Oh Larsi...thanks for thinking of me. But I'm either going to get some online or try my luck at some odd stores (like others here have done).

Thanks for looking out for me!

I've been on the brink of ordering sttp for the dishwasher, Mitch I asked you about it somewhere but it was in the middle of a very long thread and you probably missed it. I need to order the step ASAP!

OMG...that's Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls) in the Cascade commercial Mich posted.

Oh and Mitch - I used to use sun -stations before the phosphate ban with excellent results for $1 a box "sigh"

@miami miami, RIGHT. Grocery stores here, had the $1 boxes, and bigger boxes on sale, every so often. Everything would come out wonderful ;)

Also.... it looks like, to the far right, there might be a non-ultra Tide Box. I'd love to see the whole aisle. Yeah, that Spring & Renewal Box of Tide, is non-ultra. That's a rare find ;)

@ Georgect....That's Lauren Graham from Parenthood ;) LOL My Mom loved Gilmore Girls though. LOVED!!! I never watched it, bummer!

Mich, is this the correct Cascade?

Yes, yes it is. ;)

The Lemon Scent, Cascade Gel... has a very unique clean lemony bleach scent to it. And... the stuff works, amazingly in my Bosch, when spiked ;)

Like I said earlier... if you have very hard water, you'll need to play with the STPP dosing a little. But for me, 1/2 to 1 teaspoon, is all I need ;)

Mich, I started the D/W right after I posted that, I used the new Cascade gel and 3/4 teaspoon STPP of course they are still washing, but my kitchen smells terrific, love that lemony,bleachy, fresh scent. I'll let you know how it works when they are done, by the way I have soft water 1gr/gal.

@mamapinky0, I think you'll be very impressed once the cycle is done. :-)

Mich, everything came amazingly clean, and the dishwasher smells great...but one stainless steel shallow roasting pan, from meatloaf yesterday, there was no burnt on, and I don't know why it didn't clean it because it would just wipe off with a paper towel, it wasnt stuck on...so I'm thinking my water tank needs turned up a bit. Tell me something the heating bar around the bottom, is that just for drying the dishes? Also wonder if I could dump a pot of near boiling water in when it starts filling for wash cycle..hahaha.

But other than that the Cascade gel worked great..Thank you for the recommendation

@mamapinky0, my current Bosch doesn't have a calrod/exposed heating element. With that said... I know when I had my Kenmore Elite/Whirlpool Ultra Wash, the heating element would physically get hot, in the wash cycle, if I had one of the heavy cycles, or water heating options on.

And I mean, really, really hot. Like, melting skin hot if you touched it, lol.

@mamapinky0, I'm not sure why that happened. Although... I'll say this, I've never been able to get cookie/baking sheets, to come clean in any dishwasher I've ever used. They always come out, looking greasy or cruddy.

It's embarrassing, because everything else in my kitchen looks great. But... those stupid pans, even though I wash them well, look filthy.

This D/W just started acting up a week ago, I wish I could open it and watch the sprayer arm, it doesn't appear clogged, but I guess it could be.

@mamapinky0, while I'm sure yours is just fine. It could be a chance to go out, and get a nice Bosch Dishwasher ;)

You'd have to get over, not seeing your dishes for two hours though, lol :)

Just see how they are ;)

@mamapinky0, Google your dishwasher model online, and see if you can find take-apart instructions. While I was vacation, three years ago, I took apart a Fisher & Pikel Dish Drawer, and found broken up pieces of a almond in the spray arm... blocking the water spray. Once I removed it... everything worked wonderfully again.

I still wanna slap the idiot, who washed something with almonds in the thing. :P

YA don't rinse, but your sure supposed to scrape...hey my neighbor that's ill, just bought a new GE dishwasher, I don't know what model it is, but its replacing a 3 year old Kenmore, that she says never worked correctly, everytime she ran it the food and meat bones were all thru the D/W'er she tried every detergent she could find in the stores, now the new one is doing the same thing...Mich, I could not believe I heard her correctly, BONES, so I told her what is wrong with her D/W she became irritated with me, I seen the look in her face, oh well, I tried, Food and bones holy crap.

I will look for my D/W instructions tomorrow, thanks Mich.

This is my 21 year old D/W'er lol

My first thought is the heating element is very, clean. So obviously you have no hard water buildup. Other thing I noticed, is the water (fill) line... has no filter covering it. Food Derbies could get in there, and clog things up.

The spray arms, look very clean though. And it's obvious, with the amount of water it can gush out... that it can blast away food well ;)

Get your hubby to take it apart, lol. :-)

Does yours have the center rack thing, where it pushes up... and sends water straight up into the air, into the upper rack? It's hard to tell from the photo.

ich ill take a pic of the center rack thing in the morning...but I've alwsys thought something was missing on it.

Hubs can't touch my appliances lol..I'll do it.

This is the center of the spray arm

@mamapinky0, where did her KitchenAid Dishwasher go?

