As a service company we are constantly asked, “Why doesn’t my dishwasher clean better”. To this query we offer the following insights and suggestions.

Whenever we diagnose a “poor cleaning” complaint the main things we want to know are:

1. Is the water hot enough?
2. Are you using a proper detergent?
3. Are you using a rinse additive?
4. Your loading practices

1 Water temperature

Most manufacturers suggest a minimum 120 Fahrenheit for the dishwasher to begin the cleaning process, 140 to remove food soiling, and 155 to sanitize and remove bacteria. In restaurants they boost the dishwasher temperature to 180 Fahrenheit to satisfy health requirements. Consumers misunderstanding these requirements have led to problems for the household dishwasher.

In a dishwasher the temperature of the wash water is paramount. Unfortunately, It is now common to find household water temperatures of 100 Fahrenheit, or less.

Many people have lowered their household water temperature in an effort to be conscientious consumers. Yes, it lowers electrical consumption. Unfortunately it has other consequences.

Manufacturers say it does not provide enough heat to clean dishes properly and can leave them covered in bacteria and food residue. Supporters of lower water temperatures claim it is both environmentally friendly and necessary to protect children from any possibility of scalding at bath time.

One of the latest ideas is a mixing valve added to hot water tanks. It is preset and will not allow temperatures in excess of 115 Fahrenheit. It does this by mixing cold water with the hot to maintain this preset maximum.

This debate over hot water tank temperatures has resulted in a catch 22 type scenario. Lower the temperature to lower consumption and be more child safe, but end up leaving bacteria on the plates we use to eat.

Low water temperature can also affect the cycle length. If too low the dishwasher may keep stopping to try and heat the water. A normal cycle of 40 minutes could be extended to 2 or 3 hours with all the heating delays. Some dishwashers may stall completely.

2 Using proper detergent

We always suggest you use a name brand detergent. A good detergent is always worth the price. So stay away from those that are super inexpensive, or ones that claims to clean the dishes plus everything else in the house. If unsure, ask your neighbours what they use.

Gel or crystal, the choice is yours. Both seem to work equally well. Whichever form you prefer the one thing we always stress is, “when you find one that works for you stick with it … even if it costs more than others”.

Crystal is less messy, while gel will dissolve quicker with the water. If your water temperature is low (as described above) gel may be a choice because it will mix better.

If using crystal detergent be aware that it can pick up moisture from the air. When this happens it will swell up and become lumpy or harden. These lumps will be difficult to break down and will not fully dissolve. If at cycle’s end you see detergent left inside it may be evidence of hardened crystals.

Additional evidence of moisture buildup can be seen if the box itself appears to be swollen. If seen, replace immediately with a fresh box.

A box of detergent should be consumed within 2-3 months. If not throw it away and buy a new one. Match the box size to your needs. Do not buy a large box just because it is on sale. If you have to throw most of it away, it wasn’t much of a bargain.

Some detergent manufacturers now offer a product that combines the detergent with the rinse additive. Others offer a detergent that includes a special grease-dissolving agent. Still others are in a tab form, or inside a dissolvable plastic pouch.

Also dishwashing detergent and dishwasher detergent are not interchangeable. Trying to do so will cause problems. Each type of detergent is formulated to do a specific job.

“Dishwashing detergent” is the one used to wash dishes in the sink is. It is definitely not meant for the dishwasher. Anyone who has ever mistakenly put it into the dishwasher can attest to the mess this will produce. The beating action of the water will produce massive amounts of suds. This results in the dishwasher flooding out the door and across the kitchen floor.

So the moral of this tale is: “Don’t confuse dishwashing with dishwasher”.

3 Rinse additive

This is something that gets forgotten once the free sample bottle that came with the dishwasher has been used.

Its job is to make the water run off the dishes faster so they can dry quicker. Without it there would be little beads of water on everything at the end of the cycle. Glasses especially would appear to be water stained or be left with a gritty residue. So if poor cleaning is a problem, check the rinse additive level.

But remember, only one or two drops are added per load. A few ounces of rinse additive lasts a very long time. Such a long time those customers often think it is not being added, and blame the additive for problems it has nothing to do with

To refill, look on the dishwasher door for a cap or plug that is removable. It is often overlooked because the time between fill ups can be months. Also, the appliance manufacturers could help solve this problem if more of them added some sort of “Hey, I’m empty” indicator.

Frigidaire dishwashers have a neat little indicator. Right next to the soap dispenser is a clear plastic eye that changes colour when the additive is empty. So every time you add detergent to the machine you also see this eye staring back at you. White if empty, and black if full. Simple, effective, and smart.

4 Proper loading

Lastly, don’t forget that how you load the dishes can drastically affect how well they are cleaned.

Proper loading will allow the water to penetrate all the nooks and crannies. Try the following suggestions:

· Cups and glasses on the top rack with bottoms up

· Plates on the bottom rack all facing the same direction

· Bowls either rack, but all facing the same direction

· Utensils in the utensil holder in a mixed fashion (some knives, forks, spoons together in each compartment) to allow gaps between them

· Large items, such as a spatulas, laying down on top rack

· Pots bottom up wherever space allows (on their side okay if positioned so that water will drain out)

Placing the dishes and utensils in an orderly manner really does make for a better wash. It allows the water sprays to penetrate the dishes thoroughly. Try it … it works.

