Yes, we had quite the e-mail chain going yesterday didn't we?? You can tell we've had illness in our house because I was cooped up with nothing to do except laundry and dishes.

I had been talking for quite some time about blitzing some grapefruit Method Smarty tabs in the blender and then cutting with STPP. The reason for this is twofold: first, I'm too lazy to add a product plus STPP. I'd rather premix, as I do with my laundry powder. Second, I, like others, find a whole Method tab to almost always be overkill. Even with an extremely large load, 1/2 to 2/3 of a tab suffices. So now I have a nice little powder, cut 2:1 with STPP, that I can dose out (and split between pre- and main-wash).

The results of the Method+STPP were very good. I washed a heavily blackened Le Creuset, and a lightly used All-Clad, and an otherwise full load of dishes, glassware, and various utensils. Everything came out clean, shiny and, most notably, SMOOTH. You get that smooth, dry feeling that one only achieves with a bit of STPP.

I still really like my Cascade Platinum pacs and of course the box of vintage Cascade that MamaP sent me. But now I have a trifecta of powerhouse detergents available to me.

You know another thing you can do that works REALLY well after you add your detergent/stpp? Before you start your dishwasher, add about a shot glass full of chlorine bleach (just pour it on the door). Bleach kills enzymes but it's pretty much washed away before the main wash cycle starts. This works really well for me. I use a finish powerball with some stpp and then the bleach....the OLD dish machine detergent contained bleach and phosphates......I think most bleach is now taken out of most detergents except for the gels....You could also put some gel that has bleach in the prewash cup too I suppose...

I read this tip from someone on automaticwasher.org. I've been doing it ever since

Alex and Larsi..GOOD JOB.

I'm glad you both have discovered the magical and wonderful benefits of adding STPP to your detergent, but even more I'm glad to see you adding the detergent/stpp at the correct ratios.

I learned a lot about this from Sudsmaster over on AW, and he actually wrote the post about STPP in our FAQ in the laundry room here. I have done tons of research on stpp and ratios but it wasn't until a few years ago that I ran across posts of Sudsmasters and learned the importance of the proper ratios. Which is why anytime anyone talks about adding stpp to a washing machine or dishwasher I chime in with making sure your adding the proper amount which makes a huge difference. (If your reading Sudsmaster Thank You)

Guys, you see what your dishes look and feel like now? PERFECTION....why not try that same ratio in your washing machines and witness the same PERFECTION.

Mark I also read that same post on AW and have had good results doing the shot glass of chlorine. I have only been doing it lately on loads that any raw meat touched since I only get temps of 140/145. But I agree it works well.

@Mark - it's funny you chimed in with this suggestion. We were just having this discussion last week on a different thread (don't remember which one). My only concern was, of course, deactivating the enzymes. But I agree that most of the chlorine should be flushed down when the prewash drains. Maybe it's not a big deal.

@MamaP - I do add STPP to laundry detergent and I know Larsi does, too. I have an acrylic container of Cheer powder mixed in the 2:1 ratio, which I love for everyday wear. It smells beautiful and rinses clear. I'll probably have to do the same thing now that I've found my gold mine of vintage Tide powders! But I need to place a new order of STPP as my bag is running low.

I wonder -- does anyone use STPP purely as a rinse aid (in the wash)? Would it work?

Alex...as a rinse aid in laundry, sure, you will be assured of well rinsed clothes as it will strip all detergent and residue out, but don't use it in the last rinse, use it in the first rinse.

You could run a test..wash a load of CLEAN towels and only add STPP check for suds..this will tell you how well your rinses are preforming.

I did a post last week about adding Clorox Chlorine Bleach crystals in the dishwasher WITH detergent. Everything came out beautiful and there was the faintest hint of chlorine bleach.....CLEAN (in our sick, OCD minds) ;) If it deactivate the enzymes or some of them...it did not matter. Dishes were spotless and perfect!!

I just feel a little STPP is probably better for the machine, dishes, metals and maybe our environment than using chlorine bleach!

A fire under the sink?? Please do tell how that came to pass.

as far as ratios - Hmm? I haven't read that article, but what if you're using a powerball TAB, but STPP powder? I've always put around a tbs of STPP in with the finish powerball. The finish powerballs and bleach WITHOUT STPP do a great job, but the stainless steel interior doesn't look as good as if STPP is used. When STPP is used, it looks perfectly spotless.

I agree about the bleach....There's something different about the smell from the dishwasher at the end. It's a faint sanitized smell that you don't get if you do not use bleach.....but if bleach isn't used, it's not like it's a bad smell, it's not....It's still a clean smell just not the SAME kind of clean smell.......you know what I mean. LOL

Suburbanmd....it was one of those "freak" things, and I still have mini nightmares thinking about the "what ifs"!! If I had not been home, or even not in the kitchen, we could have lost the house!!

I heard a loud few bangs, and then some buzzing sounds and sparking...then I saw smoke coming from under the 2 cabinets under the kitchen sink. I ran over, opened them....and almost died. Flames, sparks and the most putrid, burning electrical smell.

