Dishwasher Question- HARD WATER!

[toledo13]

We have REALLY hard water. and when I take my dishes out of the dishwasher, there are spots and residue all over the plates and glasses. Any advice? We have really hard water, and I bet it's the combo of that and the soap I use? I've been using Method brand from Target. ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GREAT!!! I just feel like my dishes aren't getting clean!!

 

[mamacatnv]

I use lots and lots of Jet-Dry - I buy the cascade cubes with the jet-dry ball, I keep the Jet-Dry dispenser in the washer full and I keep the Jet-Dry cage things in the top rack

 

[toledo13]

I use lots and lots of Jet-Dry - I buy the cascade cubes with the jet-dry ball, I keep the Jet-Dry dispenser in the washer full and I keep the Jet-Dry cage things in the top rack

Does all of the Jet Dry wash off? I'm so worried about drinking 'soap'...

I'm going to Meijer on my way home from work- I may have to get some of that!

 

[Castlebound]

Invest in a water softener. Even if you use loads of Jet Dry the hard water will shorten the life of your dishwasher, washing machine, and hotwater heater.

 

[toledo13]

Invest in a water softener. Even if you use loads of Jet Dry the hard water will shorten the life of your dishwasher, washing machine, and hotwater heater.

... not to mention my hair!! ugh. I don't know why it's so hard. Know what one of those costs??

 

[luvmy3]

Invest in a water softener. Even if you use loads of Jet Dry the hard water will shorten the life of your dishwasher, washing machine, and hotwater heater.

A softener will also reverse any residue build up that has occurred also. You will need a new hotwater tank, you don't even want to know whats sitting in there now

 

[Mom2Nick]

Invest in a water softener. Even if you use loads of Jet Dry the hard water will shorten the life of your dishwasher, washing machine, and hotwater heater.

Ditto! Water Softeners can be leased with monthly payments if the cost is off putting. The difference it makes though is amazing.

 

[momrek06]

OP, this JUST happened to me. The city of Newport Beach is adding chemicals to the water. I called our complex maintenance dept to inquire as to why all of a sudden my glasses and dishes were so cloudy....embarassing as how could I serve a guest anything with these glasses. They informed me that this will continue throughout the summer and suggested the following....

FINISH QUANTUM!!!
When it comes to dishwashing, don't you deserve a standard that gives you amazing shine, clarity and brilliance?

Finish Quantum combines the power of three separate ingredients in one single product:

Powerball technology for outstanding cleaning results
Powder with salt function for an extreme clean
Gel with rinse aid function for amazing shine
With our revolutionary product design Finish Quantum is wrapper free. Its 3 chambers combine to give you great cleaning every time you use your dishwasher. You deserve flawless results and amazing shine on all your dishes every time!

Finish Quantum – The Diamond Standard.

The Quantum Difference:Amazing shine
Removes even tough stains like baked-on and dried-on food
No need to unwrap
Recommended by leading dishwasher manufacturers

Well after trying CASCADE and ELECTRASOL and even JET DRY...I tried the Finish Quantum and now my dishes/glasses all sparkle.

 

[toledo13]

OP, this JUST happened to me. The city of Newport Beach is adding chemicals to the water. I called our complex maintenance dept to inquire as to why all of a sudden my glasses and dishes were so cloudy....embarassing as how could I serve a guest anything with these glasses. They informed me that this will continue throughout the summer and suggested the following....

FINISH QUANTUM!!!
When it comes to dishwashing, don't you deserve a standard that gives you amazing shine, clarity and brilliance?

Finish Quantum combines the power of three separate ingredients in one single product:

Powerball technology for outstanding cleaning results
Powder with salt function for an extreme clean
Gel with rinse aid function for amazing shine
With our revolutionary product design Finish Quantum is wrapper free. Its 3 chambers combine to give you great cleaning every time you use your dishwasher. You deserve flawless results and amazing shine on all your dishes every time!

Finish Quantum – The Diamond Standard.

The Quantum Difference:Amazing shine
Removes even tough stains like baked-on and dried-on food
No need to unwrap
Recommended by leading dishwasher manufacturers

Well after trying CASCADE and ELECTRASOL and even JET DRY...I tried the Quantum Finish and now my dishes/glasses all sparkle.

