What can I do about hard water stained dishes?

Question

I use cascade and every brand out there, plus I use a water softener and it just doesn't work!!! I use Jet dry, too. I don't know what to do besides wash and dry by hand! How can I use the dishwasher and not have to have hard water stains or have to rewash the dishes just so they look nice?????

Answer 1

I use CLR to get the hard water off the dishes first. Then once they're "clean" I use Lemi Shine. Works wonders!

Answer 2

I put a teaspoon of table salt in with the dishwasher detergent. I don't know why this works for me. I also use Jet Dry.

Answer 3

I was told by a plumber that water spots can be caused  by 2 things.  One, your water may not be hot enough.  Run the water until it's as hot as it goes.  Stick the end of a thermometer in the running water (I used a meat thermometer).  The temperature should at least be 180 degrees.  Secondly, you should buy the less expensive powder type detergents.  The cheaper brands contain more phosphorus, which helps to eliminate the spots. Good luck!

Answer 4

Get you one of them water softener thangs..My plumber friend says it works real good. You could try to hand wash them in a sink full of dishwashing liquid and you will get soft hands from doing so.  

Answer 5

Having a water softener in your home is the main fixer of this problem.  If you don't have one, your dishes will come out with hard water stains.  They're pricey but they're worth it.  Also, check out this site about flatware: http://www.flatwarechoice.com- it has info on cleaning dishes.