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Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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Posted by
jalsy6 (
My Page) on
Mon, Jul 30, 12 at 11:02
| Ugh, I am so frustrated. We purchased and installed a lovely new Bosch Integra 500 series, panel ready, this past winter. I've read all about the recommended finish powerball, but wanted to use something more environmentally (and health) friendly...so I've been using the Smarty dishtabs by Method.
6 months later, my glasses look HORRIBLE! So totally cloudy, and nothing will remove it, not vinegar, bleach, nothing. I called Bosch and was told it could be hard or soft water, but I don't understand why my neighbors' glasses look fine out of their dishwashers?
Is this my fate with this machine that cost me $800 plus dollars? If so, take it back. I can't give these glasses to company...nevermind that they look dirty just drinking from them.
Any suggestions would be so appreciated.
Thanks,
Jalsy |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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Maybe your neighbors are using a different/better detergent.
I gotten to where I only recommend the Finish tabs or Quantum for my customers that have the same complaint as yours and it seems to alsways take care of the problem. YOu may need to run a couple citric acid baths before switching but I do suggest switching to an enzyme based detergent. All the others seen to cause the conditions you describe. |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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| Cloudiness on glassware that *will not* wash or wipe off, even with vinegar, is likely etching, which is permanent. It's caused by excessive detergent dosage ... common in soft water conditions (do you have a household water softener?) and is exacerbated by prerinsing before loading (do you handwash your dishes before loading them into the machine?) -- there's very little food soil so the overly-strong detergent solution chemically-damages the glassware. Use of tablets and gelpaks in soft water conditions also contributes to the problem because the dosage can't be moderated as it can with traditional powders. |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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Yep sounds like etching which is more because of the detergent than anything else.
I use the "Finish all in one tabs" work just fine for us and get them cheap at Costco. Glassware is crystal clear. |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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| Also, etched glassware is not dirty, it's simply covered with bunches of tiny scratches. The glasses still work so there's really no reason to dispose of them. They don't look nice for company or dinner parties, but can still be used for your daily meals & snacks. |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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| I agree with Dadoes that it's likely a case of excessive detergent. Do you know if your water is hard or soft? I use the Method Smarty Tabs and always break them in half, even for very full loads. I like that Method has no bleach nor excessive suds, but I think a whole tab would be too much unless your water is very hard. |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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Thanks for all the input. I did try breaking the smarty tabs in half...didn't seem to make a huge difference. I'm sad if my glasses are ruined, but if I understand dadoes point correctly one can't put glasses in the dw that have only been used for say, water, since they're not dirty enough? That is just a giant inconvenience for such an expensive appliance! Tonight we ran it using the finish powerball so we'll see how that turns out...
Any advice is greatly appreciated! |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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| No, the glasses themselves don't have to be dirty but you need a load that has dirty dishes in it. If you pre-rinse everything, there won't be any dirt for the enzymes to interact with and they will start etching dishes, glasses, etc. |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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| Your glasses may not be ruined. I was amazed at how lovely and clear all my horrible looking glassware became after four months of hand washing with sponge and Dawn during my remodel. I too was ready to throw them all away. They clouded up a bit again with a week or so using my brand new top of the line KA and Cascade. Searched this forum and tried the Finish tabs. Made it better. But still not as lovely as the hand washing. I'm thinking a week break of the DW then back to the Finish tabs. Don't give up yet! |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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I did try breaking the smarty tabs in half...didn't seem to make a huge difference. Tonight we ran it using the finish powerball so we'll see how that turns out... Etching *cannot* be removed from glassware after it has occurred ... so changing detergent, dosage, or dishwasher usage habits WILL NOT have any effect on the glasses that are already etched. The only visual feedback you will have on the change is whether no damage occurs on NEW glassware or any you already have that are not yet etched. |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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| Etching, which is permanent, is a function of soft water, heat and detergent interaction. I had it before my DW was adjusted because we have a whole-house water softener. First, it would be a good idea to test the water so you know the hardness for sure. Then, if your DW is hooked up to hot water, fimd out how hot the water is from your hot water heater. With that info, Bosch should be able to help you adjust so you don't get etched glassware. We have very soft water and I use smarty tabs. No problems now since my machine ( older Miele) was adjusted. I do use Quantum tabs for dirty or Loads with pots & pans.
