Dishwasher tablets - getting the balance right - phosphates

[Padraig]

I
must have made a mistake

[ahinton]

Twas a mere triifle
(Try getting trifle off with your powerballs...)

That sounds painful if not also potentially dangerous...

I live in a very hard water area and use a water softener and plumbed-in water filter (as well as a reverse osmosis unit connected to a water/ice dispenser in a freezer for drinking purposes) and therefore don't use as much rinse aid as otherwise I might have to, but I've no idea what would be either the best performing or the safest dishwasher tablets to use and, if using tablets rather than powder (which is pretty much all that can be obtained these days for dishwashers in any case), it's not even as though one could use less than one tablet at a time regardless of the quality of the water supply...

[ahinton]

I have heard that in some families washing up is used as an opportunity for social communication, as opposed to those families where there is either no communication, or communication has to be via social media, mobile phones and tablets.

...but not dishwasher tablets, presumably...

[Dave2002]

...but not dishwasher tablets, presumably...

The powerball interface on tablets is good for games, allegedly!

I can't really see the enthusiasm for hand dishwashing. If one wants to have social time with other family members there may be other ways to do that. The quality of wash is mostly far higher using a machine, though occasionally some manual intervention and reject monitoring is required.

[vinteuil]

... a fair amount of our cutlery, crockery, and glassware is not suitable for dishwashing machines

Meals are a good time and place for social interaction. I quite enjoy meditative dishwashing - but preferably alone and uninterrupted...

[french frank]

I quite enjoy meditative dishwashing - but preferably alone and uninterrupted...

Yes, my brother was quite upset when they got a dishwasher. Washing up was a cherished time after Christmas lunch.

[Petrushka]

My late father used to enjoy singing hymns while washing up. Rather disconcerting to find I've started to do the same

[Anna]

In a small household a dishwasher means either leaving mucky stuff in it until it's full or wasting water and electricity by running it half-empty.
I quite enjoy washing up - there's an enormous sense of satisfaction go be gained by removing that last little bit of burnt-off whatever by sustained effort and willpower! It's also a chance to do some serious thinking whilst gazing out of the window uninterrupted. (I never dry up, cloths are evidently full of bugs, so it just drains dry)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

In a small household a dishwasher means either leaving mucky stuff in it until it's full or wasting water and electricity by running it half-empty.
I quite enjoy washing up - there's an enormous sense of satisfaction go be gained by removing that last little bit of burnt-off whatever by sustained effort and willpower! It's also a chance to do some serious thinking whilst gazing out of the window uninterrupted.

looking at the back garden, watching the birds feeding ... very therapeutic.

(I never dry up, cloths are evidently full of bugs, so it just drains dry)

I only dry if I need a dry mug/plate/dish immediately - a good rinse after scrubbing clean, to make sure the soap's not left on, then let them dry in their own good time.

Gave up on dishwashers when it transpired that keeping it clean was a bigger faff than using the kitchen sink! And, as Anna says, it could be a week before it would get full - I'd need to start washing plates in between anyway!

[vinteuil]

I never dry up, cloths are evidently full of bugs, so it just drains dry

..

Except for glasses, which I immediately dry on a glass-cloth kept for the purpose (so probably not too many bugs... ) - glasses just left to dry can end up with smears...

[Jonathan]

I hate washing up. We've not got a dishwasher and I would really like to get one. Problem is, there is insufficient room in the kitchen to fit one in and the desktop and slimline ones are apparently rubbish!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I hate washing up. We've not got a dishwasher and I would really like to get one. Problem is, there is insufficient room in the kitchen to fit one in and the desktop and slimline ones are apparently rubbish!

Don't know about desktops, but the slimline machine (Hotpoint, if that's any use) did what it was supposed to do perfectly well, Jonathan - it's just that it wasn't used with sufficient frequency to be worthwhile.

[Dave2002]

... a fair amount of our cutlery, crockery, and glassware is not suitable for dishwashing machines

Meals are a good time and place for social interaction. I quite enjoy meditative dishwashing - but preferably alone and uninterrupted...

Perhaps best not to mention your silverware and antiques!

I agree that some stuff isn't fully dishwasher compatible, but a lot is, and unless you only ever use the awkward stuff, then a dishwasher is a good thing to have. The remainder can be done by hand.

[teamsaint]

I hate washing up. We've not got a dishwasher and I would really like to get one. Problem is, there is insufficient room in the kitchen to fit one in and the desktop and slimline ones are apparently rubbish!

used a slimline Bosch on holiday recently.
worked fine, but capacity really is limited. Probably fine for a couple.

[teamsaint]

apparently dishwashers are great for getting deep ingrained muck off crystal chandeliers. When I was in the lighting business somebody told me this, although I have no idea how they placed them in the machine,( what with the rotating arms ) and presumably the electrics had to be stripped out first !!