"Storrmmee" > wrote in message
...
>i am not sure about price comparisions but there are also other factors to
>consider when deciding,
> -portion control for the dw you won't get too much
> -spillage/mess; you won't drop the box and get poweder or liquid
> everywhere.
> -pet safety, see above, the cat won't walk in it as you are cleaning up.
> -getting older; picking up a finish tab is big enough to get ahold of, but
> not so heavey it hurts a hand or joint.

I don't use my dishwasher very often. Mainly I only use it when my husband
is home. With two people we just don't generate a lot of dishes on most
days. I don't really understand how my parents can fill theirs each day,
especially since my mom doesn't cook much. But we also use paper bowls,
plates and cups for a lot of things and they do not.

Some years ago I bought some boxes of dishwashing powder at the military
commissary. This was recommended to me by a dishwasher repairman who
claimed that the liquid or gel (can't remember which) I was using was
messing things up. Apparently I happened upon a super good sale and perhaps
I even had some coupons. I can't remember now. But then after I bought it
I was afraid to use the dishwasher. Our kitchen sink was clogging up every
3 months or so. I have since had it replumbed twice under the sink but the
last plumber said there was some sort of additional problem in the wall.
Grrr... He sold me some expensive stuff to put down it monthly and I am
overdue to do that. Not sure if it will help or not. The last clog was not
in at the sink but in the wall.

Anyway... I got a new dishwasher a few years ago as a gift and I was also
given some of those little pouches of stuff to put in there. Those would
never be my choice because they are the Dawn brand and I just don't like the
scent of the stuff. They sat there and sat there because I had so much
powder left. Then I got to the last box and there was a leak under the
sink. I kept the box down there. The leak was actually from the dishwasher
because the idiot installer failed to tighten the clamp to the hose. Oh
joy! Anyway... The box got all wet. I was able to use the product on the
top of it but then finally decided there was no need to be that frugal and I
threw it out.

I have used one of those little pouches since. No complaints except that I
don't get a nice scent. I really like a nice scent from my cleaning
products. Not a chemical scent and that is what I get from these. I'm
pretty sure this package came from Costco so it will take me forever and a
day to use it all up.