Mathieu
Technology ConnectionsFolks, I have a new video today where I'm very excited to announce a new dishwasher powder on the market.
Why am I so excited? Because it's vindicated every single one of my detergent opinions.
squeakyears@TechConnectify
OH SHIT ITS NO EFFORT NOVEMBER
FUCK YES
Sam Oldman 🐀@TechConnectify The last time I was able to buy dishwasher detergent as a box of powder, it was actually a solid lump in the shape of the box. Not so easy to scoop as I had hoped.
I hate dishwasher pills, and I hate unwrapping them, and I hate having to touch them while unwrapping them.
I hate dishwasher pills, and I hate unwrapping them, and I hate having to touch them while unwrapping them.
Reece Martin@TechConnectify so many people I know use powder thanks to you! Kudos!
@reece @TechConnectify I am definitely a convert as a result of that video. AND IT WORKS SO DAMN WELL.
Weird 2 - Electric Boogaloo
Dave Wilburn 
@TechConnectify as someone that usually walks to the grocery store, I'm pretty firmly on Team Powder. Why the heck would I want to carry what's effectively a bunch of water in a plastic jug a half mile back home?
Cegorach
Merlin MannI'm so grateful you do what you do. Thanks, man.
MostlyBlindGamer@TechConnectify I’m still using pods for accessibility reasons - you did convince me to try powder again - but I love this brand of nerdy consumer advice.
F4GRX Sébastien@MostlyBlindGamer @TechConnectify I stick with pods because ours (Sun) allegedly include rinsing aid and we never get residue. using bare powder would force me to think about the separate rinsing aid. otoh, we only use half tablets and it still works well. and its packaged in a cardboard box, there is just a little PE bag.
Mirek Svoboda@f4grx @MostlyBlindGamer @TechConnectify The best rinsing aid is plain vinegar, in low concentration. It is the most economical and ecological option. Also citric acid is great option.
@goodmirek @MostlyBlindGamer @TechConnectify oh yeah I see how it can erase white traces, this is a great idea!
@f4grx @MostlyBlindGamer @TechConnectify We use 8% vinegar as rinsing aid for at least five years, and got the idea from other users who then had already used it also for multiple years. There is very hard tap water here.
Debby ⁂📎🐧
@TechConnectify A huge thanks for your fantastic dishwasher videos! They are the perfect tool to win the very controversial pod vs. powder debate. Thanks for the insightful content! 🦾 🌊
P.S.: 😄 Folks, if you, like me, need to convince someone how to correctly use a dishwasher, here are some helpful videos:
Detergent packs are kinda wishy-washy (Dishwashers Explained): https://youtu.be/_rBO8neWw04
I messed up. You're using too much detergent: https://youtu.be/Ll6-eGDpimU
Connextras dishwasher follow-up (the sequel): https://youtu.be/0Kp3bjm55xw
Your dishwasher is better than you think (tips, tricks, and how they work) https://youtu.be/jHP942Livy0
Detergent packs are kinda wishy-washy (Dishwashers Explained)
InsertUserA "No Effort November" video in which you have been involved with the development of a new product and ran your own tests.
I don't think we agree on the definition of "no effort".
Lukas HvG
Tisha Tiger / Neliger@TechConnectify Only you can make this kind of video 😻
JD@TechConnectify This is the video I've been waiting patiently for. Thank you.
Sluether 
@TechConnectify how am I just now finding out you’re on fedi lol
Thomas Lobig@TechConnectify I want you to know that since I first saw your original "pod" vid, I use powder. That's how many years ago now? Anyway. Keep em coming.
Jernej Simončič �@TechConnectify Finding powdered dishwasher detergent seems to be nearly impossible here nowadays (my sister says one chain sells it, but it's a bit out of the way), so I just buy the big packs of pods when they're on sale for 15€ – that's 175 or 184 pods).
Baral'heia Stormdancer ΘΔ🐲@TechConnectify I have two questions (and if it was addressed in the video, my apologies, I must have missed it) - the bag of Green Llama detergent costs about 3x more than a box of Cascade where I live. Does the higher cleaning performance really justify that price delta? I also haven't really kept track of how many loads a box of Cascade can do... Is the rated number of loads equivalent between the two products? Cascade helpfully omits that information from their boxes (or I'm just blind).
Krutonium://@baralheia @TechConnectify IMO the cleaning performance doesn't - It's only slightly better - but the part that does justify it is two fold.
