The Best Dishwasher Detergent

A top-notch dishwasher detergent can boost even an average dishwasher’s performance, tackling tough messes like peanut butter, eggs, and tomato sauce. After testing over 30 options—pods, powders, tablets, and liquids—Cascade Free & Clear ActionPacs stood out, delivering the best cleaning results across nearly all dishes.

Everything we recommend

Cascade Free & Clear ActionPacs impressed us by tackling tough stains like baked-on egg and peanut butter, though they left glassware less shiny than some competitors. These pods combine powder and liquid detergent boosters for superior cleaning power, cutting grease and enhancing shine. Free from dyes and chlorine bleach, they feature a mild lemon scent that neutralizes odors effectively. At about 32¢ per load, they’re also convenient with no measuring required.

Cascade Platinum Plus ActionPacs handled tough stains like peanut butter and baked-on cheese well but missed some egg yolk and tomato juice. Their dye-containing formula and strong “fresh” scent may not appeal to everyone. At about 37¢ per load, they’re slightly pricier than our top pick.

Cascade Complete Powder is a budget-friendly option at just 5¢ per load, delivering effective cleaning with grease-cutting Dawn and protein-busting enzymes. It excelled on tough stains like meat sauce and burnt milk but may require two scoops for heavily soiled loads.

Dirty Labs 2-in-1 is a sustainable, dye- and plastic-free detergent that excels on proteins but struggles with grease and glassware, costing 42¢–84¢ per load.

Who this is for

If your dishes are left with spots, cloudy glasses, or dull cutlery, try switching your detergent—liquids often clean worse than pods or powders. A good detergent can improve even an average dishwasher’s performance. Avoid prerinse, as it prevents enzymes from working properly and can damage your dishes over time. Experiment with detergents to find the best one for your dishwasher and water type. If you have hard water, look for pods with water softeners. Also, use detergent within a year, as enzymes lose potency over time, though discoloration doesn’t affect performance.

How we picked and tested

Dishwasher detergents come in pods, powders, tablets, or liquids, each varying in convenience and cleaning power. Here’s an overview:

Pods

Dishwasher pods are single-dose detergents in water-soluble PVA/PVOH film, often with added liquid agents in separate chambers to boost effectiveness. They’re convenient, mess-free, and ideal for sensitive users, but tend to be more expensive than other detergents.

Powders

Powder detergents offer strong cleaning power with adjustable usage, making them ideal for older or less-effective dishwashers. They’re usually the most economical option, though they can be heavy and tricky to pour precisely.

Tablets or tabs

Tablets dissolve more slowly than powders, extending cleaning time and often cleaning better, though not as well as pods with liquid boosters. Some tablets, like Finish, are individually wrapped, while others, like Miele UltraTabs, have water-soluble wrappers.

Liquids

Liquid detergents, or gels, performed the worst in our tests due to early wash-away and diluted cleaning agents. They often lack both bleach and enzymes, making them less effective. If you prefer gels, choose the best-priced option, as little difference exists among brands. Before replacing your dishwasher, try a powder or pod instead.

Cleaning performance

We tested detergents using tough stains like baked-on egg, peanut butter, oatmeal, and tomato sauce. Each test load included plates, bowls, and utensils coated with food, microwaved to set the stains, plus items like burned casserole, lipstick-stained stemware, and coffee-stained mugs.

We tested detergents using the Bosch SHX65CM5N (2024) and Miele G5006SCUSS (2023), running two one-hour cycles to assess detergent performance. High-performing detergents were then tested in express cycles on five other dishwashers, including the Maytag MDB8959SKZ, KitchenAid KDTF324PPA, and Café CDT 888.

Scent

We evaluated each detergent’s scent, noting when it was too strong or unpleasant. Strong-scented detergents sometimes left an acrid odor, while unscented ones struggled to neutralize lingering smells from dishwasher filters, often due to less effective formulations.

Top pick: Cascade Free & Clear ActionPacs

Cascade Free & Clear ActionPacs is the most well-rounded detergent we tested, excelling at cleaning a variety of stains with a subtle, dye-free scent. It effectively removes tough stains like avocado, tomato sauce, and peanut butter, and even cleans baked-on egg yolk. While it cleaned glassware well, it didn’t leave it as shiny as some other detergents.

