Hello all

My dishwasher has decided not to use the detergent tablet that I put in
the little container on the door. It just comes out soggy. It seems to
work okay if I just drop the table on the floor and let it wash as
normal. Only problem is I'm a little worried that I'm not cleaning it
all properly and so we're eating of dirty plates. Is this likely? Does
the table have to be in that little box in order for the detergent to be
applied at the correct point in the wash? Anyone know what the problem
with the washer might be?

Thanks

--
John Kelly

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John Kelly wrote:
Hello all

My dishwasher has decided not to use the detergent tablet that I put in
the little container on the door. It just comes out soggy. It seems to
work okay if I just drop the table on the floor and let it wash as
normal. Only problem is I'm a little worried that I'm not cleaning it
all properly and so we're eating of dirty plates. Is this likely? Does
the table have to be in that little box in order for the detergent to be
applied at the correct point in the wash? Anyone know what the problem
with the washer might be?

Thanks


Possibly the door is jamming against something (like a plate or
saucepan) when it tries to open or it is gunked up and just needs a
clean. Failing that the release mechanism is broken and probably needs
replacing. The only problem with just throwing the tablet in is that
some of it will get used on the prewash. As for your plates not being
clean look at them. Do they look clean? If they do don't worry. If they
are covered top to bottom in bits of half washed food they are probably
dirty.

On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:40:43 +0000, doozer
wrote:


Possibly the door is jamming against something (like a plate or
saucepan) when it tries to open or it is gunked up and just needs a
clean. Failing that the release mechanism is broken and probably needs
replacing. The only problem with just throwing the tablet in is that
some of it will get used on the prewash. As for your plates not being
clean look at them. Do they look clean? If they do don't worry. If they
are covered top to bottom in bits of half washed food they are probably
dirty.

It depends on the dishwasher. Many modern dishwashers have no need for
a pre-rinse. For example, our Bosch dishwasher does not pre-rinse on
the standard 65c setting.

It will only pre-rinse (and then a pre-rinse with hot water used on
both the pre-rinse and main wash cycle) when the machine is set to
70c.

If the original poster is worried about the tablet breaking up during
a pre-rinse then I suppose the answer would be to put the tablet in
the bottom of the machine, wait until the machine pumps out the water
from the pre-rinse and then check to see if the tablet is still
relatively intact.

I used to drop the tablet directly into the machine when we had an old
Hoover dishwasher. Even with a pre-rinse the tablet would not start to
break up until it got to the main wash.

Graham

John Kelly wrote:

My dishwasher has decided not to use the detergent tablet that I put in
the little container on the door. It just comes out soggy.

So... tablets used to work OK, and now don't; or have you just changed
to using tablets and found they don't work?

If the former, how does the door container work: does it ping open
during the wash (ie as the main wash cycle starts? Is it fully open
when you inspect it at the end of the wash (and definitely hasn't been
held partly shut *during* the wash by some obstacle in the machine)?

David

On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:17:25 +0000 (UTC), John Kelly
wrote:

Hello all

My dishwasher has decided not to use the detergent tablet that I put in
the little container on the door. It just comes out soggy. It seems to
work okay if I just drop the table on the floor and let it wash as
normal. Only problem is I'm a little worried that I'm not cleaning it
all properly and so we're eating of dirty plates. Is this likely? Does
the table have to be in that little box in order for the detergent to be
applied at the correct point in the wash? Anyone know what the problem
with the washer might be?

It's possible that the tablet is too big and is pushing the flap hard
against the catch and preventing it opening.

An an experiment try using powder (Or a crushed tablet) and see if it
works.

s

In article ,
says...
On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:17:25 +0000 (UTC), John Kelly
wrote:

Hello all

My dishwasher has decided not to use the detergent tablet that I put in
the little container on the door. It just comes out soggy. It seems to
work okay if I just drop the table on the floor and let it wash as
normal. Only problem is I'm a little worried that I'm not cleaning it
all properly and so we're eating of dirty plates. Is this likely? Does
the table have to be in that little box in order for the detergent to be
applied at the correct point in the wash? Anyone know what the problem
with the washer might be?

