I saw this post and wanted to ask the opposite. What are some items that really aren’t worth paying the expensive version for? Preferably more extreme or unexpected examples.

  • Do you have a water softening system?

    I learned recently that most major brands add water softeners to their detergents; this can make the water too soft, which can lead to filming and etching.

    If you already have soft water, look for detergents without added softeners; I think the base, cheapest Finish is one, but check the ingredients.

    • We do have a water softener. I might look into the pod/softener thing but we were using Cascade pods and now using Cascade detergent for the most part, though we also use Finish as well, depending what’s on sale, etc.

      Whatever the case I’m not going back to pods. I’ve kept some of the filmed glasses but can’t find anything to get it off so they look awful.

      • If you can’t get it off, it’s probably etching, not a film. Etching (cloudiness) never comes off, we lost entire sets of glasses before we figured this out.

        All Cascade detergents contain water softeners. It’s not the pods; the powders have them too.