But, if you're still seeing lots of hard-water deposits and bits stuck to your dishes after initial troubleshooting, swapping to a different dishwasher detergent might just do the trick.
When you're face-to-face with a wall of dishwasher detergents in the cleaning aisle, the choice can be daunting. While there are all sorts of branding and fragrance distractions, the most important decision comes down to choosing whether you want a pod, gel, or powder dishwasher detergent.
The short answer is that pod dishwasher detergents are typically the best-performing (and the crowd favorite) of the three. While they may be pricier than gel or powder cleaners, they are mess-free and formulated with the active bleach and enzyme ingredients that they need to work effectively. With gel detergents, you can only have one or the other (although we know from reading reviews how many die-hard gel loyalists are out there). And while powder detergents may seem old-fashioned, they are actually just as effective as detergent pods, and the user can control how much or how little is used, unlike a single-serving pod.
Our guide to the best dishwasher detergents hones in on the top cleaners of each type, so you don't have to scour the internet looking for them. Read on to learn more about the six best dishwasher detergents that reviewers name as the most reliable, affordable, and effortless to use.
Want to repair your own dishwasher? Learn how by joining Pop Mech Pro!
Cascade is one of the most name brand-recognizable dishwasher detergent brands on the market. Their Platinum ActionPacs are reviewer favorites, too, touted as being one of the best by both Good Housekeepingand Consumer Reports in both of their in-house tests.
The Dawn-enhanced Cascade ActionPacs are meant to take out the step of prewashing, leaving no food bits or soapy deposits behind. Many Amazon reviewers also attest to this dish detergent’s effectiveness, but they do note that the pods have a strong “cleaning chemical” smell to them.
Leaves dishes and glassware free of spots and mineral deposits
Heavy fragrance and some packaging issues
84-count box
This dishwasher detergent from Finish is a great option for those who are looking to switch out their current residue-heavy detergent. These “powerball”-filled pods are formulated to clean without leaving a trace behind — Business Insider even reported that these specific tablets produced the cleanest dishes in their own in-home testing.
Reviewers say that it works exceptionally well in homes with hard water, leaving glassware much clearer than other detergent pod brands. Some, however, take issue with the product's artificial scent and excessive packaging more than its performance in their dishwasher.
Portioning the formula for certain machines can be tricky
6-pack of 42-ounce bottles
A too-strong dish detergent scent is a common criticism among many reviewers, and truly, this is one product category that doesn't need fragrance. If you're sensitive to artificial smells and coloring in your cleaning products, opt for Seventh Generation's Dishwasher Detergent Gel, which is a free-and-clear formula.
This one is USDA biobased-certified and contains many plant-based ingredients with no added fragrance, though it does contain a few synthetic preservatives. Is it the absolute cleanest as eco-friendly products go? Probably not. But it's a solid alternative to conventional brands, and reviewers even tout that it works well for those with hard water.
Water-soluble casing can cause some pods to stick together
64-count box
The dishwasher detergent pods from Dropps get major points from us for a few things: their ingredient transparency, the choice of an unscented or lemon-scented pack, their non-plastic packaging, and their efficacy in cleaning. You can even subscribe to receive a new box every 1-6 months for a 25% discount.
The pods are comprised of powdered dish detergent inside of a water-soluble casing, so you actually get the best of the pod and powder worlds. Some reviewers have cited issues with the pods sticking together or getting punctured, causing powder leakage, but largely, the feedback is positive.
Bonus: Dropps makes laundry detergent in a similar pod form that we happen to love as well.
Blueland’s “naked” dishwashing tablets eschew the usual water-soluble wrapping for a solid-powder pod that’s only available in fragrance-free form. They are a comparable eco-friendly dishwashing detergent to the aforementioned Dropps — their ingredient lists, both available on their sites, have some overlap.
Price-wise, though, Blueland's Dishwasher Starter Set is the most expensive pick on this list, at $.45 per pod. However, once you own the set's Forever Tin, you can purchase the slightly cheaper $14 refill packs that are just $.35 per pod (which is slightly less expensive than a one-off box of Dropps). It's worth mentioning that the Forever Tin is not a superfluous add-on — these tablets are essentially a solid powder detergent, so if they get wet, they will disintegrate.
Our editor Eunice Lucero-Lee tested out these tablets and said that her dishes consistently came out “shiny and squeaky-clean.” She also liked that Blueland’s simple detergent formula does away with the meltable pod, along with all of the worries about “microplastics in your flatware.”
Powder detergent is getting tough to find both in stores and online! While it's a bit messier than pod and even gel dish detergent, it's still an effective cleaner, and it does have its loyal fans.
Finish's Powder Dishwasher Detergent is one of the few remaining out there, and it does just as thorough of a cleaning job as the aforementioned pods from the same brand. Its no-frills and the lemon-scented formula helps ensure that there's no buildup in your machine or filmy residue on your dishes. Reviewers also say that this powder detergent lasts a very long time since about only a teaspoon is needed to clean a dish load.
We like that this powder detergent is packaged in an easy-to-recycle cardboard container instead of the plastic tubs or bottles that other detergents usually come in. Just make sure you store it in a dry area, however, since any contact with moisture can ruin the whole box.
Melanie YatesSenior Home Decor EditorMelanie is the senior home decor editor of Best Products, where she's been researching and testing out home and bedding products since 2015 — her work can also be found on House Beautiful and Women's Health.
This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io
