Dishwaser Detergent No Longer Works

Cascade is still my favorite brand, but I have used Finish brand every once in awhile. Sometimes I notice a soap build up on some of my dishes so I just fill up the little cup in the dispenser (that you don't flip closed before starting the dishwasher) with vinegar. It gets rid of all that build up inside my washer and the dishes. Very effective and cheap! Hope this helps!
A.

Phosphates are bad, don't resort to using them for clean dishes. Instead change to either using detergent with finish in the mix or use that little liquid thing and put finish in it. I also rinse my diswasher with vinegar every few months or so.

I too had problems with the diswasher not working and had to change my ways and add a finish to the little (unused) rinse holder. It worked and my dishes are now very clean (even the lipstick is gone from the glasses)!

Remember we tend to eventually either eat or otherwise have to deal with the consequences of what we put into the water supply, so please keep it as clean as possible. I don't want my kids dealing with my mess when they grow, up all for easy clean dishes, do you?

Nobody's works the same anymore due to the phosphates that got taken out of it due to the harm it causes the environment (by law). It is not your dishwasher, and switching detergents will most likely give you the same result, as all phosphates were taken out of all detergents. I was told you could purchase the phosphate separately and add it to the detergent, however then we are defeating the purpose of why it got taken out in the first place (environmental harm). I was told, however that the film is not dirt... the stuff is still clean. I'm not sure I buy that, but that is what I was told :-) It is annoying and we have had the same problems!

I haven't used Cascade in years. It always left a soapy film on all the dishes. We use the finish tabs with the jet dry powerball. Crystal clear dishes every time, until...

Just a few weeks ago. Our dishes were coming out with bits of food on them. I looked at the upper sprayers and they were all plugged. Be sure, if you have hard water, that you check to make sure your sprayer lines aren't plugged. My husband was able to take the dishwasher apart enough to clean out the sprayers and now it's crystal clear again.

I have major hard water & have a hard time with my dishwasher. I pre rinse as well. I use FINISH tablets. Not the ones in the gel pack or platic thingy(my friend used them & the plastic thingy didn't melt or dissolve & clogged her drain & it was a huge mess), but the other ones have worked wonderful!!!!! Now, Once a week, I run a load (usually glasses & silverware) with about 2 cups of vinegar and it just cleans everything & it makes the glasses & silverware shine!! No spots for sure!! If your plastic has a white pasty film on it, the vinegar removes it and makes your plasticware spoons look way better. Hope this helps you.

Where do you get 7th gen? Is that Target's brand?

Try putting a glass of white vinegar in the load - fill it up w/ 1c. of white vinegar and run the load with the glass right side up. The vinegar will not only help clean but will get rid of that build up - and it's not harmful in any way. You can also run the washer w/ a cup of it in there empty to clense the dishwasher.

I want to build on what Shannon H. said. The harder your water, the less clean a phosphate-free detergent will get your dishes. You might consider a water softener.

We were having issues and called an appliance guy (retired, works on the side after 30 yrs with an area appliance sales place--LOVE this guy) He advised us to do the following:

1. Use a dishwasher cleaner once in awhile.
2. Only use powdered detergent, never liquid or gel (that was causing our problem--builds up in time) Can be the little pouches-just no liquids or gels.
3. Scrape but do NOT rinse your dishes. If they are too clean when they go in, there is nothing for the detergent to "work on" was how he put it. I was guilt if this but no more rinsing for me!

You can always run some white vinegar through a cycle before you try the other adjustments.

I use Seventh Generation Liquid Detergent. I love it and it is great for the environment.

I went on a long frustrating search for dishwasher detergent before major brands started removing the phosphates and bleach - yes, these ingredients get your dishes clean, but they're terrible for the environment and for our bodies. I found powder detergents generally work better than liquids, and now use Seventh generation powder. Which detergent is going to work for you is a tough question, though, since how hard or soft your water is can make a huge difference in how detergents work. Unfortunately, you're probably going to have to try a few brands out before you find something that works for you.

And even though this sounds counterintuitive - DO NOT pre rinse. Scrape the big scraps of food off, but dishwasher detergents actually work better if they have something to work against (food on your dishes) - they need something to "scrub" against. I was amazed by how much cleaner my dishes got when I stopped rinsing. (Also saves water!)

Seventh Generation has a store locator web page: http://www.seventhgeneration.com/where-to-buy

(I haven't tried them. I use Cascade complete and our dishwasher is still doing the same good job.)

R you sure it isn't your dishwasher? They do get old over time. I use sunlight? I thinks that what it is. It's cheap and works great. We have a relatively new dishwasher though.

I suggest using Diamond Brite- it is a phosphate free and it is spot free, cleans your dishes without leaving a white residue, and is safe for our environment! I have helped those who have been having problems with their current dishwasher detergent- they were needing to add a capful of oil to their dishes in order to make their detergent work- but were still getting the white on their glasses.
www.livetotalwellness.com/themillers
let me know if you need assistance in ordering this cleaner!

I had the same problem. We started using the Quantum Finish tablets and they work great. These are the tablets that have the red dot in the middle. We haven't had any more problems since.

I use Finish dishwashing tabs, and they work great.

I had this same thing happen recently! On a whim I tried Mrs. Meyers dishwashing packets because I love their hand soap so much, and the packets are FABULOUS. My dishes have never been so clean.

After going through this painful frustrating ordeal myself, I have come to the conclusion that it is because the phospates have been removed, like Shannon said. I found some OLD cascade WITH the phosphates and life went back to normal. When that runs out, I am told to use Glass Magic along with the detergent. If you have hard water, you either have to suffer, use Glass Magic or some other added phospate type product, or buy a water softener.

I feel your pain!!!!