Dishwasher Detergent: Reviews

Updated September 2010

Getting your dishes clean should be simple: rinse them off, put them in the dishwasher, fill the detergent reservoir with your favorite brand and hit start. Of course, with the new phosphate-free detergents, your favorite brand might not get the job done anymore. We found a huge amount of professional reviews for dishwasher detergent and cross-referenced them with user feedback to suggest the best detergent across four categories.

FONT
PRINT

Compare All

Best dishwasher detergent, gel pacs

Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs

*Est. 39 cents per load Compare Prices

Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs are top-rated by more experts and users than any other dishwasher detergent. This detergent aces comparison testing and is a favorite of reviewers, who say it removes grease and… expanddried-on foods, leaves no spots or residue and removes streaks from glassware. Many users say Cascade All-in-1 ActionPacs work so well that they never pre-rinse dishes. Users also praise the convenience of the pre-measured pacs. Because of environmental concerns and a phosphate ban effective in 16 states, the entire line of Cascade dishwasher products became phosphate-free as of July 1, 2010. collapse

See Our Full Review

Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org rates 18 dishwasher detergents, including Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs, based on factors including how well they clean dishes and pots, and how gentle they are to glass and silver.

Bestcovery.com: Patricia Yuen, Bestcovery.com's grocery expert, names Cascade Complete All-in-1 Pacs the best of five dish detergents for cleaning ability and convenience, noting that they clean greasy dishes extremely well and even remove streaks from glassware.

Buzzle.com: In a review of several dishwasher detergents, Cascade Complete All-in-1 earns praise for its cleaning ability and convenience of use.

CascadeClean.com: Cascade allows users of its products to post reviews on its website.

Viewpoints.com: Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs are rated highly by users for their ease of use and cleaning ability.

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Buy from
Amazon

for $12.98

Budget dishwasher detergent, powder

Walmart Great Value Dishwasher Detergent

*Est. 10 cents per load Learn More

Walmart's Great Value powder dishwasher detergent 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… expandglassware. 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 almost four times less than Cascade Complete All-in-1 ActionPacs. Like all dishwasher detergents, Walmart Great Value detergent is phosphate-free. collapse

See Our Full Review

Expert & User Review Sources:

ConsumerReports.org: ConsumerReports.org rates 18 dishwasher detergents, including Walmart Great Value, based on factors such as how well they clean dishes and pots and how gentle they are to glass and silver.

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

GardenWeb.com: A question about Walmart Great Value Dishwasher Detergent prompts several responses from users, all of whom say it works well.

BlissTree.com: BlissTree.com sponsors the Thrifty Mommy blog, written by Jennifer Chait and Karen Weideman.

Get More Information at Walmart.com

Green dishwasher detergent, powder

Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder

*Est. 21 cents per load Compare Prices

Dishwasher detergents no longer contain phosphates because of a ban on them. As a result, all detergents are now more eco-friendly The makes of Biokleen go a step farther, eliminating chlorine, and its products are not… expandtested on animals. Reviewers say Biokleen works very well on dishes (though not quite as well as Cascade on heavily soiled items), and it costs a lot less than other eco-friendly detergents. Many users find that the 32-ounce container cleans more than the 64 loads advertised. A dye- and perfume-free version is also available. collapse

See Our Full Review

Expert & User Review Sources:

Amazon.com: About 10 reviewers give Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder a score of 4.5 out of 5 stars.

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

GreenOptions.com: On this environmental forum, a handful of user reviewers give Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder 4.5 out of 5 stars.

LivingCrueltyFree.com: This blogger says she is happy with Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder.

Bestcovery.com: Biokleen takes second place in this review of five dishwasher detergents.

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Buy from Amazon for $12.03
LuckyVitami- n.com for $7.49	drugstore.c- om for $8.49	WebVitamins for $8.58

Eco-friendly dishwasher tablets

Method Smarty Dish Detergent

*Est. 46 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 a chlorine-free detergent, Method Smarty… expandDish gets excellent reviews. Consumers posting to review sites say that Method detergent cleans as well as traditional detergents. It comes in a pink grapefruit scent as well as a dye- and perfume-free version. However, it costs more than most competing brands. collapse

See Our Full Review

Expert & User Review Sources:

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

The Green Clean Review: Blogger "lisbet" tests and reviews every eco-friendly cleaning product she can.

RealBabyRealFood.com: Blogger "Alicia" tries several chemical-free dishwasher detergents and is unimpressed by the results.

TotallyHer.com: Reviewer "Rhana" says she has long tried to find an eco-friendly dishwasher detergent that can clean dishes without the need to scrub them first.

Viewpoints.com: About a dozen users give Method Smarty Dish a score of 4.1 out of 5 both for its cleaning ability and green credentials.

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Buy from
Amazon

for $59.99

Cascade Complete All-in-1 Gel *Est. 20 cents per load

3 picks including: ExpoTV.com…

Ecover Dishwasher Tablets *Est. 43 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. 24 cents per load

2 picks by top review sites.

Cascade Complete All-in-1 Powder *Est. 20 cents per load

2 picks by top review sites.


	Citra-Dish Natural Automatic Dishwashing Detergent In Stock. Average Customer Review: