The Best Dishwasher Pods

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Murray
Published on
January 4th, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Ben’s formal training and certifications in cleaning include the ASD (Advanced Structural Drying), AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician),
WRT (Water restoration technician), CCT (Carpet Cleaning technician), and bio hazard cleanup, as well as several other certifications from the IICRC. Ben has managed teams involved in cleaning projects around the United States. Ben’s passion for cleaning dates all the way back to keeping his rugby gear tidy while a young lad. Ben holds an undergraduate degree from Oxford, a Master’s degree from Oxford, and a mountain of hands on experience at the school of hard knocks.

The Cleaning Institute

The dishwasher detergent industry has changed. Now consumers are too busy to measure out their detergent, and can simply put a “pod” (a premeasured amount of detergent is in a nice little detergent package) or a tablet into their dishwasher and press start.

There are many benefits of dishwasher pods — you don’t have to worry about spilling, dripping or leaking. Less hassle, and less mess. But do they work as well as the tried and true versions? Our testers washed lots of dishes using all different brands of dishwasher pods to come up with the best of the best.

We recommend Cascade Platinum ActionPacs Dishwasher Detergent as our top choice.

We gave honorable mention to Finish Quantum Dishwasher Detergent Tabs, and recommend Ecover Automatic Dishwasher Soap Tablets as our green pick, the environmentally-friendly option.

Testing Categories

Smell – Odor was an important factor in our research. Testers did not want overpowering smells, especially since the product was being used on their dishes, glasses, cutlery and pots and pans.

Power – All of the dishwasher pods / tablets were tested on the ability to clean a variety of items and we tested how clean the items became after being washed.

Packaging – The testers considered the make-up of the pod / tablet, as well as the larger package (i.e., plastic bag and box / carton) that housed the pods / tablets.

Price — In terms of price, we looked at the price per pod / tablet.

Top Pick

Cascade Platinum
ActionPacs
Dishwasher Detergent

Testers loved these dishwasher pods. They appreciated the convenience and ease of use of just putting one in the machine.

Price Check

Testers loved these dishwasher pods. They appreciated the convenience and ease of use of just putting one in the machine. They found the detergent to be very powerful in getting their dishes clean. In fact, they noted that they did not feel the need to rinse their dishes before putting them in the dishwasher, like they had done with other detergents. They also commented that the dishes came out both clean and dry, and it worked great on pots and pans too. They liked using the pods because they found that there was much less waste than with a jug of liquid detergent that always has some product at the bottom of the jug. They also liked the square shape of the plastic container that housed the pods, and found that it stacked nicely in their storage room or basement, and didn’t take up too much room. They also liked that the container closed nicely.

Most notable upside: Produced great results -- clean and dry dishes. Testers thought the combination with Dawn made sense and improved it’s cleaning power.

Biggest downsides: Some testers didn’t like the odor and felt that it was too sudsy.

5/5
Power
5/5
Smell
5/5
Packaging
4/5
Price

Honorable Mention

Finish Quantum
Dishwasher
Detergent Tabs

Our testers chose Finish Quantum Dishwasher Detergent Tabs as the runner up in the dishwasher pod / tablet category.

Price Check

Our testers chose Finish Quantum Dishwasher Detergent Tabs as the runner up in the dishwasher pod / tablet category. Testers couldn’t believe how well this worked. They felt that the cleaning power was incredible for both dishes / cutlery, but also for their glasses. There were less water spots than they had with other brands. The size of the tab worked perfectly in their dishwasher. Some did comment that the smell of the tabs when the bag was opened was overwhelming, but they did not feel that the strong smell transferred over to their dishes after being washed, which was a good thing. They said that the bag, that the tabs were in, did not close well.

Most notable upside: Testers loved the cleaning power of the product.

Biggest downsides: Some testers thought the smell was too strong.

5/5
Power
4/5
Smell
5/5
Packaging
5/5
Price

Green Pick

Ecover Automatic
Dishwasher
Soap Tablets

Ecover Automatic Dishwasher Soap Tablets received top billing as our environmentally friendly pick.

Price Check

Our testers thought that tablets cleaned very well, especially considering it does not have the chemicals that the competitors have. In fact, many testers used only half a tablet to wash a load of dishes, which actually doubled the number of loads that could be done with the box, and halved the price per use! They loved the fact that there was minimal smell to the product. Many testers liked that the tablets were packed in a cardboard box, but then were surprised that the tablets were individually wrapped in plastic.

Most notable upside: The tablets cut in half work just as well! Price is very reasonable, especially considering that it is environmentally friendly.

Biggest downsides: Testers found the tabs wrapped in plastic were an odd choice for an environmentally friendly product.

4/5
Power
5/5
Smell
3/5
Packaging
5/5
Price

All Our Picks

Types of dishwasher detergents

There are three main categories of dishwasher detergent. Below are descriptions and some pros and cons of each type.

Powder

You need to be very careful when measuring out this type of detergent. Too little, and your dishes won’t get clean, and too much and you could have residue stuck on your dishes. Powder can spill easily, and is not very effective cleaning pots and pans. It is the least expensive type of detergent.

