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“The Ultimate Guide to Properly Using Dishwasher Detergent”

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Welcome back to The Parent Game, where we tackle all of life’s challenges with a blend of humor and practicality. Today, we’re diving into the perennial issue of how to properly put detergent in the dishwasher. It may seem like a simple task, but trust us, there’s an art to it.

First things first, let’s address the elephant in the room – those pesky detergent pods. Yes, they’re convenient and mess-free, but they can also be a bit tricky to handle. Our top tip? Make sure your hands are dry before handling a pod, as moisture can cause them to dissolve prematurely. And for goodness sake, resist the temptation to pop one in your mouth – they may look like candy, but they definitely don’t taste like it.

If you’re more of a traditionalist and prefer good old-fashioned liquid or powder detergent, fear not – we’ve got you covered. When it comes to loading the dishwasher, always remember that less is more. You don’t need to fill the entire detergent compartment to the brim – a little goes a long way. In fact, using too much detergent can actually leave a residue on your dishes, which kind of defeats the purpose, doesn’t it?

One of the most common mistakes people make when putting detergent in the dishwasher is forgetting to close the compartment lid. Trust us, we’ve all been guilty of this oversight at one time or another. But leaving the lid open can result in a sloppy mess and wasted detergent. So do yourself a favor and always double-check that lid before starting the cycle.

And finally, a word of advice from the wise folks here at The Parent Game – never, ever use regular dish soap in your dishwasher. We can’t stress this enough. Regular dish soap creates an excessive amount of suds that will overflow from your dishwasher and flood your kitchen. Trust us, cleaning up that mess is no fun.

So there you have it, folks – the dos and don’ts of putting detergent in your dishwasher, straight from the mouths of The Parent Game team. Follow these tips, and your dishes will be sparkling clean in no time. Now go forth and conquer that dishwasher like the savvy parent you are!

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Products We Currently Love on Amazon


