Which form of detergent is best for homes using hard water?

Liquid dishwasher detergents tend to work well in both soft and hard water. But whatever your preferred type of detergent, if you do have hard water in your home, then look for a product that has a hard water softener, ideally a sodium-based softener although other chemical water softeners are also used so read the label carefully.

What will happen if I just use regular dish soap on a dishwasher?

You will be overwhelmed by suds! Unlike dish soap that is designed to sud up copiously to help with the hand washing, a dishwasher can't handle that amount of soap foam. Dish soap will also leave a residue on your dishes as it won’t rinse off so well. Dishwasher detergent on the other hand, doesn’t create any suds and is usually formulated to rinse cleanly, without leaving any unwanted residue.

Why do I have undissolved dishwashing detergent in the dispenser?

The presence of undissolved detergent in the dishwasher dispenser can be caused by several reasons:

Can I really make a homemade dishwasher detergent?

It is possible to make your own dishwasher detergent, but for effective deep cleaning, it's best to buy a detergent specifically formulated for the job. However, if you find yourself short and the dishwasher is full, you can whip up a homemade stand-in. For a basic dishwasher detergent, you will need baking soda, dish soap and salt.