Part the first, they don't have nearly the same economy of scale, it's hard to make it cheap until a lot of people buy some
Part the second, Profit goes to Charity, so there has to be some.
At least in my opinion.
Kay Ohtie 🔜 FWA@krutonium @baralheia @TechConnectify
He did also bring up store brand powders being plenty good -- I do wish testing had compared that against the name brand powders to see if they do better, especially with multiple. But the rinse cycle info is wild, I'll have to try running the heavier options more to see if that eliminates the particulate cling to things as well as how sometimes the water up top is a liiiittle gross ish.
He did also bring up store brand powders being plenty good -- I do wish testing had compared that against the name brand powders to see if they do better, especially with multiple. But the rinse cycle info is wild, I'll have to try running the heavier options more to see if that eliminates the particulate cling to things as well as how sometimes the water up top is a liiiittle gross ish.
@KayOhtie @baralheia @TechConnectify
He did say he tested against a Name Brand product as well, but he didn't name it - Which is perfectly fair, naming is a great way to end up in legal hot water if they can show in some way that your testing was bad or something - Basically preventing himself from getting sued.
As for the particulate, along with running a different detergent to see if it makes a difference, I've found that running https://www.walmart.com/ip/Finish-Dual-Action-Dishwasher-Cleaner-Fight-Grease-and-Limescale-1ct/197652547?classType=REGULAR one of these through once a month does wonders.
(Also, take your spray arms off and give them a cleaning! Stuff gets stuck in jets and makes the whole thing less effective!)
@krutonium @baralheia @TechConnectify
Those are generally just detergent and citric acid, primarily, in either powder or solution. I just add a tablespoon or so of citric acid powder when I want to run a clean cycle with no dishes. Does a decent job!
Those are generally just detergent and citric acid, primarily, in either powder or solution. I just add a tablespoon or so of citric acid powder when I want to run a clean cycle with no dishes. Does a decent job!
@KayOhtie @baralheia @TechConnectify Totally true, but I've had really good luck using that one in particular because of the wax cap it has, which melts when the dishwasher is finally up to temp when it'll be the most effective.
Plus it's easy and I can buy them in bulk for cheap.
@krutonium @TechConnectify Oh yeah for sure, I'm fully expecting (and willing to pay) a price premium for products that work well (AND ones that benefit charities too)! It's just kinda difficult to get an apples-to-apples comparison to see if the higher cost is affordable for me. Neither the box of Cascade nor my dishwasher's manual specify exactly how much detergent is actually recommended so I'll have to measure and figure it out heh
Jimmy@krutonium @baralheia @TechConnectify and thirdly, Green Llama is a eco focused small business. Walmart and P&G are very none of those things.
Baral'heia Stormdancer ΘΔ🐲 (@[email protected])
@[email protected] @[email protected] Oh yeah for sure, I'm fully expecting (and willing to pay) a price premium for products that work well (AND ones that benefit charities too)! It's just kinda difficult to get an apples-to-apples comparison to see if the higher cost is affordable for me. Neither the box of Cascade nor my dishwasher's manual specify exactly how much detergent is actually recommended so I'll have to measure and figure it out heh
🇨🇦 CowMan 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 🇲🇽@baralheia @TechConnectify Finish dishwashing powder says it gets 17 loads from 1.8 kg on the box. 106 grams/load, i.e. enough for >5 tabs. Can't trust 'em!!
I use a store brand (Sobey's/Compliments). In testing detergents for my own use, I felt it was the bestest, <$9 for a box (1.7 kg), don't have to use very much, though always throw some in the prewash and never measure anymore, just by feel. I'd say prob a minimum for me would be about ~85 loads per box. Water is soft.
Magess 
@TechConnectify my little portable dishwasher doesn't have a dispenser, but now I wonder if I should run 2 shorter cycles instead of one 1:30 min cycle, to basically replicate prewash and wash.
Luden@TechConnectify I feel like I need to point out how the "Diswasher Saga" is doing better than the MCU. Love it!
COMPU73E ❄️@TechConnectify @Gargron can't believe I just watched a 40 minute video about dishwashers and I don't even have a dishwasher. super interesting though! 😅
Malfunct (he/him)@TechConnectify how does it compare in price per load vs the walmart brand powder which I started using after watching your videos?
Also instructions on the new powder say "use one tablespoon per load" how does this work RE having a prewash detergent load?
