Dishwasher Salt

[OldSaw]

Does anyone else have a dishwasher with a built in water softener? I just installed my new Bosch SPE5ES55UC slim line dishwasher and could not find any dishwasher salt anywhere in town. There is one more place I will call when they are open tomorrow.

Nearly every place that I called or stopped had never heard of such a thing, (I know I didn't before getting this machine). I was really surprised at the appliance stores that where clueless. I even called the high end store and apparently those models are only available by special order.

For those that do have a machine with a built in softener, where do you get your salt? According to the manual they warn against using rock salt (no anti-caking), de-icing salt, or regular water softener salt (to large), so I will not be using any of those.

 

[john parker]

http://www.wdcappliances.com/dishwashers/dishwashers/dishwasher-accessories/SGZ9091UC/ Google is your friend! All kinds of it available; this is one. Oh, I had never heard of it either; interesting dishwasher.

 

[OldSaw]

http://www.wdcappliances.com/dishwashers/dishwashers/dishwasher-accessories/SGZ9091UC/ Google is your friend! All kinds of it available; this is one. Oh, I had never heard of it either; interesting dishwasher.

OK, I guess what I was getting at is, does anyone buy it locally? Or does anyone have experience with different brands and are they all pretty much the same regardless of price? I have found a plethora of online sources, but it would be nice to be able to pick it up when I'm buying dishwasher detergent. It just surprises me that it is so difficult to get at a brick & mortar store.

 

[john parker]

Sorry, Dennis; I should have read more carefully. I have not heard of a dishwasher with its own softener system, and have never seen that kind of salt for sale. Just bought a new dishwasher at our small town's appliance store, and that kind of a system was not even brought up as an option.

 

[OldSaw]

Sorry, Dennis; I should have read more carefully. I have not heard of a dishwasher with its own softener system, and have never seen that kind of salt for sale. Just bought a new dishwasher at our small town's appliance store, and that kind of a system was not even brought up as an option.

Same here. I didn't even know it had a softener until I un-boxed it and read the manual. Since I don't have a softener in my house it was a welcome surprise.

 

[Kazeryu]

That's news to me as well, although I can see how it might be beneficial.

 

[SBojan]

I think every dishwasher has water softner system and it uses salt(at least i haven't seen one without). You should find dishwasher salt in every bigger store.

 

[BrianL]

I found this information from Morton's FAQ section, if this is the case most grocery stores carry the brand.

Which salt(s) can I use in my dishwasher (if it has a built in water softener)?
Always consult your dishwasher manufacturer for specifications regarding the salt used. Morton[SUP]®[/SUP] Coarse Kosher Salt works well in most models. Morton[SUP]®[/SUP] Coarse Kosher Salt is a non-iodized, granulated salt compacted into coarse flakes. This product contains a water soluble anti-caking agent.

 

[galopede]

Never seen one without a salt holder for softening. It's available in just about every supermarket in the UK and I think I bought my last box in Lidl as they are cheaper!

Gareth

 

[jbaca]

Many euro brands use a built in softener some heat water too

 

[59chop]

I just bought new Beko compact today, it came with a water quality test pack. although the machine normally requires salt my water softener improves the quality enough that I wont need to help. See if your store can put you in touch with the companies sales rep, they'll understand your situation

 

[OldSaw]

I think every dishwasher has water softner system and it uses salt(at least i haven't seen one without). You should find dishwasher salt in every bigger store.

Perhaps in Europe, but it seems to be a relatively new feature here in the U.S. In fact, most people haven't even heard of such a thing around my area.

I found this information from Morton's FAQ section, if this is the case most grocery stores carry the brand.

Which salt(s) can I use in my dishwasher (if it has a built in water softener)?
Always consult your dishwasher manufacturer for specifications regarding the salt used. Morton[SUP]®[/SUP] Coarse Kosher Salt works well in most models. Morton[SUP]®[/SUP] Coarse Kosher Salt is a non-iodized, granulated salt compacted into coarse flakes. This product contains a water soluble anti-caking agent.

Thanks, I just may give this a try, as it is a very inexpensive product. I used to keep a box on hand all the time, but I haven't seen it since I moved.

Never seen one without a salt holder for softening. It's available in just about every supermarket in the UK and I think I bought my last box in Lidl as they are cheaper!

Gareth

Sounds like these things were invented over there and are just now getting into the market over here. They're probably not as popular here as many homes that have hard water simply have a softener for the whole house. I live in an older house and there was no softener in it when I bought it and it is kind of low on my list of upgrades.

Many euro brands use a built in softener some heat water too

Well, I guess my Bosch fits the bill then.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

[Haggises]

My new Bosch doesn't have this......

I don't know whether to be or now.

 

[OldSaw]

My new Bosch doesn't have this......

I don't know whether to be or now.

But I'll bet it sure is quiet, though. Mine is running right now and I can't even hear it and it is only about 15 feet away from where I am sitting.

 

[_JP_]

This is new to me. I don't see an advantage to it unless you have a water supply that is hard.

As a note, commercial dish washing systems in restaurants use cleaning agents that are salts. In training to service those machines they have you actually lick the stuff and taste the salt! The point being that the cleaning agents are safe to use and won't cause harm if not fully rinsed off the service ware that gets washed by them.

 

[EdB]

Hi Guys, unless I am mistaken isn't that another name for Epsom salts, (Magnesium Sulphate) which should be available in every supermaket, or gardening supply stores, Oh, by the way I would not want to be licking any cleaning agents containing any form of Hypochrlorites.

Ed.

 

[galopede]

Must admit that whole house water softeners are very rare here in the UK. I've never seen or heard of anyone with one.

As someone mentioned above, my old dishwasher, a Bosch around 20 years old has a water heater too. There is only the one inlet pipe and the original instructions said to connect it to the cold water system. I suppose it would have worked connected to the hot as well. Wouldn't have made any difference in my house as I have a condenser boiler system and no hot tank!

Gareth

 

[Haggises]

But I'll bet it sure is quiet, though. Mine is running right now and I can't even hear it and it is only about 15 feet away from where I am sitting.

Yep. If I'm not there to hear the beeps when it's finished I don't know if its still going or not.

 

[OldSaw]

This is new to me. I don't see an advantage to it unless you have a water supply that is hard.

As a note, commercial dish washing systems in restaurants use cleaning agents that are salts. In training to service those machines they have you actually lick the stuff and taste the salt! The point being that the cleaning agents are safe to use and won't cause harm if not fully rinsed off the service ware that gets washed by them.

Exactly, and that is probably why they are not that common in the U.S.

As far as salt in the detergent goes, that is not exactly what is going on here. As I understand it, it actually has a miniature water softener built into the machine and the salt is used to regenerate the softener and does not mix with the wash water.

 

[OldSaw]

Yep. If I'm not there to hear the beeps when it's finished I don't know if its still going or not.

Nearly every appliance in my house is louder than my Bosch dishwasher.