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Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by throw0101a on Sunday February 06, 2022 @08:48AM (#30232431)
> Doesn't even need special tablets […]

A thirty minute video explaining why tablets are bad and that you should simply use powder:

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rBO8neWw04

Also, a follow-up video:

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll6-eGDpimU

Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by koala_man on Sunday February 06, 2022 @11:25AM (#30233966)
I always ran my dishwasher on the three hour power wash program because nothing would get clean otherwise. Then I watched this video and started using powder. Now the normal program works fine every time.
Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by aqme28 on Sunday February 06, 2022 @10:41AM (#30233466)
I only watched the first video, but I really can't see the difference between his experiment (with the soap at the beginning) and his control. I'm not convinced.
Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by cush on Sunday February 06, 2022 @01:34PM (#30235429)
He addresses your concerns in the 2nd video. But aside from that, logically, you should be convinced by the fact that using tablets results in there being no soap soap in the first wash cycle.
Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by preommr on Sunday February 06, 2022 @11:12AM (#30233817)
Did you just skip to it or did you watch it with audio and pay attention to what he's saying?

Becaue he mentions that the difference might not be super obvious but still makes a pretty good case for it.

Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by nokya on Sunday February 06, 2022 @11:51AM (#30234223)
Why don't you just come to the point?
Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by aqme28 on Sunday February 06, 2022 @12:31PM (#30234689)
I watched the whole thing.

If your theory isn't borne out by experiment, you should probably revise the theory or the experiment before publishing your video.

Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by amelius on Sunday February 06, 2022 @09:39AM (#30232878)
Summary? I can't watch video now.
Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by renewiltord on Sunday February 06, 2022 @10:18AM (#30233230)
https://youtubetranscript.com/?v=_rBO8neWw04&t=538

The video pretty much says “use detergent in both pre-wash and wash receptacles”. Using the pods makes this hard. Using powder lets you do this easily yourself.

That’s pretty much it.

Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by amelius on Sunday February 06, 2022 @10:26AM (#30233310)
Aren't there tablets made of two layers, one which dissolves during prewash, and the other mostly during wash? I mean the two-colored ones.
Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by raldi on Sunday February 06, 2022 @10:46AM (#30233534)
The door the tablet’s in doesn’t open until after the prewash.
Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by whoisburbansky on Sunday February 06, 2022 @11:15AM (#30233846)
He tests those as well, finds that they don’t actually do a staged release like that.
Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by cush on Sunday February 06, 2022 @01:38PM (#30235478)
No, the dishwasher dispenses the entire tablet during main wash only. Which is exactly why if you use tablets the pre wash won’t have any soap
Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by henrikeh on Sunday February 06, 2022 @10:49AM (#30233563)
At least not in the ones tested in the video.

Also, the prewash happens in a cycle, where the soap holder isn’t opened.

Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by yonig on Sunday February 06, 2022 @10:31AM (#30233357)
TLDW Tablets aren’t bad but if you don’t fill your prewash compartment with detergent you’ll get worse cleaning. The prewash compartments are meant for loose powder or gel so might as well just use that detergent for both compartments
Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by adhesive_wombat on Sunday February 06, 2022 @01:16PM (#30235235)
What are people washing that it doesn't wash off?! Or maybe it's just cheap machines that are that sensitive?

The only time things ever come out dirty for me is when the rotor is obstructed and half the dishes don't get any water (or detergent) on them, and that's on eco mode.

Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by YourCupOTea on Sunday February 06, 2022 @10:09AM (#30233152)
The tablets have nothing fancy in them other than some dyes, they are just soap at a mark-up. Even the cheapy store brand stuff does just as good of a job.

Additionally, depending on the hardness of your water you may need less detergent than the tablets have in them which could leave a white residue on your dishes.

Finally, with the powdered detergent you may need to sprinkle a little in the door for a pre-rinse which you can't due with the pods. Check your washer instructions.

P.S. Never use liquid detergents.

Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by jerome-jh on Sunday February 06, 2022 @12:08PM (#30234412)
Since first lockdown in my country, when dishwasher tabs went missing in stores, I got used to use 1/2 a tab for each wash. Turns out dishes were just as clean as with a full tab. To this day I keep using 1/2 tab per wash.
Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by hdjjhhvvhga on Sunday February 06, 2022 @06:33PM (#30238217)
To push your example even further, I once forgot to load anything and Imagine my surprise when I opened the dishwasher and everything was really clean, maybe except one plate.
Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by anon7725 on Sunday February 06, 2022 @01:02PM (#30235054)
> P.S. Never use liquid detergents.

Why not? I’ve switched from tablets to liquid detergent and it’s working out well.

Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by YourCupOTea on Sunday February 06, 2022 @01:25PM (#30235344)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll6-eGDpimU&t=1584s He doesn't like them in the follow-up video. Powders can have both enzymes and bleach unlike gels.
Re:Ask HN: Any piece of hardware that was more of game chang... by solarmist on Sunday February 06, 2022 @01:17PM (#30235244)
Also dishwasher design hasn't improved in 100 years, so as long as it's working any dishwasher is as good as the others.