Can anyone reccomend a diswashing detergent for hard water?

[HeliMom]

Are there any dishwashing detergents that won't clog my dishwasher, that don't leave icky chemicals all over my dishes, that can handle the hard water in my house?   I really hope so.

I'm desperate because as of right now I'm using Cascade and it makes the dishes clean but they smell like chemicals after :(

[ALittleBitCrunchy]

We've discovered citric acid - love it! Use any detergent you like, even homemade, and add a tablespoon of citric acid to the machine. We have horribly hard water that leaves a white film on everything...and this takes care of it. We have spotless dishes every time now.

We started out buying it locally but recently bought a 5 pound jar on Amazon for $27-ish.

[Peek-a-boo]

We've been using a product called Lemishine which I know is phosphate free.  Really helps with our very hard water.  Not sure what is in it.  It's fabulous.  Reading pp wondering if it may just basically be citric acid.  

[FillingMyQuiver]

Lemi shine is just fruit acids and fruit oils.  I agree w/ the pp about straight citric acid.  We also use white vinegar as a rinse aid.

[lilysmama1124]

I am a Norwex consultant and we have a magnet ball that attracted calcium molecules in had water essentially softening it. You put it directly in your washer or dishwasher. I have heard good things about it but don't have a dishwasher so can't say personally if it helps. But that couple with a natural dish detergent like Norwex or 7th gen might do the trick. You could also add baking soda to a natural detergent which may help with hard water stains

[Chamomile Girl]

I use Trader Joe's dishwasher soap with a big glug of white vinegar in the bottom of the washer. The vinegar totally solved the white film issue for me.

[redvlagrl]

We have v hard water and I have honestly tried quite a few natural products and Cascade tabs with dawn are the only things that work for us :(

I have tried:

7th gen

PC green

Homemade using citric acid, borax and something else (can't remember)

ecover (i think)

Our water is so hard that our shower curtain liner is orange after a week.

[Alyantavid]

We have hard water as well and the only thing that doesn't leave gunk on my dishes is the Electrasol tabs and vinegar. 

[NikonMama]

We have well water, which is about as hard as you can get. I have been using Ecover tabs (I have never tried their loose powder, so not sure how well that would work) for a couple years now, and they are the best thing I've ever found!!  They get the dishes very clean, don't leave spots on the dishes at all, and...best of all...don't leave any leftover detergent globs.  They wash away clean.  I've tried just about everything, and these are the best.  I could never go back to anything else.  The problem is, they can be hard to find.  Whole Foods carries them, as do most "natural" markets.  We just moved 7 hours away from our last house, and I was willing to buy 50 boxes every time we went back to visit family in case we couldn't find anyone that carried it around here.  Luckily, we found a natural market that does. 

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by NikonMama 

We have well water, which is about as hard as you can get. I have been using Ecover tabs (I have never tried their loose powder, so not sure how well that would work) for a couple years now, and they are the best thing I've ever found!!  They get the dishes very clean, don't leave spots on the dishes at all, and...best of all...don't leave any leftover detergent globs.  They wash away clean.  I've tried just about everything, and these are the best.  I could never go back to anything else.  The problem is, they can be hard to find.  Whole Foods carries them, as do most "natural" markets.  We just moved 7 hours away from our last house, and I was willing to buy 50 boxes every time we went back to visit family in case we couldn't find anyone that carried it around here.  Luckily, we found a natural market that does. 

This, exactly.  I've ordered them online (amazon) at times, though my Albertson's actually carries them for slightly higher prices.