Dishwasher Detergent: Reviews

Updated April 2009

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Best dishwasher detergent, gel

*Est. 20 cents per load Compare Prices

The Cascade Complete All-in-1 line of dishwasher detergents is top-rated in the most expert and user reviews, which say Cascade reliably cleans even the dirtiest dishes. This detergent aces comparison testing and is a… favorite of reviewers who say it leaves behind no spots or residue on dishes, pots and glassware. Environmentally conscious consumers should note that Cascade contains phosphates, which are harmful to marine life. We found the best reviews for the gel formula of Cascade, but it's also available as a powder or as pre-measured gel pacs.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports rates 18 dishwasher detergents, including Cascade Complete gel, based on factors including how well they clean ...

ThriftyFun.com: ThriftyFun.com allows people to post questions and answers about ways to save money. About 35 contributors post comments about ...

ExpoTV.com: At ExpoTV.com, contributors post informal video reviews, which receive ratings. Cascade Complete gel receives high ratings from a ...

CascadeClean.com: Cascade allows users of its products to post reviews at the Cascade website. Some of the detergents receive more than 100 ...

KeepingTheCastle.com: This anonymous blogger receives a bottle of Cascade Complete gel for review, along with a similar-sized bottle of a competing ...

Metropolitan Mama: At this blog for new parents, Stephanie Sheaffer compares Cascade Complete gel with Electrasol gel at the request of a ...

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Budget dishwasher detergent, powder

Wal-Mart Great Value Dishwasher Detergent

*Est. 6 cents per load Compare Prices

Great Value powder detergent from Wal-Mart compares favorably with more expensive brands in comparison testing and consumer reviews -- especially if you mainly wash dishes as opposed to pots and pans or fine glassware.… That's because experts say you're more likely to get occasional spotty or cloudy glasses, or leftover bits on heavily soiled pans, than with Cascade. Still, it's hard to ignore the price difference; Great Value detergent costs half as much as Cascade powdered detergent.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports rates 18 dishwasher detergents, including Wal-Mart Great Value, based on factors such as how well they clean ...

ThriftyFun.com: ThriftyFun.com is an interactive website that lets people post questions and give answers about ways to save money. About 35 ...

GardenWeb.com: A question about Wal-Mart Great Value Dishwasher Detergent prompts several responses from users, all of who say it works well.

BlissTree.com: BlissTree sponsors the Thrifty Mommy blog, written by Jennifer Chait and Karen Weideman. In this brief review of Wal-Mart Great ...

RantsRavesAndRejects.com: A blogger at this site tries Wal-Mart Great Value Dishwasher Detergent after reading positive reviews elsewhere. She is very ...

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Green dishwasher detergent, powder

Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder

*Est. 13 cents per load Compare Prices

Most mainstream dishwasher detergents, including those from Cascade and Great Value, contain phosphates and/or chlorine. Phosphates are harmful to marine life, and chlorine can irritate your lungs when you breathe steam… and fumes produced in your dishwasher. In tests of phosphate- and chlorine-free dishwasher detergents, most do an excellent job of cleaning dishes, but do not quite as well on heavily soiled pots and pans, or with glassware. That's the case with Biokleen, one of the least expensive eco-friendly dishwasher powders. But if you want a green dishwasher soap, Biokleen works very well on dishes and costs a lot less than other eco-friendly detergents.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: Consumer Reports rates 18 dishwasher detergents based on factors such as how gentle they are to glass and how well they clean ...

Amazon.com: Amazon.com sells just about every major brand of dishwasher detergent, including Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder. About 10 ...

Drugstore.com: Drugstore.com lists about a dozen dishwasher detergents, including Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder, which is among the best ...

Green Home: On this environmental forum, a handful of user reviewers give Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder 4.5 out of five stars. People say ...

LivingCrueltyFree.com: This anonymous blogger is happy with Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder. She likes that it is concentrated, and that the small bottle ...

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Eco-friendly dishwasher tablets

Method Smarty Dish Detergent

*Est. 39 cents per load Compare Prices

Using dishwasher tablets is a bit more convenient than pouring gel or powder into a dispenser, but they are also more expensive. If you like the convenience of tablets but want an eco-friendly detergent, Method dishwasher… detergent doesn't contain phosphates or chlorine bleach. Consumers posting to review sites find that Method Smarty Dish Detergent cleans as well as traditional detergents. It comes in a pink grapefruit scent as well as a Go Naked dye- and perfume-free version. However, it costs more than most competing brands.

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Expert & User Review Sources:

EcoChildsPlay.com: At this website on eco-friendly parenting, Jamie Ervin tests five green dishwasher detergents, including Method Smarty Dish ...

The Green Clean Review: This anonymous blogger tests and reviews every eco-friendly cleaning product she can. She is very pleased with Method Smarty Dish ...

SeriouslySpoiled.com: This anonymous blogger/reviewer tries several chemical-free dishwasher detergents and is unimpressed by the results. She puts ...

TotallyHer.com: This anonymous reviewer says she has long tried to find an eco-friendly dishwasher detergent that can clean dishes without the ...

Amazon.com: Just a handful of users give Method Smarty Dish Detergent mixed reviews. One says it's great, but two others notice white spots ...

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Discount Office Items

Cascade with the Grease Fighting Power of Dawn 2-in-1 ActionPacs *Est. 39 cents per load

4 picks by top review sites.

Cascade Complete All-in-1 powder *Est. 12 cents per load

3 picks by top review sites.

Ecover Dishwasher Tablets *Est. 30 cents per load

2 picks by top review sites.

Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwasher Gel *Est. 18 cents per load

2 picks by top review sites.

CitraDish Automatic Dishwashing Detergent *Est. 22 cents per load

2 picks by top review sites.


	Cascade 2in1 ActionPacs, 5-20-Count,13.4-Ounces from Amazon.com New: $27.56 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Ecover Auto Dishwasher, Tab, 18-Ounce (Pack of 12) from Amazon.com New: $78.05 In Stock. Average Customer Review:


	Citra Dish Automatic Dishwashing Detergent, Gel, Fresh Grapefruit, 75-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 6) from Amazon.com New: $53.94 In Stock. Average Customer Review:

Dishwasher Detergent: Reviews

Best dishwasher detergent, gel

Budget dishwasher detergent, powder

Green dishwasher detergent, powder

Eco-friendly dishwasher tablets

Dishwasher Detergent by Price Range