What can you wash dishes in the dishwasher besides tablets?

There are so many people, so many opinions, so it is not surprising that not all housewives like to wash dishes in the dishwasher using 3-in-1 tablets. Fortunately, finding replacements for them is very easy. Today in stores you can find many special powders and gels for dishwashers, and if the owner of the PMM does not like this option, then you can make the detergent yourself. We will analyze in detail all the possible options for washing dishes in a dishwasher, so that everyone can find the right one for themselves and their device.

Let's switch to the classics - powder

Ordinary dishwashing powder is a classic version of household chemicals that is used by most dishwasher owners. Even though more and more new types of detergents appear on the market every day, housewives are in no hurry to switch to these types of chemicals, preferring regular powder. Yes, it has a rather simple composition, but this does not prevent it from washing dishes perfectly, and it is also inexpensive for a product intended for dishwashers.

A separate important advantage of the powder is its flexibility - the product can be dosed in a way that is convenient for the owner of the “home assistant”. This is much more convenient than using one tablet entirely each time, which is often even prohibited in the instructions from being divided into two or more parts. With powder, housewives can save money not only because of the low cost of the product, but also due to the correct dosage.

To achieve this, you need to learn how to correctly determine the amount of powder per working cycle.Two main documents can teach you this:

• Instructions for household chemicals. Carefully read the instructions for using the detergent, because the manufacturer always clearly indicates the correct dosage. Pay attention to the sections on the selected water temperature, the duration of the operating cycle, and the degree of soiling of the dishes.

It’s even more convenient to determine the norm using a measuring spoon, which is usually added to large packages of dishwasher powder.

• User's Guide for PMM. The second document is the official instructions for household appliances, which always describe in detail the process of adding powder and other detergents to the machine dispenser. This is a very important point, since it is important not to confuse the tanks for household chemicals, which exist separately for regenerating salt, powder, rinse aid and tablets.

Thus, to properly use the powder, you just need to carefully study the instructions for using equipment and detergents. Under no circumstances should you mix up the tanks for household chemicals in the machine, because each product begins to be used up at a strictly defined point in the operating cycle, so an error in distribution will negatively affect dishwashing.

Washing gel

In addition to tablets, you can use not only powder, but also a special gel for PMM. This product has a liquid homogeneous consistency of uniform color and is most often sold in plastic bottles with a convenient dispenser on the lid. A little less often the product can be found in soft packaging.

Typically, the manufacturer adds to the gel not only components that serve to clean dishes, but also perform other useful functions.This list may include additional softening of hard tap water, as well as cleaning the inside of the dishwasher. The gels themselves differ from powders in their slightly more gentle effect on cutlery and the machine as a whole.

Do not confuse dishwashing gel and gel-like rinse aid, which are added to different sections of the dispenser and perform different functions - the first removes dirt from the dishes, the second is needed to add shine to the dishes and also remove stains.

To use the dishwashing gel, you just need to open the PMM door, select the required dose of detergent, and then add it to a suitable container. After this, all that remains is to close the dispenser lid tightly, select a washing program and start the work cycle.

The main advantage of choosing a gel instead of a powder is the uniform density of the product, which means its consumption will be lower and its effectiveness will be higher. In addition, it dissolves perfectly even in cold water, it can be stored for a long time, since it does not become covered with dust and does not form lumps, and it also does not contain abrasive particles that can penetrate into the powder from the outside and then harm the dishes. Last but not least, the gel is much easier to remove from the dishes, so after washing you will not find any traces of detergent on the cutlery, which means that there is no risk of household chemicals getting into the human body.

Let's prepare the product with our own hands

The last best option for replacing 3-in-1 tablets is a homemade product. There are a lot of recipes for such detergents, but we will look at three of the safest and most effective.

Never use recipes containing ordinary soap and mustard, as these ingredients can damage the dishwasher.

For the first cleaning chemicals you will only need soda, salt and citric acid. First, stir two cups of soda ash, one cup of special dishwasher salt, and half a cup of dry citric acid. Now start slowly adding water to the mixture until the mixture becomes like thick sour cream. Place the result of cooking in a dry and warm place so that the mass hardens. Place the resulting formed pieces of detergent into a jar or box.

For the second option, you will need borax (sodium tetraborate), which can be purchased at any pharmacy or in online stores, where it will be cheaper. To create the gel, you need approximately 5 bottles with a capacity of 30 grams each. Pour the borax solution into the prepared container, add about 200 grams of soda ash and stir the mixture until it takes the form of a gel. And in order to make tablets from borax rather than a gel, you additionally need to add another 500 grams of special salt and 100 grams of citric acid. After stirring the resulting mass, it should be placed in molds and put in a warm place to harden.

For today's last recipe, you will need soap-free baby laundry detergent, as well as soda ash. You need to mix 150 grams of dry powder with 200 grams of soda, which should then be carefully poured with water and stirred until the mixture has the consistency of thick sour cream.Afterwards, all that remains is to place the mixture into pre-prepared molds and put them in a warm place to harden.

As you can see, there are many ways to replace standard 3-in-1 PMM tablets if for some reason you do not want to use them. If you plan to use homemade detergents, be sure to alternate them with specialized household chemicals from time to time, and also do not forget to clean the dishwasher at least once a month with anti-corrosion protective agents so that your machine will serve you as long as possible.

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