Free & Clear ActionPacs are premeasured, easy to use, and encased in a water-soluble PVA/PVOH film, making them less messy than powders or liquids while ensuring the right amount of detergent. The liquid boosters are dye- and chlorine bleach-free, making them ideal for those with sensitivities. The mild lemon scent, made from essential oils, effectively neutralizes odors without being overpowering.

Price per load: 32¢ (for a 62-count package) at the time of publication.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Pods limit dose adjustments, which may matter for varying soil levels or dishwasher performance (consider powder if this is a concern). Despite the “Free & Clear” label, these pods have a pleasant fragrance, so they may not suit those preferring unscented detergents.

Runner-up: Cascade Platinum Plus ActionPacs

If our top pick is unavailable, Cascade Platinum Plus ActionPacs is a solid second choice. These pods clean well, with liquid boosters that help cut grease. They effectively cleaned peanut butter and baked-on egg, though not as thoroughly as our top pick. Pyrex, glassware, and stemware were left spot-free after drying.

The liquid detergent boosters in these pods contain dyes, which don’t affect performance. However, if you prefer dye-free, our top pick is a better option.

Price per load: 37¢ (for a 62-count package) at the time of publication.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Cascade Platinum Plus ActionPacs have a strong “fresh” scent that’s harsher than our top pick’s lemon fragrance, though it effectively neutralizes odors. Like all pods, the amount used can’t be adjusted, unlike powder detergents.

Best powder detergent: Cascade Complete Powder

While powder detergents are generally less powerful and convenient than pods, Cascade Complete Powder stands out for its effectiveness and value. It cleans well, especially with grease and protein, thanks to a powdered version of Dawn dish soap. The detergent’s enzymes tackle tough stains like egg yolk, burnt milk, and peanut butter. It also allows easy dosage adjustments, making it ideal for older or simpler dishwashers. Plus, it comes in a cardboard box, which is great for reducing plastic use. Cascade Complete is the most affordable option, with a medium-soiled load costing around 5¢ to clean.

Price per load: 5¢ to 10¢ (for a 75-ounce box) at the time of publication.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

For tough stains, you may need to use an extra scoop. We found that adding two scoops (about 1 ounce) of Cascade Complete Powder worked best for heavily soiled dishes.

There is no scent-free version, and while the scent is mild (similar to dish soap), it may be strong for those sensitive to fragrance.

The box can feel heavy when dispensing detergent, weighing about 4.5 pounds when full. This can make it cumbersome to lift, so if you prefer a lighter option, consider our other powder pick.

Best minimalist detergent: Dirty Labs 2-in-1 Bio Enzyme Dishwasher Detergent + Booster

For a dye-free, fragrance-free, and eco-friendly option, try Dirty Labs 2-in-1 Bio Enzyme Dishwasher Detergent and Booster. This powder detergent is the top-performing sustainable choice we’ve tested, effectively cleaning tough stains like tomato sauce, oatmeal, and grease, even in quick-wash cycles.

Dirty Labs 2-in-1 Bio Enzyme Dishwasher Detergent is dye-free and contains fewer ingredients than most other powders, relying on its Phytolase technology for strong cleaning power. It offers a sophisticated Aestival fragrance (yuzu, geranium, lemon balm) or a fragrance-free option. The detergent comes in a recyclable cardboard container with a wooden spoon for dispensing, making it lightweight at just about a pound—half the weight of our other powder pick.

Price per load: 42¢ to 84¢ (for a 16.8-ounce package) at the time of publication.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

Dirty Labs 2-in-1 Bio Enzyme Dishwasher Detergent is less effective on greasy stains compared to other powders. The cardboard container can be difficult to open and close, and the wooden spoon doesn’t fit until you’ve used some detergent. It’s not ideal for glassware, as powder formulas struggle with rinsing additives for shine. Additionally, it’s expensive, costing around 42¢ per scoop. For heavily soiled or hard water loads, you may need two scoops, pushing the cost to 84¢—much higher than other powders without a proportional cleaning advantage. This higher cost may be due to the expensive enzymes used by niche brands.