A dishwasher is a real lifesaver for people who don’t want to spend too much time on housework and/or hate manual dishwashing. If you have a dishwasher, all you need to do is scrape off leftover food from the dirty dishes, pots, pans, bakeware, cutlery, etc., place them in the dishwasher and choose the program. In about an hour, the dishes will be squeaky clean and dry. However, there are several things you should know about dishwashers. For example, they are not designed for using regular dish soap, so you’ll need to buy special dishwasher products.

First and foremost, you’ll need dishwasher detergent, which comes in different forms, but that’s not all. You’ll also need rinse aid to improve drying performance and prevent streaks and water spots, as well as dishwasher salt and dishwasher cleaner to extend the service life of your dishwasher.

So, all dishwasher products can be divided into four groups: dishwasher detergents, rinse aids, water softeners, and dishwasher cleaners. Dishwasher detergent can come in different forms (liquid, gel, pods, tablets), rinse aid usually has a gel-like consistency, dishwasher salt (a particular grade of coarse granulated sodium chloride) is used as water softener, and dishwasher cleaners are liquids or tabs that prevent limescale and detergent residue, help to maintain your dishwasher and produce an antibacterial effect.

To choose the right dishwasher product, you need to take several things into account, such as the type of product you need, the size and type of your dishwasher, your budget, etc. Many consumers prefer multi-purpose dishwasher tablets (tabs) that simultaneously act as a detergent, rinse aid and water softener, helping to save money.

Dishwasher tablets are very easy to use because you don’t have to worry about the right dosage or add any additional products before starting the wash cycle. However, tabs are not suitable for the quick wash program, since they dissolve rather slowly. They are also more expensive than other dishwasher detergents (on the other hand, you won’t have to buy rinse aid and water softener).

The second most popular type of dishwasher detergent is dishwasher detergent gel because gels are affordable, concentrated and usually easy to dispense because bottle caps can be used to measure the product. Unlike detergent powders, they don’t contain any abrasive particles, therefore they can’t scratch the dishes during washing. Detergent gels are best suited for washing thin glassware and chinaware, as well as for the quick wash program.

Rinse aid is designed to rinse off the detergent residue, prevent streaks and water spots, improve drying performance, and make the dishes shiny. It prevents droplet formation, making water drain from the surfaces in thin sheets. Rinse aid can be used during each wash cycle for all types of dishes, but it is especially recommended for glassware.

Water softeners and dishwasher cleansers are not designed for dishwashing per se; they are dishwasher maintenance products. As a rule, you need to fill a special compartment of the dishwasher with dishwasher salt every six months and use dishwasher cleaner every three or four months. The frequency of use will depend on the characteristics of your dishwasher and the hardness of water.

Numerous manufacturers of household chemical offer all kinds of dishwasher products at different prices, but, alas, not all of them are really effective and safe. In our online shop Organic Store, you can buy biodegradable dishwasher products from trusted manufacturers. They are affordable, effective, eco-friendly, and safe for your health.