PostHeaderIcon What can I do to make this dishwasher detergent work better?


I was given a bottle of dishwasher detergent. And it’s terrible! My dishes look terrible. It’s a big bottle and still full so I don’t want to waste it. But if my dishes don’t get clean it’s no good to me anyway. Can I add vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher when I start it? Will that help? Is there anything else I can do?
I have tried using the lemi-shine along with it, and it didn’t help. I’ve tried using more and less and still terrible.

The best thing you could do is make sure that your water temperature is at least 120 degrees F. in the Dishwasher. If your water temperature is not hot enough the dishes will not clean properly. Buy adding vinegar you are diluting the detergent(vinegar is an acidic substance and the detergent is an alkali) and possibly lessening the effectiveness of the detergent. I am surprised that someone has not said to put more Jet-Dry in the dishwasher. Jet- Dry is a surfactant only and will not affect wash ability.

If you suspect that something is wrong with the detergent buy a small container of another detergent and try that. If it works better discontinue using the large bottle and use it as a general all purpose cleaner as you would "Spi c and Span" by mixing it in water in a bucket.

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7 Responses to “What can I do to make this dishwasher detergent work better?”

  • Cammie says:

    Trash it and buy something that works well.
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  • Sarah M says:

    Throw it away and go back to what you were using
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  • 2 Much Down Time @WORK says:

    I always add 1 cup of liquid bleach to my dishwasher (just throw it on the bottom) and then start it right away.

    I had problems with the cheap dish soap too (non Cascade) and the powder soaps and when I started using bleach my dishes come out so clean and squeaky and NO spots.

    Hope this helps as it works wonders for me.

    P.S. Any brand of liquid bleach will do
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  • Brin says:

    Adding vinegar is the answer it will also make your machine clean better. Have you tried adding more than recommended???
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  • quilter46pp says:

    I use a product I get from Walmart called "Lemi-Shine". You add it to one of the cycles of your dishwasher. It is excellent for cleaning, especially if you have hard water. You can even mix it with water, put in a sprayer bottle to clean sinks, the shower, etc. In my opinion, it works great!
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  • fam4 says:

    Vinegar works wonders in the dishwasher. It will make your dishes shine better than a rinse aid. It also helps to clean the dishwasher, especially if you have hard water. If the vinegar doesn’t work you should probably get rid of the detergent.
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  • ApplianceGuy says:

    The best thing you could do is make sure that your water temperature is at least 120 degrees F. in the dishwasher. If your water temperature is not hot enough the dishes will not clean properly. Buy adding vinegar you are diluting the detergent(vinegar is an acidic substance and the detergent is an alkali) and possibly lessening the effectiveness of the detergent. I am surprised that someone has not said to put more Jet-Dry in the dishwasher. Jet- Dry is a surfactant only and will not affect wash ability.

    If you suspect that something is wrong with the detergent buy a small container of another detergent and try that. If it works better discontinue using the large bottle and use it as a general all purpose cleaner as you would "Spi c and Span" by mixing it in water in a bucket.
    References :
    40 years major appliance repair.

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