Could I use lemon or vinegar in my dishwasher?

Question

I have very hard water that leaves a thick film on my dishes in the dishwasher, and I want to know if lemon or vinegar would help fix the problem, and if it would be safe for the dishwasher. I know that lemon would be safe, but will vinegar be safe if I put it in the dishwasher with the dishes, and would it work?

Answer 1

both vingar and lemon would be safe. i don't quite understand how this will solve your problem but try it and let me know

Answer 2

The best way to overcome this problem is to make your own solution. Be sure temp is at least 130degree's.

take a gallon milk jug. Wash well.
Fill 3/4 with LIQUID DISHWASHER Soap
add 1/2 cup of morton salt
add 1/2 cup of WHITE vinegar
add 1/4 cup of lemon juice
Place hand over opening and slowly shift back and forth until well mixed. Do not put cap tight and shake. That can cause a possible burst.

You now have new and improved working dishwasher soap. It works great! Also...you've extended the life of dishwashing soap. Be sure to also use a JET DRY hanging basket as it will work in the drying cycle to keep hard water from settling and creating a film.

Happy clean dishing!!

Answer 3

I agree with The Thinker about using Cascade Complete. I had the same problem when we moved to a new area and tried everything imaginable (including using vinegar) and nothing helped until I tried Cascade Complete. It's a little more expensive than regular Cascade, but it's all I use now and I rarely have dishes come out of the dishwasher in less than perfect condition, so it really pays for itself in the long run.

Answer 4

I use vinegar in my dishwasher all the time for the same reason; we have well water which is very hard and the vinegar does help.
I also run ammonia through every so often to clean up soap buildup. Be sure and use the non sudsing kind though

Answer 5

We have hard (lime) water and I use Cascade Complete or Cascade with Lemon. It takes care of filming and water spots. Another thing that will help is to rinse your dishes in hot water, before placing them in the dishwasher, to remove grease and food particles.

My personal opinion is that both lemon juice and vinegar contain acids which are caustic and can discolor some of your dishes.
My mother rinses her dishes in Clorox water before putting them in the dishwasher. It's just her idiosyncrasy.

Answer 6

Your dishwasher should have a built-in water softener, which is why you put salt in, to regenerate the water softener. Do you put salt in....does it use the salt? Look in the manual to find out how to set up the softener, contact your water supply co find out how hard the water is, set the softener to the correct values.
If the answer is Yes, I put salt in, yes, its set correctly, but no, it does not use the salt up.... get a bowl, pour in a bag of washing soda (lots, does not matter) do a wash. This may clear out the galleries that control the fill/empty on the machine. May help.
Otherwise, call the service guys

Answer 7

My dishwasher was doing that, and it turned out it was my lines were to low, and now that we lifted up our lines running into our sink that residue doesn't back up into our dishwasher anymore during the cycle. You can try running a couple loads empty, and use a minimal amount of dishwasher detergent. Try using the liquid Cascade, but not cascade complete, because that can leave a residue on everything.

Answer 8

We have hard water, and about once a month on an empty cycyle I run unsweetened/sweetened drink mix through the dishwasher... It takes off any hard water residue and freshens the smell.... Good luck

Answer 9

vinegar will not hurt anything but your nose...lol will it work? hmm I always buy those rinse things that hang on the rack.

good luck

Answer 10

vinegar should work like it does in the coffee pot