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11 best dishwasher tablets, tried and tested by the GHI
Our experts put branded and supermarket dishwasher tablets to the test
Tested by Blossom BoothroydHomes Testing Manager
A household staple, the best dishwasher tablets should do all the heavy lifting when it comes to cleaning your crockery and glassware.
But they don't always deliver on their claims. So, if you’ve invested in the best dishwasher and you’re finding there’s still residue left on your dishes, it probably means it’s time to swap brands. To find the top dishwasher tablets to leave your plates sparkling (no matter what’s on your dinner menu!), the Good Housekeeping Institute put 29 brands to the test.
After running over 174 full loads of stained crockery and glassware through our lab dishwashers, here are our best buys, but keep scrolling for our full reviews and tips on how to get the most out of your detergent below.
How we test dishwasher tablets
To find the dishwasher tablets with the best cleaning power, we washed 18,676 items of crockery and glassware – yes, really. Each was heavily stained with hard-to-remove foods including egg yolk, porridge, spinach and lipstick (yes, our testers kiss it on!). Essentially, we create a worst case scenario. We then ran the dishwasher on a standard cycle and judged the results.
This was repeated on an economy cycle and on an intensive cycle, adding more difficult to clean items like pasta-stained Pyrex dishes to create the worst-case scenario. Each of these tests was also carried out in both a high-end and mid-range dishwasher to ensure consistency, meaning each dishwasher tablet is tested and scored over a minimum of six full cycles.
Finally, each detergent was scored according to its performance, while we also considered eco credentials, like whether the packaging is recyclable. These are the ones we’ll be using from now on.
Pros
- Packaging is resealable and recyclable
- Pleasant scent
Cons
- Left glasses cloudy on standard washes
Score: 94/100
These tablets delivered an outstanding clean on test, scoring particularly well on our intensive and eco cycles – our Pyrex dish was spotless – only dropping a few marks for some wet spoons and some tiny specks of burnt-on pasta sauce.
Our glasses were left slightly cloudy on the standard cycle and one or two still had a tiny amount of tomato juice residue on the inside on close examination. This was a worst case scenario, though, and it was only on a few items out of the whole load – overall, these tablets produced the cleanest results of all tested and our plates sparkled after washing.
Key specifications
| Number in pack | 40 |
|---|---|
| Price per capsule | 11.9 pence |
Pros
- Performed equally well in high-end and mid-range dishwasher models
- Recyclable packaging
Cons
- Packaging feels a little flimsy
Score: 94/100
Another great supermarket buy, these tablets performed best on an eco-cycle, scoring perfect marks for spotless cutlery and sparkling plates across our high-end and mid-range dishwasher. In fact, their cleaning power impressed across the board.
Glasses and tumblers were left quite wet and our Pyrex dish was slightly cloudy, but those are minor niggles. All in all, these are a great budget option.
Key specifications
| Number in pack | 40 |
|---|---|
| Price per capsule | 12.5 pence |
Ecoleaf Dishwasher Tablets
Pros
- Accredited by The Vegan Society and Cruelty Free International
- Scored almost perfect marks on our normal cycle
Cons
- Left lipstick on wine glasses after an economy cycle
Score: 93/100
These tablets come in soluble wrappers and the packaging is recyclable, making them a good pick if you’re looking for a more environmentally-friendly option.
They performed well in our tests too, delivering strong results on all cycles and even removing burnt-on pasta stains with ease – one of the only tablets on test to do so. Burnt scrambled egg was more of a struggle on an intensive cycle, but our crockery was virtually spotless.
Key specifications
| Number in pack | 25 |
|---|---|
| Price per capsule | 22.7 pence |
Pros
- Dosing recommendations and tips provided for best results
- Packaging is resealable
Cons
- Packaging is only recyclable in-store
Score: 93/100
With their fresh lemon scent, these dishwasher tablets delivered some fantastic results across both our dishwasher models. They performed best on a normal cycle, delivering sparkling clean dishes, but lost marks for leaving wine glasses wet and with watermarks.
On an intensive cycle in our mid-range dishwasher, really burnt-on stains proved (understandably) tricky, and a few spoons were left with specks of porridge on after an eco-cycle. Stick to a standard wash though, and this shouldn't be an issue.
