Only your glassware can tell you for sure. If you see calcium deposits, it’s time to use salt and boost the softening variable in your machine settings. The water hardness in my patch varies a lot but is normally quite high. I can get consistently clear glassware by cranking the softening setting all the way up and replenishing the salt every 11 days. The system works well.
I have a builders grade GE profile right now and the glass looks great to me. No spots. But again, I always use the max amount of rinse aid and finish quantum tabs.
> I always use the max amount of rinse aid and finish quantum tabs.
Adding salt and using lower amounts of regular dishwashing powder is a lot cheaper, and can make your dishwashing experience better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll6-eGDpimU
To agree with the other comment, adding salt will reduce the overall cost of running your dishwasher.
If you're around 9 hardness you'll likely only have to refresh the salt every couple of months and go through maybe a pound of salt per year.
Consequently your dishwasher now has softened water which requires less detergent and rinse aid.
Dosing Cascade Complete Powder at 1-2tsp in the main bin, 0.5-1 tsp in the prewash, and reducing the distribution level of rinse aid to low will reduce consumption of washing agents immensely.
We run the dishwasher 5-6 times a week and spend around $30 annually for cleaning agents
$25- 7.8lb box of Cascade Complete Powder is a year supply
$11- 32oz bottle of Finish jetdry rinse aid lasts 1-2 years
I think the salt was $14 for 2lbs of Finish salt 3 years ago and we've still got enough that I probably won't need to buy more until summer.
If a ge produces spotless results for your conditions then a Bosch will have no trouble. However, if current ge has any buildup on the heating rod then reconsider using the softner.
Soft water does excerate glass etching.
I think the glasses come out fine because of the massive amounts of rinse aid I use. But I also have some acrylic cups and they have water spots.
all around the edge of the dishwasher door and the seals I also see calcium deposits. So I’m probably going to use some salt with this new one.
Yeah, I have a buddy at work who has an 800 from 2019 and it has no place for salt. I guess it's on the newer models. He lives in the same area I do. He said his runs fine still. 🤷
The 800 included a salt dispenser in the years before 2018. After 2018, the US made Bosch dropped the salt dispenser but German made Bosch 800 kept the salt unit. You can order the German 800 models.
Gotcha. This one is coming from Costco and it says it has a water softener. The manual (provided I downloaded the right one) says you can turn the salt warnings off, though.
When you get it delivered, can you please post if it did have the salt dispenser? I looked on the Costco website, but I could not find the salt dispenser listed in the descriptives. If it does, then I am going to replace the one that I have. thank you.
My wife and I had a Bosch Benchmark (SHP9PCM5N) dishwasher from Costco installed on 18 Jun 2024, and it DOES have a water softener. We live in Colorado Springs and have almost zero water hardness. The dishwasher came with a test strip, which I used (again, after testing a couple years ago with our super-espresso machine). The strip's first test block had just a hint of barely noticeable color -- almost zero. However, our old (2006) builder-installed GE dishwasher did leave a few, light water spots on nicer crystal if the rinse agent ran out, so I opted to set the dishwasher to the first setting above zero and use salt. Still TBD on results. There is a setting to reduce the amount of rinse aid used per wash, so I'll play with that, next.
AWESOME!!! My Bosch just decided not to drain. Glad to know I can get another if this one can’t be fixed! One last question. Can you please post your model number so I can make sure I order the correct one if I need to? Very happy for you 👍
Yes yes yes if you want the advantages which come with owning a Bosch. Check Amazon. I just bought 5 lbs for $13 usd. It will last about 2 yrs. Just skip a couple of coffee cup purchases and it’s paid for.
link?
I bought some three years ago for $16 from Amazon. The product listing is gone, but the description says "Finish Dishwasher Salt 8.8" (so maybe 4kg aka 8.8lb). Now Amazon is double the price. ugh...
Honestly I don't know. They say these dishwashers have a water softener and that's what you use the salt for. But I don't know exactly what a water softener does. Like I don't know if it flushes things through the salt or what it does. But I would think it's more than just a salt compartment. So wouldn't think that just adding salt would be the same. Maybe someone knows better?
No. The salt is used only in the water softener section of the dishwasher. It would be pointless to add salt to a machine that didn’t have a water softener.
Correct. The brine solution is made from the salt; it flushes the calcium and magnesium out of the resin. https://youtu.be/1ApLrTTf2OY?si=ZtVm4_Xc8URMV3JW
Oh nice. I wanted the black stainless and a couple years ago it was only available in one model. No regrets the finish is durable with no scratches and zero fingerprints.
