Dishwasher Salt!

[Valeriea]

I have put off buying a dishwasher for years because I didn't like the idea of putting chemicals on my plates. Now I will buy one and use vegan products. can anyone tell me why you have to put dishwasher salt in the machine? Do you have to use it? And also, why do you have to use dishwasher cleaner and how often? thanks in advance.

[ubasses]

This explains it quite well
http://bestdishwasher.co.uk/what-does-dishwasher-salt-do.html

[woofgang]

Yes you do have to use it. It works the water softener in the machine and the machine will quickly break down if you don’t. None of the salt gets onto your plates or into your food. You do realise don’t you that every single thing in this world, including you, is made of chemicals?

[chamois]

Rubbish. I've bought a new dishwasher routinely in just about every house we've moved to in the last 30 years and I can assure you that dishwasher salt is not necessary.

The majority of dishwasher detergent tablets nowadays, including the cheap ones from Aldi, Lidl etc, all have what's known as a "salt function" and definitely do not require any additional salt to be added to the machine. I will accept that years ago, dishwashers did need dishwasher salt but this has not been the case for many years.

Keep your money in your pocket Valeriea - you will not need dishwasher salt. The capped hole in which you're meant to pour salt is just there for countries that don't have added salt in their dishwasher tablets. As hard as it is to believe, there are still some dishwasher tablets in some countries that don't contain the chemical that performs the salt function.

I'd be interested to know what woofgang estimates is the life of a dishwasher in the absence of dishwasher salt and any evidence in support of it.

[Quizproquo]

We're not in the 80s any more.
Dishwasher salt is now built into the dishwasher tablets and you don't need to add more.

[chamois]

Incidentally, nowadays the rinsing function is performed by substances within the dishwasher tablet in most case. You can also buy "rinse aid" which is an innocuous liquid that ensures no streaks remain on your crockery after the detergent has cleaned them. The rinse aid is cheap and added to the compartment next to where you put the tablet in the door. One dose lasts ages.

Salt is old hat nowadays.

[mikey4444]

Vegan products ?

[Samuraisan]

Talking of dishwashers, and I have asked this before, but mine asks for the rinse aid every two or three washes. Anybody have any idea why ? I have moved the indicator to the minimum.

[RATTER15]

I've used dishwashers for 35 years and never used dishwasher salt and in all that time I've had 3 dishwashers, both replaced when moving and never broken down.

[naomi24]

If my dishwasher is low on salt, it doesn't rinse the dishes properly. I don't think the washing tablets are effective enough on their own.

[hc4361]

I have to use salt, too. I can tell if the machine has run out without looking at the light

[EcclesCake]

When I bought my dishwasher the instruction book directed me to a list of regions and advised me to set the dishwasher accordingly for the amount of salt to be dispensed according to my area and use combined tablets as well.

This was only five years ago.

[naomi24]

hc4361, I can tell too.

[hc4361]

Yes, indeed, Eccles. The salt activates the water softener and if you live in a hard area water as I do, the salt is essential.

"Three in one salt tablets do not activate the water softener. For optimum results, the reservoir should be topped up with granular salt. Three-in-one and 'salt action' tablets do not top up the reservoir and should be used in conjunction with granular salt for optimum results."

http://www.dishwasher-care.org.uk/best.html#salt

[hc4361]

Maybe you live in a hard water area like me, naomi :)

[EcclesCake]

And me :-)

[naomi24]

hc4361, I do.

[hc4361]

My washing machine was also adjusted for hard water when it was installed.

[RATTER15]

I am in a soft water area, that is why I dont need salt then I suppose.

[mikey4444]

I just wish someone could tell me what a "Vegan product" is, when it comes to dishwashers !

[mikey4444]

I have never used any salt in my dishwashers, in over 30 years, and this link might explain why :::

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/triple_aqa/water/hard_soft_water/revision/1/