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7 Best Dishwasher Detergents, According to Testing by Cleaning Experts
These detergents can handle whatever you dish out!
Dishwasher detergent has a big job to do. It must power through and dissolve all types of baked-on, dried-on foods from all sizes and shapes of dinnerware, glassware, flatware, storage containers, cookware and more. And simply cleaning is not enough. It must be safe for these items, help them dry better and not damage the inside of your dishwasher. And, if you live in an area with hard water, it needs to help eliminate those spots, too. It's a tall task for a tiny tablet, pack or tablespoon or two of detergent to accomplish. But choosing and using the right dishwasher detergent can mean the difference between spotless results the first time and having to pre-wash (or, worse, re-wash!) your dishes. Here's what stood out from our testing.
Our top picks:
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- 3
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- 5
When we test dishwasher detergents in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we load identical dishwashers with an array of items that are dirtier than any of the loads you would ever put in your dishwasher at home. We coat dishes and bowls with our own proprietary greasy spinach mix or beaten egg yolks. Other messes we bake or dry on include coffee, milk, margarine and even lipstick. We burn on macaroni and cheese, baked beans and more. And we never pre-rinse! Visually evaluating and scoring every item in the loads after this heavy-duty test enables us to determine the top detergent performers.
After reading more about our top-tested picks, catch a glimpse of our testing in action and discover more details about how we test dishwasher detergents. At the end of this guide, you'll also find more information on which form of dishwasher detergent might be right for you and how to get the most out of whatever dishwasher detergent you choose.
Cascade Platinum Plus Dishwasher Detergent
Cascade Platinum Plus Dishwasher Detergent
Pros
- Leaves glassware shiny and spot-free
- Removes 24-hour stuck-on grime
- Cuts grease
- Helps with drying
Cons
- Among the most expensive per load
We didn't think Cascade could get any better, but we were wrong. These new Platinum Plus Pacs are as good as it gets and our consumer testers agree. These packs now deliver more grease cutters and grime fighters to even remove stuff that's been sitting on the dishes for 24 hours! They also contain upgraded enzymes and ingredients that minimize spotting and protect glassware from harmful etching so glasses stay crystal clear.
Most impressive and something we haven't seen with other detergents we've tested is this new Cascade's ability to help items dry better and eliminate some of the annoying puddling that remains in the bottoms of glasses and cups at the end of the cycle. We use GH Seal Star Cascade Platinum Plus not only in the Cleaning Lab but also in other GH kitchens to clean up after all the testing we do.
| Form | Packs |
|---|---|
| Price per load | 36 cents |
Great Value Automatic Dishwasher Powder
Pros
- Very affordable
- Works well in hard water
Cons
- May clump if exposed to moisture
- Can be messy to pour
If you're budget-minded and looking for great cleaning at a great price, powdered dishwasher detergents are generally the least expensive form. And Walmart's store brand, Great Value, is exactly what its name says: a great value. At just about 10 cents per load, the brand's updated formula took the top spot as the overall best powder in our last category test of dishwasher detergents. It cut through our baked-on grime with ease and left glassware and flatware sparkling, even in the cycles we ran with hard water. Like with all powders, pouring it directly from the box into the dispenser can be a little messy if you don't have good aim.
| Form | Powder |
|---|---|
| Price per load | ~10 cents |
Finish Quantum Dishwasher Detergent
Finish Quantum Dishwasher Detergent
Pros
- Contains bleach and rinse aid
- Tackles soil, stains and spots
- Well-priced
Cons
- Works best with a separate rinse aid added
Finish is another top-performing brand in our tests, and its Quantum three-chamber packs are formulated to clean away stuck-on foods, help bleach out stains with oxi ingredients and rinse away residue to leave everything shiny and spotless. In our GH Cleaning Lab tests, Finish was a champ and powered through even our tough-to-remove messes like dried red lipstick stains and burned-on cheese. While Finish's trademark red ball center works like a rinse aid to minimize spotting and filming, we still recommend adding a separate rinse aid for the best results, especially if you have hard water. And we're happy to see that such a great detergent is also very affordable.
| Form | Pack |
|---|---|
| Price per load | 19 cents |
Method Dishwasher Packs
Method Dishwasher Packs
Pros
- Plant-based formula
- Effective on even 48-hour buildup
- Comes lemon-scented and unscented
Cons
- Pricier than some on our list
Until now, it's been hard to find a "green" cleaning product brand that does a stellar job in the dishwasher, mostly because they've lacked the powerful chemistry needed to achieve effective cleaning. Method has changed all that. In our tests, the brand's formula — containing enzymes and plant- and mineral-based ingredients — cleaned very well and even removed foods that had been dried onto dishes for 48 hours. Some of our consumer testers said they were switching to these from their regular packs after testing them. We are also fans of the slim, snap-top container, which saves space in under-sink storage.
