I messed up. You're using too much detergent. technology connections

cracks knuckles Chemistry expert and former detergent chemist here, chiming in. Modulo some small semantic differences, you're 100% spot on. Functionally, there is zero difference in the formulations. Every powder dish detergent on the market comprises the same functional components, though the exact chemicals selected may vary. It's always some combination of detergent, anti-deposition agent, water conditioners, strong base, oxidizers, enzymes, buffers, "processing aids", and what I call "foo foo juice" – colors and fragrances.

The Purpose section is annoyingly vague so I'm going to break down each of the categories and give their examples. These aren't strict categories, in fact many of these chemicals perform double or even triple duty.

Detergent/Surfactant – Allows water to bind grease molecules by virtue of having two halves, hydrophilic (water loving) and hydrophobic (water hating or grease-binding). These can be basic/anionic (negative charge): sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS); neutral: isotridecanol ethoxylated, PEG C10. Acidic/cationic (positive) are uncommon in dish detergents but you may see them in rinse aids. Bonus fact: rinse aids are typically mild acids ( pH about 3) which helps dissolve calcium deposits and soap scum. Because of this, they have to use neutral or cationic surfactants.

Anti-deposition agent – Once you dissolve the grease, you don't want it to deposit back onto the dishes. Cascade calls this "boosts shine" but it's basically film prevention. The line between detergent and anti-deposition agent is blurry, and many chemicals can fulfill both roles. Acrylic copolymers are the best example here, but the PEGs (polyethylene glycol) also help in this regard, as do any neutral detergents. They tend to be weak detergents on their own, but their big advantage is they don't create soap scum (calcium fatty acids, more on that later).

Water conditioners and chelators – Hard water means calcium, iron, and other large positive ions in solution. Calcium reacts with anionic surfactants (aka soaps) to form insoluble scum. This both reduces cleaning power and makes extra goop that needs to be cleaned! Water conditioners exchange sodium for calcium, binding it so it doesn't form scum. This category includes polycarboxylates, citric acid, sodium phosphate (discontinued), EDTA, and our friend sodium acrylate/maleic/carboxylate copolymers again (yes it doubles as both anti-deposition and water conditioner. Synergy!).

Strong base – Anionic detergents work best at a high pH (alkaline/basic). Alkali also saponifies grease, giving it a hydrophilic group and turning it into soap! Lye (sodium hydroxide), bleach (sodium hypochlorite), sodium percarbonate aka sodium carbonate peroxide aka "OxyClean", sodium silicate, and sodium phosphate are all strong bases. See all that sodium? They also help condition water as well!

Oxidizers – These react with staining molecules such as tomato sauce, berries, tea, and coffee, as well as natural polymers like proteins (cheese) to break them apart. Sodium hypochlorite and percarbonate are oxidisers. "Transition metal catalyst" has a similar role, except instead of being consumed, it facilitates the bleaching action.

Enzymes – Starch and protein when heated and hydrated form a natural glue of sorts. Anyone dealing with stuck-on cheese or rice knows what I'm talking about. Enzymes are natural molecules that break these polymers down so they unstick from surfaces. Amylase specifically digests amylose (starch) and Subtilisin (protease) breaks down protein. Pro-tip: any time in biology you see whatever-ase, that breaks down _whatever_.

Buffers – prevent the base from being too basic and etching glassware. I think this is what zinc carbonate is doing, but I'm not 100% sure.

Processing Aid – Any time you see "processing aid" or "enables liquid processing" – that just means it's an inert bulk transport, because either the active ingredient is too viscous, or cakes easily, or whatever. Glycerin and Dipropylene glycol act as liquid solvents in those colorful liquid sections of the gel packs, since too much water would dissolve the pack. Sodium sulfate is just an inert powder.

Thank you for your video. I discovered the meaning of squeaky clean after starting to fill the prewash compartment.

