UK recommended detergents are not working

[CelesteJA]

I bought and tried the detergents recommended by the creator of this wonderful rewinder, but they just simply don't clean my dishes.
Seems to work okay on non-stick pans, but plates and cutlery are being left with food smears stuck to them.

I noticed there's a difference in PH levels between the original bob formula and the recommended replacement; the original bob formula has a PH 1, whereas the recommended replacement has PH 2. Not sure if that's the reason it's just not cleaning my dishes?

Has anyone had any luck finding a good replacement detergent and rinse aid in the UK? I'm pulling my hair out over this, I've been searching for ages.

[dekuNukem]

Hi there! first make sure the detergent piping is not blocked. i have read reports that the detergent dries up or crystallizes in the pipe and blocking it, and you end up with no detergent delivery at all.

maybe weigh the cassette, do a few washes and weigh it again to make sure it actually got lighter.

you can also try adding the 4mL of detergent directly into the tub and do a wash, if it’s noticeably cleaner that way, then something might be wrong with the delivery.

also make sure the heating plate is working, the inside should be hot after a wash.

[CelesteJA]

Hi there! first make sure the detergent piping is not blocked. i have read reports that the detergent dries up or crystallizes in the pipe and blocking it, and you end up with no detergent delivery at all.

maybe weigh the cassette, do a few washes and weigh it again to make sure it actually got lighter.

you can also try adding the 4mL of detergent directly into the tub and do a wash, if it’s noticeably cleaner that way, then something might be wrong with the delivery.

also make sure the heating plate is working, the inside should be hot after a wash.

Hello! Thanks for the quick response!

At the risk of sounding ignorant, where is the detergent piping located? And by tub, do you mean the tank where I pour the water (the holes at the top of Bob)? Or the area where I put the dishes?

The heating plate seems to work fine thankfully, as the dishes and inside are hot when the cycle is done.

[dekuNukem]

the tube is where the detergent from the cassette is drawn from, it is under the flip-out door and normally not visible, so i suggested that doing a few washes and see if the weight changes. if not, then the detergent isn't coming out and something is wrong with the tube, or maybe the detergent pump too.

the tub is the main compartment where you put in the dishes.

[CelesteJA]

the tube is where the detergent from the cassette is drawn from, it is under the flip-out door and normally not visible, so i suggested that doing a few washes and see if the weight changes. if not, then the detergent isn't coming out and something is wrong with the tube, or maybe the detergent pump too.

the tub is the main compartment where you put in the dishes.

Thanks very much!
I'll respond again once I've conducted the tests.

[CelesteJA]

the tube is where the detergent from the cassette is drawn from, it is under the flip-out door but just wanted to add and normally not visible, so i suggested that doing a few washes and see if the weight changes. if not, then the detergent isn't coming out and something is wrong with the tube, or maybe the detergent pump too.

the tub is the main compartment where you put in the dishes.

Hi again, I haven't conducted the tests yet, but just wanted to add some more info that I'd forgotten about.
I have noticed that the dishes are being left with a lot of white "stains" or "powder" on them after each wash, alongside not getting the food off the dishes properly. I don't know if that information changes or narrows down what the problem could be?

[CelesteJA]

the tube is where the detergent from the cassette is drawn from, it is under the flip-out door and normally not visible, so i suggested that doing a few washes and see if the weight changes. if not, then the detergent isn't coming out and something is wrong with the tube, or maybe the detergent pump too.

the tub is the main compartment where you put in the dishes.

So I've done the tests, the detergent seems to be dispensing all right, so I decided to try putting the detergent directly into the tub, like you suggested, to see if it would help, but got even worse results (more white powder and food left all over the dishes).
Afterwards I did another cycle, this time putting in a bob dishwasher tablet that I got sent with the unit. The dishes came out sparkling clean.
I don't understand why this detergent isn't working for me?

[brambo123]

The recommended detergent is from the time when it was not yet known what kind of detergent it actually contained.
It is now known that it contains Sodel LLV300.
It contains between 10 and 25% sodium hydroxide and has a pH value of 13.5.
The one initially recommended had 1 to 5% sodium hydroxide and a pH 14.
So a product with a pH 2 is completely different.
I'm wondering what kind of product you have and how you determined the pH value.