It's a sad moment when you unload your dishwasher only to find the remains of dinner stuck to your plates or less-than-sparkling glasses.
If you're confident that you're not making any common dishwashing mistakes and your dishwasher is doing its job, perhaps your detergent is to blame.
The amount of money you spend on dishwasher detergent over the life of your dishwasher is equal to the cost of the actual dishwasher, so it's worthwhile finding a detergent that's up to the task.
But with an overwhelming number of products available, all promising to deliver plates so clean you can, well, eat off them, how do you know which one offers the best value for money?
And just as importantly, which type of dishwasher detergent should you buy?
"There's a big difference between the effectiveness of different dishwashing detergent types," says Matthew Steen, head of reviews and testing at CHOICE.
"And whichever you choose to use – tablet, gel, pod, sheet or powder – it'll really show up in the wash."
Dishwasher pods contain liquid ingredients in a dissolvable pouch.
Tablets vs powders: Which is better?
Tablets and powders make up the bulk of dishwasher detergents sold in Australia.
"While dishwasher tablets and pods tend to be more expensive, they invariably outperform powder in our dishwasher detergent tests," says Matthew.
"The recommended products in our dishwasher detergent review are all either tablets or pods. And the lowest-ranked products are all powders, sheets and gels."
The recommended products in our dishwasher detergent review are all either tablets or pods
Matthew Steen, CHOICE's head of reviews and testing
There's a simple reason why there's such a big difference in performance.
Dishwasher pods and most tablets are an 'all-in-one' product that usually contain dishwasher salt, rinsing agent and detergent in one easy dose. They're more concentrated than powder, sheet or gel detergents, and are designed to deliver the perfect amount for each full dishwasher load.
Dishwashing powder, on the other hand, is generally less effective as it's just, well, detergent with no salt or rinsing agent.
What about dishwasher gels?
Dishwasher liquids or gels are useful for some drawer-type dishwashers that can't use tablets, and are convenient as you can dose as little or as much as you like in your detergent dispenser.
And although they can be cheaper than some tablets, they're generally not as effective as tablets or pods.
Although they can be cheaper than some tablets, gels are generally not as effective as tablets or pods
They can also contain a higher quantity of surfactants than tablets or powder. (Surfactants are compounds commonly found in detergents that can be detrimental to the environment.)
We tested two gel products in our latest review, one from Finish and another from OzKleen, and the results were underwhelming. The Finish All in One Max Gel scored 58% while the OzKleen Dishwasher Power Gel scored a dismal 11%. Considering the OzKleen costs $18 you really are just washing your money down the drain with this product.
Lucent Globe dishwasher detergent sheets have performed better in our review this year.
Are dishwasher sheets any good?
If you haven't heard of them, dishwasher detergent sheets are pieces of dissolvable paper that are embedded with detergent.
They're generally marketed as 'eco' products, producing a smaller carbon footprint in terms of packaging and transport, and often with claims like 'chemical-free' and 'no nasties'.
While they might be good for the environment, they're less than effective on your dishes: we tested four dishwasher sheets from Lucent Globe, Cleaner Days, Earth Choice and Earth Rescue and while they aren't the lowest scoring, they still have a way to go to improve their performance.
While they might be good for the environment, detergent sheets are less than effective on your dishes
Here's how they scored:
- Lucent Globe Dishwasher Detergent Sheets – 49%
- Cleaner Days Dishwasher Detergent Sheets – 43%
- Earth Rescue Dishwasher Detergent Sheets – 39%
- Earth Choice Ultra Concentrate Dishwasher Detergent Sheets – 34%
Lucent Globe's sheets have continued to improve year on year – in 2023 they scored only 13% and jumped to 30% in 2024. A score of 49% in this latest test is another improvement for the product. Specifically they received an 'excellent' result for removing baked-on cheese and was 'very good' for rice starch and minced meat removal. The product struggled to remove egg yolk, wine and coffee. So, with further development, detergent sheets could be contenders, but for now our results suggest they still need more work.
However, a good dishwasher is the key factor in how clean your dishes will be.
If you have a high-performing dishwasher, it'll still deliver good results regardless of the detergent you use – so if your dishwasher performs well and eco-friendliness is a priority for you, then dishwasher sheets could be worth considering.
These Coles tablets punch well above their weight, and are one of the cheapest products we’ve tested.
Price doesn't always equal performance
If you've been looking for ways to save on your grocery bills, you may have zeroed in on your expensive dishwasher tabs.
Considering that some top-performing dishwasher detergents can cost as much as a whopping $44 per packet (or $1.42 per wash), it seems like a good place to cut some costs.
But while switching to powder will save you at the till, it can be a false economy: you'll have to re-wash any dishes that don't come out clean, or even re-run the entire load.
The good news is our testing often finds that price doesn't always equal performance, and you don't have to switch to a poor-performing but cheaper powder to save money. There are plenty of cheaper dishwasher tablets that get great results in our testing.
Our experts tested 42 products and rated their cleaning performance on food stains such as egg yolk, baked-on cheese, rice starch, red wine and bolognaise sauce.
Three of the cheapest tablets in our test make our list of recommended products, with a CHOICE Expert Rating of at least 75%.
- Coles Ultra Advanced Dishwasher Tablets: $0.15 per wash
- Aldi Logix Platinum Dishwasher Capsules: $0.25 per wash
- Woolworths Shine Optimum All in 1 Ultimate Clean Dishwashing Pods: $0.26 per wash
How to save money on dishwasher tablets
(...and get the best results from your dishwasher)
1. Buy in bulk and look for specials
Buy dishwasher tablets in larger bulk-sized packets, stock up when on special and scrutinise unit prices to ensure you are getting the cheapest price possible – always look at the price per item to compare. Keep in mind, however, that the shelf life of dishwasher tablets is around one to two years, so don't stockpile tablets as their effectiveness may deteriorate over time.
2. Regularly check our test results
Check CHOICE dishwasher detergent reviews to find out which cheaper products perform well in our extensive laboratory testing. But remember, product formulations can change over time, so make sure you're armed with our latest results.
3. Be economical
Only run your dishwasher when it's completely full, and make sure it's stacked well so everything in it gets cleaned the first time around. Do it once, do it right!
4. Bypass the dispenser
Detergent dispensers are designed for powders. If you're using tablets, just toss it straight into the bottom of your dishwasher tub – this maximises the time the tablet has to dissolve and do its thing.
This tip is particularly worth trying if you find your tablets aren't dissolving properly or if you're using a faster cycle.
5. Pack like a pro
To get the best results from your dishwasher tablets and save you having to run another load when your plates aren't cleaned properly, make sure you stack your dishwasher correctly – and don't pre-rinse your dishes.
Follow our expert tips on how to load your dishwasher properly.
6. Use rinse aid
If your all-in-one product doesn't already contain rinse aid, add it separately. Rinse aid lowers the surface tension of the water, which means water won't bead on your glassware and it'll come out squeaky clean and dry. When buying rinse aid, the same money-saving rules apply – look at unit pricing, buy larger bottles, switch to home-brand alternatives or stock up when products are on special.
7. Keep a clean machine
Regularly clean your dishwasher filter to ensure it performs at its best, and check out all our tips on how to clean your dishwasher.
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Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