| Form | Pack |
|---|---|
| Price per load | 38 scents |
Miele UltraTabs Multi Dishwasher Detergent
Miele UltraTabs Multi Dishwasher Detergent
Pros
- Works in all dishwashers
- Won't dissolve in your hands or burst in the package
- Neat and compact to store
Cons
- Expensive
Miele makes our top-rated Good Housekeeping Seal Star dishwashers, so we weren't surprised by the super-effective formula in Miele UltraTabs Multi, which work in Miele dishwashers (and other brands' dishwashers too). The solid brick of powder detergent is easy to use, tidy to store and dissolves completely — including its water-soluble wrapper — once it's dispensed. Each tablet contains three layers of cleaning ingredients that erased stuck-on grime and left stainless steel cookware and flatware shiny and glassware squeaky clean in our tests.
And because they are neat, perfectly shaped little blocks of powder detergent, you won't find any stuck or burst packs like you often get with liquid-containing pods. They fit neatly in all dispensers. If you own a Miele dishwasher, try this detergent on the QuickIntense cycle to get incredibly clean and dry dishes in under one hour. It blew us away!
| Form | Tablet |
|---|---|
| Price per load | 58 cents |
Cascade Complete Gel + Oxi Dishwasher Detergent
Cascade Complete Gel + Oxi Dishwasher Detergent
Pros
- Bleaches stains
- Contains enzymes to break down messes
- Pours well
Cons
- May separate over time
Cascade's hard-working gel contains ingredients like enzymes to dissolve starchy oatmeal, dried egg and melted cheese. This formula also contains oxi bleach, to help better remove stains like tea and coffee. Some gels can be a bit drippy to pour and may separate if left unused for extended periods of time, but in our most recent GH Cleaning Lab dishwasher detergent test, Cascade Complete + Oxi was our top-tested gel formula — and the only one to sport a child-resistant cap for safety. Bravo! Gels also cost less per load to use than packs.
| Form | Gel |
|---|---|
| Price per load | ~22 cents |
Blueland Dishwasher Starter Set
Blueland Dishwasher Starter Set
Pros
- No plastic packaging and comes with a reusable tin
- Leaves glasses and flatware clean and shiny
- Easy and neat to store
Cons
- Some tablets may arrive broken
- Pricey
Blueland's Dishwasher Starter Set offers a great option for those trying to eliminate plastic packaging from their cleaning products. The unwrapped solid powder dishwasher tablets are shipped in a compostable paper pouch along with an aluminum "forever" tin. Simply transfer the tablets to the tin and recycle the pouch. Once you have the tin, you'll need to order only a refill pouch. In GH Cleaning Lab tests, Blueland delivered impressive results, leaving clean and shiny glasses and flatware. Plus, they were easy to use and store. Some of the tablets may arrive broken, but Blueland makes up for the loss by including extra tablets in the pouch. Signing up to receive these with a subscription saves money, too.
| Form | Tablet |
|---|---|
| Price per load | 42 cents |
How we test dishwasher detergents
For each dishwasher detergent we test in the GH Cleaning Lab, we apply our own recipe of a greasy spinach mix to 10-place settings of dinner plates, salad plates, bowls and 50 pieces of flatware. Ten glasses get microwaved with milk, beaten egg yolk is brushed onto additional bowls and plates and coffee cup rims are "kissed" with lipstick and then filled with coffee that we allow to spill over onto the matching saucers. Serving platters get smeared with measured amounts of margarine.
Then, we bake macaroni and cheese and baked beans onto casserole dishes, fry a hamburger in a skillet and make a serving of oatmeal in a saucepan. Everything gets dried or baked on for two hours before we load up the two identical dishwashers we use for all our side-by-side detergent testing. Each load is loaded into the dishwasher the exact same way. We choose either the "auto" or "heavy" setting and a drying boost option.
Post-cleaning, we visually check every single item for remaining food bits and greasy residue. The glasses are closely examined for spots and leftover film in a special light box (below). Every detergent is tested exactly the same way for more repeatable and reliable results. That means for each detergent we soil — and then rate — 176 pieces.
Each detergent package is also evaluated for ease of use, dispensing and storage and the labels are reviewed for thoroughness of the directions, any safety warnings required by law and first aid recommendations.
Which are better: Liquid or pod dishwasher detergents?
