It sounds like you would benefit from using a liquid detergent in your dishwasher. Usually the tablets work well for me but on the odd occasion some of the older tablets or ones that don’t break down easily do leave powdery residue on my dishes. Recently I’ve had to up the temperature to try and break them down easier. Or I do an extra rinse cycle. I know it defeats the purpose of an eco or enviro cycle.

This has been on my mind for a while now and I have noticed a number of things pop up on social media about how harmful dishwashing tablets are. I am considering moving to a more eco friendly option once the tablets I have are gone as I have heard some great reviews about it.

I totally get the frustration with residue! For a gentler option that works well in your Enviro-Cycle system, you could try Ecover Dishwasher Gel or Method Dishwasher Gel. Both are eco-friendly and effective, and they’re less harsh than tablets. Another good one to try is Seventh Generation Dishwasher Gel, which is also plant-based and tends to leave dishes sparkling without any residue. Just make sure you use the right amount, as using too much can sometimes leave streaks! Hopefully, one of these will do the trick for you!

I had the same issue with some of the tablets and dishwasher powders we have tried. A year ago I switched to Ecostore Dishwasher Powder which is made from plant and mineral-based ingredients and phosphate free. It’s been great in our dishwasher and doesn’t leave any residue. I also love that you can buy it in bulk and a little bit goes a long way, we’ve found less than a tablespoon per wash is super effective.

Since you need something gentler for your Enviro-Cycle system, you might want to try a dishwasher gel like Finish Gel or Ecover Dishwasher Gel. Both tend to be milder on systems like yours but still give a nice, clean finish without the grit.

Another little tip that might help is adding a touch of white vinegar in the rinse aid compartment-it helps prevent spots and keeps things sparkling. Hopefully, this helps get those dishes looking fresh and clean!

Would love to know if you found a product that solved the issues.

I still use the best method of washing dishes I clean them myself warm water with some dishwashing lliquid and soak the hard to clean ones for a while

I believe finish don’t just make tablets, but also a gel type tablet. I have tried them before for a review and they did work just as well as their tablets do. I have always found you can’t go too wrong with finish they seem to give you very good results!

The cause of this problem could be limescale or salt residues. If the residue can easily be wiped off with a finger, it is likely too much salt. If the residue is difficult to remove and comes off with vinegar, it is likely limescale (hard water build-up).
Add a rinse agent to each cycle.
Wash with a water temperature below 140°F.
Avoid excessive pre-rinsing.
Use less detergent with soft water and follow packaging instructions.
Regularly clean your dishwasher to help prevent mineral buildup.

This was happening in our household as well. I started with cleaning the dishwasher with a dishwasher cleaning solution. It was pretty simple to use and the dishwasher came up sparking and smelling really fresh. it was Finish Dishwasher Cleaning Liquid in Lemon. You just pop it in, choose the hottest setting and let it run. Since then using Eco tablets as well as the rinse aid we had not had the streaks. Good luck with it 🙂

I don’t have a dishwasher and wash all my dishes by hand. Less harsh, not harsh chemicals and it is just much easier to wash things as I’m using them. And you may thing I have a small family but we are a family of 6 and cope just fine doing it all by hand. Takes no time at all.

Do you know where your water is sourced from? If it is from a natural resource like a bore, it could be calcium in the water leaving that residue. Try using any thing you have used before and add a quarter of a cup of white vinegar into the bottom of your machine. If it is calcium content, this will fix the issue.

I haven’t had an issue with Fairy and Finish brand pod things in our dishwasher, although from day one the environ cycle wasn’t good at all.

Try Finish classic tablets! My sister uses these and they’ve been great

Dishwasher sheets may be a good option for you as they don’t leave residue and more environmentally friendly. There’s a few gels on the market and I’ve even used a mix of bi-carb, rock salt and a drop of washing liquid in mine plenty of times and that also works great.

Along with a regular clean; always ensure the filter is cleaned too.

I used to have the same issue.. Does not seem to be happening since I used Finish classic tablets

Make sure you are using rinse aid aswell as whatever powder or gel you use this has made such a difference in my household. Plus regularly deep cleaning the filter helps alot.

Although we have a dishwasher, we never use it. We just wash by hand

A regular clean of the dishwasher is a must in our household and it eliminates residue.