Posted on 07/29/2009 4:38:02 PM PDT by Rodamala
I just opened up a new bottle of Cascade dishwashing gel and lo-and-behold it's physically different. Looking at the bottle, I see it's the "phosphate-free" crap my mom has been complaining about recently.
Ours was "frothing", therefore seeping water onto the tile floor.
I called their 800 number and gave the guy the pack date code. (I'd bought it on the cleanout special table at Sam's Club two months ago).......was told that since the first number was "7" it was expired; number 7 means packed in 2007, and their crap has a ONE YEAR shelf life.
We switched to another brand, and voila -- problem solved. If their stuff has an "expiration date", why don't they advise the consumer of such?
Ruh-roh...see my 21 below. We just learned that the stuff degrades after one year. Use it or lose it.
I, too, have noticed Cascade is not as good as it used to be.
I am using another product, Electrasol Finish tablets.
Who would puts an “heirloom” in their dishwasher?? Anything that matters to me I sure wouldn’t put in a dishwasher!
We are on well and septic system and have only used phosphate-free chlorine free dishwasher products as my wife believes it helps preserve the septic tank and leach field.
We use Seventh Generation dishwasher powder and seems to work well. You might experiment with a box and see if it does the job for you.
Jack
rogerd8235's Full Review: Cascade Lemon Dishwasher Gel Detergenthttp://www.epinions.com/content_465205628548The new phosphate free formula with bleach ruins metal ware and does not clean dishes. I purchased the Cascade with lemon about 3/20/09, I used Cascade fro years and years and thought it was the best but now they changed the formula and it ruins all pots and pans and metal ware. My expensive All-Clad skillet and pots were washed for years with Cascade with no problem, now they are stained pitted and ruined, they give the food a metal taste. My heirloom butter dish passed down from my great grand mother has been washed with Cascade thousands of time with no problem until now, ruined, tarnished beyond repair and pitted, all my bake ware pans are ruined.
The topper is that the dishes are still dirty and gritty, and it will not take lipstick from cups, it always did before. I called Proctor and Gamble and they are aware of the problem but in denial. They sent me huge envelope to pack all my damaged items in and start an insurance claim, they want the old product back also.
The sent me two coupons for Cascade products of my choice, but I won't buy the new formula gel!
Recommended:
No
I’ve seen good reviews for that brand... and actually might try it... but it seems like anything that is marketed as being “earth friendly” has a “social responsibility” markup associated with it, and worse, it doesn’t work.
Stock up now, my local home despot store carries Tri-sodium Phosphate that (in the fine print) says it contains no phosphates.
I wash almost of my things by hand. My Fiestaware dishes, my silverware, my All-Clad, my glasses. About the only thing that goes in the dishwasher is Corningware and pyrex!
Seventh Generation is what I use also. It works just fine as far as I’m concerned.
You are one year up on me with the stash of Cascade. I used my “Medicare stimulus” check and bought 4 cases of Cascade and 4 cases of the “old fashioned” light bulbs. Have been looking for powdered Cheer which appears to be no more - only thing I have used since 1958 AND I DON’T WANT TO CHANGE!
I have no idea how Seventh Generation price compares with other brands.
At the local grocery store (Wegman’s) its in the special section set aside for “environmentally friendly” products. But, I cancel that out by driving my GMC pickup truck to the store.
One thing true with any dishwasher is that over time it will etch glass. I have a set of a couple dozen or so restaurant-type glasses bought from a commercial supply house 15 years ago and they clearly show etching after daily use and a daily dishwasher cycle.
I should also add that our well water has a moderate iron content and anything with chlorine reacts with it, so the chlorine-free laundry detergents and dishwasher compounds reduce the iron stains. We finally wound up with a complicated water treatment system that cleaned up the worst of the water problems, but still use only chlorine-free products because some iron still remains after treatment.
Jack
I have been using the Cascade Complete—the powder/rinse packets. So far, no problems. Thots?
I used Sunlight. It was very good and cheap
I was referring to stainless steel eating utensils. If you use a dishwasher, you usually put those in it.
I never use the dishwasher for my silver or crystal, but some in my family used to do that. My cousin routinely puts her good china in the dishwasher. I don’t recommend that, either, but some dishwashers have special cycles for crystal, etc...
I have drawer dishwashers, so pans don’t really fit, anyway. Bar keepers friend is great, best stuff that I’ve ever used.
A friend and I are in the process of painting the kitchen at our church (volunteer work). Due to the enviro-whiner crowd at our church, who perceive themselves sensitive to everything, we had to use the enviro crappo paint ($40 a gallon). We tried it, but it was beading up off the old surface badly, so we let it dry, then found we could take it off with a wet cloth!!
So my painting partner went to see the minister with the “problem”. He gave us a half gallon of enviro crappo primer. Great. Same result. I went to see the minister this time and politely axed him for permission to use real latex paint, so we could do a proper job. He finally relented. We went and bought real latex paint, and the job is going fine.
Next time they want a room painted at church, I wiil be happy to do it if I can use real paint. If they want the enviro crappo paint applied, they can find a different volunteer.
I think it should be “your” ignorance, not “you’re” ignorance, which is a contraction for “you are”
Guess I’ll have to spend a little time in the underground then.
Barkeepers Friend, terrific product.
Cleans copper pots great without having to use some smelly toxic chemical. Terrific stove top cleaner. I love it. Cheap, too.
Hand washing was on the instructions for my new Paula Dean pots and pans, it is also what I do with my cast iron chicken fryer. I hand wash it, dry it and lightly coat with oil then wipe off any excess...and that is how I take care of them. And I use wooden or plastic utensils with them. Ditto for my Wilton baking sheets.
Since every thing else in my cabinets are junk earthen ware some 30 years old they go in the dishwasher. The fine china gets hand washed and dried when it is used.
I have had to put Cascade rinse aid to cut the film. I might switch to http://mydisheslookdirty.com/lemi-shine/?gclid=CJLFwqWHhaYCFUpJ2godyT5lXg and see if it will do any better, or put vinegar in the little box for the rinse aid..might make the dishwasher smell better too. It does the garbage disposal.
Can you recommend a HEAVY handled set of every day stainless steel eating utensils that don’t bend the first time you use them? Hubby has ruined several of our 30 year old ones in the garbage disposal. And I’m now running out of utensils for eating and he only wants something that does not bend when he cuts his food.
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