So my dishwasher broke last month. Not completely, just… stopped getting dishes clean. Turns out it wasn’t the machine—I’d been buying whatever detergent was on sale at Target, and apparently that matters more than I thought.
I ended up testing a bunch of different brands over the past few weeks (my roommate thinks I’m insane), and there’s actually a massive difference between them. Like, some left my glasses looking foggy, others couldn’t handle the pasta pot I let sit overnight.
Why Detergent Actually Makes a Difference
Here’s the thing—I always assumed dishwashers did most of the work. Water gets hot, things spin around, dishes get clean, right? Wrong. The detergent is doing way more than I gave it credit for.
According to CR’s tests, the ingredients contained in detergent packs tend to do a better job of cleaning than more traditional gel detergents. That’s something I didn’t know until I started actually looking into this.
Modern formulas use enzymes to break down different types of food—proteins, starches, fats. The good ones have multiple enzyme types plus other stuff like degreasers and bleach alternatives. Pods usually pack more of these cleaning agents than gels, which is probably why they work better.
How I Tested These
I’m not a professional reviewer or anything. I just wanted clean dishes without having to pre-rinse everything (because who has time for that?).
We purchased 11 top-rated, best-selling liquid and pod dishwasher detergents. We loaded a GE Profile dishwasher and older Whirlpool model with unrinsed dishes, including cookware, collected from a full day of meals and ran each load with a different brand of detergent. We used the “regular wash” and “heated dry” settings for each load.
I tested on actual dirty dishes—breakfast plates with dried egg, sauce-covered pans, coffee mugs with that brown ring at the bottom. No rinsing beforehand. Just scraped off big chunks and loaded them in.
The 6 Best Options I Found
1. Cascade Platinum Plus ActionPacs
These are expensive. Like, noticeably more expensive than other options. But they’re also ridiculously good at cleaning.
We didn’t think Cascade could get any better, but we were wrong. Our cleaning pros say the 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 — no pre-rinsing required.
I left a casserole dish with baked-on mac and cheese sitting for two days (accidentally, not on purpose), threw it in the dishwasher with one of these pods, and it came out completely clean. I was honestly shocked.
They have this built-in rinse aid thing, so you don’t need to buy that separately. My glassware has never looked better—no spots, no streaks. Even the dishwasher itself smells better now.
The Good:
- Handles really tough, dried-on food without pre-soaking
- Built-in rinse aid works well
- Actually cleans the dishwasher while it’s cleaning dishes
- Works in both hard and soft water
The Bad:
- Price—about $0.40+ per load
- Strong scent when you open the package (doesn’t stick to dishes though)
2. Finish Quantum Ultimate
Imagine your toughest pile of dishes—plates covered in sticky cranberry sauce and pots coated in grease and stuck-on mashed potatoes. That’s nothing compared to the torture test we create for dishwasher detergents. Find out which detergents sparkled.
These pods look kind of weird with the three different colored sections, but they actually work really well. The different chambers release at different times during the wash cycle—one scrubs, one degreases, one adds shine.
I was skeptical about the whole “three chamber” marketing thing, but these genuinely handle tough messes. Anything greasy comes out spotless. Glassware is crystal clear. My only issue is they smell pretty chemical-y when you first open the package.
Pros:
- Excellent on stubborn, baked-on food
- Works well in hard water
- No pre-rinsing needed
- Glasses come out really clear
Cons:
- Strong chemical smell in the package
- A bit more expensive than regular Cascade Platinum
- Some people say they don’t dissolve fully in older dishwashers (mine’s pretty new so I didn’t have this problem)
3. Seventh Generation Free & Clear
I wasn’t expecting much from an eco-friendly option, but these surprised me. They cleaned almost as well as the chemical-heavy brands.
The formula is plant-based and there’s no fragrance, dyes, or phosphates. For everyday dishes they work great. Really greasy pans sometimes needed a second wash, but that didn’t happen often.
My friend has bad skin reactions to most cleaning products, so I recommended these to her. She’s been using them for a month and hasn’t had any issues. Plus they’re biodegradable, which feels better environmentally.
What’s Good:
- No fragrance or dyes (actually fragrance-free, not just “lightly scented”)
- Biodegradable formula
- Works well on normal everyday dishes
- Good for people with sensitive skin
What’s Not:
- Struggles with heavy grease sometimes
- Costs about the same as premium non-eco brands
- Takes longer to dissolve in short/cool water cycles
4. Cascade Free & Clear ActionPacs
These are basically Cascade Complete but without added fragrances and dyes. Good middle ground option.
Choosing 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. While powder and gel dishwasher detergents clean well, tablets or packs stand out for their convenience and storage ease.
The cleaning isn’t quite as powerful as Platinum Plus, but it’s better than most store brands. I had to scrub one pot that had really burnt rice on it, but everything else came out clean. They’re dermatologist-tested as hypoallergenic, which is why I tried them in the first place.
Why They’re Decent:
- No fragrances or dyes
- Good cleaning for daily use
- Cheaper than Platinum lines
- Won’t irritate sensitive skin
Limitations:
- Might need pre-rinsing for really dirty stuff
- Not as strong on baked-on food
- Doesn’t include rinse aid
5. Method Dishwasher Packs
Another eco-friendly option, but different approach than Seventh Generation. Plant-based surfactants, biodegradable, even the packaging is recycled plastic.