It's possible that the tablet is too big and is pushing the flap hard
against the catch and preventing it opening.

An an experiment try using powder (Or a crushed tablet) and see if it
works.

Good point - we recently bought some of these expensive tablety things
with the little ball on the top. I'll try a different type.

Ta.

--
John Kelly

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wrote:
On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:40:43 +0000, doozer
wrote:


Possibly the door is jamming against something (like a plate or
saucepan) when it tries to open or it is gunked up and just needs a
clean. Failing that the release mechanism is broken and probably
needs
replacing. The only problem with just throwing the tablet in is that

some of it will get used on the prewash. As for your plates not
being
clean look at them. Do they look clean? If they do don't worry. If
they
are covered top to bottom in bits of half washed food they are
probably
dirty.

It depends on the dishwasher. Many modern dishwashers have no need
for
a pre-rinse. For example, our Bosch dishwasher does not pre-rinse on
the standard 65c setting.

It will only pre-rinse (and then a pre-rinse with hot water used on
both the pre-rinse and main wash cycle) when the machine is set to
70c.

If the original poster is worried about the tablet breaking up during
a pre-rinse then I suppose the answer would be to put the tablet in
the bottom of the machine, wait until the machine pumps out the water
from the pre-rinse and then check to see if the tablet is still
relatively intact.

I used to drop the tablet directly into the machine when we had an
old
Hoover dishwasher. Even with a pre-rinse the tablet would not start
to
break up until it got to the main wash.

Graham

interesting. Mine prerinses, but the one thing it cant handle is egg. I
wonder if putting a bit of ordinary washing up liquid in the prerinse
could help it deal with this? Must try it.


NT

wrote:

interesting. Mine prerinses, but the one thing it cant handle is egg. I
wonder if putting a bit of ordinary washing up liquid in the prerinse
could help it deal with this? Must try it.

Not a good idea. Ordinary washing-up stuff is too foamy.

Sheila

On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 21:29:34 -0500, S Viemeister
wrote:

Not a good idea. Ordinary washing-up stuff is too foamy.

I dunno. Do you remember seeing that early 1960's Rolling Stones video
where they are playing (?) whilst foam builds up around them? Might
have a beneficial effect for the kitchen.....

Andrew

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S Viemeister wrote:
wrote:

interesting. Mine prerinses, but the one thing it cant handle is
egg. I
wonder if putting a bit of ordinary washing up liquid in the
prerinse
could help it deal with this? Must try it.

Not a good idea. Ordinary washing-up stuff is too foamy.

Sheila


Oh, good point. Maybe automatic washing powder then. Thanks for warning
me

On second thoughts, just a small amount would soon get unfoamed by the
amount of food deposits there, its only when its in excess that it
foams like a madman. Dare I?

NT

On 22 Mar 2005 02:22:33 -0800, wrote:

Oh, good point. Maybe automatic washing powder then. Thanks for warning
me

On second thoughts, just a small amount would soon get unfoamed by the
amount of food deposits there, its only when its in excess that it
foams like a madman. Dare I?

IME even trace amounts will make it foam like mad. Check the salt is
topped up, the arm is not clagged, and try a longer program and liquid
detergent as it uses a different chemistry.

cheers,
Pete.

In article ,
pam says...
In article ,
says...
On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:17:25 +0000 (UTC), John Kelly
wrote:

Hello all

My dishwasher has decided not to use the detergent tablet that I put in
the little container on the door. It just comes out soggy. It seems to
work okay if I just drop the table on the floor and let it wash as
normal. Only problem is I'm a little worried that I'm not cleaning it
all properly and so we're eating of dirty plates. Is this likely? Does
the table have to be in that little box in order for the detergent to be
applied at the correct point in the wash? Anyone know what the problem
with the washer might be?

It's possible that the tablet is too big and is pushing the flap hard
against the catch and preventing it opening.

An an experiment try using powder (Or a crushed tablet) and see if it
works.

Good point - we recently bought some of these expensive tablety things
with the little ball on the top. I'll try a different type.

