Dishwasher salt - how to replace it: 2 options and 2 tips

The economy must be economical! This is what Brezhnev once said and many housewives completely agree with him, and they especially agree at a time when there is no extra money on hand and the dishwasher has run out of salt. And they have a completely logical thought: how to replace salt for the dishwasher? If it's just salt, then why pay a lot of money for it?

Let's look into this issue together and consider all the options.
Because the fact that it is salt does not mean at all that it is table salt and completely identical. See also:
Basic rules for using a dishwasher

1st option - table salt

Let me note right away that I do not recommend using substitutes and analogues during the warranty period. Otherwise, you may be left without a warranty and free service, even if the problem is not caused by the quality of the salt. If the service center discovers that you used the wrong composition, the warranty will be void.

When it comes to regular table salt, there are three main options.

Let's see how to use this option:

1. Pour about 50 grams into a glass. salt and add 100 g. water . Stir until the crystals are completely dissolved. Carefully inspect the liquid - if it is clean, then the option is suitable for the dishwasher, but if it is cloudy and there is sediment at the bottom, then it is better not to use this solution.
2. Once you have decided what salt to put in the dishwasher, choose how to use it. The easiest way is to pour the composition as is. Fill no more than a third of the container’s volume, so the layer will not harden and will be better washed out of the ion exchanger.
3. You can use an aqueous solution, the proportion of components is 1:1 . This prevents petrification of the layer, but the composition will have to be added more often.

Three-in-one capsules

three in one
Three-in-one capsules are produced not as a salt substitute for dishwashers, but as a universal product that can simplify the dishwashing process as much as possible. The capsule itself consists of several layers, each of which opens in a certain period of time.

The first two layers open up and dissolve in the water due to the high temperature of the water. The third layer is included in the process while rinsing dishes. The last, fourth layer dissolves at the final stage of washing dishes - during rinsing.

It is thanks to the multilayer structure that three-in-one capsules can be called a universal remedy. They can replace not only dishwasher salt, but also the detergent itself. However, experts recommend using such capsules only for long-term dishwashing regimes. Otherwise, the layers of the capsule will not dissolve at the right time and the dishes will not be cleaned well.

2nd option - tableted salt for softener filters

You can replace the salt with this option.

General information

The resin, gradually wasting its supply, is regenerated thanks to salt in order to fulfill its task. In the hopper, under the lower basket, there is a compartment intended for this substance. You can open it yourself.

It all depends on the density and nature of the water. If it is not very hard, then the substance will last for a couple of months, but with contaminated and hard water - only for a couple of starts. Once the salt reserves begin to run low, a special red indicator, which is located on the control panel of the dishwasher, will give a signal. This is the principle of operation of this substance. Now it becomes clear that it is impossible to do without using salt.

Do-it-yourself detergent compositions

Homemade recipe

It was invented by thrifty housewives. The annual cost is 700 rubles. To prepare you need to stock up:

• Soda - calcined Na2CO3 / food grade NaHCO3;
• Dry mustard;
• Inexpensive washing powder.

The ratio of soda, mustard and powder is 10:3:3. After pouring everything into a metal or glass container, store the composition in a cool, dry place. Shelf life: six months. Advantages:

• Cheapness;
• Easy to make - the ingredients are readily available and mixing them is not difficult.

The disadvantage is the presence of surfactants. We have already talked above about the dangers of this remedy. True, there won't be much of it here. The second disadvantage is that mustard can clog the impeller. The option is tolerable, it washes dishes well, but you need rinse aid so that there are no streaks left on the plates. It is advisable to alternate the “homemade product” with special tablets for PMM. If you use the homemade composition constantly, you will have to clean the device weekly.

Rinse aid substitute

Replacing rinse aid is much easier than replacing special detergents. A budget substitute is prepared from 100 ml of water, 50 ml of hand washing gel and 30 ml of ethyl alcohol. All this is carefully mixed, but not shaken. This must be done every time before use. Housewives claim that this composition is an excellent replacement for gel for washing not very dirty dishes.

Homemade tablets

It is impossible to make a complete substitute for tablets that combine several effects. But it is not difficult to produce an ersatz product of classic tablet drugs. You will need:

• Epsom salt - 100 g;
• Borax (can be bought at your nearest pharmacy) - 100 g;
• Freshly squeezed lemon juice - 100 g;
• Soda ash - 200 g.

Preparation procedure:

• Pour the ingredients into the container and gradually add lemon juice. The composition, which must be constantly stirred, will emit a hissing sound.
• When the mixture “goes silent”, it is poured into an ice tray.
• The mold is placed in direct sunlight or, in the worst case, on a hot radiator.
• When the cubes are dry, they are taken out - these are the finished tablets.

Such cubes easily replace cheap analogues produced specifically for dishwashers.

With hydrogen peroxide

You will need soda ash, hydrogen peroxide and hot water. For a glass - a teaspoon of both. This solution will not cope with burnt pans, but it will work well for forks, spoons, and plates.

With mustard

Ingredients: 250 g mustard, 125 g borax, 250 g soda ash. Store in the dark. This composition is good for both dishwasher and hand washing.

Homemade "chemistry"

This recipe is distinguished by the presence of chemical components. It is prepared not for the sake of environmental friendliness and safety, but to save money. This is an offer from amateur home chemists. In fact, this is also an ersatz product, a cheap analogue of store-bought chemicals. You will need:

• Neonol - 25 g;
• Sulfanol - 25 g;
• Soda (baking/ash) - 950 g.

