Experimenting.

[Smolley]

Trying dishwasher tablets in the washing machine, Bosch offer dire warnings that their washing machines will fail, but I am not using theirs. One never knows if commercial interests influence these types of warning. This is about the tenth time I have used them and the washing comes out very clean. Maybe not so good for delicate fabrics, but towels and flannels are fine.

Anyone know of any other problems that may occur, Bosch say their plastic pipes will dissolve, it's a good job they don't make dishwashers.

[Pancho]

I have a Bosch dishwasher?

[charles]

Oh, but they do. Ours is a Bosch

[Andy Burns]

Are S/W tablets cheaper than W/M pods?

Do you expect them to wash clothes better?

Is this just to clean the W/M itself?

[Bob Henson]

The enzymes and surfactants in dishwasher tablets/capsules are very powerful indeed. I wouldn't want anything that can remove fired on patterns from crockery anywhere near my skin and in my clothes. Think enzyme washing powders (Ariel) on steroids. Enzyme washing powders themselves frequently cause dermatitis, so I certainly wouldn't take any risks with using dishwasher tablets.

[Clive Arthur]

<Wikipedia>

Most dishwasher detergents are incompatible for use with silver, brass, cast iron, bronze, aluminium, pewter, and gold leaf. They can also harm disposable plastic, anything wood, knives with hollow handles, and fine glassware.

</Wikipedia>

So best to use them only in a machine designed for them.

My dad once used washing up liquid in his dishwasher instead of a tablet. That was messy.

[Brian Gaff]

They do, don't they. I suspect many common chemicals over time have a bad outcome on plastic and synthetic rubber pipes and connectors. We used to have a hoover that kept on getting pin holes in an internal pipe, They said it was the vibration, well maybe. Brian

[The Natural Philosopher]

Fundamentally *most* of these dire warnings are there to guard against the unknown unknown, and ensure you use a known known. For legal reasons Almost certainly it will be fine, although a little odd.

[The Natural Philosopher]

I had a bosch dishwasher. I threw it away in disgust. Utter crap

[Pancho]

Mine looks pretty crap too. The upper tray has gone rusty, the tray plastic wheels broke, and cost £10 to replace, the salt dispenser is dodgy, uses salt too quickly.

It's only 25 years old.

[Paul]

When the chemical is sodium hydroxide, you have to expect a little fun.

Some of these products, should have an MSDS, and that may tell you how caustic the stuff is.

Paul

[AnthonyL]

Which seems a fairly good reason not to use a dishwasher.

[Rod Speed]

That is radically overstated with cast iron and wood.

[Rod Speed]

Nope. The reality is that the only thing that matters is aluminium in practice.

[Animal]

And ali. Glass is normally fine but not quite always. Cast iron is fine if not bare and dried after the wash. Etc.

[Clive Arthur]

Never had one. There's always one in whatever holiday cottage we use, which is a novelty, but with two people to wash up for I just can't see the point.

[Theo]

A dishwasher is a cupboard for dirty dishes and a drying cupboard, replacing the pile of dirty items in/by the sink and the stack on the drying rack. Some stuff with water happens in between.

Theo

[Robin]

and brings other benefits: e.g. another thing to fix, discussions of how best to load it

[Animal]

Also makes a great job of cleaning many other things. Someone will now mention toilet seats :/

[alan_m]

It's the ideal household gadget for cleaning brushes and rollers after painting.