Didn't work - left me with a soggy tablet in the little container. What
actually makes the thing open up and let the soap out anyway? Maybe that
mechanism's not well.

--
John Kelly

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John Kelly wrote:

Didn't work - left me with a soggy tablet in the little container. What
actually makes the thing open up and let the soap out anyway? Maybe that
mechanism's not well.

But that's a no-brainer: is the container properly open at the end of
the cycle, or not? :-)

David

In article , davidlobsterpot601
@hotmail.com says...
John Kelly wrote:

Didn't work - left me with a soggy tablet in the little container. What
actually makes the thing open up and let the soap out anyway? Maybe that
mechanism's not well.

But that's a no-brainer: is the container properly open at the end of
the cycle, or not? :-)

No it's not - but what I don't know - is what opens it during the wash?

--
John Kelly

Remove dimspam if replying by mail

John Kelly wrote:
In article , davidlobsterpot601
@hotmail.com says...

John Kelly wrote:

Didn't work - left me with a soggy tablet in the little container. What
actually makes the thing open up and let the soap out anyway? Maybe that
mechanism's not well.

But that's a no-brainer: is the container properly open at the end of
the cycle, or not? :-)

No it's not - but what I don't know - is what opens it during the wash?


Haven't a clue; but if the container is still part closed at the end,
with the door open (ie it's not being blocked by anything) then the
problem is mechanical and nothing whatsoever to do with the tablets;
which is what I was trying to establish!

David

On 21 Mar 2005 18:01:26 -0800, wrote:


interesting. Mine prerinses, but the one thing it cant handle is egg. I
wonder if putting a bit of ordinary washing up liquid in the prerinse
could help it deal with this? Must try it.

Washing up liquid can end up over foaming. One option is to try a
small amount of proper dishwasher liquid in the pre-rinse.

Does your dishwasher have a rinse and stand option? This is where it
uses cold water to rinse the dishes on a short programme of about 5 -
10 minutes.

It might help if you ran the machine on a rinse and stand option after
loading the machine if you are not proposing to put it straight on to
a proper wash cycle.

Graham

On Tue, 22 Mar 2005 14:26:40 UTC, John Kelly
wrote:

In article ,
pam says...
In article ,
says...
On Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:17:25 +0000 (UTC), John Kelly
wrote:

Hello all

My dishwasher has decided not to use the detergent tablet that I put in
the little container on the door. It just comes out soggy. It seems to
work okay if I just drop the table on the floor and let it wash as
normal. Only problem is I'm a little worried that I'm not cleaning it
all properly and so we're eating of dirty plates. Is this likely? Does
the table have to be in that little box in order for the detergent to be
applied at the correct point in the wash? Anyone know what the problem
with the washer might be?

It's possible that the tablet is too big and is pushing the flap hard
against the catch and preventing it opening.

An an experiment try using powder (Or a crushed tablet) and see if it
works.

Good point - we recently bought some of these expensive tablety things
with the little ball on the top. I'll try a different type.

Didn't work - left me with a soggy tablet in the little container. What
actually makes the thing open up and let the soap out anyway? Maybe that
mechanism's not well.

In our Bosch, it's a solenoid inside the (appliance) door. If it's a
sliding cover, check the grooves it runs in.

--
Bob Eager
begin a new life...dump Windows!

Pete C wrote:
On 22 Mar 2005 02:22:33 -0800, wrote:

Oh, good point. Maybe automatic washing powder then. Thanks for
warning
me

On second thoughts, just a small amount would soon get unfoamed by
the
amount of food deposits there, its only when its in excess that it
foams like a madman. Dare I?

IME even trace amounts will make it foam like mad. Check the salt is
topped up, the arm is not clagged, and try a longer program and
liquid
detergent as it uses a different chemistry.

cheers,
Pete.

thanks Pete, I'll check those. I dont know how I could use liquid in it
though, it would end up in the presoak rather than main wash. I'll
check the powder dispenser, but I dont remember it being liquid proof.

The machine always does a 10 minute soak before main wash. Dishes are
normally dried by the time it comes to washing them.

thanks
NT