The 8 Best Dishwasher Pods for Sparkling Clean Dishes
If you buy dishwasher pods, chances are you’ve been getting the same ones over and over, just because you don’t want to waste money on a brand that may leave your glassware streaky. Or force you to rewash half your dishes afterward. They’re just expensive enough to make it hard to switch brands, because what do you do if, after three washes, you realize you hate those new pods and you’re stuck with 45 tablets lying around? It’s a problem we’ve had ourselves, which is why we culled the top-reviewed detergents on the market and tried several firsthand to bring you what we consider to be the best dishwasher pods you can buy right now.
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Our Picks at a Glance
Scroll on for in-depth reviews of each.
Best Overall: Cascade Platinum
Most Innovative: Dropps Dishwasher Detergent Pods
Best Scent: Method Dishwasher Detergent Packs
Best Fragrance-Free Option: Seventh Generation Fragrance-Free Dishwasher Detergent Pack
Best Streak-Free Finish: Finish Quantum Infinity Shine Dishwasher Tablets
Best Value: Up&Up Fresh Scent Advanced Dishwasher Detergent Packs
Most Powerful Plant-Based Pods: Grove Co. Pure Power Dishwasher Detergent Packs
Best Eco-Friendly Option: Cleancult Dishwasher Tablets
How We Determined the Best Dishwasher Pods
After researching some of the top brands on the market (big and small), we surveyed readers and tested several dishwasher pods, evaluating them based on their price, effectiveness in removing food and grime, scent and ability to deliver a streak-free finish.
The Best Dishwasher Pods of 2021
1. Cascade Platinum Plus
Best Overall
Thick frostings, dried-on cake batter and curry stains were no match for these ActionPacs. No matter what glommed-on mess we threw in the dishwasher, Cascade Platinum Pods cleaned them right up—no second rinses or post-run handwashing necessary. Plus, the 70-pack tubs can last you at least two months (some households, three) without needing to be replaced. Talk about convenient.
2. Dropps Dishwasher Detergent Pods
Most Innovative
If you’ve seen one dishwasher pod, you’ve seen ‘em all, right? Not quite. Like Cleancult, these pods has been deemed Climate Pledge Friendly, meaning that Amazon has certified that the brand does everything it can to minimize its carbon footprint in the shipping and packaging process. Beyond that, though, the mineral-based ingredients wash away even the most crusted-on leftovers, without leaving a filmy residue behind (a common complaint with natural products). The brand also partnered with ocean-protection organization Oceana to educate people on the dangers of plastic pollution and make it easier to find plastic-free alternatives in your daily life.
3. Method Dishwasher Detergent Packs
Best Scent
OK, OK, you don’t want the plates you eat on to smell like a field of roses, but when you open the dishwasher, it’s nice to smell something other than the hot, damp remnants of washed-away dinners past. Method’s lemon mint scent is bright and refreshing, without being overpowering. Better yet, these plant- and mineral-based pods are cruelty-free (meaning they’re not tested on animals) and works well with hard water.
4. Seventh Generation Fragrance-Free Dishwasher Detergent Pack
Best Fragrance-Free Option
Before you balk at the thought of spending $24 on dishwasher pods, note that you get 90 tablets, which amounts to a little over a quarter per load of dishes. Our editors appreciated how well the plant-based formula cut through grease and that it was totally fragrance-free. It’s also USDA certified to be 78 percent bio-based, with a clear breakdown on the back of the package listing each ingredient and what, exactly, it does.
5. Grove Co. Pure Power Dishwasher Detergent Packs
Most Powerful Plant-Based Pods
If you’re the type to let your dishes pile up for a day or two before loading the dishwasher, these are the pods for you. Grove Co. Pure Power Dishwasher Packs are 91 percent plant-based and bleach-free, using a combination of enzymes to remove bits of food from your plates, cups and bowls. We did notice it left water spots on some cutlery, prompting a quick polishing before they were stowed away.
6. Finish Quantum Infinity Shine Dishwasher Tablets
Best Streak-Free Finish
If a spot on your wine glass instantly turns you into Lady MacBeth, fear not: Finish Quantum Infinity Shine Dishwasher Tablets have got your back. Each pod features three chambers: one to break down bits of food, one to cut through grease and one to ensure your dishes clean evenly and without streaking. The end result is stemware that sparkles (with the occasional exception, but hey, no pod’s perfect).
7. Up&Up Fresh Scent Advanced Dishwasher Detergent Packs
Best Value
Dishwasher pods can get pricey, fast. If you don’t want to sacrifice the convenience of pods, check out Target’s in-house brand, Up&Up. At less than $5 for 23 tablets, it puts less of a strain on your wallet, and it does a decent job of removing grease and baked-on food. Sometimes, though, it leaves a bit of a residue on glasses, requiring a quick rinse and dry as you restock your cabinets.
8. Cleancult Dishwasher Tablets
Best Eco-Friendly Option
While many brands come packaged in plastic—baggies or plastic tubs—Cleancult’s dishwasher tablets arrive in a compact cardboard box that’s easy to break down and recycle. The tablets themselves may look like they’re wrapped in plastic, but that’s actually a water-soluble casing that dissolves easily and completely. The lemongrass scent is subtle, and while the tablets did a great job of cleaning away spaghetti sauce and brownie batter, it struggled with glommed-on grime. These tablets are best suited for people who thoroughly rinse their dishes before loading the dishwasher.
RELATED: 10 Things You Should Never Put in the Dishwasher
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