Does What it Says on the Box!! (Magnum 5 in 1 Complete Dishwasher Tablets)

Member Name: carcraig

Product:	Magnum 5 in 1 Complete Dishwasher Tablets
Date:	19/09/08 (497 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Price, It works, and Price

Disadvantages: Only available at Aldi

We recently had an extension built and our new, bigger kitchen now has something I have never had before - a DISHWASHER. (Probably my very most favourite thing in the world now!)


Anyway, uncharacteristically for me, I decided to read the instruction booklet rather than plunging straight in and trying to operate it blind, as it were.

Eeekk!!! Salt, water hardness, detergents, rinse aid??? I didn't think it would be this complicated. Hmmm, I know, I'll phone my sister, she's got a dishwasher, she'll be able to keep me right. (Instruction booklets are SO over-rated anyway.....)


And so I was advised to buy a "Complete" 4-in-1 or 5-in-1 dishwasher tablet-type product, thus dispensing with the need for separate salt, rinse aid and detergent.

Now I am very partial to a weekly zip round our local Aldi for all my basics and staples as far as shopping is concerned, so when I spotted their "Magnum" 5-in1 Complete Dishwasher tablets, I thought "That's the job!" and off I toddled home, eager to try out my new toy and consign the Marigolds to the wheelie bin.



The Product

A cardboard box containing 40 wrapped rectangular tablets. The blurb on the box advises that the "5 in 1" that these tablets are the "ideal solution" for cleaning your dishes and that they combine:
* Cleaning (well, I should bloomin' well hope so)
* Rinse agent
* Built-in salt action
* Glass protection agent
* Stainless steel shine


The ingredients (for you science -type people) - <5% phosphonates, non ionic surfactants 5-15%:Polycarboxylates, Oxygen based bleaching agents >30%: phosphates Contains Enzymes, perfume



How to Use


Simply unwrap ONE tablet and pop it into your dishwasher dispenser. The instructions emphasise that you should try to avoid skin contact with the unwrapped tablet and that you should NOT place the tablet in the cutlery basket. Set the appropriate programme and enjoy a large glass of wine while it does the hard work (ok, it doesn't actually say that, but it should...)

Even if your dishwasher annoyingly blinks the salt or rinse aid indicator light at you, the instructions advise that they are NOT required in the vast majority of cases. Only in areas with VERY hard water (>26*e) do they recommend the use of additional salt and rinse aid.



Do They Work??

In a word, yes! The dishes are squeaky clean, the glasses pristine and far more sparkly than I ever achieved washing by hand, even the pots and pans come out without a trace of their original contents (always a bonus). There is no trace of any residual cleaning agent or odour on the dishes, I really don't know what more I could want. Even the dreaded scrambled egg pan is clean!



Cost

Now this is the really good bit so if you have been speed-reading this review thus far - PAY ATTENTION!!! 40 tablets - £2.99....and at the moment they are on special so only £2.49. So less than 7p a wash! For comparison I have just checked the Tesco.com website and the Finish products all price out at between 16p and 20p per tablet and the Tesco own brand 5-in-1 tablets price out at between 11p and 21p per tablet.



Availability

Specially produced for Aldi so only available there! (See www.aldi.com for your nearest store)



Summary

They work for me so how can I not recommend them? My sister uses the more expensive brand-name dishwasher tablets (well she did until I told her about these) and I honestly cannot discern any difference in the effectiveness of their cleaning. They even left one of my Spag Bol storing Tupperwares completely orange-free (so there, Ainsley Harriot!) Now I know that results may vary depending on your dishwasher itself and your water but at that price they have got to be worth a try!!


This review has been posted on Ciao previously under the same member name carcraig.

Summary: Credit Crunch Beating Dishwasher Tablets