Consumer advocacy group Choice has released the results of a comprehensive test involving 34 dishwasher detergents, revealing a clear shift in cleaning performance. The data shows that tablets are significantly more effective than traditional powders, with the top three scoring products all being tabs.
Finish Powerball tabs lead the test
Finish Powerball Ultimate 0% Tabs took first place in the ranking, achieving a score of 77%. Two other products tied for second place with a score of 76%: Finish Powerball Ultimate Plus Tabs and Earth Choice All-in-1 Dish Tablets.
While the Finish products dominated the top spots, they came with a steep price tag. The second-placing Finish Powerball Ultimate Plus was the most expensive detergent tested, costing $1.26 per wash. In contrast, the Earth Choice All-in-1 Dish Tablets offered similar cleaning results at a fraction of the cost, priced at just $0.42 per wash.
Chris Barnes, a senior project officer at Choice, noted that the older format of detergent is losing its appeal. “The old dishwasher powder is just not impressing any more,” Barnes said.
Cheapest powder scores lowest
The test also highlighted a direct correlation between price and performance for powder detergents. The cheapest product in the test, Housebrite Brite Dishwasher Powder, cost only $0.08 per wash but received the lowest score of 40%.
Another powder, Earth Choice Dishwasher Powder Lemon Fresh, scored 47% and cost $0.21 per wash. Barnes pointed out that price remains the primary advantage of powders, but the cleaning capability has fallen behind.
Earth Choice acknowledged the performance gap. A company spokesperson stated that the brand currently uses local external manufacturers for its powders because its own factory only produces liquid products. The company plans to begin manufacturing the product itself within the next 12 months and will reformulate it.
“We are extremely pleased with the result on our Earth Choice Dishwash Tablets given the cost per wash is significantly lower than other products with similar results,” the spokesperson said.
Why tablets work better
To determine the effectiveness of each detergent, Choice loaded a dishwasher with tiles soiled with egg yolk, rice starch, red wine, and coffee. The group then used a light reflectance test to measure how clean the tiles were after the wash cycle.
Barnes explained that tablets are more effective because they contain a wider range of ingredients, including rinse aids. Powders are described as more simplistic in their formulation. Additionally, tablets provide a more controlled dosage for each wash.
The test results also offer advice on how to load a dishwasher. Barnes warned against rinsing dishes too thoroughly before placing them inside. Modern dishwashers use sensors to check the level of soil on the dishes to determine the intensity of the wash cycle.
If plates are pre-rinsed, the machine may interpret the load as lightly soiled and reduce its cleaning effort. “I think a lot of people are still saying, ‘oh, I better rinse the plates before I put them in there’. But really, what have you paid the dishwasher for … let it do its job,” Barnes said.
Source: The Guardian
