My Dishwasher Detergent Confessions plus DIY Dishwasher Magnet

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #SparklySavings #CollectiveBias 

Confession #1 - I don't like doing the dishes

This probably comes from the fact I rarely had a dishwasher growing up. I washed my fair share of dishes and now, since we eat 3 meals a day at home, I am constantly tackling an ever growing mountain of dirty dishes. It is quite a job.

But does anyone really enjoy doing the dishes?

Having a dishwasher made a huge difference in my attitude, With a family of 5, I now consider a dishwasher more of a necessity than a luxury. It is the only appliance in the house we didn't upgrade when we moved in. But it is on my list. With Back-to-School needs and upcoming family birthdays and the holidays though, it isn't a priority. 

Instead of a top of the line machine I am using the best dishwasher detergent I can find instead.

Confession #2 - I pre-scrubbed my dishes

I blame it on my love of melted cheese, but I was a die-hard dish scrubber. I assumed the power lacking in our old dishwasher was the reason why the dishes came out with stuck-on food and spots. Oh, how I dislike spots on my dishes! We have well water so I needed to find a way to get my glasses shiny and residue free. 

The simple solution was in Finish Quantum Power Dishwasher Detergent. The Power Gel helped to rinse away any residue that comes from my well water and the pre-soaking Powerball® took care of all my tenacious baked-on food particles.

Even a night of French Onion Soup Meatballs with all that melted Swiss Cheese came off in the dishwasher cycle.

Confession #3 -  I run my dishwasher 2-4 times a day

Yes, you heard me. I know my way around dishes! Since my husband is a farmer we have the luxury of having all our meals at home as a family. But all that home cooking is brutal on our dishwasher... and me! It didn't leave any time for me to re-run a load that didn't come out clean the first time. 

Confession #4 -  I waste a lot of dishwasher detergent

Call me clumsy but, previously we used a powdered dishwasher detergent and those big boxes were always awkward to pour. Bumped by the baby or startled by wild children zooming through the kitchen, I was always over filling the detergent holder. I was all for trying a pre-measured tab to avoid the waste.

My husband was skeptical.

But I love grabbing a single tab. And I am the one doing the dishes.

Since our old dishwasher detergent just wasn't cutting it, I was happy to give Finish Quantum a try. You might have noticed that Walmart has Finish Products on Rollback (now until October) and you can grab a coupon right here to combine and save even more! 

It is a great time to try it for yourself.

With all the Finish Product options available at my Walmart, I am sure there is a solution in there for all of your own dishwasher confessions. 

Confession #5 - Sometimes I can't tell if my dishes are clean or dirty

And my last little secret is probably something many families deal with. After the green dishwasher light goes off, how do you keep track of whether the dishes are clean or dirty? I never like to realize they are dirty after putting half of them away, so I decided to create a Clean/Dirty Dishwasher Magnet.

It's easy to make with a Silhouette machine and a few simple supplies.

I used:

• Silhouette Cameo Die Cutter
• Adhesive Magnet Paper
• Scrapbook Paper
• Adhesive Vinyl
• Transfer Tape

I found the fork and spoon in the Silhouette online library. The download was just $0.99, and I paired it with a shape I already owned and a simple font in my current library. 

This was my first experience using the Adhesive Magnet Paper from Silhouette and it was so simple to cut and use. I just followed the instructions on the back of package and used the cut settings as suggested by the software. 

I also cut the same basic shape out of two different scrapbook paper designs and cut those in half. The white backing peels off the magnet paper and then you can attach it to anything. 

I cut the fork and spoon as well as the words out of adhesive vinyl scraps. With transfer paper I moved them over to my magnet and was done! 

Now I have solved my fifth problem. My kids already like the idea of turning the magnet when I start the dishwasher. I am not sure how long this game will last, but it helps to keep me straight.

As for confession 1-4? Well, Finish Quantum Power has me covered there. My dishes have been cleaner this week than they have for the past 4 years. Now I know I can put off replacing the dishwasher a little longer.

