DISHWASHER DETERGENTS

“Liquid gel" detergents solve the two major drawbacks of liquid dishwasher detergents: the liquids tend to dribble out of the dish-washer's main wash cup yet tend to empty incompletely from their containers, leaving a sizable amount unused. The gels are free-flowing and dispense completely from their containers.
    The gels are better than powders at removing lipstick from glasses and cups. But the powders are better than gels in overall dishwashing, cleaning dried-on foods, and preventing washed off foods from spotting and resoiling dishes.
  While all the dishwasher detergents Consumers Union has tested tend to discolor silver-plated flatware, after long exposure powders tend to be slightly safer than gels in, this regard. Powders
and gels both etch glassware when used in soft water. Typically, damage to glassware is less likely in hard water. Powders and most gels are safer to use on fine china with overglaze patterns than they used to be years ago. However, it would be prudent to hand wash fine china, silver, and crystal.

COSTS

   Store brands tend to be the cheaper products to use. Two powders not sold in stores---Shaklee Basic D Concentrate and Amway Crystal Bright--deserve special mention because of their extraordinarily high price and cost per load. Although both are excellent in overall dishwashing, so are other, much-less-expensive powders.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS

Most dishwasher detergents contain phosphates. Phosphates help dishwasher detergents do their job better, especially in hard water. Over the years, manufacturers have worked on reducing the amount of phosphates in dishwasher detergents, and a few have been able to eliminate them altogether. But dishwasher detergents with phosphates are still permitted everywhere.

RINSE AGENTS

In areas of the country with hard water, there is a more pronounced tendency for spots or film to form on glassware and dishes after a wash. If your dishwasher leaves spots or film, change your brand of detergent or try a rinse agent. A rinse agent is designed to lower the surface tension of water, causing it to sheet off the dishes. This helps the dishwasher rinse away spots and film.