I messed up. You're using too much detergent. technology connections

cracks knuckles Chemistry expert and former detergent chemist here, chiming in. Modulo some small semantic differences, you're 100% spot on. Functionally, there is zero difference in the formulations. Every powder dish detergent on the market comprises the same functional components, though the exact chemicals selected may vary. It's always some combination of detergent, anti-deposition agent, water conditioners, strong base, oxidizers, enzymes, buffers, "processing aids", and what I call "foo foo juice" – colors and fragrances.

The Purpose section is annoyingly vague so I'm going to break down each of the categories and give their examples. These aren't strict categories, in fact many of these chemicals perform double or even triple duty.

Detergent/Surfactant – Allows water to bind grease molecules by virtue of having two halves, hydrophilic (water loving) and hydrophobic (water hating or grease-binding). These can be basic/anionic (negative charge): sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS); neutral: isotridecanol ethoxylated, PEG C10. Acidic/cationic (positive) are uncommon in dish detergents but you may see them in rinse aids. Bonus fact: rinse aids are typically mild acids ( pH about 3) which helps dissolve calcium deposits and soap scum. Because of this, they have to use neutral or cationic surfactants.

Anti-deposition agent – Once you dissolve the grease, you don't want it to deposit back onto the dishes. Cascade calls this "boosts shine" but it's basically film prevention. The line between detergent and anti-deposition agent is blurry, and many chemicals can fulfill both roles. Acrylic copolymers are the best example here, but the PEGs (polyethylene glycol) also help in this regard, as do any neutral detergents. They tend to be weak detergents on their own, but their big advantage is they don't create soap scum (calcium fatty acids, more on that later).

Water conditioners and chelators – Hard water means calcium, iron, and other large positive ions in solution. Calcium reacts with anionic surfactants (aka soaps) to form insoluble scum. This both reduces cleaning power and makes extra goop that needs to be cleaned! Water conditioners exchange sodium for calcium, binding it so it doesn't form scum. This category includes polycarboxylates, citric acid, sodium phosphate (discontinued), EDTA, and our friend sodium acrylate/maleic/carboxylate copolymers again (yes it doubles as both anti-deposition and water conditioner. Synergy!).

Strong base – Anionic detergents work best at a high pH (alkaline/basic). Alkali also saponifies grease, giving it a hydrophilic group and turning it into soap! Lye (sodium hydroxide), bleach (sodium hypochlorite), sodium percarbonate aka sodium carbonate peroxide aka "OxyClean", sodium silicate, and sodium phosphate are all strong bases. See all that sodium? They also help condition water as well!

Oxidizers – These react with staining molecules such as tomato sauce, berries, tea, and coffee, as well as natural polymers like proteins (cheese) to break them apart. Sodium hypochlorite and percarbonate are oxidisers. "Transition metal catalyst" has a similar role, except instead of being consumed, it facilitates the bleaching action.

Enzymes – Starch and protein when heated and hydrated form a natural glue of sorts. Anyone dealing with stuck-on cheese or rice knows what I'm talking about. Enzymes are natural molecules that break these polymers down so they unstick from surfaces. Amylase specifically digests amylose (starch) and Subtilisin (protease) breaks down protein. Pro-tip: any time in biology you see whatever-ase, that breaks down _whatever_.

Buffers – prevent the base from being too basic and etching glassware. I think this is what zinc carbonate is doing, but I'm not 100% sure.

Processing Aid – Any time you see "processing aid" or "enables liquid processing" – that just means it's an inert bulk transport, because either the active ingredient is too viscous, or cakes easily, or whatever. Glycerin and Dipropylene glycol act as liquid solvents in those colorful liquid sections of the gel packs, since too much water would dissolve the pack. Sodium sulfate is just an inert powder.

this video popped up randomly in my timeline. i watched all the way through. i appreciate how much work and effort went into making this video. keep up the good work

So basically it’s possible to create a pod based dishwasher detergent pack that works just as well by creating cycles, but because of a combination of propaganda by detergent companies, brand deals with dishwasher companies, and human psychology, nobody needs to do research in order to make it work as well? Sounds about right.

snarky?? never noticed you being snarky, but then again im not a snowflake…

I liked the part about dishwasher detergent.

So after the last video I had bought powder detergent to put in the pre-wash compartment and it worked wonders for ensuring everything got cleaned. After this video I decided that as soon as the (16p per wash) dishwasher tablets ran out I would try just powder. Wow, I'm impressed, I went with the dishwasher recommended 21g in the main compartment and 4g in the pre-wash compartment and it works just as well as the expensive tablets for less than half the price (7.5p per wash). I've made a makeshift dosing cup to make life easier and plan on 3d printing something more fancy later. I am now looking into getting even cheaper powder (which people insist works well) which will bring the price down to 5.25p per wash, only 1/3 of the price of the more expensive tablets and it should last over a year.

The only unfortunate thing I discovered is the complete lack of dishwasher powder options in the UK, everyone sells tablets, powders are rare and liquids even rarer.

The red ball is the cherry on top. We have achieved peak TC.

My dishwasher doesn't have a space but I've been squirting it on the door it helps

I have loved these videos. Can you do a similar one for laundry detergent?

50 minutes of experiment and see what works for you…

How much did WALMART pay you for product placement? lol

I always wait until the machine is FULL before I run it. That's often over a week.

Restarting the machine after it is full can flood your kitchen if you don't run it dry first. My elderly mother did that a few times.

I’ve stopped pre washing my dishes and stopped using the rinse cycle since I got some finish quantum packs it works. Before I would fully clean in the sink then just use bleach In the dishwasher. My dishwasher is the manager special it has a dial and only one spinner.

Hi there! This is the first video i saw from you and now I'm like 50 videos in haha….
I had to come back and comment. Salty European here, i didn't even know that powder dishwasher detergent was a thing but i checked my machine and holly bubbles it DOES have holes for a prewash! And it DOES have a prewash cycle every time i use it. Now actually finding powder detergent was an adventure and i can only find just 1 type of powder (from Finish) absolutely no other options.
Now for results….i have been using the most expensive Finish capsules on the market since the low cost tablets i tried really weren't doing a good enough job. So, powder comes in and i fill the machine up with dirty pots and pans and dishes dirty with stuff that i know very well that it's not going to be washed perfectly because they have been sitting there on the counter for 3 days. I put just half of dose of powder in the slot and half measure powder in the prewash spot and turn it on with the program i usually use (90 minutes, 70 C). Well after 90 minutes i couldn't believe my eyes…..Absolutely perfectly washed. No spots no nothing. All surfaces perfect it didn't matter if it was plastic or stainless or Teflon. Actually it's the first time ever i don't see spots on plastic items. Even more mind blowing is the cost difference! At the cost of 18 capsules I was able to buy 2.5 kg of powder (the same premium brand). Because i am actually able to dose my detergent now and not use more than i need I'm probably going to use around 30 grams of it per wash? That means a bottle is good for 80 washes! 80!!! Instead of 18!
All i can say is thank you for showing us this, it was incredibly enlightening. I love your content, please keep it up. And if you could do the same thing about washing machines for clothes that would be amazing. I also use capsules there and i have a sneaking suspicion that it's probably exactly the same issue.

44:40 seems like a good opportunity to introduce slightly cheaper than regular pods option from a competing brand that has a pre and mid wash smol and mid size pack

A 46 minute follow up on dish washer detergent getting 1.5 million views
That is an extremely impressive achievement

The sass in this video…. LOVE IT!