Key specifications
| Number in pack | 44 |
|---|---|
| Price per capsule | 10.2 pence |
Pros
- Cutlery came out completely clean on an eco-wash in our top-range dishwasher
- Packaging is recyclable and resealable
Cons
- Struggled with drying everything on intensive and eco cycles
Score: 92/100
Producing particularly good results on a regular cycle, these tablets are great for tackling everyday cleans with ease. While one tumbler came out dull and cloudy around the bottom, most were sparkling and dry.
Burnt-on food proved a challenge during an intensive cycle though, leaving us with pasta sauce stains on our Pyrex dish. That aside, these are a reliable pick for most cleaning tasks.
Key specifications
| Number in pack | 59 |
|---|---|
| Price per capsule | 22.8 pence |
Pros
- Dosage recommendations are provided
- Convenient subscription service
Cons
- Packaging didn’t always adequately protect the contents from damp
Score: 91/100
Smol’s dishwasher tablets are delivered straight to your door on a regular basis with its subscription service, which means you’ll never have to worry about running out again. The brand is also B Corp certified and uses cardboard and paper from FSC-approved plantations, so it’s one to consider if plastic-free, more sustainable packaging is a priority.
On test, they performed particularly well on a standard wash but struggled to deliver the same spotless results on an eco-cycle. Burnt-on pasta sauce also lingered but that’s always a challenging one.
Key specifications
| Number in pack | 9 free washes in trial (with £1 postage) then 30 tablets |
|---|---|
| Price per capsule | 21.6 pence |
Pros
- Good price
- Easily resealable
Cons
- Struggled with cleaning off dried foods like spinach
Score: 89/100
Considering the score combined with price per tablet, Morrisons is our best value buy. But the affordable price tag didn't mean a reduction in quality. They produced slightly cleaner results in a high-end dishwasher compared to a mid-range, but the difference was minor, with most stains lifting from cutlery and crockery in both. On an intensive cycle, cutlery came out sparkling but troublesome burnt-on foods like pasta sauce and egg lingered.
The packaging can’t currently be recycled but if you want to save without compromising on cleaning, these are a solid pick.
Key specifications
| Number in pack | 30 |
|---|---|
| Price per capsule | 10 pence |
Pros
- Available in large packs of 100 tablets
- Performed well against tough stains
Cons
- Tea stains lingered on our mugs
Score: 87/100
Available in supermarkets as well as a few online retailers, these dishwasher tablets can be added to your basket wherever you shop.
You can feel confident knowing they’ll deliver good results too, cleaning particularly well on an intensive cycle where they shifted jam, rice and egg. They came up short against burnt-on pasta sauce though, so this might require some hands-on scrubbing. We noticed a few lipstick marks left on wine glasses too.
Key specifications
| Number in pack | 42 |
|---|---|
| Price per capsule | 13.1 pence |
Pros
- Slim box, which is easy to store
- Tackled burnt-on stains on an intensive cycle quite well
Cons
- Despite being an all-in-one tablet, there’s only a small amount of rinse aid in the formula, so you may need a separate rinse aid for best results in hard water areas.
Score: 84/100
Neat tablets are another one to consider if you’re looking for a plant-based product. The company is also B Corp certified and offers a subscription model so you can get your detergent delivered direct to your door.
Both Pyrex dishes and saucepans were left looking impressively shiny in our tests and most items were fully dry after the cycle. Porridge and tomato chunks caused trouble on the eco cycle though, so it’s best to stick to a standard or intensive programme for tougher stains.
Key specifications
| Number in pack | 60 |
|---|---|
| Price per capsule | 25 pence |
Pros
- Information provided on water hardness, dosage and cleaning tips for best results
- Resealable packaging
Cons
- Not the most effective at leaving items dry
Score: 78/100
These tablets claim to offer Finish’s most intensive clean yet, thanks to the brand’s ‘CYCLESYNC’ technology, which claims to release the right ingredient to act at the perfect time during the cycle.
In testing, the tablets’ cleaning power proved effective when used in our high-end dishwasher models – an intensive cycle even handled burnt-on pasta sauce well. However, they didn’t perform as well in our mid-range dishwasher, leaving plates with porridge residue and dried spinach on.