They work best in eco-mode or energy-saving cycles. Standard dishes, glasses, silverware all came out clean. Heavy grease was a challenge though. If you cook a lot of fatty foods these might not be enough.
But if you’re trying to reduce environmental impact and don’t make super greasy messes, they’re solid. No synthetic anything, safe for kids and pets.
Good Points:
- Truly eco-friendly, formula to packaging
- Non-toxic, safe around children
- Works well in energy-saving modes
- Completely biodegradable
Not So Good:
- Struggles with very heavy grease
- More expensive per load
- Might need rinse aid for hard water
6. Amazon Basics Dishwasher Packs
Look, these aren’t going to win any awards. But they’re cheap and they work fine for normal use.
Are they as good as Cascade Platinum Plus? No. Will they handle a three-day-old lasagna pan? Probably not. But for regular dishes from regular meals? They’re totally adequate. And they cost like half as much as premium brands.
I tested the bulk pack and for everyday breakfast/lunch/dinner dishes, these are fine. Just don’t expect miracles.
Benefits:
- Very cheap, especially bulk packs
- Individually wrapped
- Handles everyday messes fine
- Good budget option
Downsides:
- Leaves spots on glasses in hard water
- Not great on tough stains
- Probably need to use rinse aid separately
Things to Know Before Buying
Pods vs Gel vs Powder
“Generally, enzymes do help,” says Larry Ciufo, the engineer who oversees Consumer Reports’ dishwasher detergent testing. “But it’s too complicated to pin it on one ingredient.”
After testing different types, pods worked better than gels in every single test I ran. Gels are fine for lightly dirty dishes but they don’t have as many cleaning agents packed in. Powders are cheap and powerful but harder to find now.
CR’s latest tests found that the best-performing single-dose detergents clean better than the best gels. That may be because pacs often contain one or more additives—including pretreat solution, degreaser, bleach, enzymes, and rinse aid—to boost cleaning.
Hard Water vs Soft Water
This is huge. If you have hard water (you’ll know—white spots on everything), you need a detergent made for it. Cascade Platinum Plus and Finish Quantum both handle hard water really well.
Soft water is easier, most detergents work fine.
Environmental Impact
If you care about eco-friendliness (which honestly we probably all should), look for:
- Phosphate-free
- Biodegradable ingredients
- Plant-based surfactants
- Recyclable packaging
- No chlorine bleach
Seventh Generation and Method are best for this. But even mainstream brands have gotten better about reducing harmful chemicals.
What Each Load Costs
Don’t just look at box price. Here’s roughly per load:
- Cascade Platinum Plus: $0.35-$0.45
- Finish Quantum: $0.30-$0.40
- Seventh Generation: $0.25-$0.35
- Cascade Free & Clear: $0.20-$0.28
- Method: $0.28-$0.35
- Amazon Basics: $0.12-$0.18
Bulk packs from Costco or Amazon are usually cheaper.
Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To)
Over-Rinsing
I used to rinse everything thoroughly before loading. Apparently that’s wrong—enzymes in modern detergents actually need some food residue to work on. Just scrape off big chunks, that’s it.
Using Too Much
With pods you can’t really mess this up, which is nice. But with gel or powder, more isn’t better. Can actually leave film on dishes.
Wrong Water Temperature
Dishwasher detergents work best with water at least 120°F. Mine was set to 105°F and I bumped it up—immediate difference in cleaning.
Skipping Rinse Aid
Even though some pods have rinse aid built in, adding it separately still helps. Prevents spots and helps things dry faster. I didn’t believe this until I tried it.
Questions People Keep Asking Me
Do I need to use pods?
No, but testing shows they generally clean better. Consumer Reports found packs, pods, and tablets outperform gel detergents consistently. That said, if gel works for you, keep using it.
Will these work in any dishwasher?
Yeah, pretty much. They might work slightly better in newer machines but they’ll work in older ones too.
Are eco-friendly ones actually as good?
Mostly yes. Seventh Generation cleaned just as well for everyday stuff. Heavy grease was harder, but 90% of the time they’re great.
How do I know if I have hard water?
White spots or film on dishes after washing. Chalky buildup on faucets. You can also buy test strips online for a few bucks.
Why do my dishes still have spots?
Usually that’s a rinse aid problem, not detergent. Even with good detergent, rinse aid helps, especially with hard water.
Are these safe for septic systems?
Seventh Generation and Method specifically say they’re septic-safe. Most modern detergents are fine but if you’re worried look for ones labeled biodegradable.
Final Thoughts
I ended up keeping two different detergents under my sink—Cascade Platinum Plus for really dirty loads and Seventh Generation for everyday stuff. My roommate still thinks I’m weird but whatever, the dishes are clean.
If I could only pick one, probably Cascade Platinum Plus. Expensive but it works so well you might save money by not running extra cycles or rewashing stuff. Plus the built-in rinse aid means one less thing to buy.
But everyone’s different. Budget tight? Amazon Basics works fine. Want eco-friendly? Seventh Generation is excellent. Deal with really tough messes constantly? Try Finish Quantum.
Honestly the best thing is to try a couple and see what works in your specific dishwasher with your specific water. What works in my GE might not work as well in your Whirlpool.
And clean your dishwasher filter regularly—no detergent can fix a clogged filter.
