All I can say is that I have the Shark Steam Mop and 3000 feet of oak hardwood floors. The first time I used it, there was so much residue from other cleaning products that it took five complete floor cleanings before all the stuff came up and I had satiny feeling, perfectly clean floors. If you only did it once, and only used 5 pads for the whole thing, then I think you probably didn't actually finish cleaning whatever build up was there. I use 3 pads just doing the kitchen...and that is after I'd been using the steam mop for a while.

TonySak- I'm going to chime back in here since I started the thread, and although I can't believe it, it has been almost a year since I've had the dishwasher! This dishwasher rarely cleaned right for me, and oftentimes, cleaned even worse on the top rack. There were many times when I have had to hand wash much of what was on top. It has appeared to get worse over time. First, as dixiedarlin1 said, the dishwasher is much drier now, and has been for a long time. I still use the heated dry cycle. The soppy days are gone. Second, I have had GE service personnel over twice, once primarily for the soppiness, and also for the sporadic cleaning. I use ONLY Cascade with Dawn action pacs now, and they work almost flawlessly WHEN the dishwasher decides to clean. The second very recent GE call was for the worsening washing action on the top rack. NOTHING was coming clean, and small particles were dried all over all my glasses and plates (despite the Cascade). ANSWER: (believe it or not)... When GE shipped these dishwashers (model PDWT580RSS), they apparently omitted an O-ring ("gasket") from the back of the top rack tube that makes a seal against the back wall tube where the water comes in and goes through the top of the DW. There was a recess where the O-ring should be, but no O-ring. That O-ring apparently provides the seal and ensuing pressure needed to really blast that water up around the top rack. Boy was I skeptical!!! I thought they were crazy when they told me that was most likely the problem. Well lo and behold, the parts came to the house and I took it upon myself to open up the O-ring and put it on myself. Well, I feel like I have a new dishwasher. I don't think it was just a coincidence. I have washed 5 loads successfully since installing that skinny little ring. The silverware doesn't usually come out perfect...always at least 2 or 3 pieces that need to be rewashed...but the difference is the top rack washing is remarkable. This doesn't change the fact that I still feel that the silverware basket was a terrible design, and the tines on the racks are terribly spaced, making many items (especially cereal and soup bowls) continually fall over. It has been maddening, to say the least. The GE company, however, has been WONDERFUL. Due to what I've gone through with my DW, they have extended my warranty by one full year for free. All things considered, I would never buy another GE dishwasher, although I realize that there are complaints with every manufacturer's dishwashers. I've just gone through too much with this one. My sister is still thrilled with her Bosch; never had a moment's problem with it- except when the water wouldn't drain and it turned out it wasn't her DW...it was the pipes. Who knows? Maybe she just got lucky with the Bosch.

I had to finally cave in and get a water softner since my area has one of the hardess water in the USA I am told and all my toilets and sinks were being ruined with having replacements being done prematurely as a result. I finally added a house water filter to filter the water after it is softened. I also have a water filter on my refrigerator. I hope this helps. I know I may need a new heating/air conditioner central system soon as well as a new water heater so this discussion I have been following but do not know much about yet. Thanks everyone for sharing. Please Sarschlos_remodeler update us on how you like your unit when a little more time passes.

Short answer: Different areas of the world have different mineral deposits. Water passes through the deposits and 'soaks' it up. Different municipalities may or may not remove some of the minerals during treatment.