The analogy I offer customers is: If you were going on a car trip would you pack the car efficiently, or just open the doors and throw everything inside so that the passengers had to fight with the luggage. I think you get the picture.

Dishwasher efficiency

If your dishwasher is having a mechanical problem the result may show up as poor cleaning. Anything from low water pressure, broken pump, not draining fully, or even a blocked filter could be the cause.

So how do you know if the machine needs repair? You don’t. But, by checking all the previous problems first a lot of the more common causes of poor cleaning can be easily eliminated.

Also, you have probably heard this a million times before, but before telephoning for service read you owner’s manual. It can include some valuable information. It will usually give you a checklist of items to test before calling for service.

Summing up

You now know what is needed to make the dishes come out of the dishwasher sparkling clean. Hot water, good detergent, rinse additive, and proper loading practices. That’s it – that’s all. Provide all four of these things to the dishwasher and your cleaning success is guaranteed.

So load up the machine, go get yourself a liquid refreshment, put your feet up and let the dishwasher do all the work.

Clean dishes are about more than just the dishwasher. It’s about the detergent too! And with so many on the market we decided to tell you about our favorite – Cascade Dishwasher Detergent – here’s what you need to know.

Cascade two in one has been a real hit and I think it goes beyond the great job it does. When you open the package you see these wonderful little bright blue and spring green bubble. They are rather refreshing on their own.

The tablets are rather intriguing to look at. The plastic casing will dissolve with the water and inside the pouch is Dawn dishwashing liquid and Cascade dishwashing powder. That’s it. And just in case you might forget whose product you have in bold red letters on the bottom you’ll discover the word Cascade.

There are actually two varieties that you can choose from. The Original blue Dawn or the new Citrus Breeze scented orange Dawn. What will you do with two choices?

Now I love Dawn as a dishwashing detergent so the logical deduction would be that I would like the Cascade dishwasher version. And of course I was right.

The packaging that holds the pouches is easy to open. Use your scissors, cut the top, and then it reseals with a zip lock style top. In fact Cascade has gone as far as including a diagram of a pair of scissors at the top. The reseal holds well and since the pouches are water soluble that’s important!

It’s a good idea to make sure your hands are dry before grabbing the pouches since they could become squishy and start to dissolve in your hands.

They are a breeze to use. No unwrapping, no pouring, no puncturing. Just take the pouch out of the bag, pop it into the dishwasher’s soap dispenser, close the door and start the dishwasher. That’s it – how simple is that? No fuss no muss!

Both of the scents that are available are nice but if you don’t like fragrance or are sensitive to it stick with the original blue. No matter which you choose the strong smell of the dishwasher soap can still be smelled.

Now let’s talk about performance. On a scale of 1 to 10 I’d give this product a 10. It works well, cuts grease, no streaks, no spots, and no fogging. The Action Pac works great! There’s no reason to rinse the dishes. It cuts through grease without hesitation. And it’s easy and convenient to use.

As with any of these cleaners it comes with a warning not to get it on you skin or in your eyes and to keep it away from children. It also lists the first aid treatments clearly on the packaging.

You can buy a pack of 20 pouches for around $4.00 so that works out to about 20 cents a cleaning. Shop on line and you can even save more. I think It’s a great buy and with all that cleaning power how can you go wrong?

Dishwasher detergents are an inevitable part of our kitchen hygiene. It is unavoidable whether the dishes are washed in a dishwasher or manually.

We use detergents to clean our dishes, but are they really doing their job? Have we ever thought about the ingredients of these detergents? Are there any side effects by using them? Now, with increased awareness about the health hazards presented by house-hold articles, doubts are being raised about its toxicity.

When dishes are washed with detergents, some of them leave a residue on the surface of the dishes, which is consumed when it is used next time. Some of these detergents have strong disinfectants, which are harmful to the skin. Some others emit gases that cause allergies and respiratory problems.

The detergents we use to clean our dishes flow down the drain after its purported use. They undergo chemical treatment in sewage treatment plants, before being released into waterways. During this treatment, most of the toxic chemicals are neutralized and made harmless. But some of them still remain, causing environmental pollution.

To analyze the effects of detergents, we need to know more about the common ingredients of commercial dishwasher detergents in the market. Among them the prominent are Phosphates, Chlorine and petroleum-based ingredients.

Phosphates are common additives in detergents to soften the hard water. It enhances the cleaning power of the detergents, which is very helpful in spiking its popularity and while marketing. However, it causes health problems and major environmental hazards. Phosphate residues on dish surface may cause nausea, diarrhea and skin irritations. Phosphates are still active after waste water treatment. When they enter waterways, they act as fertilizers and encourage overgrowth of algae, which leads to drastic reduction of oxygen in water. This results in the depletion of other living organisms like fishes in water bodies.

