Dishwasher tablets

Dishwashers greatly facilitate the life of the hostess, but they require the most careful attitude. In order for dishwashers to serve for many years, they must be carefully looked after. In this case, the key point is the correct choice of preparations for cleaning dishes - too strong tools may not reveal their full potential, and after using weak ones, kitchen utensils have to be manually blown away.

Pills for PMM are widely used. They are compact sized briquettes, consisting of a set of chemical components - as a rule, these are cleaning agents, rinse aid and salt. As additional ingredients, water softeners, disinfectants and substances that give shine to dishes are introduced into the composition.

Based on this, the tablets may differ in single or multicomponent formulations. But in any case, they are based on alkaline salts, which have the property of dissolving fat. The tablet formulation is enriched with enzymes that can neutralize dirt, as well as anti-corrosion additives. The most expensive tablets contain perfume and defoamers.

The composition of tablets from different manufacturers may vary. But in general, they include a number of basic ingredients.

• Sodium citrate - is a citric acid salt. Has a pronounced antimicrobial effect, promotes the formation of foam, regulates the acidity of water. When using citrate, the tablet dissolves and bubbles faster. By the way, some medicines, for example, "Alka-Seltzer", contain a similar component.

• Sodium percarbonate - effectively fights dirt, is responsible for whitening. This substance is obtained by evaporating hydrogen peroxide with sodium carbonate to a crystalline form, and the output is an environmentally friendly product.

• Sodium carbonate - better known as soda ash. It is used to soften the hardness of water, it is of natural origin.

• Sodium bicarbonate - well-known baking soda. Helps soften water and improve the quality of cleaning. It is an absolutely safe product that is widely used in the confectionery industry.

• Sodium disilicate - used to soften the various components of the tablet.

• Sodium polyaspartate - has the ability to retain dirt. It is non-toxic and resembles silicates in its characteristics.

• Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid - this additive helps dissolve scale on the inner walls of the PMM. It has become an urgent alternative to phosphates, which are recognized as dangerous to human life and health, and have become among the prohibited components in a number of European countries. The acid protects the machine from damage and helps to reduce its resource intensity.

• Isooctylglucoside - acts as a rinse aid. Breaks down proteins, destroys protein residues, fights against pathogenic microflora.

• Methyl ethers - act as components of a rinse aid, are used to reduce the surface tension of water. Contributes to the complete disposal of cleaning agent residues.

• Glycerol - is introduced into preparations to increase the viscosity of working components; it is obtained from starch.

• Amylase and protease - fermented supplements that break down carbohydrates and proteins. Both the one and the other component belongs to natural enzymes, so they are absolutely safe.

• Subtilisin - Another natural enzyme that promotes the breakdown of lipids.

• Limonen - a flavoring agent of natural origin.

• Sodium gluconate - softens water, removes salts from the walls of the dishwasher.

It is obvious that the composition of modern drugs for PMM is safe for health. Most of their components are obtained naturally or found in nature. The cheapest products can use phosphates, but most of the manufacturers these days have abandoned them.

If we talk about the principle of the tablet, then there are 3 main components involved in the cleaning mechanism. They begin their activity at the moment the briquette dissolves, which occurs in layers. First, the detergent and salt enter the cleaning process, and the rinse aid is added at the end of the program.

The benefits of pills are clear. This is a dosed drug, it cannot be sprinkled or accidentally inhaled like a powder. One tablet is for one cleaning cycle. The drug has a balanced composition that simultaneously cleans dishes and protects the walls of equipment from limescale.

However, pills have their drawbacks. If the dishes are washed in short cycles, there is a lot of a whole tablet. However, it is impossible to reduce the dosage - the preparation is compressed so strongly that it is not possible to break it.

Dishwasher tablets differ in their composition and form of release.

The critical factor in the selection of tablets is their composition. It is on it that the quality of cleaning and the maintenance of the PMM depend on it. Conventionally, all tablet preparations can be divided into:

• one-component is a compressed cleaning powder with a minimum dosage of salt;

• multicomponent - combined preparations (3 in 1, 5 in 1, 7 in 1 and even "All in 1");

• ecological products - biodegradable tablets without fragrances and phosphates.

