My previous diswasher had the compartment just for powdered detergent. Tablets were supposed to go directly into the dishwasher, per the manual. So the approach works with some machines.
That’s a good point, if he’s closing it every time it might be some kind of odd blindspot in processing, but still not stupid or incurious.
obligatory technology connections comment
We all came here to say this ^
Seconded, however:
WARNING:
if you go to Technology Connections YT channel, we are not responsible
ifwhen you find yourself watching a 6 hour play list on light bulbsThe series about the RCA video disc player thing is WILD. That they made that fucking work at all is a testament to what can be accomplished if you throw a huge sum of money and enough smart people at a problem .
I also have strong opinions about Christmas lights.
Unfortunately, they do not perfectly align with Technology Connections. We agree is almost all respects: flickering is bad, purple is not a valid Christmas color, white lights should be warm and not bluish. I just can’t agree about this one thing though, I LOVE the super saturated colors of LEDs for the red, blue, and green lights. I care much less about the saturation of the yellow and/or orange lights.
I agree with you, but my excuse is being in the southern hemisphere where Christmas lights must compete with summer evenings. The bold colours do better at early twilight
Indoors though I like the less saturated colours, and lack of options has had my tree lit with warm white only for the last decade - I get colour only where the white light plays off transparent and reflective baubles (decorations, I think they’re called in America) and tinsel
It’s all decorations, baubles specifically are ‘ornaments,’ though in the deep south you’ll sometimes hear baubles, but generally only when referencing something as frivolous and stupidly expensive, not in reference to Christmas ornaments.
When I say bauble I’m always referring to one of two things:
-
A mock scepter carried by a court jester.
-
A trifling piece of finery; a gewgaw; that which is gay and showy without real value; a cheap, showy plaything.
😉
In Australia all the ball style things you hang from the tree are definitely baubles, other hanging things are mostly still baubles, candy canes are candy canes and tree toppers are tree toppers varying between stars, angels, and anything else for the non-religious
-
being in the southern hemisphere where Christmas lights must compete with summer evenings.
That must suck. I don’t even turn on my Christmas lights until the sun’s gone.
Or even worse, six hours of video making LED christmas lights look like the incandescent light from 30 years ago.
At least that particular quest is finally at an end
It finally ended‽
Yes, hopefully. For his own sanity. Someone finally made commercially available LED bulbs the way he was trying to DIY it.
But they were a tad pricey…
Should a cheaper alternative come along, won’t we all be curious whether it might suffice? 😇
That was already addressed in his latest video: his local home center (Menards, I think?) came out with a cheaper version (it tried to have old-timey colors, but still used colored LEDs underneath instead of white), and no, it didn’t suffice.
WHY is it so hypnotic??
The subjects are interesting, the script is tight and packed with insight, and he uses the magic of buying two of them
I now say that damn phrase whenever I buy two of anything. No one gets it :(
Well now I’ve gotta see if he’s on Nebula.
Sadly no. I wish he was.
There’s a third video now (A condensed version I think)
Nice! Thanks for that
The most annoying thing for me is that i can’t find any powder detergent where I live which worked best in his videos, and the compartment is so poorly designed that i frequently find half the detergent pod still in the compartment after the dishes are done.
A long time ago, as I was getting ready to get dinner with a friend. I asked her if she could start my dishwasher. It was all loaded and just needed the detergent which was under the sink…well, we got back and the kitchen was flooded and filled with suds and bubbles. Turned out she used the dish soap next to the sink instead of the detergent. Cleaned it up, laughed, and was reminded of the different experiences we all have from people who grow up in more wealthy households.
I ran out of dishwasher detergent one time. I KNEW you can’t use regular soap, but I said if I just use a tiny amount, I’ll rewash later if I have to. It can’t be THAT bad.
No.
No amount is ever the right amount other than none.
I almost always have two boxes of washing powder, when one goes empty I can replace it while using the other. I usually go shopping more often than I use a box of detergent
“Two is one, one is none.”
It applies to essential household commodities just like it does computer backups.
One is none, two is one, and three is even better.
Same experience.
I did this! So many bubbles. There was a bunch of water too. On the bright side I had very clean linoleum till everything dried up, then the corners in some spots started to curl up at the edges.
Funny learning experience.
I also did this as adult when I got my first dishwasher
It’s not just wealthy people who don’t load their own dishwashers. People who don’t own dishwashers are used to manually doing the dishes.
[x] I’m in this picture and I do not like it.
*Cries in poor while manually doing the dishes*
That’s super true! I’ve been renting for so long that it’s one of those conveniences that I love having, but I can get by totally okay without one (currently don’t have one). Growing up, chores were just normal things, but I meant so many people who never had to do them, and they had a lot of household experiences to gain later in life!
