What is the best Dishwasher Detergent? 

Oh, right, I'm in my 30's now, this is now peak entertainment.

I highly recommend that everyone with a dishwasher watch the two videos by Technology Connections that really go in depth into how dishwashers, pods, and powders work--that guy even cut a hole in his dishwasher and added a plastic viewing screen to it so he could see what the dishwasher was doing as it ran its cycles. Knowing more about how dishwashers function and following his recommendation for powder use, I now get clean dishes without pre-washing AND without rinsing off egg yolks, milk, and tomato-based sauces as this video recommends. I've been steering people away from pods ever since. They really sacrifice cleaning efficiency for convenience, and it's such a shame and a waste of money and water.

Most modern dishwashers will use less than 4 gallons of water (depending on cycle) due to Energy Star standards. The pods/packs are basically just pre-packaged powder, so if you have any ability to dose, you can save a ton of money on powder. The Walmart Great Value powder is like $4 per box and we fill ours half-full and half-fill the prewash.

Powder! Not only is it cheaper per "serving" but most of the time you aren't filling your dishwasher with large amounts of dried-on food. You can probably get away with filling up the dispenser only halfway and then spilling a little sprinkle in the tub to help the pre-wash out. Try that and if it works you're spending half as much on dishsoap. With the pods you have to use a full pod every time no matter how few dishes you have to clean.

I've lived overseas for over 20 years and every dishwasher I have come across has a dispenser. This was still great information though, I appreciate it.

I've heard people say you should leave food on your dishes, but I just can't do that and a lot of other people can't either. Because it takes two days for me to fill up the washer before I can run it, and in the interim, every time I would open the door, the smell of old food will come out into my kitchen. Disgusting!

I use Finish Packs,and rinse aid.I sold appliances for 8 years and told folks it depends on the machine, the maintenance of the machine and your water quality.I clean the filters and use a cleaner once a month.I have probably the hardest water in the country and my dishwashers stainless tub is just as sparkly and clean as day 1 almost 6 years later.

Just bought a new home. Very nice except previous owners loved smelly soaps, drying sheets, dishwasher detergents and rinse agents. Soap used in washing machine was smelly, too. I think they’d smelled products so long as it was even on their walls they didn’t realize how potent it was. Highly sensitive to perfumes, some of my guests had to stop visiting. My allergies returned, big time. I now know more about how to deodorize dishwashers and even their filters, dryers. I learned baking soda does wonders to deodorize the inside of your dryer. All vents including dryer, and HVAC had to be seriously cleaned. My message is there is no need to add one more smell or perfume to household cleaning. Save a child’s breathing and yours. Don’t use those smelly pods.

All dishwashers are designed to use powder detergent. That's what the little marks are for inside the detergent cup and that little indentation on the lid of the cup is for you to add a little powder for the prewash. Powder will keep your machine cleaner and cleans just as well as expensive pods or gels. What no one talks about is how the pods contain micro plastics that do not biodegrade and will eventually clog up your dishwasher's pump or filter.

Don’t forget to clean out the filters inside your dishwasher! I just did and it was crazy how much build up of old food etc was clogging everything up! Make sure the holes are clear where the water shoots out of the rotating blades too. There are videos on RU-vid that show you how to do this.

i switched from pods to powder some years ago. works way better for me for like half the cost. also idk whats that about dispensers being a US-only thing. i've never seen a dishwasher without it and i'm from europe and been to all continents.

I use either pods or powder for the main container and liquid gel for the pre-wash I've got surprisingly good results doing it that way. and now I know why

I like powder much cheaper and takes advantage of pre-wash. Why pay way more for pods? Also learned, years ago, from laundry mat owner that you only need 1/8 to 1/4 cup of modern liquid laundry detergent in your laundry machine. He said if you see suds in the water you've used too much. After 25 years of following his directions I believe he was exactly right. It also helps to preserve your machine when there are no suds.

I use a pod in the door and then sprinkle a little powder for the pre rinse. 17 year old Kitchen Aid that still cleans as good today as the day I installed it.