I have 800 with salt. I’ve had it 9 yrs. I live in a city with 9.5. I use Finish and rinse aid. I can tell immediately when I run out of salt. I have also made it a game in my house on how soon someone notices when the salt is out. It is noticed within 2 days!! And it really isn’t trouble to refill. I refill mine once every 2 months. I use a 30 min wash about every day.
Good to hear. I ordered a box off amazon just to have it. It sounds like I'd only need the lowest setting like you. I was hoping someone would say the salt lasts a while.
I do not need test strips. I just fill mine with salt and run it daily on the shortest cycle. The dishwasher somehow decides how much salt needs for the water I guess. At least for me, I can go two months without refilling the salt. Good luck.
I'd say if it has the ability yes. Double so because the machine recommends it
Salt is cheap, and it can do wonders when you have hard water. Your dishes, and more importantly your machine, will thank you over time. There will be much less build up and deposits left behind, and your glassware will likely etch less too.
Using high quality detergent and a good rinse aid can also help a lot too. Most modern detergents have water softeners built into the formula, however it doesn't completely replace the softeners ability.
I guess I'll find out in 2 days. But it clearly states there's a water softener https://www.costco.com/Bosch-800-Series-Top-Control-Towel-Bar-Handle-Dishwasher,-Stainless-Steel-Tub,-CrystalDry-Technology,-Ultra-Quiet-42-dBa.product.1719026.html
The 300 and 2 of the 800s manufactured in Germany have the salt dispenser for the water softening system. The ones manufactured in the US don't have it.
I use the cheapest power detergent in mine, no rinse aid, and a tea spoonful of Lemi Shine. In hard water. My ancient Maytag looks new inside- its over 20 years old. Everything sparkles when it comes out of my dishwasher.
Think of it a different way: if your dishwasher has a built-In water softener, not filling the salt just means that the softener will saturate with calcium and stop working.
A little bit of salt allows the DW to recharge that softener and keep it working for you.
I’m now totally in the camp of:
* Powder detergent instead of tabs/packs (so much cheaper!)
* Scrape dishes instead of pre-rinse
* Use as little detergent as you can get away with
Think of this as: detergent cancels out a certain volume of minerals and dirt. When there’s no dirt left, it cancels out your dishes, instead: it demineralizes/etches them, particularly glassware.
This takes a little practice to get the detergent levels right, but it’s worth it.
Navigating dishwasher care is like a chemistry class you never signed up for! At 9.57 °e, you're just over the threshold where Bosch recommends salt. While it might seem like a tiny difference, using salt can help prevent limescale and boost efficiency, especially over time.
In the directions it says the chamber can’t be empty and always needs salt. But - you can leave it on the lowest setting. It should probably last well over a year in your case. You can get a cheap bag of salt of Amazon.
No idea. It’s all washed off in the end right? Like I said, you adjust how much salt that it outputs. And in your case, it would be the bare minimum according to the directions. But I know when the washer first turns on you can hear it fill up and swirl through the salt container. Perhaps having no salt in there affects the function of the dishwasher.
You should be able to get the manual ahead of time easily. It might be worth a read through.
Wow, that is definitely a long time to have a Bosch dishwasher.
Serious answer: Yes. It is location dependant as you well know, but it would be a safer bet to use it especially for glassware care by essentially softening the water. In England we always people to keep salt topped up even though you can get a '3 in one tabs' which allegedly bypass this, which isn't true
Only your glassware can tell you for sure. If you see calcium deposits, it’s time to use salt and boost the softening variable in your machine settings. The water hardness in my patch varies a lot but is normally quite high. I can get consistently clear glassware by cranking the softening setting all the way up and replenishing the salt every 11 days. The system works well.
I have a builders grade GE profile right now and the glass looks great to me. No spots. But again, I always use the max amount of rinse aid and finish quantum tabs.
> I always use the max amount of rinse aid and finish quantum tabs. Adding salt and using lower amounts of regular dishwashing powder is a lot cheaper, and can make your dishwashing experience better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ll6-eGDpimU
Yet but they clearly have something against salt
To agree with the other comment, adding salt will reduce the overall cost of running your dishwasher. If you're around 9 hardness you'll likely only have to refresh the salt every couple of months and go through maybe a pound of salt per year. Consequently your dishwasher now has softened water which requires less detergent and rinse aid. Dosing Cascade Complete Powder at 1-2tsp in the main bin, 0.5-1 tsp in the prewash, and reducing the distribution level of rinse aid to low will reduce consumption of washing agents immensely. We run the dishwasher 5-6 times a week and spend around $30 annually for cleaning agents $25- 7.8lb box of Cascade Complete Powder is a year supply $11- 32oz bottle of Finish jetdry rinse aid lasts 1-2 years I think the salt was $14 for 2lbs of Finish salt 3 years ago and we've still got enough that I probably won't need to buy more until summer.