Key specifications
| Number in pack | 73 |
|---|---|
| Price per capsule | 26.6 pence |
Pros
- Packaging includes tips on how to save water and energy
- Left most items dry across all tests
Cons
- Struggled with chunky residue
Score: 78/100
Aldi’s lemon-scented dishwasher tablets scored marks for leaving our cutlery sparkling clean. They performed best with lighter stains and everyday washing up, and when used on an eco-cycle. In a top-performing dishwasher, they left every plate clean, but in a mid-range model, some porridge remained and there were watermarks on our wine glasses.
Tougher stains and chunks of tomato proved troublesome too, even on an intensive programme, so it’s worth rinsing off plates and cutlery first.
Key specifications
| Number in pack | 37 |
|---|---|
| Price per capsule | 8.8 pence |
Do expensive dishwasher tablets make a difference?
From our testing, we found there’s little difference between branded and own-brand dishwasher tablets. In fact, our joint winners are both from supermarkets, showing swapping to own-brands is well worth it if you’re looking to save money in your weekly shop.
For the biggest saving, pick Aldi's All in One Dishwasher Tablets; these tablets cost just 8.8 pence each (the cheapest in our round-up).
Why aren't my dishes clean after using the dishwasher?
As well as using reliable dishwasher tablets, there are a few steps you can take to improve the cleanliness of your dishes if they aren’t emerging as dirt-free as you’d like.
Firstly, make sure you’re stacking your dishwasher correctly. For example, place extra-dirty items on the bottom rack, facing the centre of the dishwasher, as this is closer to the spray arm.
Flat items should be placed along the side or back; if they’re at the front, they can get in the way of the detergent dispenser. Newer dishwashers may allow you to adjust the positioning of the top rack to fit awkwardly sized items comfortably, too. For more tips, head to our household advice editor’s guide on the best way to load your dishwasher.
This may sound obvious but put the tablet in the dispenser rather than placing it in the machine. When detergents are placed in the machine, they may dissolve too quickly and lose some of their cleaning power.
Caring for your dishwasher will also boost the cleanliness of your dishes. Stop the filter clogging by scraping off food residue from your plates and bowls before you load it. We recommend cleaning the filter regularly too, ideally after every use, but once a week should suffice. Give your dishwasher a deep clean every two months and regularly check the spray arms for blockages. Finally, ensuring dishwasher salt is topped up will keep the machine cleaner.
Our verdict on dishwasher tablets
This test proves you should never underestimate the supermarkets and their own-brand buys. Our joint winners, ASDA's Ultimate All in 1 Citrus Dishwasher Tablets and Tesco's Ultra Dishwasher Capsules scored impressively across our tests, are a good price and can be easily added to your basket when doing the weekly shop.
If you want the dishwasher tablets that will give you the best value for money, opt for Morrisons' All in One Dishwasher Tablets, which scored well on a standard cycle and delivered a great clean overall.
Why you should trust the Good Housekeeping Institute
If there's one thing we know here at the Good Housekeeping Institute, it's cleaning. We've been hunting for the best tips, tricks and products for 100 years now, so we're confident we know what makes a great cleaner – and dishwasher tablets are no exception.
Our homes testing manager, Blossom Boothroyd, looks after the day-to-day testing of these products, making sure our crockery is consistently dirtied and the post-wash analysis accurate. Then our senior homes and lifestyle writer, Megan Geall, puts together our buying guides, ensuring they bring you all the information you need to know for a sparkling home.
Megan is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s senior homes and lifestyle writer. She loves diving into the latest product releases to find the very best buys on the market and has written hundreds of product reviews on everything from the best vacuum cleaners and coffee machines to the best ice cream makers and robot window cleaners.
When she’s not writing about the newest gadgets and gizmos for your home and garden, you’ll find her running every distance from 5km to 100km or relaxing at home with her cat – there really is no in between.
Megan has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously written for Stylist, Glamour, Women's Health, TimeOut, SquareMeal, and YOU magazine. You can find Megan on Instagram @meganlouisegeall.
Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.
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