Alarming dishwasher discovery stumps Aussies: 'That's terrible!'

Ah, the joys of modern conveniences! Dishwashers are a godsend for busy families, but what happens when your trusty kitchen helper turns into a puzzling problem? One Aussie mum was faced with a such a conundrum after making a somewhat alarming discovery.

“This is what a Finish tablet does to a dishwasher filter in 2 weeks. Wondering how much plastic is actually landing on the dishes? Anyone experienced this?” she asked online, sharing a photo of her dishwasher filter covered in what looked like a papery residue.

She clarified she uses Platinum Finish tablets and diligently cleans the filter every two weeks. “It’s not food or fat, it looks like washed soaked paper,” she added.

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The responses came flooding in, turning the post into a lively debate and proving that even the most mundane cleaning issues can spark quite the conversation.

“This doesn’t happen to mine,” one member commented.

Another mum was equally baffled, “Gahhh that’s terrible and something definitely wrong there. I’ve used Finish tablets for years and never seen anything like that.”

Of course, the armchair experts were quick to weigh in. “I think your drain is dirty… do a bicarb clean,” one suggested, bringing some DIY cleaning hacks to the table.

Aussies blamed build-up on oil, suggest hotter wash

Then came the firm denials. “That’s fat and oil build-up, not plastic. If you put oily stuff in there you need to use the hotter wash option and clean the filter afterwards. It definitely has nothing to do with the tablet, it has to do with the user.”

Others echoed this sentiment, “This is a dirty filter, not a Finish tablet,” while some shared their own spotless experiences, “I use Finish tablets and clean the filter regularly, can’t say mine has ever looked like this.”

A few users had technical theories, “I’m wondering if your dishwasher is running hot enough? Maybe it’s not getting hot enough to dissolve properly.”

“Isn’t that undissolved fats and trapped fibres? I’m sure I’ve had that build-up with multiple brands of tablet but never that bad.”

Expert weighs in: what's really happening?

Speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle, Chris Barnes, home appliance expert from CHOICE, explained that the gunk in the photos could be partly dissolved plastic wrapper, but probably also undissolved detergent.

"It's not at all typical," Barnes elaborated, "most dishwasher tablets fully dissolve and the residue is completely rinsed off and flushed away during normal running."

He continued, "The residue is likely a combination of plastic and detergent, as well as general grease and dirt. This gunk could be redeposited onto the items in the dishwasher, which is obviously not good for your health!"

Long-term, Barnes explained, this sort of buildup is bad for the dishwasher. It likely clogs the filter and drainage pipes, reducing the effectiveness of the dishwasher and possibly stopping it from running altogether.

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He also suggested several factors might be causing this type of build-up on the filter:

1. Inappropriate program settings: The dishwasher might be set on a program like "light" or "rinse only," which may not be hot enough to fully dissolve the tablet and its wrapper.

2. Automatic sensing program issues: If you're pre-rinsing dishes, the automatic sensor in your dishwasher might get confused, thinking it's washing cleaner dishes. This results in the dishwasher using less energy and water, making it more likely to leave dirt on the dishes.

3. Dirty filter: A clogged filter means poor water circulation and not enough chance for the detergent residue to be flushed out. Clean the filter every week or two with hot water to clear grease and gunk. An occasional deep clean of the entire dishwasher is also beneficial.

4. Incorrect loading: The dishwasher might be overloaded or badly stacked, blocking the rotating spray arm and preventing proper water distribution.

5. Poor dishwasher or tablet quality: Sometimes, the dishwasher or the tablet just isn't very good.

So, next time your dishwasher filter looks a little off, keep these tips in mind to ensure your dishwasher runs smoothly and effectively.

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