In our Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab tests, we've found that dishwashing powders, gels, tablets and packs all work well. Which form you choose pretty much depends on your personal preference, the loads you need to clean and how much money you want to spend. Here's more information to help you decide:
✔️ Powders are usually the most economical choice. They generally contain grease-cutting and other key ingredients, like chlorine bleach, but may not always have the most advanced enzymes or cleaners like those found in single-dose packs where detergent manufacturers are putting most of their development efforts. Powders can also be a bit messy to pour directly into the detergent dispenser and if not stored correctly can clump when exposed to moisture.
✔️ Single-dose packs or tablets are neat, easy and convenient — and, therefore, usually the most expensive. Because they're so popular, they're the most likely to be improved on a regular basis. They can be all powder or have separate gel or liquid components for bleaching or other benefits that combine with the powder once the tablet is dispensed into the cycle. Avoid handling them with wet hands as they can begin to melt and some may stick together or even burst before you get a chance to use them.
✔️ Liquids or gels fall somewhere in between powders and packs. They are easy to dispense and can have enzymes, oxi bleach or other ingredients for effective cleaning, stain removal and more. They can separate over time, so be sure to use them promptly and shake them well before squeezing them into the dispenser. We recommend buying gel dishwasher detergents with child-resistant caps for safety if you have children in the home.
In our tests, we see the biggest differences between brands — not within different forms of the same brand — so if you find a brand that cleans well in your machine and water hardness, any form should likely work for you.
How to get the most out of your dishwasher detergent
No matter how meticulously you load your dishwasher or how often you clean your dishwasher, you'll need a good detergent to get your dishes clean. It's your dishwasher detergent's job to cut through dried-on foods, prevent spots and film and ensure good drying results. These are the steps you can take to help whatever detergent you use to do that job better:
- Buy only what you can use up quickly. Dishwasher detergent works best when it's fresh. Stocking up may seem like a good idea, but you should buy only what you can comfortably use in about two months. Moisture and age can cause it to clump, separate and lose effectiveness.
- Fill the dispenser based on your load and water hardness. Most powder and gel detergent labels recommend completely filling both dispenser cups. We think it's a better idea to measure and match the amount of detergent to the hardness of your water and soil on the load. Dishwasher owner's manuals give you a good starting point with their recommendations on how much to use. Use more detergent if your water is hard or the load is very dirty, less in soft water and for lightly soiled loads. For tablets, use just one.
- Place tablets in the dispenser. You may be tempted to just toss them into the bottom of the machine, but don't. Doing so can cause them to dissolve and be flushed away before the main wash portion of the cycle. By placing them in the dispenser, they'll be released at the optimal time.
- Run the faucet before starting the cycle. If cold water sitting in your pipes goes into the machine once you press "start," it can impact cleaning performance. Instead, run the hot water at the nearest sink to purge cold water from the line and guarantee that only hot water enters the dishwasher.
- Be judicious about pre-rinsing. If you are running a cycle immediately after loading, we don't recommend pre-rinsing; skipping it conserves water. All you need to do is wipe away any excess food. But, if you don't have enough dishes for a full load or are planning to start the cycle later, give items a quick rinse at the sink or run a rinse-only cycle if your machine has one to keep odors down and foods from drying on.
- Use a separate rinse aid. While most detergents contain ingredients to help eliminate spots and film, they can get washed away during the cycle. A separate rinse aid, like GH Seal Star Cascade Power Dry, gets dispensed directly into the rinse cycle where it's most effective.
- Deep clean your machine. Once per month, give your dishwasher a thorough cleaning with a dishwasher cleaner, like GH Seal Star Cascade Platinum Dishwasher Cleaner. It will wash away residues that can deposit on your machine and dishes. Remove and rinse the filter weekly and check for and remove bits of food lodged in the filter well after every cycle.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
Carolyn Forté is a consumer products expert with over 4o years of experience evaluating cleaning products and appliances for Good Housekeeping, including dishwashers and dishwasher detergents. She has attended and presented at many industry events related to dishwashing, writes the monthly "Inside the GH Cleaning Lab" column and has authored several Good Housekeeping cleaning and home care advice books. Some of the most frequently asked questions Carolyn answers are about how to properly load a dishwasher and whether pre-rinsing is really necessary (often to settle the all-too-common marital and family spats). In Carolyn's opinion, dishes aren't worth fighting over!
Carolyn Forté brings more than 40 years of experience as a consumer products expert to her role as executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Care and Cleaning Lab. Using deep analytical testing and writing expertise in appliances, cleaning, textiles and organizational products, she produces cleaning and home care advice for GH, has authored numerous books and bookazines for the brand and partners with the American Cleaning Institute to co-produce the Discover Cleaning Summits. She holds a bachelor's degree in family and consumer sciences from Queens College, City University of New York.
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