To be honest I really like the liquid ones. They always clean great, and never leave any residue. Also dosable and no mess with the squeeze bottles.

If you liked this video you'll love the technology connections video on dishwashers.

Using pods skips the whole pre wash cycle of your dishwasher. The liquid detergents can be placed in your pre wash and main wash. Thus, your dishwasher does a full wash with detergent. I used pods for a long time and the dishes come cleaner using liquid because it actually does the pre wash.

The sad thing is that powder detergents, at least in my area, is getting harder to find. At the store I shop at they only carry 2 different brands of powder but at least a dozen different gel packs or liquid. I like powder as like you said , it is economical. I never have had an issue with etching, but I also use a rinse agent.

The problem is that when food hardens the washing cycle does not clean the dishes. Also, particles of food clog the drain and that is why where I work we rinse the dishes of food before putting them in the dishwasher

I live in Denmark and often the drain problem clog because the dishwasher tab. So many people in this country changes to gel and it works fantastic and are cheap. Filling full of the machine are fully and are very dirty. Or else i keep eco program and half fill up, it’s my to go.🤙

In Europe we do have dispensers. And the issue with pods not dropping is not blockage, but moisture in the dispenser which it sticks to.

I use Finish Powder for my dishdrawers. The cost savings is significant. $4.69 for a 75 oz box. I use a medicine cup to measure about 15-20 grams/load. I also use a dishwasher cleaner monthly to ensure the dishwasher stays clean and in good working order. That, snd cleaning the filters and spray arms are a must!!!

Yeah, I'm gonna go with powder and using the pre-wash cup (or sprinkling a little extra in the tub before you start washing). I don't know about the dishwashers being sold today, but my 5 year old top-of-the-line LG has a proper prewash cycle that lasts around 15-20 minutes, so plenty of time to get the surface food off of the dishes. Plus, the vast majority of dishwashers out there are not brand new, so I'm sure that they have a long enough pre-wash cycle to use the detergent.

I keep a 1 tbsp scoop in the DW powder, in a big container. A quick scoop into a the pre wash and 1 into the wash. Easy and works perfectly. Can easily scale up or down as needed depending on how grimy the dishes are.

Technology connections fans rise up!

I buy dish powder from a local package-free store, so we can get it in smaller increments (~500g instead of like 2kg), and we also keep it in an air- and water-tight jar, so it's perfectly protected under the sink!

excellent video! I put my pod in the flatware caddy that is filled with the most flatware. It acts as a prewash and slowly dissolves to be enough for the main wash. I also do this to make sure I have no soap residue on my dishes and no perfume scent on my glasses, dishes, etc. Cascade pods are the ones that work best for our machine and they also keep my kitchen pipes grease-free. Unfortunately, all the eco-friendly dishwasher detergents were not dissolving the grease on my dishes and I ended up with grease- filled kitchen pipes. The plumber's bill was $300. I went straight back to Cascade (3 years ago) and have never had that problem again.

Most of the newer machines don’t have soft food disposals anymore so therefore all the food scraps go nowhere so the dishes need to be scraped.

I switched to Lemishine recently and I love it. Works just as good as the 2 big expensive brands and costs less. Also, supposedly better for the environment. Thanks for the video.

I use both the liquid gel and the pod - the gel for the pre-wash and the pod for the regular/main wash. I used to use a pod for both the pre-wash and the regular wash. Then I saw a RU-vid video showing how the pod does not do well for the pre-wash and the liquid gel was recommended for the pre-wash cycle. My dishes with very few exceptions come on nice and clean. They also come on dry as I do use a rinse agent as well.

Great Video! Just one thing that made me think, what? I am from Germany and our Dishwashers have Dispensers too, I work in an electronics store for 15 years now and have never seen a Dishwasher without one.

