Non-citric acid dishwasher detergent

10 years ago

After getting rust spots on 9-month old Crate & Barrel flatware, I took a closer look at the online description. It calls for non-citric acid dishwasher detergent. Any recommendations on what to use that doesn't cost an arm and a leg? (Everything seems to have lemon or orange!)

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grainlady_ks

10 years ago

I agree with cleangeek - and I also think people add too much detergent to their machines - we use about 1/2 T. in our Bosch dishwasher, on the shortest cycle.

I've never washed silverware (as well as stainless) in the dishwasher since I got my first dishwasher in 1975, because I knew it destroyed them. Cutting knives are also washed by-hand. Banging around in the dishwasher will nick the edges and make them dull quicker. In fact, my "good" glassware is never put through the dishwasher because it etches the sparkling surface. In my opinion, only people who replace these items frequently would use a dishwasher to clean them.

Do you have soft water? Using too much detergent with soft water may cause etching in glassware. FYI - don't allow stainless steel, sterling silver and silver plate to come into contact with each other, or other metals.

The list of things I DON'T put in the dishwasher is far longer than the list of what I DO put in it. If I had a choice, I'd never own one, but it's a must-have for resale of a home these days. We run ours once a week (or when we get a full load) to keep it in working condition. I can do after-meal clean-up and dishes that don't go into the dishwasher with 1-gallon of water (washed and rinsed - and I use "saved water" from water that usually runs down the drain waiting for the shower water to get hot), so the myth that you save water by doing dishes in a dishwasher is just that....a myth.

-Grainlady

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Comments (9)

cleangeek
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Some of the powders have citric acid but another problem is sodium percarbonate which is in most powders, it's an oxidizer so it rusts stainless steel(or anything made of iron). Liquid detergent is safer for silverware because they don't contain sodium percarbonate. Another problem is water left on silverware during the drying cycle.

The best way to wash silverware is by hand in a sink, then dry them right away. The same applies to cast iron skillets.
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rrah
10 years ago
Never use a liquid gel dishwasher detergent. They can gunk up certain parts of the dishwasher. I've also read that they can cause problems with deposits on the interior of the dishwasher and silverware. BTW--just my personal rant, but I don't understand the necessity of those stupid little individual use pacs. Is it so difficult to pour the powder into the dishwasher?
fillmoe
10 years ago
I'm still using some of the stainless flatware that I bought for my first apartment in 1965. It's been through every dishwasher I've ever owned and with all types of detergent (powdered) and of water. There are no rust or brown spots. The white film on glassware is caused by using too much detergent for the hardness of water one has.
cleangeek
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
rrah,

The reason they came out with the detergent pacs is because some people are lazy and they can charge more for the convenience, I've never used them or laundry detergent pacs.

As for leftover residue: put some white vinegar in the rinse compartment, glasses come out sparkling clean.

Dishwasher Tips
Cape Carol
10 years ago
WOW I'm like filmoe. Still using stainless steel flatware bought in 1962 which has gone thru every dw I've had. I do agree about good cutlery which I usually wash by hand.
jollimore36
10 years ago
I used to have the problem as well. I now use Ecosense cleaning products and no longer get rust spots on my cutlery.
Shannon Black D'Errico
4 years ago
Did anyone ever find a dishwasher detergent with no citric acid? I have a severe mold allergy and citric acid is grown on black mold.
olychick
4 years ago
Maybe try this? DIY citric acid free pods