1
Cascade Complete Gel Dishwasher Detergent, Fresh Scent, 45 Oz
  • Dishwasher detergent gel with the gr
  • The package weight of the product is 3 pounds
Sale2
Cascade Complete Dishwasher Pods - Fresh Scent ActionPacs, 78 Count
  • Dissolves fast to release the grease fighting power of Dawn
  • Get virtually spotfree sparkling clean dishes from even the toughest messes with Cascade Dishwasher Pods
  • Running the dishwasher daily saves water* Save up to 20 gallons of water per dishwasher load when you skip the pre-wash *ENERGY STAR certified dishwashers use 4 gallons per cycle. Running the tap for 11 minutes handwashing uses up to 24 gallons of water.
3
Cascade Complete Powder Dishwasher Detergent, Fresh Scent, 75 oz, White
  • Cleans 24-hour stuck on food.
  • Cleans baked on food.
  • Powers away residues
4
Amazon Basics Dishwasher Detergent Pacs, Fresh Scent, 85 Count (Previously Solimo)
  • Dishwasher detergent in pre-measured dish pacs (85-count)
  • 2-in-1 grease fighting and rinse aid for a sparkling clean without residue
  • Amazon brand degreasing and Oxi stain-fighting formula for a virtually spotless clean
Sale5
FINISH Quantum Powerball, Dishwasher Pods, Dishwasher Detergent Liquid, Dishwasher Soap, Advanced Clean & Shine, 82ct Dishwasher Tablets
  • Finish Quantum Scrubs, Degreases, and Shines. Because There’s Clean. Then There’s so Clean It Shines
  • 3 Separate Fast Dissolving Chambers, Delivering 3 Different Power Actions
  • Powder: Scrubbing Power to Break Down and Remove Toughest Stuck on Food in One Wash. No need to pre-rinse or soak. Cuts through grease, breaks down and lifts away even 24-hour burnt, dried on food
Sale6
Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Gel Liquid Soap Lemon Scent Dish Detergent 42 oz, Pack of 6
  • Seventh Generation Lemon Dishwasher Detergent Gel advanced cleaning technology cuts through grease leaving dishes streak-free and sparkling clean
  • A dishwasher detergent with a safe* and effective formula made with plant-based ingredients
  • This Dishwasher gel is free of synthetic fragrances, chlorine, phosphate, and dyes
7
Cascade Platinum Plus Dishwasher Pod, Dish Detergent ActionPacs Dish Pods, Fresh, 52 Count
  • Our best dishwasher detergent for cabinet ready dishes
  • Cascade Platinum Plus contains 2X* the Dawn grease fighting power and 2X* the scrubbing power to power through dried on food *Cleaning ingredients vs Cascade Complete ActionPacs
  • Get virtually spotfree sparkling clean dishes from even the toughest messes with Cascade Dishwasher Pods
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Cascade Platinum Dishwasher Pods, Detergent, Soap Pods, Actionpacs with Dishwasher Cleaner and Deodorizer Action, Fresh, 62 Count
  • Cascade cleaning power allows you to skip pre-washing dishes, saving up to 15 gallons of water with each load
  • ActionPacs are formulated with the grease-fighting power of Dawn dish soap
  • Cascade's best dishwashing detergent to keep your silverware and dishwasher sparkling
Sale10
Cascade Platinum Dishwasher Pods, Dishwasher Detergent Pod, Dishwasher Soap Pod, Actionpacs Dish Washing Pod, Lemon, 62 Count Dishwasher Detergent Pods (Packaging may vary)
  • Cascade Platinum ActionPacs dishwasher detergent cleans burnt-on messes in just one wash, with no pre-wash needed.
  • Dissolves fast to release the grease fighting power of Dawn, while food seeking enzymes latch on and break down food into particles so small they can flow right down the drain
  • Get virtually spotfree sparkling clean dishes on even the toughest messes
11
Cascade Platinum Plus Dishwasher Pods, Dish Detergent ActionPacs, Fresh, 21 Count
  • Our best dishwasher detergent for cabinet ready dishes
  • Only Cascade Platinum Plus contains 2X* the Dawn grease fighting power and 2X* the scrubbing power to power through dried on food *Cleaning ingredients vs Cascade Complete ActionPacs
  • Get virtually spotfree sparkling clean dishes on even the toughest messes
Sale12
Finish - All in 1 - Dishwasher Detergent - Powerball - Dishwashing Tablets - Dish Tabs - Fresh Scent, 94 Count (Pack of 1) - Packaging May Vary
  • Help soften the toughest food residues like baked-on lasagna and dried-on oatmeal for easy removal
  • Powerful cleaners remove even the toughest stains. No need to pre-soak or pre-rinse with Powerball cuts through grease & scrubs away burnt & dried-on food
  • Each individually wrapped Finish Powerball tab provides a premeasured dose of detergent, eliminating guesswork and dissolves completely
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Seventh Generation Free & Clear Scent Gel Dishwasher Detergent 42 oz.
  • "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations
  • Seventh Generation
14
Cascade Complete Dishwasher Detergent Liquid Gel, Fresh Scent, 75 oz
  • Cascade cleaning power allows you to skip pre-washing dishes, saving up to 15 gallons of water with each load
  • More tough food-cleaning ingredients (vs. regular Cascade Gel)
  • Also available in easy-to-use ActionPacs
15
Dirty Labs | Dishwasher Detergent and Booster | Aestival Scent | 48 Loads (1 lb) | Ultra Clean, Spot Free, Quick Wash Optimized | Hyper Concentrated
  • EFFECTIVE: Our ultra-concentrated 2-in-1 powder formula is designed with the most advanced bioenzymes and biobased ingredients to break down tough messes and stubborn stuck on food -- without the harsh chemicals. Our dishwash detergent is optimized for quick wash cycles and delivers a brilliant spot-free finish in less time.
  • NONTOXIC: Most cleaners today use technologies that were developed almost 100 years ago. In fact, many common deep-cleaning formulas still rely on harmful, petroleum-based chemicals. Dirty Labs is different. Phytolase, our propietary enzyme cleaning technology is consciously formulated with nontoxic, biobased ingredients. Our formulas are nontoxic and free of petroleum-based ingredients and synthetic sufactants. Dirty Labs is cruelty-free, and vegan.
  • ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY: At Dirty Labs - Less is More. By creating hyper-concentrated formulas, we greatly reduce our package sizes (and thus, our carbon footprint). Our packaging is made of recyclable cardboard. Our scoop is made from responsibly sourced schima superba wood. Our ingredients are responsibly sourced and created through biorenewable manufacturing processes. We examine every aspect of our product life cycles in order to achieve the safest, most sustainable solutions.
16
Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Gel for Sparkling Dishes Free & Clear Fragrance Free 42 oz, Pack of 6
  • Seventh Generation advanced dishwasher gel cuts through grease leaving dishes streak-free and sparkling clean
  • Safe and effective dishwasher detergent gel formula made with plant-based ingredients
  • Dishwasher detergent liquid that is free of fragrances, chlorine, phosphates, and dyes
Sale17
Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Liquid Gel, Powers Away Stuck-On Food, Lemon Scent, 42 Oz
  • Seventh Generation Lemon Dishwasher Detergent Gel advanced cleaning technology cuts through grease leaving dishes streak-free and sparkling clean
  • A dishwasher detergent with a safe* and effective formula made with plant-based ingredients
  • This Dishwasher gel is free of synthetic fragrances, chlorine, phosphate, and dyes
18
Finish All in 1 Gelpacs Orange, Dishwasher Detergent Tablets 84 count (packaging may vary )
  • Easy-to-use, pre-measured dishwasher pacs with a refreshing orange scent
  • Powerful cleaners remove the toughest stains and gently scrub your dishes and glasses sparkling clean
  • To use properly, remove one gelpac and place in the main detergent cup and close completely
20
Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Packs for sparkling dishes Free & Clear Dishwasher Tabs (72 Count)
  • LEAVES DISHES SPARKLING CLEAN: Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dishwasher Detergent Packs have a formula that cuts through tough grease and food residue
  • FREE FROM: Our powerful dishwasher soap is free of fragrances, dyes, phosphates, and chlorine bleach
  • EASY TO USE: Convenient single dose dishwasher packs - just toss right into the dishwasher

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