Dishwasher salt dispenser.

Maw I totally agree- I also have mega problems reaching mine and I cannot see an easy way forward. It has to be the manufacturers of these machines- no common sense

Same here, I gave up last week and got Grumpy Guts, sorry DD down to do it, tutting all the way DD not me.

I don't put salt in my dishwasher. I use the three in one tablets and have never had a problem. Machine works perfectly and the dishes come out sparkling.

What minimoon said! Though I occasionally put conditioner in.

I use the 3 in 1 tablets too. I’ve never put salt or rinse aid in and it seems to work well.

I know “3 in 1” tabs claim to obviate the need for salt and I certainly put it in less than I used to with cheap tabs but this is a very hard water area and if the machine says it needs salt who am I to argue?

I’ve never put salt in the dishwasher. I had no idea I was supposed to, what is the purpose of it?

The light goes off eventually maw!

But does the machine pack up then kitty? ???
This one is relatively new and I don’t want to push my luck!

Ah! It’s for hard water. Our water is soft so that’s why I didn’t know.

I still use the Classic tablets and rinse aid and salt. I read a paper from Bosch which said the machine released the individual things at the right time whereas the 3 in 1 tabs do sometimes melt at the wrong times. Interesting you all get on fine with them. We have just filled up the rinse aid this morning. My salt dispenser has a screw top which is quite easy to do - nice big top to it.

I've never put salt in the dishwasher and never had any problems with it either . I use fairy platinum capsules and my dishwasher handbook warns against adding salt with the tablets with added salt and rinse aid.

No, maw, I've not used salt for years and have had my Bosch dw for ages - probably 5 years.

I thought the red light just indicated that there was no salt left in the cavern below the dispenser. If not, what is it registering? I haven't used salt since the 3 in 1 tablets were introduced.

am I supposed to put salt in the dishwasher?
oh!
Nor do I use rinse aid

I am a failure as a housewife

I live in an area with some of the hardest water in the country and the technician that fitted the machine a year ago advised that in my area I should always use salt and rinse aid, even though I use the 3 in 1 tablets and, to be honest, I do notice the difference.

I can get down to the salt container but I find pouring the salt into the container is a real b****r. Although the manufacturer supplies a funnel to pour the salt in , the slightest knock sends it flying and the salt usually comes in plastic bags, so the flow is difficult to control and I seem to get as much salt in the base of the washing machine as I do into the salt holder.

We have very hard water too. I normally buy Finish products and the salt comes loose in a cardboard box with a plastic cup to fill the funnel. Also I find that the crystals are much bigger than those of some other brands and seem to last longer.

I've never put salt or rinse aid in mine - everything comes up nice and clean with the 3 in 1 tablets.

Well your never to old to learn !

I use Aldi tabs with seperate salt and rinse aid. I didn't realise the 3in1 negated doing this. I certainly notice if I forget to top up the rinse aid, glassware comes out cloudy. Although the filler point is at the front of the machine and easy to open, even when using the supplied funnel I still have the same problem as MOnica
Time to invest in the 3 in 1 I think.

Hard water here so I need to add salt - I agree it is a pain to do so
Always use 'cheap as chips' dishwater tablets and find that they are absolutely fine

Very hard water here too. Now salt comes in boxes I don't struggle completely but agree it is definately not easy.

Come on manufacturers sort this out, it's a problem for a lot of people ( not just oldies!) and they are so quick to tell us a product is better than ever so tell us one way or another do we really need to spend money on products that double up ie salt and 3 in 1 tablets?

You never know who's reading gransnet

Bit worried about Kitty putting conditioner in, looking for softer plates?

3 in 1 tabs for me too everything comes out sparkling.

midgey, I knew it was the wrong word but couldn't quite find the right one - oh dear!!

I just came back to say that we have really hard water too and don't find that the missing salt has any effect.