One-component formulations are relevant for everyday washing of lightly soiled utensils. Stubborn stains and burnt food debris may be difficult to handle. Their use is accompanied by the addition of rinse aid and specialized salt.

The maximum result is given by multicomponent formulations. Their balanced formula neutralizes even the most difficult stains, and the presence of special additives improves water quality, gives cups and plates a glossy shine, disinfects, flavors, and also protects PMM from salt deposits.

In this case, the numerical values ​​in the name do not mean the number of ingredients at all, but the number of options. For example, washing, anti-grease, anti-scale, disinfection, shine and others. However, such pills are much more expensive. Therefore, if the kitchen utensils are not heavily contaminated, then the purchase of multicomponent formulations will be economically impractical.

Eco-friendly tablets have their own advantages and disadvantages. They are safe for the body and hypoallergenic, so they can be safely used to clean children's dishes. They cope well with delicate utensils and work even at low temperatures. But they cannot remove colored stains from coffee and tea.

Most modern manufacturers have placed detergent tablets in a biodegradable, water-soluble polymer capsule. It is convenient, in addition, it avoids contact of the skin with aggressive components. The cheapest products do not contain such a capsule; they have to be taken out and placed in the machine by hand.

According to user reviews, among the dishwasher tablets on the market, the absolute leaders are the products of the leading brands.

• Finish - are produced in several versions, the manufacturer calls them "All in one". These tablets are distinguished by their high quality of cleaning, they effectively wash out even complex contaminants, while protecting the PMM from the appearance of scale. However, the manufacturer does not advertise the composition of the product, which is why many treat the tablets of this brand with distrust.

• Somat - tablets 7 in 1. In addition to detergent, rinse aid and salt, they contain ingredients that effectively remove colored stains from tea and coffee. The working ingredients give the stainless cookware a glossy shine. There is a soak option, so there is no need to turn on the pre-rinse.

• Fairy Platinum - one of the best means for removing vegetable and animal fats, sold in a soluble shell. Gives high cleaning results even when washing in cold water, gives the dishes a glossy shine. Fights scale, can clean silver utensils. There is only one drawback - too strong aromatized fragrance.

• Filtero - relatively budget tablets. In addition to cleaning and rinsing, they perform the function of giving shine to steel dishes, and protecting the glass. The tablets effectively deal with unpleasant odors.

• Frosch - cheap pills. The dishes are well cleaned, but they must be used in a set with salt and rinse aid.

• Sun All in 1 - a high-quality product, in addition to components for washing dishes, contains substances that protect the glass from damage.

• Topperr - tablets of category 5 in 1. In addition to the standard functions, cleaning of silver and protection of glass surfaces is added here. They have a long shelf life.

Choosing the right dishwasher tablets can be tricky. If you study the information on the packaging, you will notice that many components are included in the composition of any tablets. At the same time, the structure of multicomponent drugs does not differ so much from the basic ones, most often advertising acts on buyers. Therefore, when choosing a product, it is worth paying attention to the nature of the main ingredients. It is best to give preference to phosphate-free products from the "eco" series - they do not cause allergic reactions and irritation in the user. A wide range of "green" chemicals is presented by Finnish and Japanese companies.

The most practical is to buy tablets in biodegradable packaging. In this case, the briquette will get to work faster. In addition, the skin of the hands will be protected from contact with detergents.

When choosing a product for a dishwasher, you should take into account the capacity, the class of technology, as well as the hardness of the water.

There are several points to keep in mind.

Chlorine formulations are suitable for occasional cleaning of cutting boards. They show a consistently high performance in removing old stains from pans as well as baking trays and pots.

Enzyme preparations are slightly alkaline preparations suitable for daily washing of dishes with a low degree of contamination. Provides delicate cleaning even at temperatures of 30-40 degrees. However, they are not suitable for bleaching.

