The Best Dishwasher Detergents in 2022 for Clean Dishes

How to Choose the Right Dishwasher Detergent

Quite often, people don't pay much attention to the kind of dishwasher detergent that they buy. A dishwasher detergent is just a dishwasher detergent. How different could they be from one another? If you are one of those who follow that line of thinking you should know that a one size fits all approach should not be applied to even dishwasher detergent. As a matter of fact, it should especially not be applied in the case of dishwasher detergent as this concerns your very health.

There are three principal factors to weigh in when zeroing in on a dishwasher detergent to buy-
Price.
The mineral composition of the water.
Dishwasher type.
You can zero in on the right kind of dishwasher detergent taking the above factors into consideration. There are basically three types of dishwasher detergents.

Powders

Powders are quite popular because they are reasonably priced. Dishwasher detergent powders are particularly good for use in places where the water is hard on account of a large number of minerals in them. On the flip side detergent powder, many pose problems on account of its ability to cake up in the dishwasher.

Tablets

Detergent tablets are composed of detergent powder that is compacted into the size of a single load. The advantage that they offer is by way of providing some control over the quantity of detergent being used, though these do cost more than detergent powders.

Gels

The advantage that gel detergents have over powders and tablets is the fact that these don't need to dissolve in the water making them highly effective in tackling excessively greasy loads. Though more expensive than tablets and powders they are quite popular on account of their efficiency. One can often buy them in the shape of handy pre-measured packs. These sometimes contain rising agents that help remove spots on glassware.

Most people use dishwasher detergent in either tab or pack form with a lower number using gel-type detergents and the least number of them use dishwasher detergent powder. What is interesting is the fact that gels don't function the same cleaning cocktail that powder and tabs do. As a matter of fact, powdered detergent despite its declining popularity is actually a great cleaning option as long as it is properly stored and used.

The other reason to not use tabs is their much higher cost per load than powders. But on the other hand, these are quite convenient and easy to use. Besides, they are not at all messy and take up less shelf space. In the overall analysis tabs and gel offer a power-packed package of cleaning ability, convenience, and dependability, albeit at a price. The powder is at best a great second choice, whereas gels are really at the bottom of the pyramid.

A dishwasher detergent is meant to perform a tough job. It needs to remove myriad types of food baked and dried food residues from dishes and cookware. There is always the question of managing varying levels of water hardness while keeping the dishwasher and its contents safe.

Finding the right one determines how efficiently the dishwashers work and whether you get the desired results the very first time you run it. There won't be much point in using a dishwasher if you need to run it again or rewash the items in question by hand.

Dishwashing powders, tablets, and gels can all do the job and which one you choose depends on what you prefer and the kind of money that you want to spend. One thing that one might note is that you will usually find a washing machine detergent performance varies according to the brand and not the type of detergent. If the brand that you use suits the machine and the water hardness involved, you can go for it regardless of what type of dishwasher detergent it is.

There are quite a few dishwasher detergent brands that come very highly recommended for their performance. Let's look at a few of these-

Platinum Action Packs by Cascade

Cascade power packs are part powder and part gel and are packed with the power of grease and grime removers, apart from ingredients to reduce spotting and protect glassware from etching.

Great Value by Walmart

This dishwashing detergent offers the greatest value for money of all similar products. It costs a mere 13 cents a load and helps remove baked-on grime with consummate ease. It is wonderful at cleaning glassware and flatware cycle after cycle regardless of how hard the water may be.

Ultra Tabs Multi Dishwasher Detergent

These tabs are extremely easy to use as well as store. They dissolve in no time along with the water-soluble wrapper. The tablets comprise three layers of very effective cleaning ingredients capable of cleaning stuck-on grime making both stainless steel cookware, flatware, and glassware as clean as can be.

Complete Gel and Oxi Dishwasher Detergent by Cascade

Their gel is composed of very effective ingredients like enzymes to help get rid of starch, dried egg, or even melted cheese. The Oxi bleach helps take care of tea and coffee stains as well.

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day

This is one dishwashing detergent that smells really great. Besides, it can handle hard water with ease and do a great job of cleaning glassware. Its garden-inspired scents are contained in liquid dish soap, hand soap as well as an all-purpose cleaner that provides for a complete kitchen aromatherapy experience.

Ecover Automatic Dishwasher Tablets

This is a plant-based cleaner that really does a good job of removing grime. Comprising a mineral-based biodegradable formula it cleans dirties of loads very well, especially glassware that it leaves virtually blemish-free.

Conclusion

Choosing the right dishwashing detergent is not any mundane function that you can carelessly perform. You have got to pay attention to what kind of product suits your machine and your conditions the best. One would be well advised to exercise a little care in its choice and not buy the first one that you come across.