Some dishwashers have a bad smell because people didn't rinse food off of the plates and there's rotting food in the drain. The same people who complain about the bad smell are the same people who complain about people who rinse dishes but then again, complain when they have to break the drain apart inside the dishwasher to clean out all the food trapped there. Some detergents have silica in it. Kind of like sand. And people wonder why their dishes are etched?

I don't mind spending extra on the pods, but I really do hate the amount of plastic packaging that usually comes with them (thinking of the bulk, resealable packs). I tried using powder, and it worked well at first. But like a dingus, I stored it under the sink, so that's a good tip to be aware of.

I use Costco Kirkland packs that are powder filled. Also use finish rinse aid in tandem. I lightly rinse them in the sink to get the big food particles.

Awesome discussion - well presented. thank you.

Thanks for the clairification👍 I’ve had a few glassware over the years that got milky. I live by my self so i only fill the dishwasher every 1.5-2 weeks, and it’l start smelling pretty quick i i didn’t pre-rinse😅👍 Powder from now on👌

I repair these dishwashers and I will tell you your dishes will get cleaner with no detergent better than with too much detergent. First of all your dishwasher needs to be clean. Very important. You also need to have hot water going into the dishwasher at at least 125°. Powder is the best a teaspoon is all you need in each cup anymore and it just gets washed away. From 15 years of experience I can tell you the pods and the gels destroy the machines. They do not rinse away completely and leave residue that builds up over time and simulates a dishwasher that is need of repair when all it needs is just to be cleaned powders don't make that happen. Every dishwasher that I replace with a new one always has build up from that crap in those pods and the gels. I do a really good cleaning on them and they're good to go and they're put back in service and someone else's house. Powder all the way.

So much great information! Thanks so much for the detail.

I put my Seventh Generation pods directly in the basket on the top rack. Sometimes if you put the pods in the tray, they might not fall out when the door automatically opens. Putting the pods directly into the basket that the pod is supposed to fall into assures that it’s being used and I like having it dissolved in the beginning of the cycle.

By far the best explanation I’ve watched so far 🖖🏼

Thanks for the video! Very informative.

I use gel for both pre and main wash. Then I put cleaning vinegar in the drying aid. Works great. Just need to clean the filters often

Pretty great advice, thank you!

Use white vinegar as your rinsing agent leaves everything spotless including your dishwasher, leaves it looking new every time and only costs 2 dollars a gallon...

Very interesting, informative, and helpful, thank you!

Whoa whoa whoa We’re rinsing milk tomato and egg yolk‽ these are exceptions to the DO NOT RINSE rule?

Hate the gel pods. They have to go in dry…but it’s so hard to keep the little drawer dry. And my hands are wet if working in the sink. Was using the tablets, but decided to try the powder to save money. Can’t tell the difference, it works great! I keep it in a plastic tub and scoop it out, no issues with getting wet. I have super hard well water and the only thing that helped (with any of the detergents) was to add *citric acid*. That’s what is in the Lemishine products.

Powder. Simply because you decide how much to use. Pods are usually 2 to 3 times too much soap, and liquid is more expensive. Read your manual too. Most dishwashers I looked into before buying mine actually have a rinse step. And not putthing soap there may cause issues. Dishwashers are something that it's easy to misuse.

I live in an area where we get the white crust in toilets and dripping sinks. You cant leave a glass somewhere where it will evaporate. We used cascade and it left the dishes looking pretty bad, and we would clean them with clr once in a while. During covid and the stores running out of everything I ended up having to buy a large container of the finish toss in blocks with the rinse aid red dot at a very high price. I have to admit I now only buy that brand I am so impressed with how everything comes out without white crust or spots. If you dont have hard water dont spend more.

2:00 or you can just put powder detergent on the bottom of the dishwasher for prewash

Before watching this video, i will make a guess. Powder. I bet it's more cost effective and works as good as the other options.

Disagree with not pre-washing by hand. For certain foods like starchy rice or eggs, a normal cycle doesn't always clean the dish (IME).

