Getting a new dishwasher is just a half of the story. Another half is focused on the detergent. If you make a mistake here and get a poor-quality detergent, not even the best dishwasher will help you get clean dishes.
The main question is which detergent is the best. Because there are thousands of different products, it isn’t possible to mention and test all of them. However, all of them can be divided into three categories.
- Powders
- Gels
- Tablets
Choosing the right type is essential and can be the answer to the main question here.
Table of Contents
Powder Detergents: Most affordable
All powder detergents are affordable. Usually, we believe that they are the most affordable way to wash your dishes and they are very effective.
The main ingredient was phosphates and back in the time it was used, their capabilities were much better. Since 2010, this ingredient was banned and therefore the efficiency of the powder detergents declined.
Nevertheless, they are a great choice and with careful procedures, you can maximize their effect. We must add that these detergents are the most productive when they are used with hard water. In those situations, they are the best of all three types.
Countertop Dishwasher Liquid
Gels: Simple and affordable alternative
Gels are generally affordable and easy to use. They are ideal for small kitchens, where keeping large packages of detergents isn’t possible. For minor dishwashers and minor applications, they are also ideal.
In any other case, gel detergents are not very good, due to reduced cleaning power compared to other types. There is an explanation for that, which will be mentioned below.
Tablets: Best and the most expensive
When it comes to washing the dishes, tablets-based detergents are the most successful. They have the most cleaning power due to a reason.
All detergents consist of bleach and enzymes. The purpose of the bleachers is to remove the crust and the first layer of the food and stains. Enzymes then come into action. They eat proteins and remove all the stains completely. In liquid form, these two substances cannot coexist, or enzymes will be eaten by bleachers. That’s why they cannot be present in gel detergents.
Soft or hard water affects on detergents
Even if you have the best detergent in the house and you have an excellent dishwasher, the end result may be lower than you expect. This is caused by the type of water you have been using
Always Make sure You Wore Dishwashing Gloves
Hard water requires more detergent in order to deliver better washing. On the other side, soft water requires less detergent to wash your dishes perfectly. Make sure to adjust the measurements accordingly in order to get the best success.
Improving the cleaning power
All of you who want the best washing results must know that there are additives which can boost the look of the dishes after washing. Additives should be added after the detergent is poured.
All additives should be placed at the bottom of the dishwasher before you start washing process. A few tablespoons are generally sufficient. You will get a far cleaner dishes and glassware will look like new.
How to further improve the cleaning power of a Commercial Dishwasher or countertop Dishwasher detergent
If you still want to get cleaner dishes, make sure to remove hard stains on by own. Don’t pre-rinse the entire dishware due to the fact this actually reduces the cleaning success.
Make sure you never load the dishwasher more than it can accommodate. Not only this will reduce the cleaning power, it can also break down the appliance.
The last, but not least, make sure to place large dishware at the end of the dishwasher, while smaller ones are closer to the door. By doing this you won’t prevent washing of the smaller items.
Overall
The general point here is that tablet detergents are the best. They may be more expensive, but they wash the best and they are easy to store. Powders are a great alternative and the most affordable one. Gels are the third and the last alternative here. They are simply less powerful than other two types of detergents.
Choose the tablet detergent and use it in the way we mentioned here and you will get the cleanest dishes every single time.
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