Guest Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 Just a warning really! I have a Bosch slimline dishwasher which is 3 years old. My previous d/w lasted 12 years, had a new loom and then went for another 3 years. The Bosch machine is one of Which?'s recommended models. The machine stopped working last week. I have had an engineer in this morning. I have been using Ecover tablets for years now, but I only use half a tablet as it is a slimline model. Again ecover did quite well in a Which? report. For the past year I have been using the Eco programme which runs at 50 degrees and takes about 3 hours. I felt virtuous, but unfortunately I've shot myself in the foot. It would seem that by using a lower temperature and only half of a non-chemical tablet, my machine has got gunged up with food waste. The sludge has got into the workings and I am having to have two components replaced. From now on, I will go back to the Auto programme which is 55-65 degrees hot. I will also use a whole tablet every wash, but I will stick with Ecover. The man recommended Finish because he said the machines are designed to work with that product (although he also said there was no problem in continuing with Ecover). I might get a box of that too and alternate Finish and Ecover. More things to remember! I am also thinking I might do something similar with my washing-machine, also a Bosch. I use Bio D liquid, but I do a hot wash every week and add white vinegar as a softener, which also cleans the machine. I might occasionally use a more commercial and chemicalised product on a hot wash, to de-gunge any clogged up bits. Our clothes don't generally have caked-on dirt though, so it won't be as bad a problem as the dishwasher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 - what a surprise! We've just had a new Hotpoint dishwasher and it has a button to use if any of the fancy 3in1 type tablets are used - apparently they need a longer cycle? I alternate between Ecover and Bold in the washing machine......I'd better start doing the same with the dishwasher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 24, 2008 Share Posted November 24, 2008 The engineer said he had met another lady who used ecover and low temperatures. The same happened to her. I think it is the combination that is the problem. I tried too hard! Expensive mistake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 I use Ecover in my Bosch washing machine and have had no problems with sludge at all. I do run it on a 90 degree wash once a month though to clear out any sludge. My handbook for the machine says to do this. Must admit though that for the dishwasher I never use the eco cycle as I prefer things to be washed at a higher temperature. I also use a dishwasher cleaner in it about 4 times a year. Fingers crossed that's working so could be worth a try. Hope the repairs aren't too dear Ginette as I know Bosch washing machine parts are about 3 times the price of other makes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 I wasn't doing any of those things, so it's my fault, although possibly an innocent mistake. I asked if it would be better to buy a new machine and the man said he didn't think the parts would cost too much, so hopefully it'll be all right. However I haven't heard back and it's a week since he came. (2 weeks without a dishwasher ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 2, 2008 Share Posted December 2, 2008 Bad luck Ginette. Interesting reading though. I shall put the suggestions into action. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 2, 2008 Share Posted December 2, 2008 Shame about that Ginette - if you run it through a hot wash and put some washing soda crystals in it, that will clear all the gunk. It cuts through grease and slime really well and you can buy this soda from any supermarket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 2, 2008 Share Posted December 2, 2008 The gunk has got into the sealed units - heat exchanger and something else. The man can't flush it out because they're sealed. It doesn't quite make sense to me because if it has got in, then presumably it can come out or at least something else could get in. The parts have come in and the machine will be fixed this afternoon. We are so looking forward to not having to wash up loads tonight!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted December 2, 2008 Share Posted December 2, 2008 Don't forget to do the same sort of routine maintainance on your washine machine too. Lower temps cause same probs with them. I do a wash as hot as my machine will go every couple of months with white vinigar in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 2, 2008 Share Posted December 2, 2008 I do a 90 degree wash every other week - white sheets and tea-towels.....the week in between they are done at 40 - I'm hoping that keeps the washing machine clear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 2, 2008 Share Posted December 2, 2008 I do that too Lesley! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 So....that's probably the best thing to do with the dishwasher as well? Not wash the sheets - just a hotter wash once a week? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 Bosch is designed to work with Finish tablets, so I have bought some of them and plan to use one once a week, probably Sunday. In the rest of the week, I will use Ecover tablets, but a whole one each time. I am also going back to the Auto temperature setting (55-65 degrees) rather than the Eco setting which is cooler. And I must try to run a proper dishwasher cleaner regularly - maybe once a month? Hopefully this will avoid any further problems. At £165, I can't afford not to get it right! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 So....that's probably the best thing to do with the dishwasher as well? Not wash the sheets - just a hotter wash once a week? I tend to do it once every coupleof weeks or every three if I've forgotten, with the dishwasher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 I don't have a dishwasher, but Phil used to; when it got gunked up, I gave him some Milton liquid to run through it on a hot cycle. I always use Napisan in my white laundry washes and it helps to keep the machine fresh, along with the white vinegar as softener. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 Just reminded me Clare, where do you get Napisan nowadays? Our local Boots doesn't stock it! edit...but Ocado does, will get some next time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted December 5, 2008 Share Posted December 5, 2008 Most supermarkets stock it. I also use it in a pan on the hob to boil up face cloths and the like Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted December 9, 2008 Share Posted December 9, 2008 Interesting thread. What I am wondering is...how does doing a hot wash every week affect the energy saving by using the eco wash the rest of the time? I mean does 5 eco washes + one hot wash use the same energy as 6 'normal' washes for example. Are the eco settings just put there so the machine will achieve an 'A' grading for energy use but in fact are not actually any use? Thoughts anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 Interesting thread. What I am wondering is...how does doing a hot wash every week affect the energy saving by using the eco wash the rest of the time? I mean does 5 eco washes + one hot wash use the same energy as 6 'normal' washes for example. Are the eco settings just put there so the machine will achieve an 'A' grading for energy use but in fact are not actually any use? Thoughts anyone? One to ponder ! In the similar vein, is the advertising for all the low temp cycles on washing machines etc to a degree (sorry bad pun ) a waste of time as the chemicals you have to use in order to get the clothes clean, ie the bio Ariel etc, are quite nasty, IMHO. I can't use a bio product because we have a septic tank & it would kill off all the "good" bacteria necessary for it to work - they also make my skin itch! I use smaller quantities of Persil non-bio, which doesn't make me itch, but am considering using the homemade washing powder once this box is finished. I haven't used fabric conditioner for ages, although the static in the fleeces is spectacular especially in the dark - little blue flashes everywhere !! Will try the vinegar route as recommended somewhere here. We use Finish in our Bosch dishwasher at the eco 50 setting, which seems to take forever (140ish mins) to do a cycle, so is usually put on at bedtime & emptied in the morning. Sometimes we have dog & chook bowls in there, so wouldn't want to go any lower on the temp ! In the washing machine, most of our clothes are washed at 40deg, with kitchen cloths, towels & sheets all being done at 60deg ( I did a set of particularly bad "poorly" sheets on a 95deg wash before Christmas, they were very creased but soooooo clean, I pre-treated the stains with Fairy liquid - magic stuff! - & used the normal amount of Persil non-bio ) Also how does the drop in temperature of the water level out with the longer length of washing times..... (126 mins at 60deg, 140 mins at 50deg)? Give with one hand & take back with the other Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milly Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 That's bad news about your dishwasher - we only got ours a year ago, but I really appreciate it after many, many years of hand-washing! Our (Neff) dishwasher has an Eco-wash at 35 degrees which takes about half an hour. I can't stand waiting 2 hours or more for an ordinary wash. We run a hot wash every couple of months, when we remember, to clean out any gunk (we hope). The Finish cubes don't work on the short wash - they obviously need longer times to dissolve and bits were often left in the machine. Powder is better, or cheap cubes like the ones from Lidl (which were also a Which Best Buy). Or, if you want an alternative to Ecover you can get Simply cubes (but they aren't so easy to find as the Simply clothes wash). http://www.simplywashing.com Milly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Wow, I never knew that! I've a septic tank, too, and am getting a dishwasher in a couple of weeks.... for once, I may actually read the instruction manual! I do sometimes think that manufacturers and retailers use "eco awareness" for marketing, not out of environmental considerations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted January 6, 2009 Share Posted January 6, 2009 Actually, I haven't considered whether the dishwasher tablets are septic tank friendly, perhaps I should check ! I try not to use too much in the way of chemicals anyway, I clean the bathrooms with vinegar & bicarb and try to use more eco options elsewhere, and what with the odd dead rat ( ) that gets lobbed in the tank I think we manage to keep the bacteria necessary on the straight & narrow ! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 I shall have to show OH this thread, he insists on using the eco programme on everything to save money & nothing seems to come out very clean & he moans about the sludge in the filters, looks like a false ecconomy in the long run Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 7, 2009 Share Posted January 7, 2009 Definitely! Tell him what happened to me! I am now using the auto program (not eco) with ecover tablets, but using a Finish tablet on Sundays just to give it a good cleanse. i am also using a dishwasher cleaner once a month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