Bought my house 3 years ago. One of the first things I did was install a new dishwasher. The new came with Finish pods. Used em,were very meh. Then I switched to cascade platinum and will never use anything else. It will clean anything

I was bored and stumble on this video. I'm glad I watch it, very good information sir!!

Powder is the no brainer. It's cheaper by a great margin and you can manage easily how much you want to use for the prewash and main wash.

I like powder, genuinely couldn’t tell you why. But I do and i’m in my 30’s, so now I can have a harsh opinion on a home care thing without reasoning for it.

Great discussion.

Great information. Thank you!

I've sworn off powders ever since I've had to beat out years of powder detergent buildup in drains, drain pumps and spray arms doing appliance repair. They also absolutely love to attack heating elements. I've never had issues using enzyme liquids for a while.

MIELE ULTRA TABS are all I use. AMAZING!!! worth every penny!

I use Aldi liquid dish soap. A six month supply costs $3.99. Dollar Tree has a powder soap, called ultra shine for a buck 25. lasts about a month. Does a great job.

Hmmm, I have tried all three and gel is the only thing that got all my dishes clean and dry. I thought it was a problem with the dishwasher so I agree to change soap, it can make a big difference if you're having problems.

Don't sleep on that great value detergent! Its amazing!

I like powder the most. however, in my country, I can only find Finish classic powder or classic powder from other brands. They have the weakest cleaning abities. Switching to all in 1 max gel or pods, they work noticeably better due to higher amount of cleaning agents, but still not 100% clean

I don’t pre-wash but I do rinse off extra food on plates.

i never knew I needed this video.

Using a Siemens StudioLine dishwasher, nothing but pods for many years, mix of 1hr program and regular 2:30hr program, never clean anything before I put it in ( Just take the food bites off) Everything comes out 110% clean, shiny, no spots, never any bad odors in machine and all filters are clean. I use some fancy Finish Ultimate pods, that are a mix of powder, blue or yellow gel and small red gel

Thanks for the informative video. I guess I'm was not also educated on dishwasher detergent but also made aware that I'm at that age now... damn Also I didn't know that water was getting that much expensive in the US that it would be worth even to discuss it. It's pretty cheap in Germany. One thing though. I've never seen a dishwasher without an dispenser in my lifetime (born in 1986) and I was purchasing them for one of the big 5 online shops for 2-3 years. We bought from everywhere in the EU (i.e. Poland, Luxemburg, Austria....etc.).

That video was awesome!!

Using liquid gell, has no bleach. My dishwasher is definitely 30 years old, trouble free! Never missed a beat.. 👍🇦🇺

never in my life have i used rinse aids nor prewash. I have also always quickly just ran my plate/bowl under some running water to get rid of the worst parts, no scrubbing or soap, just a quick rinse. Never have i had problems with the dishes coming out dirty, wet or any problems with glass ruined or water droplets leaving marks, nor would i care, it's just water. But i also dont live with "hard" water.

We have hard water (well) and after using packs for many years I switched to cascade gel about 5 months ago and I much prefer how it cleans.

So i half agree with this guy. He has given a lot of good info. However, if you need gel in the pre rinse, liquid detergent would be best for that. So if you use 2 pods and the 1st one during the rinse cycle doesn't dissolve properly, then you aren't getting the full effect of the rinse cycle. You do need the rinse cycle as most dishwashers have the pre rinse slot. I have never seen one without it. Powder might be a good option, too, but also seems to be lacking in the pre rinse slot. I can't wait to test this out! A lot of people do not know about the rinse cycle. It actually uses different water than the main cycle. Otherwise its all a scam, and you should just wash them by hand. It's faster and uses less electricity. I get free hot water in my apt, but if im using the dishwasher, im paying for that electricity now, just to have to wash them by hand anyway.

They keep telling us to not pre-rinse the pots - but I only run the dishwasher every two days. So by the second day the food on the first days pots has dried on solid.

