Automatic dishwashing detergent

**Landscape25** · 04-15-2009, 08:03 PM

In my quest to find out if the sanitizing cycle is necessary on the dishwasher (the dishwashing gel might do the job with the chlorine), I found this site. Apparently homemade detergent is not good.

http://www.sdahq.org/dishwash/unders...shwashing.html

"A Specially Formulated Product

There are no substitutes for an automatic dishwasher detergent. Only an automatic dishwasher detergent can be used in an automatic dishwasher. These products come in either powder or gel form. All other types of detergents or soaps produce too much suds and will smother the water action necessary for cleaning in the dishwasher. Furthermore, enough suds might be generated to cause a dishwasher to overflow. This could necessitate a service call and could be damaging to the dishwasher and the floor around it. No other type of cleaning product such as baking soda, borax, vinegar or hand dishwashing liquid can be substituted for an automatic dishwasher detergent. These other materials will not perform well and may be damaging to the items being washed or to the dishwasher itself."

**frugal.lass** · 04-16-2009, 12:04 PM

I don't have any science to back me up but consider the source of the information you posted, it's from the Soap and Detergent Association. I wouldn't expect them to say "yes, your homemade detergent will work just as well as the fancy, expensive products our soap/detergent manufacturing members make". The membership of this kind of association would only ever allow information that increases the use of their products to be released through their channels. I would be more interested in what the dishwasher manufacturers say...and even then, many of them have partnerships with detergent manufacturers.

**mommy4ever** · 04-16-2009, 12:37 PM

I have tried the home made versions and was very disappointed.

Our water here, doesn't like the gels and performs much better with powder. I actually complained to one company, and they agreed with my observation that their powder did perform better in hard water than their gel.

I tried 7th generation, I like green products, but it performed pourly with our water, and it was a powder. SO, who know. Perhaps the home made was due to the water type.