Dishwasher/Glasses Update

Thank you all so much for your tips on my etched glasses. I read them all and I think every tip you shared was something I didn’t know already.  I got LemiShine yesterday and ran two of the glasses that weren’t so bad through the dishwasher three ties. I even rubbed some of the LemiShine on an area. I soaked one glass in white vinegar and I also rubbed white vinegar on a spot. I had already tried rubbing a glass with BarKeeper’s Friend. None of that helped. Vince and I looked at the glasses through a magnifying glass last night and it’s actually etching rather than a buildup of something on the glasses.

Since we had city water in Nevada, and well water here, the only common issue has to be the water softener. We had not had a water softener before these two. We had two different water softeners in Nevada . . one that came with the house and we replaced it with a “lower salt” version. I can’t say if the lower salt version changed anything because I probably kept using the same glasses. We switched softeners because Chad was about 19 and was diagnosed with high blood pressure and we felt it was the salt in the water.

I was researching after reading all your comments and came across this website that has good. Almost all the tips you gave are included in the info there.

Since our glasses are etched, the tips are to use less soap, make sure the water isn’t too hot and be sure the detergent doesn’t contain phosphates. 

1. I don’t think I’m using too much detergent. I have used softened water where you feel you can’t get all the soap off your skin. We don’t have that issue. In fact, I’m always checking the softener because I don’t feel the water is soft enough. I think it’s going to need salt but, when I check it, it hardly ever does. The softener beeps when it needs salt but I guess I don’t trust it.
2. I doubt the water is too hot. I’m too tight to turn it up higher. Every single time I’m in the shower, I say I’m going to turn it up higher but once I get out of the shower, my penny pinching attitude (except where yarn is concerned) takes over and I don’t turn it up.
3. I don’t and won’t use detergent with phosphates.

I’m going to use Mason jars for a while. I’m thinking since the glass is made to stand up to extreme heat and pressure in the canners, it might can stand up to water softened water in the dishwasher. If not .. it’s Dixie cups for us!  🙂

What else can I do?

First, we’re going to start drinking water from the outside faucets that don’t go through the water softeners. We have faucets/lines that Vince added and we know the pipes, fittings, etc. are safe for drinking. I will fill half gallon jars, keep the water in the fridge and we won’t be drinking water softened water . . though our ice still comes through the water softener and speaking of sodium . . I’m still drinking two Dr. Peppers per day.  🙁

Second, I’m going to try using dishwasher soap in one dispenser, not both.

Finally, I read that white vinegar is just as good for a rinsing agent as the more expensive agents I’ve been using. As soon as the Jet Dry that’s in the dishwasher container runs out, I’m going to put in white vinegar and see how that works.

Thanks again for all your tips and advice. I learned a whole lot from y ou all.