra food on plates.
Very interesting, informative, and helpful, thank you!
Some dishwashers have a bad smell because people didn't rinse food off of the plates and there's rotting food in the drain. The same people who complain about the bad smell are the same people who complain about people who rinse dishes but then again, complain when they have to break the drain apart inside the dishwasher to clean out all the food trapped there.
Some detergents have silica in it. Kind of like sand. And people wonder why their dishes are etched?
I use Aldi liquid dish soap. A six month supply costs $3.99. Dollar Tree has a powder soap, called ultra shine for a buck 25. lasts about a month. Does a great job.
Don't sleep on that great value detergent! Its amazing!
Powder is the no brainer. It's cheaper by a great margin and you can manage easily how much you want to use for the prewash and main wash.
I used to use Finish Powder with Finish rinse aid until i tried Fairy "Platinum" capsules and found the dishes and bowls and glasses and pots and pans are so much more clean and shinny. Even the machine racks and cutlery basket now looks like new. Since I still use Finish rinse aid, I do not need the more expensive Fairy "Platinum PLUS". I always buy the Fairy "Platinum" capsules whenever it is sold at 1/2 price (50% discounted).
(My Finish dishwater Powder is now used to unclog drain pipes of greases).
Only Powder and gels allow you to add detergent during the first rince part of the wash cycle. That's what the indent or second receptacle is for. Tablets and packs do not. So they have to compensate.
Using liquid gell, has no bleach. My dishwasher is definitely 30 years old, trouble free! Never missed a beat.. 👍🇦🇺
Disagree with not pre-washing by hand. For certain foods like starchy rice or eggs, a normal cycle doesn't always clean the dish (IME).
Cheap, white distilled vinegar works great as my rinse agent.
The problem is that when food hardens the washing cycle does not clean the dishes. Also, particles of food clog the drain and that is why where I work we rinse the dishes of food before putting them in the dishwasher
After having to do the disgusting job of cleaning out that mess in the drain system I now always rinse off large particles of food before putting them in the dishwasher. Today I looked at my filters for the first time in 2 years and they needed cleaning but were fine.
Great video. How do you feel about washing nonstick pots and pans in the dishwasher?
From what I understand, non-stick pans should not be washed in the dishwasher unless otherwise specified. The wash can remove the coating which makes it no longer non-stick and actually can end up leaching toxic material into your food. But I would consider asking someone with more expertise. Thank you for the question!
Pods and powder are the same ingredients plus or minus some fragrance or small discrepancies. One is just in a membrane. If one will etch your glassware, the other will to.
Multistage dishwasher cycles with a nominal amount of prewash detergent are better. If you load your dishwasher with filthy dishes and a single pod, and your cycle does a 10 second rinse, drain, and then fills for a main wash, that gallon of water is going to circulate for an hour and will be vile the entire time.
So much great information! Thanks so much for the detail.
I've been using gel and it has worked well, but will try the powder now
Awesome discussion - well presented. thank you.
Excellent video I learned a lot from this . Thank you
On a side note, what is your opinion and or have you done a video on, washing hats in the dishwasher?
Glad the video was helpful! As far as the washing hats goes, we can't guarantee it wouldn't hurt anything in the unit, but the only thing we can imagine it would damage is the hat itself. Do you wash hats in the dishwasher often?
@BoulevardHome I haven't tried it yet, but ball cap washers I have purchased say to use it in the dishwasher vs washing machine. Thought I'd ask an expert about it. Thanks again
Dispensers are not "a US thing".
Yeh what the hell is he taking about?! Every European brand has a dispenser!
Really my has a dispenser -
Based on that he undermined his total advice. I keep using the powder and yes also for the pre-wash
All the ones sold in Australia have dispensers too.
He even used a Bosch machine in his video. This guy is so wrong, I laughed at his wrongness.
Thanks for the informative video. I guess I'm was not also educated on dishwasher detergent but also made aware that I'm at that age now... damn
Also I didn't know that water was getting that much expensive in the US that it would be worth even to discuss it. It's pretty cheap in Germany.
One thing though. I've never seen a dishwasher without an dispenser in my lifetime (born in 1986) and I was purchasing them for one of the big 5 online shops for 2-3 years. We bought from everywhere in the EU (i.e. Poland, Luxemburg, Austria....etc.).
Just get the cheapest powder detergent. All the detergents are basicly the same. Pods are the same as the powder, but sold with higher price and packaked seperately.
to add to the hard water situation, European dishwasher include water softener in the machine, How do you know if your machine has it? If it takes dishwasher salt it has this feature the Dishwasher salt is there to recharge the water softener and isn't just simply table salt.
I've found as long as my dishwasher sprayers and filter clean, the type of detergent doesn't really matter.
So i half agree with this guy. He has given a lot of good info. However, if you need gel in the pre rinse, liquid detergent would be best for that. So if you use 2 pods and the 1st one during the rinse cycle doesn't dissolve properly, then you aren't getting the full effect of the rinse cycle. You do need the rinse cycle as most dishwashers have the pre rinse slot. I have never seen one without it. Powder might be a good option, too, but also seems to be lacking in the pre rinse slot. I can't wait to test this out! A lot of people do not know about the rinse cycle. It actually uses different water than the main cycle. Otherwise its all a scam, and you should just wash them by hand. It's faster and uses less electricity. I get free hot water in my apt, but if im using the dishwasher, im paying for that electricity now, just to have to wash them by hand anyway.
They keep telling us to not pre-rinse the pots - but I only run the dishwasher every two days. So by the second day the food on the first days pots has dried on solid.
How about 3drops of dawn once in a while baking soda or vinegar and sometimes just water and rinse your dishes first
How would you compare two dishwashers that both give the option of using auto dose? The Miele G7000 series uses powder inside a container and the Asko Dw60 uses liquid for auto dose. I assume the best would be the Miele option then? Funny thing both brands uses liquid for auto dose in their washing machines
Powder is obviously the right choice, it works just as well as packs and it works better than liquid because you can have both bleach and detergent in a stable formula, and you’re able to control how much detergent you use based on how hard your water is
That’s nuts I have tried them all and so far loving the gel in AZ water works great for me 😮
never in my life have i used rinse aids nor prewash. I have also always quickly just ran my plate/bowl under some running water to get rid of the worst parts, no scrubbing or soap, just a quick rinse. Never have i had problems with the dishes coming out dirty, wet or any problems with glass ruined or water droplets leaving marks, nor would i care, it's just water. But i also dont live with "hard" water.
What type of detergent do you use? Gel or powder? Which brand, please.
I have a 14 year old washer that runs amazingly, due to each of these factors : 1) walmart powder or whatever is cheapest plus a bit spilled for prewash, 2) softened water, 3) hot cycle, 4) rinse aid, and 5) clean the filter sometimes. When we got the house, the same washer was stinky and ineffective due to having none of those factors in play. The only thing I do is stop it at the end of rinse cycle and before dry cycle to pull out plastics for air drying, and dump out any pooled water on dishes. Everything else stays in and comes out 100% clean and dry, no smells.