Chlorine will indeed render enzymes inactive. I will take a guess that although the enzymes were not working the bleach and surfactants worked together to give you a superior clean. Would be just as if you were using a chlorine based detergent rather than enzyme based. also remember dry chlorine bleach was what was once used in powdered bleach laden dishwashing detergent. Larsi, could you smell a hint of chlorine? I would bet your d/w had that old fashioned clean scent. I'm glad you experimented with this, I had been planning to but since I've been using mostly boil out there was no need to add more chlorine. I will try this today though, I'll use the Dropps and bleach crystals as I'd like to see how well it does with a phosphated detergent. ..Thanks Larsi..Good Job!

Thanks Mama! I was VERY happy with the results, and kind of expected to find everything crusty and nasty (I kept imagining the chlorine bleach crystals murdering the poor enzymes ;)

There was a TINY, faint hint of bleach smell (but sooooo little). Everything smelled so clean, fresh and perfect. Not just smelled, but looked and felt perfect too!!

Larsi, uou may have just discovered a way for me to use up these 3 tall boxes of Cascade Complete powder. They have just been sitting in my laundry closet taking up space.

Larsi, that's exactly what I thought about doing with the bleach crystals! I've been suffering from my dishes/glasses having a fishy smell no matter what detergent I use and I thought maybe this would help. And yes, my dw is clean.

I don't think all the enzymes would be rendered ineffective since most of the bleach would be washed away as it was added to the prewash.

Now I should have comprehended what I read in Larsi's original post. If these crystals are added to only the prewash than your enzymes in your main wash should be fine ad they arnt exposed to the chlorine...So Larsi this should give you the best of both worlds.

I saw Sin's comment about this and I sooo want to try this too! I always like to see you try new things Larsi! It's fun to try these experiments!!

I ran a huge bobload last night using 1.5 TBS of the Cascade w/ Dawn Powder (vintage, with phosphates) that MamaP sent me. Perfect, flawless results. I can't believe how much I like that detergent. I wish it were still made!

Glad you are having good results using some bleach crystals in the pre-wash. There is another user here who adds a splash of bleach into the beginning of each DW cycle. Maybe dadoes? Can't remember.

Alex, I used to do thst after learning that over on AW, but I haven't for quite sometime, I used a shotglass of chlorine bleach.

Ah, yes. Maybe it was you after all. I always picture you using a shotglass for something else though, Cheryl.

Me drink LOL..haven't drank in years..can't abide the stuff. A few years ago I decided a blueberry wine cooler was called for on Thanksgiving day..I was busy in the kitchen cooking up a feast, it was unusually hot so I opened the window, anyway after talking to my son he showed up with a blueberry wine cooler ir was it Boons farm wine I can't remember. .I drank about a wine glass full, I felt all elegant in the kitchen wearing my apron with pink cupcake design with a tea towel over my shoulder and wearing my pink fluffy slippers holding a crystal wine glass..Soap Opra style...than suddenly the room was unbearably hot, and I felt like I could whip pasta noodles around the room. I must have been slightly drunk...which would have been fine lol, but I hadn't eaten yet that day and my stomache ulcer started acting up before I knew it I was running to the bathroom, and yelling for Ativan...I ended up laying down for half an hour but my stomach has never been the same since...So Alex, in what way do you picture me with a shot glass LMAO.

It was Mark from AW but he is on here now and then also. He said he used a shot glass of bleach . That's where Pink got it and seems he posted it here also.

:) I think it's just your infectious personality and edgy humor. It's easy to imagine sitting around sipping a cocktail with you. But don't worry. Whatever you don't drink, the rest of us will (talking about Vegas here).

Yes Mama will insist the rest of you drink my share, I will be dancing on the table regardless the drink...haha.

I know I have dry humor, its gotton me in much trouble thru the years, expecially with people that don't really know me. My sister has the same humor, put us at the same dinner table and there would be problems. Speaking of my sister, I haven't seen her in must be 6 goin on 7 years. Once in a blue moon we text..I've ask her to pop in here but it hasn't happened, she had a Kenmore TL must be 25-30 years old, still goin..several months ago she aquired a GE FL matching set about a year old..I've not heard from her as to what she thinks of it. Anyway maybe someday she will pop in here.