What are your Dishwasher Confessions?

Cascade #MyPlatinum - TLC for my Dishes, Dishwasher and Food

*I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.

I must admit, even though I own a dishwasher, I am a chronic pre-washer. Yes, I am a little overzealous about making sure our dishes are spot-free and clean.

But let me explain. Growing up we didn't always have a dishwasher. When we did, the dishwasher in our rental was often old or gutless. I grew up with the idea that a dishwasher just sanitizes the dishes, it can't remove food. So, I soak, I scrub and then I load the dishwasher. The whole process from sink to cupboard can take up to 3 hours. As a food blogger, and busy Mom, my dishes just pile up.

Lately my husband has been pitching in more around the house. The baby is coming this week and by the end of the day I am exhausted and ready to run and hide from our dinner dishes. The biggest problem is, I married someone who doesn't believe in pre-washing. Oh, the horror!

There is nothing worse than opening up the dishwasher the following morning to find the food is now "sterilized" onto the dishes. You know what I mean? The heat cycle has done it's magic and now that dried on food is going to be even harder to chip off the dishes than before? I might as well break out the sandpaper.  Oh, yeah...

Each week I try to share my best recipe photos here on the blog. No one want to pin or recreate a meal that is presented on dirty, streaked or smudged dishware. I need my flatware to shine and my glasses to show off what is inside them, not stuck on them. All my tempting close-ups would be in vain without sparkling dishes.

So to cut down on my workload and put my best dishes forward, I tried Cascade Platinum Pacs. Usually I buy both dry dishwasher detergent and then a rinse aid to help keep my machine at it's best. Again, my old girl can use all the help she can get. These handy little packs cover both jobs.

No measuring, no pouring, just grab a pack and pop it into the detergent tray. Close the lid and run the dishwasher. It was simple and fast, and I am sure even while baby-sleep-deprived I will be able to do it. No more spilled detergent or overfilled trays is another bonus for me.

How did they stack up? Well, my dishes came out clean, spot-free and without any of the dried on food they went in with. I was also happy to just toss in a pack and turn on the machine. Simple is good, right?

Some other fun facts about the Cascade Platinum Pacs include:

• Contains the Grease Fighting Power of Dawn
• Fights Tea & Coffee Stains
• Helps Prevent Hard Water Filming for a Sparkling Machine
• Contains Tough Food Enzyme Action

Get Your Food Noticed

We eat with our eyes even before we can taste the food. This is evident on sites like Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Even simple food's presentation can be enhanced with sparkling dishes and Cascade is partnering up with Gail Simmons, Top Chef judge and editor of Food+Wine Magazine, to discuss why this is important. Check out her tips from prep to plating and how Cascade Platinum can help. Learn more on the Cascade Facebook page and their Youtube page.

Enter the "My Platinum" Instagram Contest

I love taking food pics and Instagram has made sharing my culinary fun in the kitchen even easier. This month you can join in Cascade's "My Platinum" contest just by uploading photos related to their weekly themes. Register on the "My Platinum" contest site, then tag your photo with both #MyPlatinum and @MyCascade.

Each week, 2 lucky contestants will win a brand new Whirlpool Dishwasher, and one grand prize winner will get a Platinum kitchen makeover!

Here is the contest schedule:

• Week 1: My Platinum Plate (Entry Period: 6/3-6/9) - Show your best dish styled from the sparkling plate up.
• Week 2: My Platinum Bite (Entry Period: 6/10-6/16) - Show your best bite and most creative use of sparkling silverware.
• Week 3: My Platinum Clink (Entry: 6/17-6/23) - Show how you serve up creative concoctions in sparkling glasses. Cheers.
• Week 4: My Platinum Table (Entry Period: 6/24-6/30) - Show your sparkling tablescape for your most special celebrations.

So, are you a pre-washer? Want to change?