Unfortunately the little door on my dishwasher sticks and won’t open 99% of the time so I have no choice but to chuck the pod in the bottom. It sucks, but my dishwasher works well in every other way and my dishes are clean enough so I’m not spending money on a new one until some other part of it breaks.
Mine does that too. I have learned to put smaller things in the front and larger things (like upright plates) at the back and it seems to be working well.
I wish it was that easy, but mine slides vertically rather than flipping out so there’s nothing blocking it from opening. It seems to be the internal mechanism that isn’t doing its job.
Mine has that damn sliding mechanism too. What I found is that the track it slides on can get gummed up with detergent and get stuck. I really wish it had the swing door instead!
Also the dishwasher’s racks already have parts of the coating on them broken and the metal inside is rusting. Really annoying!
A Bosch, huh? My dishwasher’s detergent dispenser is identical, and for me it works fine.
I don’t think your problem is that it works poorly as designed; I think your problem is that it’s straight-up broken and needs to be repaired.
If you’re around, wait some minutes and throw it in after it would have opened.
Who’s got time for that? ROFL
Almost everyone. Not like you’d have to stand next to it. Walk by, throw some detergent in.
And next we’ll tell you what the little hatch labeled “rinse aid” is for.
In other news, major manufacturers are starting to ship appliances now without including any printed instructions. I can see that it’s just as well; it’s clear that nobody would read them anyway.
I do. And more importantly, I judge others by whether they do or not. Any manufacturer who doesn’t ship a manual will get permabanned by me.
Meanwhile, hear I am still lamenting that they no longer come with circuit diagrams.
Surprisingly, a lot of them do. Check behind the toe kick or in a lot of machines, inside the control panel cover.
Really cheap appliances that are still entirely electromechanical might come with complete schematics, but I’ve yet to encounter an electronic one that does (where “complete” means “including the details of the PCB, not just treating it as a black-box component”).
You’ll never find a schematic of the PCB because the manufacturer not only treats it as a black box, but it will also be incessantly revised mid-production run by their OEM’s to cut costs every time a component comes out that’s 2 cents cheaper.
I understand that, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
yes, please, stick a QR code on it which leads to the manual in a PDF format. Why do I get a book in 20 languages instead? What century is this?
MIL does this on purpose. Fucking grinds my gears - I gave up on preaching that there is a reason for that little closed compartment.
She’s not wrong to put some for the pre-rinse. Just need some in the compartment for after the pre-rinse cycle too.
Well since nobody else is giving away the spoiler on the 6 hours of technology connections videos( didn’t know there was a third now), it’s to fill the little compartment with the dishwasher manufacturers(not the detergent bottles) recommended amount of detergent and to also add a little bit in the bottom of the dishwasher too to help that pre rinse cycle before the main cycle begins.
I love watching his videos but not everybody does. To those people, you’re welcome
Thank you. I got about 1/3 through, checked to see if it was almost over, and proceeded to close the tab.
Note that this is only true when not using eco mode, which opens the door right away so you can just chuck the tablet in like a caveman. Mine happens to work well enough in eco mode and the little door tends to get stuck on things, so that’s what I usually do.
If your (modern) dishwasher isn’t cleaning properly in eco mode, either you have very hard water, or you should clean the filter more often.
If you don’t remember when the last time you cleaned the filter is, go clean it now.
As Tech Connections points out, knowing what your water is like is crucial.
I use powdered detergent - 1 Tablespoon in the wash door, one in the prewash. This is about 1/3 of what I’m told to use.
I pretty much trust Technology Connections and their advice is to use the machine’s smart setting (or whatever it’s called on your brand) as the main job of eco is to score well on water and energy usage. Mine has “6th sense” as its second program which is the only program that does a pre-wash
Eco on my machine doesn’t dry the dishes well. We have pretty soft water
Ah, mine straight up doesn’t have a smart setting, but eco mode works for me so I’m using that, no need to waste water and electricity if it works…
This is the level of understanding I’d expect from someone who thinks vibes affect modern appliances.
There are people going around TikTok and instagram suggesting you should be chucking your dish detergent in the bottom of the dishwasher and skip the little compartment.
Some people just want to watch the world burn. And everyone wants to encourage them.
what’s a tiktok
For those who don’t know, that wastes the detergent if the dishwasher has a prewash cycle, which most do (eco cycles are the most likely to not have a prewash)
Powder detergent is much better.
Unfortunately it’s getting hard to find at this point
Target has a store brand detergent that works well. But I find it’s easier to use too much with powder. Compared to gel, It’s harder to control the pour, and if you have too much it leaves a residue.
