Tablets for dishwasherwhich is better to use? And in principle, is it possible to replace them with some kind of folk remedies? These questions are asked by many owners of home helpers, without whom it is now difficult to imagine modern kitchen. The assortment of this product is very wide, and only practice of use will help to choose the best option. This practice was studied by the HouseChief editorial staff. An overview of the most popular brands and useful information are in this material.
Read in the article
- 1 What is the composition of the tablets
- 2 How dishwasher preparations work
- 3 Why do some tablets dissolve poorly?
- 4 What are the best dishwasher tablets: analysis of popular brands
- 5 Criteria for choosing a dish detergent
- 5.1 How many layers are needed
- 5.2 Component quality
- 5.3 Price and release form
- 5.4 Terms of Use
- 6 How to replace pills
What is the composition of the tablets
Almost all tablets consist of three main components: the detergent itself, rinse aid and water softener.
Among such additions you can find the following:
- fragrances and perfumery fragrances;
- anti-foam and anti-corrosion additives;
- enzyme preparations for the breakdown of fat;
- acids, alkalis, phosphates.
It is worth knowing if the tablets contain toluene, paraben, formaldehyde, sodium and emulsifiers - it is better not to use such a remedy, it is dangerous to health.
Related article:
Dishwasher Salt: main functions, principle of operation, composition, packaging options, leading manufacturers, popular brands with reviews real consumers, recommendations for selection, use and self-preparation - in our publication.
How dishwasher preparations work
There is no secret here: the tablet instantly dissolves in water, saturating it with the necessary components. The dishes are washed with this compound, and then rinsed with clean water. The more active substances wash off fat, the easier they themselves are then washed off with water - the better.
Why do some tablets dissolve poorly?
The unpleasant situation when the tablet partially remains in the machine after a full cycle has its reasons:
- the product has expired;
- you have loaded too many dishes into the machine;
- the pill compartment is clogged;
- too weak water pressure;
- malfunctions in the mechanism of the device;
- the tablet is pre-wet and dried;
- the product has an insoluble coating that must be removed before use.
What are the best dishwasher tablets: analysis of popular brands
For convenience, we have presented the data in the table. Here you will see price comparisons and popular models.
| Product name | pros | Minuses | Average package price for February 2020, rub. | Rating by marks (on a 10-point scale) |
 | Protect the machine from deposits and limescale, do not scratch dishes, relatively cheap | Do not dissolve completely, have a pungent odor | 159 | 5,9/10 |
| ||||
 | Low cost | Ineffective against dried food, stains | 549 | 6,6/10 |
| ||||
 | Washes away fresh dirt well | Does not wash away fat well, leave streaks | 117 | 7,2/10 |
| ||||
 | They work in any water even at low temperatures, dissolve well, have an affordable price | Leaves streaks, does not clean old stains | 279 | 7,5/10 |
| ||||
 | They give shine, do not have a pungent odor | Do not wash off old dirt, contain aggressive substances | 373 | 7,5/10 |
| ||||
 | Washes away any dirt, safe | Requires addition of calcined salt during washing, strong odor, high price | 1682 | 7,5/10 |
| ||||
 | Effective for fresh dirt | Leave streaks, poorly clean hard-to-reach places, high price | 829 | 7,8/10 |
| ||||
 | Protect glass and machine from plaque, give shine, intensively clean even old dirt | Leave streaks and are difficult to rinse off | 521 | 8,0/10 |
| ||||
 | Washes away any dirt | Leave streaks in hard water | 587 | 8,2/10 |
| ||||
 | They work in water of any hardness, wash away old stains, protect the car from scale | Pungent odor, high cost | 679 | 8,9/10 |
| ||||
 | Washes away any dirt, does not leave streaks, protects glass and metal from corrosion, gives shine | Strong smell | 290 | 9,0/10 |
| ||||
 | Protect metal against corrosion, glass against cloudiness, do not leave streaks | Not detected | 221 | 9,5/10 |
| ||||
 | Economical, good for washing old dirt, work in cold water | Strong smell | 549 | 9,5/10 |
| ||||
 | Washes away any dirt, works in cold water, has no odor | Contains phosphates | 342 | 9,5/10 |
| ||||
 | Washes away any contamination, protects against scale and plaque | Poorly washed off | 368 | 9,6/10 |
| ||||
 | Perfectly dissolves, environmentally friendly, products can be washed | Not detected | 276 | 9,6/10 |
| ||||
 | Cleans carbon deposits, protects against scale and plaque, does not damage glass, gives shine to dishes | Not recommended for use with hard water, high price | 690 | 9,7/10 |
| ||||
 | Cope with carbon deposits, do not leave a smell, are suitable for hard water, dissolve well | High cost and the need to select a special washing mode | 640 | 9,7/10 |
| ||||
 | Wash off any dirt, work in cold water, do not leave stains and streaks | High cost, over-concentration | 699 | 9,7/10 |
| ||||
 | They do not scratch dishes, dissolve well, wash out stubborn dirt, have an affordable price | Sometimes they leave streaks on metal dishes | 268 | 9,8/10 |
| ||||
 | They work even in cold water, soften water, protect the car from limescale, do not smell, can be used for washing food | High price | 644 | 9,8/10 |
| ||||
 | Protect against scale and plaque, wash off well | Strong smell | 304 | 9,8/10 |
| ||||
 | Eco-friendly, can be washed well in any water, protect against plaque and scale | Crumble in a box | 575 | 9,8/10 |
| ||||
 | Washes well, does not leave streaks, does not have a smell | Not detected | 549 | 9,9/10 |
| ||||
 | Protect against plaque and scale, products can be washed, odorless | Contains phosphates | 254 | 9,9/10 |
|
Criteria for choosing a dish detergent
First of all, you need to carefully read the instructions for the dishwasher and make sure that it can work with tablets.
How many layers are needed
The name of the tool may contain numbers: 7 in 1, 5 in 1, and so on. We are talking about additional components to the three main ones. Remember that even three-component formulations can wash dishes perfectly. Of the really useful additives, it is possible to note means for glass opacity and for protection against scale and corrosion.
Component quality
Pay attention to the information on the product packaging. Remember that even the most thorough rinsing does not guarantee that the detergent will not remain on the dishes.
For allergy sufferers and families with children, you need to choose formulations that are free of chlorine, phosphates, anionic surfactants.
Price and release form
All tablets have a water-soluble coating. Some manufacturers additionally place the product in the packaging so that it does not accidentally dry out. In any case, these formulations must be stored in a dry place.
Terms of Use
When purchasing a detergent, it is better to ask in advance how hard the water is coming from your tap. In addition, different types of dishes and types of contamination usually require different washing modes and chemicals. So it's better to have at least a couple of options: some for daily use, and others for special occasions.
For example, tablets with chlorine in the composition will help clean stubborn dirt from pans and pans, and wash cutting boards. Products with alkali and enzymes are suitable for daily use, and with active oxygen - for whitening ceremonial plates.
How to replace pills
If suddenly the pills run out, the store has already closed and you definitely need to wash the dishes, sometimes you can use folk remedies:
- Washing powder and soda are combined in a ratio of 3 to 7. You need to mix it with water until gruel and place in ice cube trays to dry.
- Powder for washing baby clothes is mixed with soda ash in a ratio of 5 to 1, a teaspoon of glycerin is added, the gruel is kneaded and shaped as described above.
- Citric acid, borax and soda ash are mixed in a ratio of 8: 4: 3. A little water is added. When the composition stops hissing, it is given shape.
And here's another original and very popular homemade recipe:
What pills do you use? Share your impressions in the comments!
