All about washing machines

How can I replace a dishwasher tablet?

replacement dishwasher tabletsA few months after the successful purchase of a dishwasher, many begin to count the money spent on cleaning products. On the one hand, you need to think about it before you buy and understand that you have to buy powder, salt or tablets, but on the other hand, all these tools, and especially well-advertised ones, are really very expensive, sometimes unjustified. That is why we decided to find the answer to the question, is it possible to replace with something tablets for the dishwasher?

We study the composition of the tablets

To understand how to replace tablets for washing dishes in the dishwasher, you must first study their composition. The composition of the first tablets for dishwashers was very simple, some of them were no different from ordinary powder, others consisted of powder, salt and rinse aid. Today tablets are a multifunctional drug with a promising name: 3 in 1, 4 in 1, 5 in 1, 7 in 1, 10 in 1, All in 1 (all in one). Such tablets are designed not only to wash dishes and give it shine, but also to protect the dishwasher itself.

What substances can be included in the composition of the tablets, we list them all, but keep in mind that in some tablets they are, in others they may be absent.

  1. Sodium citrate - necessary to stimulate the formation of foam, has antibacterial properties
  2. Sodium percarbonate - has whitening properties, is necessary for the breakdown of dirt.
  3. Sodium carbonate - softens water. It is also called soda ash.
  4. Sodium bicarbonate - softens water. It is also called baking soda.
  5. Sodium disilicate - softens water and fastens the components of the tablet into granules.
  6. Sodium gluconate - fights against scum, softening water.
  7. Ethylenediaminetetra-acetic acid - necessary for washing scale from the dishwasher.
  8. Isooctyl glucoside is a tenside that is part of the rinse aid.
  9. Sorbitol is a sweetener.
  10. Rapeseed oil esters - necessary to reduce the surface tension of water, are part of the rinse aid.
  11. Glycerin - necessary for viscosity, bonding of all substances
  12. Amylase and protease - contribute to the breakdown of proteins and carbohydrates.
  13. Subtilisin - promotes the breakdown of fats.
  14. Surfactants for the formation of foam.

Note! Some tablets may contain phosphates for foaming and flavoring agents in small amounts.

After analyzing the composition of the tablets for the dishwasher, not being a chemist, the question arises, why are there so many different substances to soften the water, especially since the softening of the water occurs in the ion exchanger. No matter how expensive the tablet with very hard water, you still have to pour salt into the machine. The second point, in our opinion, did not seem to be such a substance as a sweetener, still it is a powder.

And the third, useless substance, which is often put in tablets, is flavorings. It’s one thing if they are contained in washing powder to give a smell to linen, but why do you need the smell of dishes, because then they eat from it - it’s also not clear. Substances that break down proteins, fats and carbohydrates are added, for example, to laundry detergents, but for some reason they cost significantly less, this once again suggests that we are being deceived. Thus, some of the substances can be easily excluded from the composition of the tablets or replaced, which will make them cheaper and more environmentally friendly, but not profitable for the manufacturer.

You can try to make pills for the dishwasher with your own hands, especially since now we know what components are needed and how they can be replaced. We offer a couple of recipes.

Prescription One - Making Pills

soda ashThis recipe cannot be called one hundred percent environmentally friendly.But on the other hand, all the substances included in such pills are used by us every day, their concentration is negligible to cause serious health problems, unless, of course, you are allergic.

So, the substances necessary for creating foam and splitting fats, proteins and carbohydrates are contained in ordinary washing powder, so any baby powder, preferably without flavorings and phosphates, can be taken as the basis. As a bleach and water softener we will use soda ash. Well, as a connecting element, you can take water.

We mix the components in the following proportions:

  • 7 parts of powder;
  • 3 parts soda ash.

Add a little water to the dry mixture until a thick slurry is obtained. Then spread the gruel in the molds with a spoon. For example, ice molds or candy molds in boxes. We wait until the mixture dries and the self-made tablets are ready.

Attention! If with such tablets, it seems that the dishes do not shine well, then separately add rinse aid to the compartment. In any case, it will be cheaper than using special pills.

Recipe Two - Making Pills

replacement dishwasher tabletsThis recipe is slightly different from the previous one. As a binder, you can take neither water, but a gel-like dishwashing detergent or glycerin. We take everything in this proportion:

  • 160 g of powder;
  • 36 g of soda ash;
  • 4 g of glycerin (or detergent for dishes).

Mix everything and put into forms, allow the mixture to dry.

Important! When using baby powder, it is better to use the mode at 40-45 for washing dishes0C so that substances that break down proteins are not destroyed.

Prescription Three - Making Pills

To prepare these tablets, you need to take:borax

  • 75 g of soda ash;
  • 100 g borax;
  • 250 g of Epsom salts (magnesia);
  • 20 g of citric acid.

Dissolve the lemon in a small amount of water, and mix the remaining ingredients well. Then add the lemon solution. When the mixture ceases to sizzle, lay out on the forms and wait until the tablets dry.

The use of these home-made tablets for a dishwasher must necessarily be accompanied by the use of salt, and, if necessary, a rinse aid. Undoubtedly, such pills will be much cheaper than widely known and advertised. Of course, in such tablets there are no substances for washing silver dishes that prevent its darkening, but not all factory tablets have them.

You can replace expensive tablets for a dishwasher not only with DIY tablets, but also with ordinary ones dishwashing detergentsthat are sold separately. Yes, they are not so convenient when laying in the compartment of the car, but if the question of economy has arisen, then why not pour powder? So, we have offered you options for replacing tablets, experiment, select what seems best to you.

   

1 reader comment

  1. Gravatar AAA AAA:

    Great pills came out.

Add a comment

Read also

Error codes for washing machines