I’ve been using Fairy Platinum tablets for about 8 weeks now and in that time, everything is being washed properly, metal items are much more shiny and discolouration from the base of saucepans and other items has been removed and not returning. Before using Fairy Platinum, I’d regularly find items which still had food debris left behind or discoloured. The bottom of saucepans used to feel like they were rougher and they looked dull. All this has changed after a shopping trip when I had to buy Fairy Platinum because I could not find the Finish Classic tablets or other detergents on special offer.

I wish I’d discovered Fairy Platinum a long time ago. I can see why they are normally so expensive – when not on special offer – and you sure get what you pay for. Before using them I thought my dishwasher was to blame for things not coming out clean. Yes they do contain built-in salt, rinse-aid and other things, but these capsules actually do the job properly and claim to keep the dishwasher itself clean. There are other types of Fairy detergent, but these ones have the word “Platinum” on the front of the packaging and there are several types, but all the ones I’ve bought that are “Platinum” have not let me down.

It’s rare now that anything comes not washed properly and even when that does happen, it’s a tiny area that’s been missed and I just put it back in. This contrasts to regularly having dirty items! I now stock up on packs of Fairy Platinum when they are on special offer, as normally they are very expensive. I also make sure the dishwasher is as full as possible before using it, to keep running costs down. Besides using these, I always rinse off strongly coloured sauces from items, under the hot tap, before putting in the dishwasher, as this saves other things getting discoloured, especially plastic items.

I’m still adding dishwasher salt and rinse aid when using Fairy Platinum, just as I did before using them.

I also keep the dishwasher itself clean i.e. the holes in the spray arms, the filters and regularly use Finish dishwasher cleaner when the dishwasher is empty of all items except the cutlery holder.

I would imagine dishwasher powder works best as it dissolves instantly and a small amount can be added to a pre-rinse too – if the cycle includes a pre-rinse; pour about 2 heaped teaspoons of the powder onto the inside of the door just before starting the dishwasher with a pre-rinse cycle. This effectively gives you a “head start” before the main wash, when the compartment door opens and releases the normal dosage for the main wash.

I understand that dishwasher powder is more “abrasive” than tablets or liquid dishwasher detergent? What type of detergent is recommended by dishwasher engineers?

So I am not the only one that thinks (KNOWS) the salt and rinse aid function of these tablets does not work!

You are right specialist products are deffinatley better. What do you think to our “economy” Bosch (Tecnik), impressed, I bet not!!!!

All the best,

Oliver.

We’ve been using Fairy 3 in 1 dishwasher tablets but Which? haven’t tested that yet. We have received free samples of Miele’s new own brand dishwasher detergent which is just a detergent so we’ve gone back to using proper dishwasher salt and rinse aid. Results are definitely improved and glasses are no longer cloudy as they often were with the 3 in 1 tablets.

You can’t beat specialist products instead of all this 3 in 1 convenience stuff. There are even 4 in 1, 5 in 1 and even 6 in 1 detergents available now which is pure marketing rubbish in my opinion. The 6 in 1 detergent did very poorly in Which? tests, which I don’t find surprising at all.

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