Dishwasher gel

Having purchased a dishwasher, many housewives think that all the hassle associated with washing dishes is now behind them. But in reality, it's not that simple. You first need to learn how to use the dishwasher, and most importantly, choose the right detergent to ensure excellent cleaning results. Many people now prefer dishwashing gels, especially those for children's dishes. We decided to dedicate this article to dishwashing gels.

What are the benefits of gel-based products?

Gel dishwasher detergent is a cocktail of various chemical additives that help clean dishes, fight bacteria, and clean the interior of your dishwasher. Gel does everything that powder does and more, so many consider it a complete substitute for powder, but this isn't the case. Gel-based products differ from powders in their composition. They do not contain abrasives or other poorly soluble components.

Gel dishwasher detergents offer significant advantages not only over powdered detergents, but even over tablets. This is largely why they are favored by a significant number of dishwasher owners. What are these advantages?

• They clean dishes more gently than powders and tablets. Dishes don't deteriorate as quickly.
• It is more convenient to pour the gel into a detergent drawer.
• The gel dissolves faster and works more effectively on short washing programs.
• The gel is consumed less than the powder, and even less than the tablet.
• Unlike powder or tablets, gel is ideal for the “pre-soak” mode.
• The gel is easier to store, is not damaged by excess moisture, and does not evaporate volatile components like powder.

Please note! Gel dishwasher detergent is one of the few that is suitable for the "pre-soak" mode; powder and tablets are completely useless.

Instead of gel, experts often recommend using dishwasher capsules, as they possess all the above-mentioned properties and also contain components that combat scale and mold buildup inside the machine. However, if you look closely, the capsule itself contains the same gel, only with a more complex composition.

Instructions for use of the gel

Using a dishwasher gel is very simple, but there are a few nuances that are definitely worth discussing. First, let's look at the procedure for using a dishwasher gel. For a standard wash cycle:

• you need to open the bottle with the gel-like product with your own hands;
• open the dishwasher door;
• On the detergent drawer, you need to open the special valve with your own hands and pour the gel into it;
• close the valve, load the baskets with dirty dishes, close the dishwasher door;
• We set the desired washing program and start it.

If the dishes are very dirty, you may need to manually set the "pre-rinse" mode.How do you use the gel in this case? Follow the same steps as with a standard wash program, but pour the gel into the special pre-rinse compartment. Only then will the machine properly absorb the gel, and the program will run optimally.

Important! When using a gel-based product that already contains salt, remember that it cannot completely replace salt. You still need to add salt to the special compartment.

We still have one more important question to discuss in this section: how much gel is needed for one wash? This is a serious question, as everyone wants to use this type of product optimally, ensuring both clean dishes and minimal gel use. The amount of gel used for one wash cycle will depend on many factors: the degree of soiling of the dishes, the concentration of active ingredients, the composition, etc.

Considering the main types of dishwasher gels, which we'll discuss later, experts have noted certain patterns in determining the amount needed for a single use.

1. If there is burnt or dried fat on the dishes, as well as dried dough or mashed potatoes, dye or tea stains (or any other stubborn stains), pour in 25 ml of gel.
2. If the dishes are not fragile and you plan to set the washing program at 70 ⁰C, then even with complex stains you can limit yourself to 20 ml of gel.
3. Pour 15-20 ml of gel if you are loading dishes with fresh, light stains.
4. Do not reduce the amount of gel too much when using half load. Experiment with your hands, start with 15 ml, if this is not enough, gradually increase the amount of gel until you achieve the optimal result.

A Review of the Best Gel Dishwasher Detergents

In this section, we'll provide a brief overview of gel-based dishwasher detergents, which are currently the best offerings on the market. Here are some examples of the best gels for automatic dishwashing machines.

Winni's Naturel "Lavastoviglie" is a natural dishwasher-safe dishwashing gel for babies. The manufacturer doesn't specifically market this gel for baby dishes, but since it contains only natural, easily rinsed ingredients, it's perfect for washing toys, baby dishes, bottles, breast pumps, pacifiers, and more. The gel is sold in 750 ml bottles and costs around $9. Made in Italy.

Bio-Vert is a natural gel for washing children’s dishes. It does not contain any hard-to-rinse harmful chemicals that would remain on dishes, so the gel can be used without restrictions. Made in Germany. The gel comes in 1.1-liter bottles and averages around $10.

Please note! Bio-Vert packaging is marked "contains biodegradable components," confirming its 100% natural composition. Incidentally, it is one of the most popular dishwasher gels sold in Germany.

Finish All in One is a dishwasher gel with a unique formula that tackles even the toughest stains, leaving dishes clean and sparkling. Finish All in One is the best-selling dishwasher gel in Russia and one of the best. It's very economical to use. A 1.3-liter bottle lasts for approximately 65-70 standard dishwashing cycles. Finish gel is manufactured in various European countries (Denmark, Finland, Poland, and Romania). The price for a 1.3-liter bottle is $17.

In conclusion, we'd like to point out that gel dishwashing detergent is a good alternative to powdered detergent and tablets, especially if you value your dishes and your health. The whitish residue that powdered detergent can sometimes leave on dishes can be harmful to the human body. Gel, on the other hand, is always completely washed away and causes no harm.

   

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