Gel

Gel dishwasher detergent can also be measured out, and you need to make sure to use the right amount. Gel is much thicker than the dish soap that you may have next to the sink, so make sure to use the right product for the right thing. Gel does not spill easily, which is a plus, but it is also not as effective as the other types of detergent because it doesn’t dissolve well and therefore some gel can be left on the dishes after the load is done. Caked on food can also remain on the dishes after using gel. Gel is much better on delicate dishes, like glasses.

Pods / tablets

These are the most convenient because you don’t have to measure anything. You just put the pod in, and you are done. No risk of over or underfilling, and it performs best out of the three different options. It is also the most expensive option.

Important Factors When Choosing Dishwasher Detergent

When you are deciding what kind of dishwasher detergent to use, here are some things to keep in mind:

Your lifestyle and budget: If you are busy all the time trying to do a load of dishes, you might find that the pods are worth the extra money. Pods are also better at cleaning pots and pans. Gel is better for glasses.
Number of loads: Detergent packaging will indicate how many loads you will be able to run with one package. You can save money by buying a bigger package, but it is good to know that surprisingly detergent can get stale if it sits around too long.
Price: It may be tempting to buy a lower priced brand of detergent. However, good quality detergent performs much better than bargain brands. Spending more can be worth it in the long run.

Powder detergent usually costs between $0.10 and $0.30 per load.

Gel detergent is usually the same price as powder, or slightly more.

Pods usually cost between $0.10 to $.40 per load.

FAQs about Washing Dishes with a Dishwasher

Q. What is the best way to load the dishwasher?
If you’re looking for dishwasher loading tips, the first step is to look at the manual for your dishwasher. Not all dishwashers are designed the same. After you read the manual, here are some other tips to consider:

Put delicate items (i.e., wineglasses) on the top rack and make sure they are not going to move during the load
All knives (or other sharp objects) should be put with the blade facing down
Don’t place things on top of other things (husbands and teenagers are usually good at stacking dishes like that in the dishwasher)

Q. What temperature should I use to wash my dishes?
A. Hot water is best to get your dishes as clean as they can be.

Q. Can liquid dish soap be used in my dishwasher?
A. Absolutely not! Liquid dish soap is not meant to be used in a dishwasher, it would create too much suds and they could end up all over your floor. Not a good idea!

Q. What is the difference between hard water and soft water?
A. Let’s start with hard water. This type of water has dissolved mineral salts in it (i.e., calcium and magnesium). These types of minerals can interfere with the cleaning ability of the detergent so you may need to use more detergent if you have hard water in your home. Hard water can cause spots or film on your glasses / dishes. Call your local water company or public utility company to find out whether your water is hard or soft.

If you get a ring in your bathtub, white residue around your drains or faucets and get ring around your bathtub, you may have hard water.

Q. How do I clean the actual dishwasher?
You can buy dishwasher cleaners. They are usually pods that you just put in the dishwasher, like you would use a cleaning pod, or you can put vinegar in the detergent dispenser and run a cycle.
Q. What should I wash by hand? Can it all go in the dishwasher?
A. Unfortunately, some items do need to be washed the old fashioned way, by hand. Fragile items can break in the dishwasher. Make sure your items are “dishwasher safe” before putting them in the dishwasher.

Q. How should I store my dishwasher detergent?
A. Powder detergent should be kept keep it in a cool, dry place. That will avoid any lumps in your detergent from moisture. All types of detergent should be closed tightly and stored out of the reach of pets and children.But no matter what type you use – powder, gel or tablet – be sure to close the package tightly after use and store out of the reach of small children and pets.

The Best Dishwasher Pods

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Murray

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Cascade Platinum
ActionPacs
Dishwasher Detergent

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

Finish Quantum
Dishwasher
Detergent Tabs

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

Ecover Automatic
Dishwasher
Soap Tablets

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

All Our Picks

Cascade Platinum
ActionPacs
Dishwasher Detergent

Finish Quantum
Dishwasher
Detergent Tabs

Ecover Automatic
Dishwasher
Soap Tablets

Types of dishwasher detergents

Important Factors When Choosing Dishwasher Detergent

FAQs about Washing Dishes with a Dishwasher

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

The Best Dishwasher Pods

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Ben Murray

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Cascade Platinum ActionPacs Dishwasher Detergent

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

Finish Quantum Dishwasher Detergent Tabs

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

Ecover AutomaticDishwasher Soap Tablets

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

All Our Picks

Cascade Platinum ActionPacs Dishwasher Detergent

Finish Quantum Dishwasher Detergent Tabs

Ecover AutomaticDishwasher Soap Tablets

Types of dishwasher detergents

Important Factors When Choosing Dishwasher Detergent

FAQs about Washing Dishes with a Dishwasher

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Cascade Platinum
ActionPacs
Dishwasher Detergent

Finish Quantum
Dishwasher
Detergent Tabs

Ecover Automatic
Dishwasher
Soap Tablets

Cascade Platinum
ActionPacs
Dishwasher Detergent

Finish Quantum
Dishwasher
Detergent Tabs

Ecover Automatic
Dishwasher
Soap Tablets