Cascade Platinum Dishwasher Pacs (#sponsored by Mom Central Consulting)

~I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating~

little miss likes to help with everything

For those who follow this blog regularly, you know we moved into our first home this past Fall. I wrote a few posts about it, and in one of them I complained about all of the problems we encountered. One of the problems was a supposedly working dishwasher, that did not get our dishes clean. I know I have really high cleaning standards, but even a moderately messy person would not have been okay with the results of our dishwasher. Thankfully, our home warranty covered a repair. It turns out the water line was pretty much broken and an easy fix. The dishwasher is still not the newest, top-of-the-line dishwasher I'd love to have, but it's average. And that's okay.
 

We are a family of 4, and use plenty of dishes. By being a SAHM, I think we use more dishes than a two-parent working family since we are using dishes at home all day. Additionally, eating out is a super-rare occasion for us, period. I use our dishwasher every day and a half to two days, but could run it every night if I wasn't trying to be so eco-conscious. I hand wash cookware, like pots and griddles, and other large items like a colander.
I hate the concept of rinse-then-wash. Seems silly! I do it only when the dishes have portions of food left, or if globs of ketchup or the like remains. I think something that helps me not have to do so much rinsing is our use of Cascade dishwasher detergent. I've tried store brands, and love the price, but not the results. I've tried other leading brands too, but none of them work as good as Cascade. Cascade leaves our dishes cleaner, with minimal or no film, and allows me to maintain my no-rinse lifestyle.

For the past 3 years or so, I've only bought Cascade Action Pacs. My favorite had been the yellow Pacs that had bleach in them, because I felt they worked the best. They became really hard to find (I'd usually buy 3 or 4 bags when I could find them!). I used the blue kind (power of Dawn) when yellow wasn't available. In the past few months, I bought Cascade Complete Pacs to see if they made a difference. They were originally on sale and I was tired of some occasional film left on glasses or plates. Turns out there is quite a difference between Complete and the original Pacs. I definitely think Complete is worth the higher cost.

At the same time I was switching to Complete, I saw that Cascade released new Platinum Dishwasher Pacs too. They have an additional feature--they help keep your dishwasher clean! I wasn't ready to commit to the even higher price of the Platinum Pacs in the store, so when I was given the opportunity to review them for Mom Central, I jumped at it!! I feel super qualified to review the newest Cascade product because I've been brand loyal to them for as long as I can remember (a few months after we got married, I think, so around 4 years).

Here's how it breaks down within the Cascade family of Pacs;

• Action -- contain the grease fighting power of Dawn, fight coffee and tea stains, offers brilliant shine on dishes, and does a good job of leaving dishes virtually spot free
• Complete -- all of the above including a better job of leaving dishes virtually spot free PLUS advanced tough-food cleaning (24 food dried-on)
• Platinum -- all of the above PLUS the best film protection for a sparkling machine and dishes

Platinum has 3 different awesome power ingredients, Complete has 2, and regular action Pacs have 1 (not pictured) in addition to the Cascade detergent on the bottom of the Pac

In my experience, there is a big difference between Action and Complete Pacs, but not a noticeable one between Complete and Platinum. I do think there was a small difference in film residue. My glasses do look a little better. I don't notice a difference on my machine though, but as I mentioned above, it's just an average machine. I think if you have a new dishwasher, especially a stainless steel interior one, you'd notice less film from hard water. (It is also recommended to use a dishwasher cleaner to remove old hard water film so that Cascade Platinum Pacs can then continue to prevent hard water film residue.)

Cascade recently partnered with Top Chef Judge Gail Simmons, because they both believe presentation is just as important as preparation when it comes to food. Boost your great tasting recipe with spot and film free dishes by using Cascade Platinum Dishwasher Pacs. By having dishes that are always sparkling clean, you don't have to worry about last-minute guests. Your layered desserts will look fabulous in your film-free glassware and entertaining is easy when you drizzle sauces over sparkling white plates, says Simmons.

Before and After using Platinum for the first time

With super clean dishes, and delicious looking food, Cascade is also helping those of us with food-picture-additions! I love taking pictures of my food, so much so that in public my husband is probably embarrassed (though used to it now)!! Photos of delicious looking food litter my Facebook Timeline and I use Instagram to take artsy shots of my recipes-come-to-life. If you're like me and would love a new dishwasher, enter photos of Cascade making your pots, pans, and plates sparkly! The "My Platinum" contest is a four week Instagram contest with weekly themes. Each week, two people will receive a brand new Whirlpool dishwasher!! The grand prize winner will get a new Platinum kitchen make-over. For details and to enter, check out this site. (You will have to register for Instagram, if you are not already using the app) The themes are Plate, Bite, Clink (glassware), and Table--it runs through the end of June, so head over to enter now! {To win, you must register and upload a photo with #MyPlatinum tag and also tag @MyCascade. If you have not registered, you will be disqualified from winning.}

Finally, there is a 12% price jump (MSRP) from Complete to Platinum, so I personally will be sticking with Complete until we have a new dishwasher that I care about keeping sparkling ;-) I do, wholeheartedly, recommend the Cascade brand...and Pacs are for sure the way to go because it's so easy to just pop one into the machine with no measuring or spilling.