Thanks for the tip Susan!

Yes, thanks, Susan!! It's always good to get a recommendation from someone you know who has used and likes a product. I've seen those in the store and almost bought them, but Hubs said just to "get the regular Cascade." Next time I'll get those. :-)

I just started using Cascade tablets and had the same reaction. My husband bought the powder and it works just as well. Finally I don't have to wash the dishes before I load the dishwasher. Yah!!!

Was it the cascade complete? I've been using that for years and my dishes don't sparkle. In fact sometimes I have to do them all over by hand.

What happen to the "Homemade" one, no good?

For "homemade," I never progressed beyond the plain baking soda, which I used once and ended up realizing it left a coating on everything.

The tubs come in two different kinds. I *think* Cascade Complete might be the other one. The one I bought has a green lid. I vaguely remember that it wasn't the more expensive of the two at the smaller size, but it was the only one (at my Walmart) that came in the 54 oz. size.

The Cascade powder never worked as well for me.

Oh, and I ran out of rinse aid but it doesn't seem to matter. The tub says "rinses away residue," so maybe the blue liquid is a rinse aid. I'm in no hurry to pay six bucks for another bottle.

For those who have hard water and find their dishwasher doesn't seem to be working as well as it used to, the answer may be because all dishwasher detergent manufacturers had to stop adding phosphates to their formulas last summer. (although they could continue selling the product until the stores ran out).

Lemi-shine is a product, found near the dishwasher detergent in many stores, that works amazing well. cleared up my cloudy glasses within 2 washes. Our newspaper and local TV channels (Tampa) have done numerous reports on it. You use it in the 2nd detergent cup of your machine instead of more detergent.

ML

Thanks for the recommendation... I think we may have the same dishwasher... I used the electrosol tabs now but I think I may have to give the cascade pacs a try.

I recently bought the cascade complete packets and like them so far, I too have a high end Kenmore with stainless steel that I am not fond of at all, I had a KitchenAid which looked very similar to this Kenmore at my other house and it worked beautifully. I have been very disappointed in this Kenmore. I truly have to fill up a sink of hot soapy water and hand wash everything before it goes in the dishwasher and with my hands that is extremely difficult and painful.

the cascade complete have the blue and green liquid along with the white powder, this is how they are described on the website. (I had big hope since they say it takes off 24 hr old mess)
"Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs� combines the best of powder and gel in one powerful pac to conquer tough food cleaning and greasy messes. It pre-treats, fights stains, and rinses away tough food particles; all while fighting through layers of residue and leaving nothing behind but shine.It powers away 24-hour, stuck-on food so you don�t have to. "
Cascade Complete All-in-1

Raven, your link clears it up. That's not the product I have--mine is this one.

I can't imagine there's much difference between the two, though. It's always interesting how some manufacturers produce a variety of nearly-identical products to separate us from our money. :-)

My Cascade is different than either one of those, although the pillows look like Susan's. Mine's called Shine Shield Formula Cascade Extra Action w/Dawn. It does a great job and has no phosphates.

It was a happy day when they came out with those pillows. It gets so humid here the powdered kind would get hard as a rock.

Hey....I wanna know where to get that COUPON....good for any size.....!!!!!!

I am experimenting with cheaper brands other than cascade, tide, etc.. My dishes did not look clean previous to this so I soaked them in vinegar water then put them in the dishwasher. That was 3 or 4 months ago and they are still shinning even though I bought the cheapest dish washing powder I could find. I can't tell any difference in using the cheapest brands and have been saving 50% on most of the products. I hate to admit I had fallen into the hype I see on TV.

Hi Patti not yet quite 44,

And the acronymn for that would be SSFCEAwD, am I to suppose?

o j

I can't tell any difference in using the cheapest brands and have been saving 50% on most of the products. I hate to admit I had fallen into the hype I see on TV.

I used to use store brand dishwasher detergent (with so-so results), but a few years ago a repairman told me the cheaper brands don't work as well. He also said the detergent should be fairly fresh--in other words, don't stock up when it's on sale.

Patti, mine sounds the same, but mine doesn't say Extra Action. See what I mean about an over-abundance of product options? LOL

You can use vinegar (white or apple cider) in place of rinse aid. I've been using it for years. Suggested by a plumber.

I don't know if sears still sell their laundry soap, but they always said their brand was the best and knocked other brands.

Vinegar does wonders Jannie, but you need to check your manual and see what it says about using it. I was going to use it but after reading what the manual said I won't use it except for an occasional cleaning to remove stains and smells.