The first two components are surfactants, they are commercially available. It turns out that a 30-gram dose contains only 1.5 g of surfactant. It is inconvenient to pour such a tiny amount into the compartment, so a powdery substance is used for the base. A kilogram of this home remedy costs only 50 rubles. It performs well in water with low hardness. For tough ones, be sure to add salt.

Recipes from users

№1

Consumers never stop sharing new recipes. There are especially many people who want to create effective substitutes for tablets. The latter are the most effective. You will need:

• Washing powder - 700 g;
• Soda - 300 g.

They are diluted with a small amount of water and poured into a mold, for example, for ice cubes. It is important here that the volume of the product does not exceed the dimensions of the dispenser.

№2

Required components:

• Children's powder - 80 g;
• Soda - 20 g;
• A little regular hand washing liquid.

Pour the mixture into molds. Suitable for Eco mode.

№3

Ingredients:

• Baking soda - 150 g;
• Borax - 200 g;
• Magnesia - 1500 g.

The components are mixed and adjusted to the desired consistency by adding citric acid/lemon juice. This composition is more environmentally friendly than the previous two.

When preparing tablets, it is advisable to wear gloves and even a mask - the components are too dusty.

№4

Homemade gel:

• Boil a liter of water;
• Add 50 g of laundry soap;
• Stir until smooth;
• Add 45 g of soda ash. Stir until it dissolves;
• Wait until the composition cools down;
• Add a few drops of essential oil;
• The product can now be used. It is poured into a container from which it will be taken as needed.

№5

Homemade rinse:

• Lemon juice - 5 tbsp;
• Essential oil - 2 tbsp;
• Glass cleaner - 1 tbsp.

To replace or not to replace?

Experts believe that tablets made from food-grade sodium chloride may be the best replacement for expensive salt formulations. The following facts support them:

• The tablet form allows the product to dissolve evenly and for a long time, maintaining the optimal concentration of sodium chloride ions.
• A 25 kg package is enough for more than 2 years.
• Convenient to lay.

Attention! By replacing a special tool with an analogue, you risk that the equipment will lose its warranty. Therefore, it is better to use cheap substitutes after the warranty has expired.

Can I use washing powder?

Before the advent of effective special products for washing large and difficult-to-clean dishes, housewives used to use washing powder - it easily cleaned off any dirt. However, it absolutely cannot be used in PMM because:

• Creates a lot of foam - it interferes with high-quality washing;
• Contains toxic substances that remain on the surface of the plates even after repeated rinsing. If you wash dishes with powder and then heat food in it in a microwave oven, you can get poisoned or have an allergic reaction.

Review of popular tools

There is a wide range of special products on the market that are recommended for use in softening water in the dishwasher. The choice of a specific composition is purely subjective, since all samples have their positive and negative sides.

Finish

Owners of a washing machine or dishwasher are familiar with this manufacturer firsthand. The brand produces various rinses, powders and tablets of the “3 in 1” type. Its advantage is excellent performance at an affordable price. A pack of 1.5 kg costs 200-300 rubles - this will be enough for long-term use (up to 3 months). Basic properties:

• makes the water softer and prevents scale from forming on the heater;
• improves the quality of washing;
• prevents the appearance of unpresentable smudges.

Magic Power

A product from a low price category with excellent performance indicators. For 1.5 kg you will pay about 150 rubles. Due to the large size of the crystals, the consumption of the drug is economical.

Please note: how long this volume will last depends on the degree of water hardness - the higher it is, the higher the consumption.

The substance softens water, improves the quality of the washing process, and prevents the heating element from becoming coated. This brand also produces cleaning tablets that are used for the same purposes. The main thing is that your PMM model provides for the possibility of using “3 in 1” products.

Sodasan

From ordinary purified salt. There is nothing superfluous in it, no additives. For environmental friendliness you have to pay for the quality of washing - it is lower than when using other products. Sold in packs of 2 kg. The cost is about 500 rubles. The pack is used for about a year - consumption depends on the hardness of the water.

Often, products with marks indicating environmental friendliness are unreasonably expensive. The “eco” and “bio” signs are nothing more than an advertising ploy.

Yplon

Rare product. Sold in a pack weighing 4 kg, and costs only 500 rubles. Good softener. Prevents the formation of smudges.

Somat

This powder is characterized by high purity of salt and complete absence of impurities. The quality of the substance is confirmed by numerous certificates. The crystals in the pack of this product are smaller than others. Among the advantages, consumers note the excellent ratio of quality and cost. You can buy Somat powder in almost any household chemical store.

Eonite

This brand produces 2 types of salt: Cleanvon and Natural (regenerating). The latter product is made only from natural ingredients, while the former is 99.9% purified.

What kind of deposit forms on the dishwasher?

According to the photo, a white coating is visible on the bottom of the dishwasher and on the door.
To check, I drew the word “plaque” on the door of my dishwasher with my finger. Limescale deposits cannot be erased at the touch of a finger; they can only be scratched with your fingernails. From this I conclude that it is not limescale that has accumulated on the bottom and door of my dishwasher over the course of the year, but ordinary dirt, maybe it’s poorly washed off powder.

How do I deal with plaque? I use dishwasher cleaner. The last time I cleaned the dishwasher was a year ago with Finish cleaner. This cleaner is expensive. Therefore, I chose an analogue Lotta cleaner, its price is no more than 200 rubles. Right in the store, I compared the composition of Finish and Lotta, all the components were the same.