(preemptive apology if I got the instructions wrong, my main memory they only gave one detergent measurement and no discussion of pre-wash detergent)
@Malfunct This is not positioned as a value product, which put me in a bit of an awkward spot but I am happy to have proven powders can be excellent.
Your question about dosing? The great thing about powder is there are no rules. I would probably try using just two teaspoons in the main wash, and add a third teaspoon for the pre-wash when you have greasy/oily stuff in the dishwasher.
@TechConnectify thank you for the answers to my questions. I think the walmart powder will remain the better choice for me but I do appreciate having more sources of dishwashing powder out there!
CookieMom@Malfunct Interesting. Can you provide a link for the dishwasher powder? I'd like to buy a dishwasher powder, but don't want to shop at Walmart.
Pepper@TechConnectify any thoughts on rinse aid? It seems it's not something that you've mentioned, and anecdotally folks around me have never used it.
@pepper It helps a lot and I would encourage using it, but just buy the cheap stuff. All it is is a mild surfactant.
@TechConnectify that's been my experience too, but I'm just surprised I haven't heard about it in the wild in these discussions, and anecdotally not many people around me use it.
Solarbird 
@pepper @TechConnectify In my particular dishwasher, I don't notice any difference with cleaning performance, but not only do dishes come out _much_ dryer, the whole dishwasher does too, which it seems to me is going to be better for everything.
Not to mention the time savings of not having to post-dry dry the dishes.
(You can really tell when you need to refill the dispenser, too - open the door after a cleaning cycle and it's water droplets everywhere.)
Steggy@TechConnectify I will go watch the video, but I also want to know why the dishwashers I have had in the US don’t have a salt reservoir. The ones I had in the UK did. I add a teaspoon of citric acid in the pan every load which helps, but the salt was pretty convenient.
@steggy @TechConnectify We also have salt loaded water softeners in dishwashers here. it's possibly an european regulation thingie to save on detergent.
Adam Honse@TechConnectify I've been using powder ever since your first video on the topic but I do occasionally get a white powdery residue left behind. I just ordered some of this new powder, hopefully it will solve the residue issues.
dontony@TechConnectify and you can buy it at https://good.store/products/dishwasher-powder where profits go to charity!
64kb@TechConnectify I came to dishwashers late so only learning now that powder is an option.
Will be interesting to see if this powder become available in Europe and the UK.
sgt1372@TechConnectify I've never used pods & always used Cascade #dishwasher powder until I bought a 1/2 gal jug of Casacade liquid dishwasher detergent which is going to last me til the day I die because I only turn on my dishwasher once every 2 months at most because I hand wash my dishes & mainly use the dishwasher as a dish & utensil rack. 🤷♂️
Andrew@sgt1372 @TechConnectify why hand wash? Dishwashers are both more energy and water efficient than hand washing.
It's easier. I don't use many dishes or utensils. All that I need fit in the dishwasher.
You have to rinse them off before putting them in the dishwasher & it's not that much effort to just add soap to clean them completely.
Saves more energy doing it that way IMO but I do run the dishwasher periodically because, like a car, it needs to be run once in awhile to keep things working properly.
But after I run it, I just leave the dishes & utensils in there where they'll easier to access.
root42@TechConnectify Team powder for ages!
@TechConnectify Only YOU can make hour long videos about diswasher detergent that we watch ENTIRELY without skipping a beat (at 1.5x speed, admittedly).
Solution that works here is using just half a high-end tablet (and cold water in a civilized 220v country), it works perfectly and lasts twice as much as Big Biswasher intends to (or costs half as much).
But now I know why there is an indentation on the detergent door.
4bz@TechConnectify can't wait to watch! I've been having to make my own powder cause my water is too hard (citric acid based recipe)
kabel42@TechConnectify now i want a dishwasher with blinkenlights
fancysandwiches@TechConnectify I appear to have the same dishwasher as you, or at least a similar model based on the rinse-aid dispenser. However, I cannot figure out how to determine if the rinse-aid is empty outside of just occasionally pouring more in until it starts to overflow. There is an indicator that implies that it's some kind of light or something but it's never lit up for me, does it light up for you? Trying to figure out if I have a defective unit or not.
Dec [{(
)}]@fancysandwiches @TechConnectify
My dishwasher has a warning light that only turns on when the rinse aid needs to be filled. And a similar light for salt.
My dishwasher has a warning light that only turns on when the rinse aid needs to be filled. And a similar light for salt.
@dec23k @TechConnectify what model do you have?