Good luck! |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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| I had not ever heard of Smarty Tabs so I looked them up. It appears that not too many people are happy with the product. Many complaints about film and cloudy dishes. I would recommend that you call or email them and see what they can tell you. Here is the contact info from their website.
email info@methodhome.com
phone (866) 9-method or (866) 963-8463 As for as a dishwasher. It's just a box with hot water spraying in it. The dishwasher it'self doesn't cause etching. It's the chemicals used and water type that causes the issue. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Method - Smarty Tab
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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| There were quite a lot of 5 star reviews on Jakvis' link too. Actually 4 out of 5 stars total from 48 reviewers, pretty good. I agree with other posters here that negative reviews due to etching are from too much detergent and people's irrational compulsion to pre-rinse. Why spend the money on a DW, plus the water and energy costs, if you are also going to wash dishes in the sink beforehand? Anyway, when there is nothing for the detergent to "work on", it etches glass. I too use Method Smarty tablets and break them in half. I've tried the Finish balls and you cannot break them in half, and they fill my DW with too much suds. Though Finish is cheaper. |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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| We had the same problem and I was ready to replace the dishwasher. It also left a visible film on dishes (that could be wiped away) in addition to ruining the glasses with etching. The problem for us was using too much detergent - I guess I was filling the cup with the liquid I had used for years. I changed to Cascade all in one packets, to control the dosage better, and bought a new set of cheap glasses at Walmart to try it. The film disappeared and in nearly a year, the glasses still look nearly brand new, no etching. I threw the old ones away. They looked so bad I was embarrassed to have a guest use them. We run that dishwasher daily (4 kids) and my kids don't typically prerinse, just hopefully empty out the big chunks of food first. |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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| I cut the finish tabs in half with a sturdy knife. no etching and always clean. I read it on the web, and chose to try it out. It works just fine. |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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Wow you guys are great. Thank you for all the input, and Jakvis for the resource at method. Just to be clear, I don't prewash the dishes, but I do give them a quick rinse because my dw doesn't have a food grinder. I guess maybe I should just scrape really well?
I would agree that the glasses are etched. Beautifully clean, but etched. I do find it frustrating that I have to go out and buy cheap glasses so I can use my brand new appliance...seems kind of funny actually. I did find the smarty tabs did fine in terms of cleaning...just the glass problem stinks. How would I go about testing the water, and then how would that info influence how I deal with the dishwasher/detergent?
I'm overwhelmed and sort of annoyed that this problem is going to require so much work...by this time I could have hand washed all my dishes LOL!!
Thanks again for all the great suggestions. |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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I guess maybe I should just scrape really well? DO NOT rinse. Scrape off the bulk of food chunks, bones & seeds ... *really well* isn't necessary. |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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You get strips to test the water. Then tell customer care what the water hardness is and ask if dishwasher can be adjusted.
Again, check the temp of the water coming from the hot water heater. Perhaps it needs to be turned down. Someone here can tell you optimum water temp.
We just scrape dishes. Any bits are trapped in the filter. You likely have one, too. Once this is done you should be set for the life of the dw. Some of us went through the same thing. |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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| I found the water hardness/softness test strips at my local Lowe's or Home Depot (can't remember which store). FWIW, I have also read that it is now quite necessary to have a rinse agent with these new DWs. For some reason, it makes a difference. Maybe because the new detergents are so *carppy* with their new formulations, now that phosphates have been removed. Nobody complained before then. |
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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| Before throwing your glasses out try washing them in the d/w just using Glass Magic. The Glass Magic will not make your glasses worse but it may make them better so it's worth a try. I believe glass magic can be picked up at most super markets. I also had some glasses that had some slight etching and I noticed they looked much better after I switched to Quantum detergent. There is something about the Quantum that really puts a good shine on the dishes. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Glass Magic
RE: Help, so frustrated with my cloudy glasses!
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| I had no problem for years with Seventh Generation, but Finish has caused etching recently. |
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