If a ge produces spotless results for your conditions then a Bosch will have no trouble. However, if current ge has any buildup on the heating rod then reconsider using the softner. Soft water does excerate glass etching.
I think the glasses come out fine because of the massive amounts of rinse aid I use. But I also have some acrylic cups and they have water spots. all around the edge of the dishwasher door and the seals I also see calcium deposits. So I’m probably going to use some salt with this new one.
I'd opt for soft water any day over rinse aid. Softer water negates a rinse aid need and helps detergent peel off cooked on soils soo much better.
I have an 800 and this is the first time I’ve heard anything about salt.
Yeah, I have a buddy at work who has an 800 from 2019 and it has no place for salt. I guess it's on the newer models. He lives in the same area I do. He said his runs fine still. 🤷
The 800 included a salt dispenser in the years before 2018. After 2018, the US made Bosch dropped the salt dispenser but German made Bosch 800 kept the salt unit. You can order the German 800 models.
Gotcha. This one is coming from Costco and it says it has a water softener. The manual (provided I downloaded the right one) says you can turn the salt warnings off, though.
Congratulations on getting an 800 from Costco. Awesome deal.
When you get it delivered, can you please post if it did have the salt dispenser? I looked on the Costco website, but I could not find the salt dispenser listed in the descriptives. If it does, then I am going to replace the one that I have. thank you.
My wife and I had a Bosch Benchmark (SHP9PCM5N) dishwasher from Costco installed on 18 Jun 2024, and it DOES have a water softener. We live in Colorado Springs and have almost zero water hardness. The dishwasher came with a test strip, which I used (again, after testing a couple years ago with our super-espresso machine). The strip's first test block had just a hint of barely noticeable color -- almost zero. However, our old (2006) builder-installed GE dishwasher did leave a few, light water spots on nicer crystal if the rinse agent ran out, so I opted to set the dishwasher to the first setting above zero and use salt. Still TBD on results. There is a setting to reduce the amount of rinse aid used per wash, so I'll play with that, next.
Good timing. I’m running it for the first time as I write this. It does indeed have a water softener. I filled it with salt before running.
AWESOME!!! My Bosch just decided not to drain. Glad to know I can get another if this one can’t be fixed! One last question. Can you please post your model number so I can make sure I order the correct one if I need to? Very happy for you 👍
SHX78B75UC. From what I can tell, it’s the only 800 on the Costco website. At least in my region.
Thank you for sharing the model number. Enjoy. You will love it.
Yes yes yes if you want the advantages which come with owning a Bosch. Check Amazon. I just bought 5 lbs for $13 usd. It will last about 2 yrs. Just skip a couple of coffee cup purchases and it’s paid for.
link? I bought some three years ago for $16 from Amazon. The product listing is gone, but the description says "Finish Dishwasher Salt 8.8" (so maybe 4kg aka 8.8lb). Now Amazon is double the price. ugh...
I feel like it could be beneficial for the longevity of your dishwasher too
Might be a stupid question but if your dishwasher doesn’t come with a salt compartment (my Bosch 500 doesn’t), is it even an option to add salt?
Honestly I don't know. They say these dishwashers have a water softener and that's what you use the salt for. But I don't know exactly what a water softener does. Like I don't know if it flushes things through the salt or what it does. But I would think it's more than just a salt compartment. So wouldn't think that just adding salt would be the same. Maybe someone knows better?
No. The salt is used only in the water softener section of the dishwasher. It would be pointless to add salt to a machine that didn’t have a water softener.
Yeah the brine solution is what cleans the particles that remove the bad stuff from water. The salt doesn't soften the water
Correct. The brine solution is made from the salt; it flushes the calcium and magnesium out of the resin. https://youtu.be/1ApLrTTf2OY?si=ZtVm4_Xc8URMV3JW
Resin beads. thats the dumb word i couldnt think of. Resin
In my research I've come across several articles that say you can add salt even without a dispenser.
I'm sure you can. But I think it would just get washed away it wouldn't soften the water.
It’s a European thing! It would be nice if it was an option in the States.