I have a 14 year old washer that runs amazingly, due to each of these factors : 1) walmart powder or whatever is cheapest plus a bit spilled for prewash, 2) softened water, 3) hot cycle, 4) rinse aid, and 5) clean the filter sometimes. When we got the house, the same washer was stinky and ineffective due to having none of those factors in play. The only thing I do is stop it at the end of rinse cycle and before dry cycle to pull out plastics for air drying, and dump out any pooled water on dishes. Everything else stays in and comes out 100% clean and dry, no smells.

A couple things as well - Gels excel in quick wash cycles. They don’t need time to dissolve unlike powders. Also, rinse aids don’t get rinsed off from your dishes which is why the machine dispenses it during the last rinse cycle. That’s why when you bring a drinking glass to your mouth, you smell the fragrance of the detergent, and your essentially eating and drinking off your dishes and glasses that has a chemical residue on them. Really not good for your health!

I've found as long as my dishwasher sprayers and filter clean, the type of detergent doesn't really matter.

That’s nuts I have tried them all and so far loving the gel in AZ water works great for me 😮

Every other video I've watched about this say the pods are the worst.

My experience is the exact opposite of yours. Pods/packs are the worst by a country mile or 10 for several reasons: 1. Way too much detergent - always leaves residue on dishes 2. No pre-wash separation means my dishes aren't as clean as with gel or powder (Tried both) 3. More expensive

Just get the cheapest powder detergent. All the detergents are basicly the same. Pods are the same as the powder, but sold with higher price and packaked seperately.

We are on a well, so we have very hard water. The second your dishwasher ends, drape a long towel in the door, this will catch the hard water steam from settling.

Go with a powder every time. That way you can dose the load as necessary. Always use a rinse aid.

Very helpful ❤

THANK YOU.

Only Powder and gels allow you to add detergent during the first rince part of the wash cycle. That's what the indent or second receptacle is for. Tablets and packs do not. So they have to compensate.

Can you clarify that aside about dishwashers not using pre-wash cycles? Seems like most folks in the comments share my impression that the pods’ weakness is not supplying any detergent for that cycle. If there’s an actually good reason for the industry to switch to pods other than profit motive, would be good to know.

I don’t have a pre-wash dishwasher. Just main load. I’m going to try powder soon to see the quality.

Correction: 1st place is to use a combo of generic powder/gel in the first place. There is no need to be it "pre-packaged" for 10x as much.

Thank you so much for a very informative video. May I ask a question. It's just my husband and I, and we don't get to "fill up" our dishwasher every day. We use it every 2 to 3 day. What about the plates, etc getting cleaned properly as My husband firmly believe in rinsing the dishes before putting them into the dishwasher. The particles drying on the dishes? Please share your advice. Thank you in advance

My dog pre-washes my dishes. I don't have the heart to take that job from her ;).

So I usually use cascade packs in the main wash but there is a pre wash divot and I usually use cascade liquid gel in that area. What do you think about that? You said liquids are the worst but when they say prewash (it’s a fairly new washer too) does that mean adding a liquid? Other things like powder and packs won’t stick to that spot anyway. Thanks!

Phosphates: "we need to use different items for hard water", which will also need to be removed in favor of something else which will later need to be removed.

I'm gonna try pods again. I got a few trial pods when I got my dishwasher, they worked great. Got powder after seeing some youtuber recommend it, well turns out my water is too hard for that. I might try a different rinse aid too

Excellent video I learned a lot from this . Thank you On a side note, what is your opinion and or have you done a video on, washing hats in the dishwasher?

many thanks

not a fan of the pods, the powder sometimes I have difficult getting my Bosch to dissolve, liquid "complete" versions have been pretty solid overall.

Packs can’t be released in the pre wash cycle. So you reduce your washing effectiveness. And Maytag definitely runs the pre wash longer than a few seconds. My in-laws LG also has a few minutes of a pre wash cycle

Team LIQUID!!! 🌊🌊

Filling half the dispenser with powder as well as the prewash . Less = more with powder but YOU control the dose. Pods you get absolutely NO detergent during the prewash cycle, so its already got a large disadvantage. Powders work better and are significantly cheaper if used correctly