I didn't grow up with a dishwasher, so for the longest time, I just took my wife's recommendations and we used Finish brand dishwasher tabs as she swore, having grown up with a dishwasher, that it wasn't worth saving on the off brands. Was never totally happy with the results, as depending on the condition of the dishes, sometimes we end up with a greasy film over everything when things were extra dirty, but given the turnkey nature of dishwashers, I never thought there was anything I could do about it. Trade off of convenience for some compromised quality.
Then I watched a Technology Connections video on dishwashers and I learned that the whole point of the detergent compartment was to delay release so that the cleanser wouldn't be drained away in the prewash. With powder or gel, you can not only choose how much you put, but you can add some to the prewash to boost cleaning power.
I experimented by shaving down a tab with a knife so there was some detergent in the prewash and I was pleased with the results. OK, I'll just buy some powder. Simple, right?
Wrong.
I tried store after store, and nobody wanted to sell me powdered dishwasher detergent. Everything was tabs, pods or gel far as the eye could see. Was ready to give up and hit Amazon, when I finally came across Finish-branded, and only Finish-branded, dishwasher powder in a really big market. Thank you, Carrefour, you came through. They were even having a 3×2 sale, so I finally paid only 5,46€ per two kilo bag. Also spent 1,29€ on some measuring spoons to dedicate to the detergent.
The estimated yield on each two kilo bag is 100 dishwasher loads, which works out to be around 5 cents per load. Average price on Finish tabs is around 20 cents each. My wife tries to get the best possible prices and get them on sale, but even then, I don't think we've ever done better than 15 cents per tab and prices have steadily risen.
So conservatively, I think I'm saving 75% on the dishwasher detergent and possibly more, as I think I'm actually using less per load than recommend, but by splitting some of it into the prewash, the cleaning performance has been excellent.
Switching to dishwasher powder from tabs/pods
byu/Leighgion inFrugal
Posted by Leighgion
9 Comments
i made the switch a while ago. i think i watched a youtube video as well. best part, i do light wash as well. i like kroger brand powder.
I’ve been using Walmart’s Great Value powder for decades. It used to be rated best dishwasher powder by Consumer Reports here in the US but they don’t rate powders anymore because according to them not enough people use powders which is probably true but only because stores don’t carry them anymore. It’s still top rated by Good Housekeeping. It only takes a tablespoon plus a little sprinkle for the prewash.
I’ve used Finish powder for years, since I got my dishwasher. I have an half sized dishwasher, so it felt wasteful (and not environment friendly) to use a whole tablet for half the dishes it’s measured for. I’ve never considered that it might be hard to come by the powder.
I have tried quite a few products and have landed on Cascade gel in the bottle.
I determine how much I need, it cleans and rinses well. It is the most frugal option for us.
R/powderhomies
We still use the pods; my problem with them, though, is that once I started using them, the exposed aluminum layer on the bottom of my pans started eroding away. I bought a newer pan with aluminum rivets holding the handle on and the rivets eroded away.
I think there’s something in the pods that does this.
I washed those pans for decades with powdered detergent, and nothing happened.
I have only ever used powder. The pods and such are stupid expensive. That said, powder has gotten harder to find.
I switched back to Cascade powder this year. Cheaper per load and just as effective as Cascade gel. I’m guessing you’re not in the US? I found it at Walmart and Publix.
I can’t find powder. It’s the least wasteful, most frugal.