Chlorine bleach is added to detergents for its disinfecting properties. As it is highly corrosive, it causes many health troubles like respiratory and skin irritations and stomach disorders. When combined with other cleaners, it produces toxic fumes, which are proved carcinogens and pollutes the environment.

Petroleum based ingredients poses problems in two ways – for health and environment. They contain toxins that create unnecessary health problems. Also, while production of these petroleum products, environment gets polluted.

The residues formed on detergent-cleaned dishes may be too negligible. But each time when we use a dish, these toxins get absorbed into our system. This is more so when hot foods are taken in them. Over a period of time, these toxins accumulate in our bodies causing a variety of serious ailments like cancer, infertility and birth defects.

The next step is how to avoid these life-threatening cleaners and find a safe and environment-friendly dishwasher detergent. There are many detergents available in the market that satisfy the above conditions. However, finding them is not that easy in this world full of cheaters and tricksters. So follow these simple rules to zero in on a safe brand.

While buying do not get deceived by labels like ‘green’, ‘natural’ and ‘eco-friendly’. Those with specific claims like ‘No chlorine’ or ‘Phosphate-free’ are more reliable. Still, it is advisable to read the ingredients to find out whether they contain any harmful chemicals mentioned above. Avoid those detergents that contain triclosan and petroleum products.

In case you find ingredients with tricky, long names, contact the manufacturer for clarification. If you get a convincing answer, go ahead and use it. Otherwise, it may be another fraudster.

We use dishwasher detergents to clean the dishes and not to poison ourselves and get sick. Take ample care while selecting the right one.

It simply doesn’t get more “green” than soap nuts. However, we must first clarify how soap nuts and “green” relate to each other in the context of this article. So, green – what is “green” anyway? Not that many single words are nouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs. But “green” has become all of them. Personally I don’t even like using the term due to its many various and often vague, ambiguous definitions. FYI: I counted 24 definitions in Word’s dictionary. The vast majority of them had nothing to do with the color at all.

For the purpose of this article, I am defining “green” as: Provided or produced by Mother Nature and completely void of alteration or manipulation by man.

Nope, that’s NOT a definition from the dictionary. (Maybe it should be included as one, because that is exactly what it means to many I speak with – at least when it comes to natural detergents, other household cleaners, skin care products, etc.) For the purpose of this article, it is perfect. Yes, man harvests soap nuts, removes their seeds, allows them to dry and packs them, but man does NOTHING to alter soap nuts from their pure and 100% natural state. Man only facilitates getting them from the tree to your door. Nothing more.

(This article has nothing whatsoever to do with the plethora of other meanings of green. Let’s keep it simple.)

Soap nuts are a 100% totally green cleaning product that is entirely and completely void of any man-made substances. Period. By my definition it is right on target. The supposedly “green” detergents and cleansers all over the market all have additives – many, many additives. Relative to the purity of the soap nut they are chemical soups. They have been formulated (which says it all). Some are better than others, but nonetheless they are not 100% pure. Mother Nature has NOT handed down these other products on a silver platter for us to use – AS IS. Raw soap nuts have been. ONLY soap nuts in their RAW form are totally green and natural. The soap that they produce is completely pure and natural. It contains ZERO additives. No other detergent, cleanser or soap anywhere in the world can make that claim. End of story. Period.

So, if you want an EFFECTIVE truly “green” detergent, cleanser or soap by the definition I provided above – soap nuts are your answer. Your ONLY answer. I intentionally use “effective” because there are other genuinely natural ways to clean, but none clean as well as saponin (the natural active ingredient in the soapberry / soap nut). You can beat your laundry on rocks in a river or stream and they will become cleaner, but let’s get realistic in regards to what we want. We know that saponin is hypoallergenic, biodegradable, anti-fungal and antimicrobial. It is a highly effective surfactant making it a great detergent/cleanser/soap. It is all this – and is still 100% green and natural.

If you are having issues with the products you use, try soap nuts as an alternative. Many people suffer from eczema, psoriasis, and a myriad of irritating skin conditions. Many of these conditions have been linked through clinical studies directly to the chemicals and additives man has used in the production of detergents, cleansers and soaps.

I have personally heard SO many people write or tell me that since using soap nuts previous irritating skin conditions are gone – totally GONE! Eczema and rosacea sufferers have reported dramatic improvements. I have documented only ONE case where a gentleman actually developed a minor rash from saponin. He even did a skin patch test to be sure that was what caused it. There are always people that will be allergic to something. But only ONE known case out of thousands of soap nut users! Interestingly, he and his family STILL use soap nuts for they believe soap nuts remain the better alternative to today’s commercial detergents. Incredible.

Odds are that 99+% of people suffering from skin irritations caused by the commercial products (even the “SUPPOSEDLY” green, natural detergents, cleansers and soaps) that they’ve been using will benefit greatly from using soap nuts. There is an EXCELLENT chance they may be the ticket to living far more comfortable lives. If you change to soap nuts (and go totally green in doing so) and you find relief, don’t thank me. I’m just a messenger. Thank Mother Nature for soap nuts. They are HER 100% “green” gift for us all.