I’ve never even heard of powdered detergent for the dishwasher. Where does it go in the machine?
the little compartment. and ideally a little just in the machine for the prewash.
as others noted: check the technology connections video(s)
Pretty much every dishwasher has a little door that opens mid cycle.
Plus a little indent for pre-wash detergent
I’m getting more and more concerned about microplastics coating the dishes afterwards: powdered detergent helps me feel better about that.
That makes zero sense. Powder is obviously much better, but not because of microplastics.
The dissolvable packets of a dishwasher detergent are very different than the forever microplastics that people are worried about. Those are designed to be durable and last while the detergent pods are made to dissolve.
That said the powder detergent is great and SO much cheaper per wash. Also you can put some in the prewash for better washing.
I agree that powdered is better and cheaper.
The microplastics issue is more contentious, and while many say it’s bad that it enters the water supply, I suspect the smallest of the particles do not wash away so well
It makes it really easy to add the tablespoon of detergent to the tub for the prewash as well as the needed dose for the dishes (which is really not much unless you have it loaded with greasy plates)
Technology Connections on YouTube has several relevant videos
Walmart
If that fails
Amazon, tons of brands for about the same price (yeah yeah I know, Amazon)
I get one with dried goats milk to help with smells edit- this is my laundry soap I am a silly lad sometimes, but the rest applies
Yeah Walmart usually has just the one box of Cascade
I’m confused about what possible reason you could have to say “yeah yeah I know” about Amazon that doesn’t apply at least as much to Walmart.
On a related note, I would like to switch to powdered dish detergent after watching the Technology Connections video, but have stuck with liquid because Costco doesn’t carry powder.
The Bezos make the Walton’s look like good people. That’s not saying much for the Walton’s. It’s saying a lot less for the Bezos. Like grading on a curve and the class was already dogshit but then somebody else came a long and somehow scored negative points on a test.
I have a friend who does this. I tried explaining to her that she’s doing it wrong. She told me I’m wrong and she won’t discuss it further. I don’t get some people.
Most people hate being wrong, or corrected. They seem to see it as an affront to their very existence, and will often fight back tooth and nail when confronted with any evidence that the things they believe about the world might not be 100% correct.
Source: Any substantial comment thread on any social media platform, ever.
People who are readily willing to admit they’re wrong and learn why, and on the flip side be able to correct others in an educational/non-condescending way, are the best people.
I love those people.
Shut up, nerd.
/s jk <3.
She might be right, it depends on the type of the dishwasher.
angry Alec noises
Its not that uncommon that some people don’t know how to use every day stuff correct and use them wrong. One thing I’ve noticed that a lot of people use wrong are thermostatic radiator valves. Its not a simple valve and the numbers don’t indicate on how far open the valve is, its a temperature setting. I’ve often told people to not set it to 5 and rather set the target temperature and 3 is about 20°C, so room temperature. At work all engineers don’t get it and we stupid little IT guys with a smaller degree get it right.
To be fair, they aren’t that accurate. Its pure mechanical and the sensing happens in the thermostat but when it closes the valve, the radiator is still full of hot water. You need to find the correct setting for your room and so on. With electric ones, you can fiddle with the settings, to be more accurate.
Also, they measure right next to the heat source and the markings can’t compensate for better or worse insulation. It makes (almost) no sense to put temperature markings on them.
Fuck it, do both; clean dishes
That’s what you’re supposed to do!
The Technology Connections content everybody is talking about covers it. The main wash’s detergent goes into the little compartment, which is closed, then a little extra goes on top to help with the pre-rinse.
That is the dumbest thing about pods. If you want to use your dishwasher “correctly” with detergent in both the pre-rinse and the main wash cycle, you need to use two pods for one load of dishes!
Either that or open & divide the pods I guess, but then you aren’t really using “pods” are you, lol.
Dawn dishwasher shop would get hard reading your comment.
yes, double your consumption for no reason
Just use powder. Put some in the compartment and a little into the basin/on the door. Now your pre-wash cycle is more effective than ever! Also, powder is cheaper most of the time. And also convenient - no individually wrapped pods!
It’s what you’re supposed to do though, you need soap for the prewash otherwise it does nothing.
Don’t do it with pods though that’s an insane amount of waste
True, I’m thinking about the powder or liquid
The pods themselves are a waste. Just get liquid or powder detergent. It’s cheaper and does the job just as well (and possibly even better depending on the dishwasher)
Does nothing is a bit of an overstatement - I agree that it’s working non-optimally without detergent in the prewash-cycle.
