Inexpensive dishwasher detergents get the job done
Imagine your toughest pile of dishes—maybe a few hours after a big holiday meal, plates covered in sticky cranberry sauce, pots coated in grease and stuck-on mashed potatoes. That's nothing compared to the torture test we create for dishwasher detergents. First there's the gnarly mix of peanut butter, egg yolk, and other sticky foods that we smear on dishware. Pans get a coating of baked-on mac and cheese. It ain't pretty, but it is effective at figuring out which detergents are truly up to the challenge. And our latest tests had a few surprises.
The best news of all is for Sam's Club members, who should definitely add Member's Mark Ultimate Clean Dishwasher Pacs to their regular shopping list. The store-brand product nearly knocked Cascade Complete Action Pacs off its top perch, delivering crystal clean results on dishes and pots alike. Member's Mark would have been our top-rated detergent, if not for the fact that it's not as good at preventing washed-off food from resettling on dishes and cookware.
The results are especially noteworthy when you compare the costs—10 cents per load for the Member's Mark versus 29 cents per load for the Cascade. If you run the dishwasher once a day or more, you could just about cover the $45 cost of an entry-level Sam's Club membership.
As for Costco, its Kirkland Signature Dishwasher Pacs missed our recommended list, but the detergent still performed very well overall, and it costs an even better 9 cents per load. While we're on the topic of price, it's worth noting that the most expensive detergent in our Ratings—the Mrs. Meyers Clean Day Auto Dish Pacs, 39 cents per load—had the lowest score among single-dose detergents.
Meanwhile, gel detergents continue to slip. Even the top-rated model in that category, the Palmolive eco+, only rivals middle-of-the-pack single-dose detergents. Gel detergents are still a lot cheaper, but that's why it's good for consumers that the inexpensive Member's Mark and Kirkland pacs are delivering excellent cleaning performance.
Remember that even the best dishwasher detergent can't make up for lousy loading habits. For example, items with baked-on food should go on the bottom rack, facedown towards the spray. Read our complete list of Dishwasher Dos and Don'ts for more advice. And if you're in the market for a new dishwasher, check our dishwasher Ratings for models that combine superb washing, efficiency, and ease of use.
—Daniel DiClerico (@dandiclerico on Twitter)
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