MamaP....you need to get in contact with your sister. Unless she is a total Bit*h, life is too short to not have a relationship!

@Alex....I would LOVE to try that vintage Cascade powder MamaP sent you! Maybe we can do a swap? I can mail you some more vintage Tide 'he' powder for a little ziploc baggie of Cascade with Phosphates?!

@Larsi - you bet! That sounds like a BEAUTIFUL trade :)

NO NO NO...I have your box Larsi..forgive this old lady for not already having it to you..I will mail it tomorrow ill get you the tracking info tomorrow sometime.

The way I used it was in the main detergent dispenser, so it get dispensed with the main wash and detergent. The pre-wash just gets detergent. I thought about the enzymes so it made sense to dispense in the main, and the pre-wash would allow the enzymes to break down gross soils, and it's lower water temperature. I am using Cascade (Sams Club big box). It appeared the advantage of the higher temperature main wash @ 140F with detergent and chlorine was ideal for cleaning and rapid disinfection. It's followed by two rinses at 140F or if a Sanitary rinse is selected the final rinse is boosted to 156F with Jet Dry followed by a heated dry. Either or the results are fabulous. There is a hint of chlorine while the machine is running. I have also tried Cascade and added STPP which did a great job also. I really do like the flash disinfection and the convenience of crystals I can dispense automatically. You can be certain those dishes are well sanitized. Great for sick households with kids and leaves the dishwasher smelling clean and fresh.

I used these Clorox Bleach Crystals again last night with my new Finish Advanced powder. I added about a teaspoon of bleach crystals to the prewash compartment and then filled the main compartment with DW powder.

CRAZY amazing!!! There were a few casserole and baking dishes that I honestly was totally prepared that they would not get fully cleaned....spotless. Glasses and flatware (utensils) amazingly shiny and silky. Interior of machine is actually pretty, LOL ;)

I think we have a winner.

Be careful adding to pre-wash. I typically do not pre rinse dishes. With that said it's advisable to run the pre-wash with detergent only. Bleach will react with vinegar and a number of other substances, which could create hazardous gasses. After the pre-wash it's safe to add to the main wash, since all gross contamination would have washed and flushed away.

@rpsinfoman....I only add the bleach crystals to the prewash compartment but I am NOT running a pre-wash or pre-rinse cycle.

On the Miele, the pre-wash compartment is marked for the usage of 120% detergent, when not using for pre-washing or pre-rinsing. I just add the bleach crystals to the pre-wash compartment, because the main detergent compartment is either full with detergent powder or a pod/tablet ;)

Also, I do NOT manually pre-rinse dishes...just scrape and load into the machine.

Thanks though :)

-Larsi

Over the past few days. I had my own little experiment with bleach in the pre-wash.

The first picture is my tea cups, stained with Early Grey tea + milk + hard water.

This is is after the pre-wash with a teaspoon of the wonderful Aldi ''Alio Compact'' powder. This wash last 15 minutes, starts cold and heats up to about 120F.

More tea-stained cups, waiting to be bleached.

I poured a little Dan Klorix right into the water, after the dishwasher had filled. 15 minutes later...

Final thoughts... The bleach pre-wash probably had the tea stains knocked out in minutes, while the detergent needed the hot wash cycle (or an extended low-temp wash) to get the same results. Opening the door to check on the results also took me right back to the mid-90s, when I used my aunts GE dishwash with Cascade powder - the smell of bleach.

On the other hand, I wonder about possible negative side-effects on delicate, unprotected patterns on glasses and on the dishwasher itself. After all, chlorinated dishwasher detergents for domestic use were phased out some good 20 years ago and modern detergents conatin buffer agents to protect dishes.

In the end, I will stick with a teaspoon of powder in the pre-wash, as it's easier to dose (goes in even before the machine starts), potentially gentler, and I get perfectly clean dishes either way. The bleach smell is nice, though.

@ Whirlpool Trainee....I am really surprised you can buy chlorine bleach in Germany. I thought it is verboten, as it is in Sweden.

You can't buy phosphate nor borax here... but we can buy bleach. Dan Klorix is the most famous one. Then there is overpriced Eau de Javel and a few store brands. However, we usually don't clean with bleach so even Dan Klorix only comes in three versions and these are just different scents. Nothing like the plethora of Clorox versions.