Formulations with active oxygen are the most expensive tablets, the safest for the user. In addition, they ensure the perfect whiteness of your cups and plates.

The detergents used to clean dishes in a dishwasher are expensive. That is why some thrifty housewives are thinking about their alternative. In addition, not everyone trusts the chemical composition of finished products, so they prefer homemade detergents.

You can make dishwasher tablets at home from available budget components:

• baking soda - 2 cups

• water - 1 glass;

• table salt - 1 glass;

• citric acid - 0.5 cups.

To make tablets, you need plastic or silicone ice containers. The manufacturing process includes several steps.

A glass of soda is carefully poured onto a baking sheet, evenly distributed on it and placed in the oven for 30 minutes at a temperature of 180-200 degrees. During heating, the soda must be stirred so that it does not burn. After removing from the oven, the product becomes dull and crumbly.

Pour the prepared soda into a bowl, add salt, lemon and 1 more glass of unheated soda there. All this is mixed, then a little water is added for foaming. It is necessary to wait until the foam disappears, then add a little more water, repeat the manipulations several times.

The resulting blanks are mixed and packaged in ice molds at the rate of 1.5 tsp. into each one. This should be done as quickly as possible, since the mixture thickens quickly.

The molds are left in the cold for 30-40 minutes. The tablets are ready, you just need to place them in any airtight container for storage.

There are several other popular soda-based recipes.

To create tablets you will need:

• 250 g of soda;

• 600 g of magnesium;

• 250 g borax;

• 50 g lemon juice.

If you wish, you can add a little baby washing powder, no more than one glass. To achieve a pleasant smell, essential compositions are introduced, it is better to give preference to citrus and lavender. All dry ingredients are mixed with lemon juice, then sorted into molds. The resulting blanks are placed in a dry place. The dried tablets are completely ready for use.

For 8 parts of washing powder, take 4 parts of soda ash. Water is used as the main binder. This mixture is mixed with dish cleaner, the molds are filled and sent to dry.

To make tablets according to this recipe, you will need 8 parts of any baby washing powder, 3 parts of baking soda and 0.3 parts of dishwashing gel.... All components are thoroughly mixed, formed into briquettes.

To prepare the product, 150 g of washing powder is combined with 50 g of soda ash, 10 g of glycerin is added. Knead well, packaged in silicone molds and dry.

Prepare a mixture based on 7 tbsp. l. dry mustard and 1 tbsp. l. soda. The components are combined with 2 tbsp. l. spoons of hot water, thoroughly knead and pack in molds.

It is quite simple to use pills for PMM. The main thing is to choose the optimal detergent depending on the degree of soiling of the dishes, and place it in the compartment for cleaning agents.... After that, you need to activate the wash cycle.

However, there are a number of factors that need to be taken into account.

The dirtier the dishes, the more aggressive the tablet should be. When cleaning lightly soiled kitchen utensils, it is enough to put a tablet based on one component or 3 in 1. But if you are dealing with burnt and dried layers, it is better to give preference to compositions 5 in 1 and even 7 in 1.

Be sure to remove the wrapper if the capsule is not water soluble. The biodegradable casing is a big advantage, it is comfortable to use and your hands stay clean. But such tablets are more expensive, so many people buy formulations in insoluble shells in order to save money.

Place the tablet correctly. All dishwashers are equipped with a special dispenser compartment, it is a chamber with a lid where you can put the product. At a certain point, depending on the wash cycle, the lid opens, the tablet falls out and dissolves in the water. It is very important to place the cube across, and not to put it on the edge. In this case, you should make sure that the compartment is dry - otherwise the tablet will dissolve and will not fall out.

If there are few dirty utensils, or a mini typewriter, then using a whole tablet will be uneconomical. In this case, it is better to divide it into 2 parts.

Select the correct wash cycle. Most of the tablet preparations are designed for a long working cycle of at least 1 hour, excluding preliminary soaking and finishing rinsing. Heating the water is also important, not all tablets are effective at low temperatures. Information on this is contained on the packaging of the tablets.