FREAK occurrence...The GFI plug overheated, and caught fire/exploded. Our house and wiring are not old, not shoddy (2006 build). Luckily I had a fire extinguisher in the food pantry and knew how to use it. OMFG....what a MESS!!! Powder from the extinguisher everywhere!!

Almost everything under the sink was ruined, and we had to replace wiring to the garbage disposer, Bosch hot water heater and of course new plugs, wiring and the drywall now needs to be replaced and refinished with the laminate that our inside cabinets have.

OMG - my worst nightmare! I hate the thought of fire/smoke. I have a fire extinguisher, but I have never in my life had to use one. Thank GOD you were home and able to get it out safely! I'm always paranoid about my electric blanket catching fire while I'm sleeping, but I GOTTA have my electric blanket because we keep the heat on 64 F

Yeah Mark...one of my worst nightmares. If we were not home....the house, or little beagle :( all our possessions and it could have even spread to a neighboring house....and we live up in a canyon (major fire danger). I must not have been "our time". What could of happened is staggering!!!

Mark40511....do you belong to our Facebook Family Laundry Room? If you want to join, send me a message thru Houzz with your email, and I will send you an invite. You can also just post your email right here, if you are not info sensitive or private! :)

So glad you were home, Larsi! I'm paranoid about fires also and keep extinguishers in both the kitchen and back of the house in the master closet , hanging on the wall with instructions how to use them. Glad you had one handy, fire spreads so quickly it's scary!

Larsi thankfully you had the fire extinguisher and knew how to use it. Must have been very scary. I had a fire in the toaster oven when newly married and bought one ASAP. Glad you all are ok!

Larsi just read about the fire. That is damn scary. Good thing you reacted smartly and were able to put it out quickly. I've had a room fire and it makes a mess.

Thank goodness you, your family and house are all good.

Alex, I would be careful using your pricey blender for Method tabs, these things are hard..you need my blender an old 1970's that will pulverize a rock, and that's no exaggeration. Lol

Thanks for your concern, MamaP. I have an old, cheap blender as well but I doubt it has the force to pulverize those. My pro blender didn't even hiccup. The only thing I worry about is damaging the plastic jar with the harsh alkalinity of the tabs, even the short while they are in contact. Before I do it again, I'm going to check eBay and Craigslist to see if I can get a cheap, second-hand jar to use specifically for this purpose.

So sorry to hear about your fire larsi. I'm glad there was no major damage and all are safe and sound.

Alex..my blender while only costing a few bucks used, is definitely not built cheap, these things used to be built to last. If sold in todays market it would be a high end model. high end means built to last, right? So I'd say my cheap blender from a yard sale has lasted 40+years and still going strong would for sure be a high end model with a dirt cheap price tag. Hehe.

@larsi, sooo glad you were home and in the right place at the right time. God is good and you were blessed.

Larsi, I hope you can report the brand/model info. of the GFCI to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, maybe send it to them-these are supposed to save lives and prevent hazards, and to default to a non-operational state if protection circuitry fails. Clearly not what happened in your situation. Where I live, BC Canada, most GFCI's now seem to be "CIC", Crafted in China, even the brand names you recognize for electrical components. Luckily you were there, able to respond appropriately, and equipped with the fire extinguisher. Several what ifs lined up for the best outcome of a bad situation. Pity about the Somat, they are pricy aren't they?

Thanks rpsinfo and venmar. We had it checked and re-done by an electrician. We now have two separate, new GFCI outlets and new breakers. Before we had the garbage disposer (does not pull much, or even get used much)...but also the Miele dishwasher, Bosch tankless water heater (small, but used a lot) and an Instant hot water maker plugged in. This is what 100% overheated the GFCI plug. We now have all under then sink appliances that require electricity on two outlets...all new wiring inside the wall! :)

That's good to hear Larsi. I would be more concerned, and ask the electrician why the panel breaker didn't trip when overloaded like that? That is truly concerning.

Dishwasher should be a dedicated 20amp line. Tankless water heater should also be a dedicated circuit. Refrigerators non GFCI dedicated. The hot water tap and garbage disposer can share a circuit.

Tankless water heater, a dedicated circuit now :) Refrigerator, while maybe not needed, has it's own dedicated circuit and GFCI (different part of kitchen and wall). Hot water tap and garbage disposal share a circuit.

Agreed! Why the panel did not trip is very concerning. Now it it split up, and it is functioning as it should to current, CA codes. Thanks!! :)

I think it was a loose connection at the outlet. Bad connection = resistance. Resistance + current flow = heat.

I bought another big box of Cascade Complete with Dawn powder. I made a 2:1 mix with STPP!

WOW...works even better than Finish powder with STPP. This Cascade + STPP is almost as good as the amazing vintage Cascade MamaP mailed me.

Options!!! We have options and solutions!!!! Woo-hoo!!!!

This is good to hear, Larsi. Please keep trying it and report back after several loads! This would be much easier to mix at home than grinding up my Method tabs :)

Oh my goodness Larsi! My mind goes crazy with wooda, coulda, shoulda's! I am so glad it was not worse and you were home and aware of the noises your home makes.