New Dishwasher. Need soap!!

[eppo]

I do not have any current coupons. But we just got a new dishwasher. I have never had one in my life so I have no idea what is a good brand of soap or a good price. Looking for guidence as well as trades for the coupons I need . Thanks!!

[JulieDB]

I was told by two dishwasher repairmen to use the powder only.

[blossomed]

I was told by my repairman to turn on the hot water just before running it and that there is no reason to fill those cups up all the way.

Congratulations!! You will wonder how you lived without it soo long!

[fallenangel587]

I heard not to use powder at all. I would read your booklet that comes with it too see what they recommend.

[isis]

Honestly, I haven't looked for dishwasher detergent in quite some time! Probably going on 2 yrs. I lucked out on a few Electrosal powder tab deals (its called Finish now), so I have like 10+ boxes I got free, or pennies. 1 box lasts me a few months b/c I only run the dishwasher once, maybe twice a week.
Anyway, I would buy 1, maybe 2 boxes, just to tide you over until you see a good sale and stock up. I know Walgreens (if you have that store) has RR deals on Finish from time to time. I've only used Electrosal/Finish tabs, so I know nothing about Cascade. The only thing I was told, was that if you use powder, stick with powder. Don't switch between powder and gel.

[everprincess]

I'm with Isis. I use the Finish since I have soo much of it. Usually once or maybe twice a year they put out high value $2.50 (I think that's the value) coupon. When that happens I buy every box and use all the coupons I can get with it. I think the last count was 30 boxes. But if your store doubles sometimes you can get good deals too with the printables or insert coupons in the Sunday paper. I hope this helps.

[CW&M Mom]

We've used any and all and haven't had a problem BUT note that a few states have banned the use of phosphates. This is what got the glasses in particular from looking grimy (a thin film on them so to speak). Because of this ban, Cascade, Palmolive and Electrasol started making a phosphate free formula. Enough states went on with the ban...they stopped making the detergent with the phosphates in general.

This is becoming quite tricky because the phosphates work really well to break down the hard water grimy, film on the dishes.

If you have soft water you may not notice it.

What we are doing right now, is alternating. So we still have a stash of the stuff with the phosphates (we live in a state that has not banned it, but Missouri next door has). So I go back and forth so that it keeps the dishes from getting that build up.

Once we go through our stash...the only product I've found in Kansas that seems to have the phosphates is the super duper cheapy junky detergent *sigh*. So we may try that or we may go with this product: Lemi Shine | Product Singles | Envirocon Technologies, Inc.

[SarahL]

I used to use Cascade powder exclusively (I hate, hate, hate Finish...I could never get it to dissolve in my machine, ever, and it always left a film. Always.). But, I switched a few years ago to the generic Sam's Club brand. It comes in two huge boxes and is powdered, costs about $5.50 or so. I run my dishwasher at least once a day, sometimes twice - three times if I'm doing a LOT of cooking or have guests. Two boxes will last me around 6 or 7 months...so I spend about $10-$11 per year on detergent. For me it works just as well as Cascade does. I love that stuff.

With our water, I do need to use a rinse aid - or no matter what detergent I use there's a filmy residue on the dishes. For that I buy whatever I can get cheaply - Jet Dry or Cascade or whatever. I haven't found that one brand works better than another for the rinse aid.

[MARR]

I've only used Electrosal/Finish tabs, so I know nothing about Cascade. The only thing I was told, was that if you use powder, stick with powder. Don't switch between powder and gel.

Don't want to open up a can of worms here Isis but We were told that as long as your dishes come clean you can switch all you like. We have always used Cascade and recently found that the powder when you fill the big hole all the way does better than any other product we have tried.
We also found that Cascade works much better than Finish. Hope this helps!!

[MARR]

With our water, I do need to use a rinse aid - or no matter what detergent I use there's a filmy residue on the dishes. For that I buy whatever I can get cheaply - Jet Dry or Cascade or whatever. I haven't found that one brand works better than another for the rinse aid.

This is funny we have VERY hard water, have never used rinse aid, but our dishes don't have film on them. Weird.