How Many Lemon Verbena Automatic Dish Pacs Per Load?

By Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day | Published: 2026-11-03

Category: How-to Guides

Use one Lemon Verbena Automatic Dish Pac per load in most dishwashers. Learn when a second pac helps, how hard water changes dosage, and where to place pacs.

Quick answer

Use one Lemon Verbena Automatic Dish Pac per load in a normally soiled, full dishwasher. Add a second pac only when your machine is packed with greasy or baked-on dishes and your water is very hard, and check your dishwasher manual first.

Why one pac is the default, and when a second makes sense

Automatic dish pacs are pre-measured, so the main dosage decision is whether your load and water justify more detergent. One pac is the right starting point for a full load with average soil. A second pac is a judgment call for heavy grease, dried-on starch, or water that leaves spotting and film even when you use a rinse aid.

More detergent is not automatically better. Oversudsing can leave a film on glassware, and extra pacs add cost without improving results if your water is soft or the load is lightly soiled. Adjust one variable at a time: run a normal load with one pac, then change dosage or placement only if results disappoint.

Hard water changes the dosage conversation

Hard water minerals can interfere with cleaning and leave white spotting, so hard-water households often need help beyond detergent alone. A rinse aid and regular dishwasher cleaning do more for mineral film than simply adding pacs. If spotting persists with one pac and a rinse aid, try a second pac on a heavily soiled load before making it your routine.

Soft water is the opposite case: one pac is usually plenty, and a second can create excess suds. If you have a water softener, start with one pac and only increase for unusually greasy loads.

Pacs vs powder: why you cannot treat them the same

Powder lets you scoop a partial dose, which is useful for small or lightly soiled loads. Pacs are fixed portions, so you cannot halve one. That makes placement and load size more important: run full loads when possible, and avoid stuffing the machine so tightly that water cannot reach every surface.

If you regularly run half loads, a pac may be more detergent than you need. In that case, either wait until you have a full load or accept that some detergent goes to waste. Do not cut or puncture a pac to reduce the dose.

Step-by-step: dosing and placing your dish pacs

Check your dishwasher manual first: Confirm the recommended detergent type and whether your model has a pre-wash compartment. Some manuals specify pacs only in the main dispenser, and ignoring that can leave residue or a pac stuck in the door. If your manual says no pacs in the pre-wash section, keep the pac in the main compartment only.
Load the dishwasher fully but not tightly: Face soiled surfaces toward the spray arms and avoid nesting bowls or overlapping plates. A crowded load blocks water and makes even a correct dose underperform. If you cannot see open space between items, remove a few dishes rather than adding a second pac.
Place one pac in the main detergent dispenser: Use dry hands and keep the pac dry until the cycle starts. Do not unwrap or puncture it, and do not toss it loose into the cutlery basket unless your manual allows that. A pac that falls into the bottom of the tub before the dispenser opens may dissolve too early and clean poorly.
Choose the right cycle for the soil level: Use a normal cycle for everyday loads and a heavy or pots-and-pans cycle for baked-on food. A short or eco cycle may not give the pac enough time to dissolve and work. If dishes come out gritty on a quick cycle, switch to a longer cycle before increasing the dose.
Decide whether a second pac is justified: Add a second pac only for a very full, greasy load or when hard water still leaves film after you have confirmed rinse aid is filled. Never add a second pac to a lightly soiled or half-empty load. Record results for one week: if one pac plus rinse aid works, keep that as your default.
Run the hot water tap before starting: If your dishwasher is far from the water heater, run the nearby sink tap until water is hot. This ensures the first fill is hot enough to dissolve the pac and activate the detergent. Skip this step only if your dishwasher heats its own water or is close to the heater.

Product facts

Lemon Verbena Automatic Dish Pacs: Lemon Verbena Automatic Dish Pacs are formulated for use in all dishwasher machines and are made with essential oils, sodium percarbonate, soil-removing enzymes, and other thoughtfully chosen ingredients. You can use the same pac in a standard or compact machine without buying a separate detergent, and the enzyme blend is designed to tackle food soil rather than rely on scent alone.
Lemon Verbena Automatic Dish Pacs