I want exact same video but about washing machines

PS-I only use the gentle cycle… dishes come out clean all the time. No need in my opinion in running a 3 or 4 hour cycle. If the dirt isn't coming off in an hour & a half it ain't gonna come off! Also I don't use drying cycle… pop the door open & let them dry overnight. Some people hang a cotton towel inside but I don't.

god are there really people saying these easily disproofing things? oh you are the land of the free… free to throw away money… so your invest numbers keep staying high… lol

The excess is so that the leftovers can be used for a tide pod challenge. (please don't)

So the people who are mad dishwashers take so long are the same people who wash every dish and piece of silverware they have at the same time, the people who wait till they dirty the last plate and spoon before doing dishes, and then get angry because they have nothing to eat with lol, I have lived in both houses with people who religiously wash each plate and spoon after use and put them away, and with people who use every piece of eatery in the world even improvising large cups for bowls before washing

So the Finish brand did have advertising that suggest that the various parts work at different time to do different things.

Huh. I've only ever used the packs. In fact, I ran into the same issue with the little detergent door getting blocked by a plate, and ever since just dropped my single pack right into the tub and called it good. I've done this across multiple washers in multiple areas and never had an issue with things not getting clean unless (I assumed) something was particularly stuck on or blocked in some way, but that was only the odd scenario. Never knew it was all supposedly dissolving in the first 10 mins, and now I wonder if I should use one pack in the tub and one in the normal cubby like you recommend. My dishes all seem clean with just the pack thrown in??

Psh, you being sparky is why I tune into this channel!

I was worried about the Virus-Vaccine-producers….. now I'm worried about Big Detergent …..

This just made me realize that I probably have only used detergent in a dishwasher once. Growing up, usually it was either my sister’s job to do the dishes, or I was asked to load/unload and my parents did the settings and detergent. And now that I’m in college I don’t have a dishwasher and hand was everything. I don’t even know what kind of detergent my family even uses…

I'm not using those, theyre soooo expensive, and they arent good for my machine.
(a washing machine)

I want a cookie.

Why im i watching this at night? anyways goodnight.

You know that you grew up when you watch a 48 minute video on dishwasher soap. ALL-OF-IT!

I have old becel container with a spoon in it for my dish detergent powder allowing for better control and less mess when putting it into the dispenser.

I use two Finish Powerball tablets. I throw one in the dishwasher and put the second tablet in the soap dispenser.

Until your video I thought the first soap cup the one with tiny holes in it was for the first wash cycle (or I guess you might call it Pre-wash) and the second closed cup was for the second cycle.

When I used powder I filled up both cups.

The only problem I have is if I have a tall item next to the dispenser cups the door doesn't open all the way and I keep finding an unused dishwasher tablet there.

My mother used to wash (she called it rinsing) all the dishes before she loaded them into the dishwasher.

I'm lazy and I hate washing dishwashing.

So I don't wash or prerinse in the sink any dishes.

I load everything directly into the dishwasher! No rinsing first.
Stuck on stuff and all!

It's a dishwasher! Why buy one if it doesn't wash dishes.

And all my dishes come out clean.

And I use the Normal wash setting.

But warning:

Get a dishwasher that has a easy to remove and clean filter.

That filter stops things like plastic pieces or hard items like pits etc from going down the drain of dishwasher and entering the Garbage Disposal!

Yes Dishwashers have a Garbage Disposal!

They actually crush and cut up the tiny bits of stuff so it will go down the drain.

Its a spinning blade that does the job and it should be on all dishwashers but might only be on the top of line models.

Again, once a week I pull out the filter and rinse it off.

And that to the video the thing about the filter. The model dishwashers you showed on your video does not have what I am talking about.

My dishwasher is a Kenmore (its old now but is a Bosch knock off)

I don't get this..Its so easy to wash dishes…Why waste money and electricity on this shit.

I understand in a restaurant setting where you have to waste thousands of dishes…but for home..its stupid.

If the dishwasher takes too long, start it before bed. It will wash the dishes while you sleep.

Laundry detergent makers want people to use too much product, too.

Oh, be snarky. It's entertaining.

to be completely honest, I do not want to file and check an excel table everytime I wash my dishes.
I dont always have the same dishes inside, they are not always as dirty as before or sometimes more etc.
Also my dishwasher does not have a pre-wash compartment… so I just use tabs as its the easiest solution.

Question: any thoughts on the intermittent wet dog smell my dishes get??

You remind me so much of my brother its comical. As someone who looks for every single possible place to save a few bucks i will be having a conversation with my wife about transitioning to powder.

If never had a dishwasher but powder seems to be the best idea to me those predone tablets seem way overpriced.
I use powder instead of gels in the washing machine