Anyone on here know if dishwasher salt is really necessary? I live in a soft-water area and have no limescale problems at all. As far as I know, the salt is only to soften the water, but if you already have soft water, is it really necessary? It seems to me the salt is probably the main thing that causes corrosion on cutlery which is a problem for me, so I'd rather not use it if I don't have to.

I don't mind buying it if it's necessary, and I'm reluctant to stop using it because I've read that people relying on those 3-in-1 tablets which are supposed to include salt have suffered breakdowns because they didn't have enough salt in them - but again presumably they lived in a hard-water area.

Also if anyone is really techie - why do dishwashers need salt but washing machines and other water-using devices not. Also I distinctly remember back in the 1980s my parents had an Electra dishwasher and when they bought salt for it, they couldn't work out where it went.

They checked the manual and it said it was a new-generation dishwasher which did not require salt. I've never heard of any machine since which doesn't require salt... any idea why that one didn't need it, and why don't they make machines now that don't if it was possible back then?

You know those Flash car wash thingies that were promoted a few years ago? The ones that left your car streak free without having to leather off? Same thing here, the salt is used in a water softener so that your stuff comes out streak free. If it comes out sparkly without salt, you don't need it.
The water has to be really hard to cause problems with machinery and if it causes a problem with a dishwasher, it will be a problem with everything else too. In this case a household water softener is required

You need salt in the dishwasher , if you are in a hard water area it will just last longer, it makes the dishwasher more effective [even if you have soft water].The machine your parents had was probably an attempt to use an electromagnet softener which are not effecient enough hence the idea was dropped.

RSteve,
If your cutlery starts to dissolve, don't put any salt in.

I'm interested in this because we're having a d/w fitted in a couple of months' time. We are in a 'neutral' water area. Does the manual not specify what the requirements are for the different water areas?

The manual will tell you what setting to put the salt dispenser at according to the hardness of your water, which is measured in a strangely named unit that I can't remember. All you have to do is ring your water supply company & they will tell you what the figure is for your area. Well worth doing as the figures can vary even in a small area - my water is much softer here than when I lived 4 miles away.

I didn't realise it got that technical - thanks biggles

Put the usual in front of this for a map.
dwi.gov.uk/consumer/faq/hardness.htm

I am sure the map is in general accurate, but it is wrong for me.

I don't really understand if it's needed or not in a soft water area to be honest. I work on the basis that as it doesn't cost much and only needs refilling very infrequently, I stick it in anyway

I also use the 3-in-1 tablets but also put rinse aid in, because I don't think glasses and cutlery look as nice without it.

Are your glasses okay in the d/w Laura? My friend told me not to put glasses in as they go cloudy.

They're perfect velvet. I do think that rinse aid is essential for that. I did just try the tablets (Finish) at the start because I've never had one before and didn't really know the form.

It was fine, but they are definitely better with it. Also, my parents don't use separate rinse aid and their glasses are quite cloudy.

Thanks Laura

Different tablets/detergents also have a marked difference in performance. I have experimented with different types of all-in-ones, simple powders, salts and rinse aides in all sorts of combinations. Now I do not use salt (I was suffering from corroded cutlery - perhaps that's a fault with my d/w), I do not use rinse aid as it made no difference, and I use a shops own 5-in-one tablets (you get ClubCard points on them )
With the differences in water hardness and d/w performance, I don't think there is a hard and fast rule. Whatever works for you!

we live in a very hard water area, and with the original tablets the addition of salt was essential - stuff came out very streaky if we didn't, and a lot of our glass went cloudy. Since the advent of these 3-in-1 tablets I haven't added salt for at least half a year and stuff comes out nice and clear, and our glasses have not got any more cloudy (for old ones) or cloudy at all ( for new glasses). So I think the answer is that these 3-in-1 do exactly what they claim - wash, soften and rinse clear.

I use the Fairy gel tablet things and they work really well (2for1 in Tesco making them affordable ;-) ). We are in a hard water area and everything has come out perfectly without salt or rinse aid.

I do wonder if it is damaging the machine though.

I also wonder if I should put those calgon tablets in the washing machine

Re the w/m calgon issue, I lived in a hard water area for many years and did not use them. When I saw the tv ads I did buy a box, but only used them once or twice because they made the laundry feel weird. And when I bought my new w/m the manual specifically said NOT to use them Anyway neither of my heavily used washing machines ever succumbed to limescale fatigue.