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Scoring best rated odour and scent, Shine's dishwasher detergents and tablets were also top rated for their effectiveness.
Dishwasher detergents are water-soluble cleaning products made specifically for washing dishes in a dishwasher. There are three main types: tablet, powder and gel.
Dishwasher detergent comes in three forms: tablet (tab/pack), powder and gel.
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Rinse aid, or rinse agent, is used in the rinse cycle to eliminate food residue and detergent. It can enhance your dishwasher's dry performance, minimises water spotting on plates and glasses, and prevents film from forming on dishes.
It also prevents the finish on crockery from being stripped away and glassware getting cloudy or scratched. It's already included in tablets, but not in powder dishwashing detergent.
Dishwasher detergents can range from $0.05 per wash for the cheapest home brand powder up to $0.94 per wash for premium tablets.
Here are other essential factors you need to consider:
While tablet detergents are more expensive, they often include rinse agent, clean your dishes more thoroughly and ensure a more precise dosage each time. Your second-best option is powder. While both tablet and powder versions include enzymes and bleach (to remove stains and eat away at proteins and solids), gel form does not have the same stain removal power (generally bleaches in liquid form will kill active enzymes).
Tablet versions are more convenient and easy to use in pre-measured, packaged form, while powders and gels must be measured each load. Of the latter two, gel is easier to control when measuring than powder and easier to clean up.
Tablet detergent is less flexible, as the tablets are pre-measured and only come in one size. If you prefer to vary your dishwasher load, opt for powder or gel.
Watch out for products containing phosphates. While phosphates have conventionally been used in dishwashing detergent, they are not environmentally friendly and cause algae bloom. You can find phosphate-free detergents that work just as well for similar prices.
Also, if you want to avoid phthalates, parabens and triclosan, which have been proven to be potentially toxic chemicals that can disrupt the hormone system, opt for fragrance-free versions.
Some dishwashers are not suitable for gels, so double check with your owner's manual before purchasing this detergent type.
Tablets require more packaging than powder or gels per dose. However, many companies are aiming to roll off 100% recyclable packaging soon. As they are more concentrated and smaller per load, tablets also use less energy to ship, and therefore produce a smaller carbon footprint.
There are a lot of cruelty-free options if you prefer brands that don't test on animals, and don't contain palm oil or animal by-products.
Check out energy saving tips for your dishwasher
Many popular brands of detergent contain harmful chemicals. Ensure your detergent is stored out of reach of children and pets, in a child-resistant container and close the packaging properly each time. Detergent can be very dangerous if swallowed. Only fill your dishwasher with detergent just before starting a cycle, and afterwards, clean away any residue immediately.
There are many safe and eco-friendly options available, but remember to check the labels before you buy anything.
Several DIY detergent alternatives are also available. They are typically compatible with dishwashers, but may not perform as well as the commercial formulas. Keep in mind, using certain ingredients could void your dishwasher warranty so be sure to check before putting anything new in your dishwasher.
When trying a DIY alternative for the first time, we recommend that you test a small batch first. The effectiveness of the formula can vary depending on your individual dishwasher and the type of water in your house.
Commonly used DIY dishwasher detergent ingredients include:
| Total Score | Overall rating | Value for Money | Ease of use | Odour or scent | Effectiveness | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 8.36 | 4.50 | 4.58 | 4.62 | 4.58 | 4.58 |
| Shine | 8.19 | 4.43 | 4.57 | 4.61 | 4.39 | 4.57 |
| Finish | 8.18 | 4.50 | 4.12 | 4.56 | 4.28 | 4.40 |
| Logix (ALDI) | 8.13 | 4.39 | 4.59 | 4.69 | 4.18 | 4.35 |
| Fairy | 8.08 | 4.40 | 4.16 | 4.70 | 4.10 | 4.40 |
| Earth Choice | 8.03 | 4.36 | 4.26 | 4.46 | 4.18 | 4.42 |
| Morning Fresh | 7.99 | 4.33 | 4.02 | 4.47 | 4.27 | 4.37 |
| Coles Ultra | 7.93 | 4.22 | 4.47 | 4.56 | 4.13 | 4.28 |
| Coles | 7.46 | 3.98 | 4.26 | 4.30 | 3.82 | 4.02 |
| EcoStore | 7.39 | 4.00 | 3.50 | 4.25 | 3.75 | 3.88 |
| Koh | 7.37 | 3.75 | 4.00 | 4.75 | 4.00 | 4.00 |
Keep your dishes sparkling clean with quality dishwasher tablets from one of these online stores.
