Sooo much pooping

[Eggasperated]

I've owned dishwashers on and off for over 25 years and never had a problem with my cutlery (my newest cutlery is 15 years old), but having bought a new Siemens dishwasher my stainless steel cutlery is all developing rust spots on the handles. This rubs off with an abrasive sponge but it is a nuisance having to do this every time.

It appears it is possibly something to do with the salt in the machine but I'm not getting any problem with my saucepans; can anyone give me any ideas or is it time to replace my cutlery? But what with? I don't want to spend loads of money and end up with the same problem. Am really puzzzling over this as it didn't happen with my last dishwasher .

[abwsco]

Are you adding salt and rinse aid to the machine or just an "all in one" My machine states that I still have to add both if I use an "all in one" Only time I have the problem is if I've forgotten to top up the salt.

[Eggasperated]

I'm using salt and rinse aid and a 3 in 1 tablet ( the same as in my previous machine) but the instruction book suggests I may not need salt as well , but I don't know why it should change with a different machine .

[Chicken shack]

I never use salt and rinse aid now you can buy all in one. Makes life easier.

[abwsco]

I'm using salt and rinse aid and a 3 in 1 tablet ( the same as in my previous machine) but the instruction book suggests I may not need salt as well , but I don't know why it should change with a different machine .

 

Suppose technology has changed. If it says not to add extra salt I'd go with that and see if it solves the problem. Mine is an oldish Miele.

[Snowy]

My old machine didn't suggest altering the salt levels depending on which detergent you used, but the new one I got yesterday says to reduce the salt if using 3 in 1 products. Maybe the newer machines dispense it differently I've only used my machine once so far so not enough to know if it will make a difference.

[Mercedes55]

I've only had my dishwasher for a year but I'm sure when I read the booklet it said you still needed to use salt even with the 3 in 1 tablets but that it wouldn't need topping up so much as it would need less for each wash. Mine lights up when the salt needs refilling. I also remember having to set something up when I first used it to say how hard the water is in the area we live in. I think if you live in a soft water area you can just use the 3 in 1 tablets and not bother with salt or rinse aid. I need to get my book out and have a look, but mine is one of those Bosch ones that uses very little water. Have to say I've not noticed any problems with my cutlery.

[chickencam]

i have some heavy duty stainless steel cutlery and this happens from time to time, but not often and I have a cheap and cheerful Hotpoint dishwasher and only use the multi action tablets in it usually Finish but whatever is on offer.

[Eggasperated]

I decided to ring the water board to find out how hard the water is in this area and it appears to be fairly soft, therefore according to the scale in my instruction book I shouldn't need to use any salt with the 3 in 1 tablets. So mystery solved (hopefully ), although that doesn't really account for why I didn't have the problem with my old machine as I always used salt with that.

Thanks for all the replies, didn't realise dishwashers could be so interesting .

Anyway having looked at my cutlery I think it could be due for an upgrade, so if I get some birthday money I might spend it on that instead of plants for the garden like I usually do.