Gransnet forums

House and home

Do I need more than a dishwasher tablet?

(34 Posts)
Daddima Tue 17-Sept-24 18:46:28

I assumed that the tablets were all I needed, but have just seen an ad for the dishwasher salt and a shine ( or something) additive. Do any of you use these, or is it just another marketing ploy?
(I am in Scotland, so have lovely soft water).

Mt61 Wed 18-Sept-24 14:15:10

Ours ( neff) must land in the top basket as there when I open the door to add something at the start, so don’t think that is right.
I did clean the machine with soda crystals sprinkled on the bottom as I had no machine cleaner

Grannynannywanny Wed 18-Sept-24 14:25:48

I live in a soft water area. I’ve never used salt or any other additive. I use supermarket own brand tablets and find them perfectly good at usually half the price of the branded ones. I use the basic plain tablet not the coloured ones.

Maggymay Wed 18-Sept-24 15:32:15

Very hard water area here .
The engineer who installed our dishwasher advised us to use all in one tablets and extra salt and rinse aid.8 years old and no problems use every day just use a dishwasher cleaner every month.

Harmonypuss Wed 18-Sept-24 16:05:41

We also have lovely soft water here in Birmingham, so I use the dishwasher tablets but add in a rinse aid liquid.
I don't think we need anything else when living in soft water areas.

Thisismyname1953 Wed 18-Sept-24 16:24:23

When I got my first dishwasher it came with a testing kit which was to test our water supply for hardness. Our supply came out as very soft water and the kit stated that we don’t need to use salt .
We use rinse aid and Fairy capsules and our dishes come out sparkling .

BigBopper Wed 18-Sept-24 16:29:26

I use a bowl of hot soapy water and then rinse the items before putting them to drain. I have never, ever owned or wanted a dishwasher.

4allweknow Wed 18-Sept-24 16:37:16

No, you do not need anything other than a dishwasher tablet. You have soft water therefore no limescale in eg your kettle, dishwasher, washing machine, shower hea. You can if you feel the need use the dishwasher freshener stuff.

Stansgran Wed 18-Sept-24 17:14:03

I use the all in one tablets but also rinse aid and salt because my machine has red lights and I twitch far too easily