OMG THANK YOU! Yeah, cloudy is a good word for it, and it IS embarassing!!!! This will hopefully help in the meantime, before I can talk to DH about a water softener

 

[S. C.]

Invest in a water softener. Even if you use loads of Jet Dry the hard water will shorten the life of your dishwasher, washing machine, and hotwater heater.

Very true!

 

[jme829]

... not to mention my hair!! ugh. I don't know why it's so hard. Know what one of those costs??

You can go to Sears and get a Kenmore unit for under $500 and are just as good if not better tan the higher end ones thru certain dealers. My DH works for a Water Softener manufacturer who supplies to Sears, Depot, and Lowes.


Dumb question are you in Toledo, Ohio ? we just moved to Wisconsin 2 yrs ago after both of us being born and raised in Toledo,. I saw your Meijer reference...I miss Meijer!!

Go check out Sears...tell them my DH sent you (pm me and I;ll give you his name-he doesn't personally sell them , but he worked at both Toledo stores for years and now they are two of the accounts he services so most of the people there know him well. I can also find out from him what the best unit would be for your home.

If you're not in TOledo, give me a general city and I can recommend what store and who to talk to, Dh is the national sales manager and he pretty much services most of the MIdwest Sears markets (along with a few other major markets), so he can tell you who to talk to.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

We also need a water softner. Right now I use a product I buy in WalMart called "Lemon Shine" in my dishwasher. Be careful though as it took the paint off on of my glasses.

Can't afford the to get the water softner yet...my neighbor just got all the equipment to ready his house and it was a couple of thousand bucks. Bleech.

It is on the list after the deck.

I will have to check out the Quantam Finish, thanks!

 

[stardebby]

We also need a water softner. Right now I use a product I buy in WalMart called "Lemon Shine" in my dishwasher. Be careful though as it took the paint off on of my glasses.



I use Lemon Shine too. Works great!

 

[jlima]

Invest in a water softener. Even if you use loads of Jet Dry the hard water will shorten the life of your dishwasher, washing machine, and hotwater heater.

I 2nd this . . . our new house has a water softener and it makes a HUGE difference, especially when you look at glasses that were moved from our other house sitting on the shelf next to glasses we've been using for the past few weeks that have been washed in the dishwasher at this house. Plus my hair behaves so much better now that it's being washed in water that isn't gross.

I honestly thought it was the dishwasher at the other house; maybe a hose wasn't installed right or something? Nope, it was the water. The dishwasher in our new house is a bargain basement budget dishwasher and the dishes just come out sparkling, not like the $450 dishwasher at the house we just moved out of, that left everything with spots and dingy and cloudy.

 

[jme829]

We also need a water softner. Right now I use a product I buy in WalMart called "Lemon Shine" in my dishwasher. Be careful though as it took the paint off on of my



glasses.

Can't afford the to get the water softner yet...my neighbor just got all the equipment to ready his house and it was a couple of thousand bucks. Bleech.

It is on the list after the deck.

I will have to check out the Quantam Finish, thanks!

MM...check out my above post you can get a very good softener at sears for under $500. My DH works for the company who makes them for Sears so I know first hand they are just as good as the expensive ones. Feel free to pm me for more info. I can find out exactly what model would be good for your house.

 

[kacaju]

We also need a water softner. Right now I use a product I buy in WalMart called "Lemon Shine" in my dishwasher. Be careful though as it took the paint off on of my glasses.



I use Lemon Shine too. Works great!

I LOVE the lemon shine!!

 

[elizke]

I used to use Lemon Shine, but it does remove some finishes (like I couldn't put my stove top catch pans in there...). I use Finish Glass Magic now (used to be just Glass Magic, but I guess they were bought) and it works incredibly well. You'd never know by looking at my dishes now that we have hard water.

The only problem with the product is that I can't find it anywhere but Jewel, the not-so-cheap grocery store. I buy it anyway though.

We do look into water softeners occasionally, but, having had one in the past, I dread buying and loading salt all the time. I know I should still get one...