You should grab it, and see how well it works ;)

@mamapinky0, quite frankly... It looks like it's missing the part where it would shoot up water up into the upper basket.

Like... The GE models I used while at Disney... Had little tubes, that would shoot up into the air to spray everything. :)

Like this. I don't see how it'd spray upward.

Well holy crap...wonder if I can order one..but waters getting up there someway, up till last week everything has been spotless.

Mich, mom never had a KitchenAid..just the Frigidaire

Do you know what those little holes are on the top of the arm?

When I get a chance I'll search my model and see what I find.

@mamaoinky0, I have no idea, but it only looks halfway there :/

You should post a thread on AW, those guys would be able to tell you.

Found this in with moms silverware and kept it but can't find another piece wonder if this is part of it.

Problem with posting on AW is I can't get pics to upload over there.

Upload them to imgur and put the link in with the post.

I'm really convinced your missing the spray-tower, or whatever it's called.

Your Dishwasher Manual, probably would mention it as well.

It's hard to tell, but that care very well, be part of it.

Mich...omg..I'm nuts...is this it? Its attached to the lower rack and when the rack is pushed it in is directly over the center arm..I knew that was there but not thinking..excuse the chocolate milk in the d/w lol

Mich..I'm just not thinking well today lol

I Guess because its permenatly attached to lower rack I don't even think about it

@mamapinky0, at least I know I wasn't going crazy. Now it looks right :-)

@Pinky Mama-- GE dishwashers are crap. Whirlpool/Kitchen Aid are OK if you want heated dry (watch the options). We just went through this dance. No new dishwashers except I think Maytag have the food grinder you're used to with your current model. They all use less water. Best choices depending on price points (IMHO) are the Bosch and the basic Miele. It depends on what fits your dishes. You will be cleaning filters in both the Bosch and the Miele. If you like your current, best choice is to repair. I got the basic Miele and am very happy with it. Does a great job cleaning and sterilizing the dishes. YMMV.

I looked at Miele, and got the impression that unless you spend $2,800+ you better be pre-rinsing from the reviews.

Not that I have a problem spending that much. I just didn't want to buy a appliance and leave it behind within a year or two, lol.

The Bosch 500 & 800 series are really worth looking at. They use enough water, and dry very well.

Funny part is, they'll clean a full heavily soiled load on the "half-load cycle", less water, less energy win win ;) lol

Poppy I'm not in the Market for a D/W..hopefully mine keeps chugging along..lol. I can not afford one with almost 2 gr and in the Queens and xmas around the corner with 2 little boys believeing in santa I'm totally strapped. But if I was buying lol it would be a vintage reconditioned. Haha

Pinky i hear you. i have to mind the water use: well and emerging micro drought. the miele opened at $900 with superb construction. i don't think i will ever need a $2800 dishwasher. my neighbor got a bosch 500 series and likes it better than mine. my dishes didn't fit as well in the bosch. i also love miele stuff, old or new. i have a reconditioned vacuum that is 18 years old and still works very hard.

Mich, I want to thank you for the recommendation of Cascade with chlorine bleach. .I did another load today, everything was spotless, and shiney..love it. Just proves old D/W'ers need Chlorine Bleach and newer ones benefit from enzymes. Thank You Mich.

@mamapinky0, P&G Commissioned a household study... where they gave participants (Chlorine) Cascade Gel, and (Enzyme) Cascade Action Pacs to use over two months. None of the participants, noticed a difference between the two formulas, although many did prefer the convenience of the Action Pacs.

They also did a separate study, asking participants if they could tell the difference between Electrasol Dishwasher Gel & Chlorinated Cascade Gel. Cascade was preferred over 2 to 1. Many of the participants, just thought Cascade cleaned better... and left everything with less visible spotting.

There's a really good reason Cascade Gel was the highest selling Dishwasher Detergent in this country (according to Nielsen Analytics)... until the ban on Phosphates. It worked, and it worked extremely well.

The second highest selling dishwasher detergent, was a liquid gel (comparable to Cascade Gel) made by Huish/Sun Products. It contained the same amount of Phosphate, as Cascade... and I think the same chlorine content, just different thickening agents.

I'm so glad.. you like the Gel. I was a little worried, it might not work as well, and the STPP could need some adjusting, but I think the 3/4 teaspoon is right on. And... I think it's a phenomenal product, when spiked ;)

Mitch and Mama I have enjoyed the Cascade experiment and that is also going on my shopping list. Cannot wait to try it!!

I also have a older Maytag dishwasher -a Jetclean that's I guess about 10 or so years old. I got Somat from dear sweet larsi and I am going to load the dishwasher with baked on dried on pots, pans and casserole dishes! Cannot wait-but that means I have some cookin to do!

@Jean... just be careful not to get the Enzyme Gel. Your looking for any Lime Green, Cascade Bottle that says "Chlorine Bleach" on the back :-)

Will do Mitch and thank you!!