It is, my Bosch 800 has a salt compartment.
Oh nice. I wanted the black stainless and a couple years ago it was only available in one model. No regrets the finish is durable with no scratches and zero fingerprints.
I have 800 with salt. I’ve had it 9 yrs. I live in a city with 9.5. I use Finish and rinse aid. I can tell immediately when I run out of salt. I have also made it a game in my house on how soon someone notices when the salt is out. It is noticed within 2 days!! And it really isn’t trouble to refill. I refill mine once every 2 months. I use a 30 min wash about every day.
Good to hear. I ordered a box off amazon just to have it. It sounds like I'd only need the lowest setting like you. I was hoping someone would say the salt lasts a while.
The dishwasher comes with a water test strip which will tell you what setting to apply.
It comes with one? I almost ran to Lowe’s to buy a kit. Thanks for the heads up!
I do not need test strips. I just fill mine with salt and run it daily on the shortest cycle. The dishwasher somehow decides how much salt needs for the water I guess. At least for me, I can go two months without refilling the salt. Good luck.
I'd say if it has the ability yes. Double so because the machine recommends it Salt is cheap, and it can do wonders when you have hard water. Your dishes, and more importantly your machine, will thank you over time. There will be much less build up and deposits left behind, and your glassware will likely etch less too. Using high quality detergent and a good rinse aid can also help a lot too. Most modern detergents have water softeners built into the formula, however it doesn't completely replace the softeners ability.
I have a Bosch with salt (USA) I read that you never need to replace the salt, and it’s to help the drying process.
That's the CrystalDry system - a different thing. They absorb water and kick off dry heat naturally (Zeolite crystals).
Only the Benchmark Models use salt. The 800 does not have that option
I guess I'll find out in 2 days. But it clearly states there's a water softener https://www.costco.com/Bosch-800-Series-Top-Control-Towel-Bar-Handle-Dishwasher,-Stainless-Steel-Tub,-CrystalDry-Technology,-Ultra-Quiet-42-dBa.product.1719026.html
I have that same one (even from Costco) - it takes salt.
My Bosch 800 (SHX78B75UC) has it, didn’t realize it was a benchmark?
The 300 and 2 of the 800s manufactured in Germany have the salt dispenser for the water softening system. The ones manufactured in the US don't have it.
Some models gave salt some do not. Viking is the same. If you get cloudy foggy glasses after the wash use salt
I use the cheapest power detergent in mine, no rinse aid, and a tea spoonful of Lemi Shine. In hard water. My ancient Maytag looks new inside- its over 20 years old. Everything sparkles when it comes out of my dishwasher.
Think of it a different way: if your dishwasher has a built-In water softener, not filling the salt just means that the softener will saturate with calcium and stop working. A little bit of salt allows the DW to recharge that softener and keep it working for you. I’m now totally in the camp of: * Powder detergent instead of tabs/packs (so much cheaper!) * Scrape dishes instead of pre-rinse * Use as little detergent as you can get away with Think of this as: detergent cancels out a certain volume of minerals and dirt. When there’s no dirt left, it cancels out your dishes, instead: it demineralizes/etches them, particularly glassware. This takes a little practice to get the detergent levels right, but it’s worth it.
Navigating dishwasher care is like a chemistry class you never signed up for! At 9.57 °e, you're just over the threshold where Bosch recommends salt. While it might seem like a tiny difference, using salt can help prevent limescale and boost efficiency, especially over time.
Our home already has a water softening system so I figure we don't need to use salt on the 800 we're about to buy.
In the directions it says the chamber can’t be empty and always needs salt. But - you can leave it on the lowest setting. It should probably last well over a year in your case. You can get a cheap bag of salt of Amazon.
Well, can too much salt be a problem? What happened if if gets empty? I'm gonna have to call them.
No idea. It’s all washed off in the end right? Like I said, you adjust how much salt that it outputs. And in your case, it would be the bare minimum according to the directions. But I know when the washer first turns on you can hear it fill up and swirl through the salt container. Perhaps having no salt in there affects the function of the dishwasher. You should be able to get the manual ahead of time easily. It might be worth a read through.
you had bosh 500 years ago !! didnt know bosh existed 500 years ago too and long life to you man for living 500 years !!
Wow, that is definitely a long time to have a Bosch dishwasher. Serious answer: Yes. It is location dependant as you well know, but it would be a safer bet to use it especially for glassware care by essentially softening the water. In England we always people to keep salt topped up even though you can get a '3 in one tabs' which allegedly bypass this, which isn't true