Having a dishwasher is a luxury that quickly feels like an essential. When I met my husband, he had never had a dishwasher. The small kitchen in his bungalow didn’t have room for one, plus he had grown up hand-washing dishes, so it never seemed like a necessity. But within a month of us cohabitating at my apartment with a dishwasher, he was hooked. So when we renovated our house, we knew we wanted one. 

Just like everyone else with a dishwasher, we fall prey to some of the same pitfalls when it comes to the magical machine. The annoyance of opening a freshly washed load to find specks of food still stuck on silverware, or a film of grease on a plate. Undissolved detergent crusted in the dispenser. Clogged filters. Dishwashers seem fairly intuitive, but if we don’t focus on the optimal performance for our unit, the results can be disappointing. 

And one of the main ways to optimize your dishwasher’s superpowers? Focus on the detergent. Choosing the right one, the ideal format and the preferred amount can save you from the dreaded “rewash.” I chatted with Larry Ciufo, head of dishwasher testing at Consumer Reports, to get the inside scoop on leveling up dishwasher performance—and some of the answers were eye-opening. 

How Much Dishwasher Detergent Should You Use?

“The important thing is to go by the recommendation of your dishwasher manufacturer rather than the detergent manufacturers, so you don’t use too much,” Ciufo says. Not only should you note the amount recommended, but the manufacturer may also suggest a format of detergent—pods, liquid or powder, for instance. If you tossed your manual (or never had it in the first place), most manufacturers have them available online. 

If you use single-dose packs and pods, how much dishwasher detergent to use is easy to figure out. “As the name implies, it’s a single dose per wash,” he says. “For gel and powder detergents, you can follow the line in the dishwasher detergent reservoir that shows the recommended amount.” Some units have different fill lines depending on the fullness of the dishwasher, and following those is helpful as well. Up to the top line for very full or very dirty dishes. That lowest one if you are doing a light load. Be extra careful to really pay attention to those top fill lines in the reservoir. “Using too much detergent will not make your dishes cleaner and could actually leave detergent residue on your dishware,” Ciufo notes.

The Best Type of Dishwasher Detergent

When it comes to choosing the right detergent, things are a bit less clear. From the classic options of liquid and powder to tablets and pods, there are a lot of choices in the dishwashing aisle. We wanted to know what pros and cons there might be in each. 

“Liquid detergent is cheaper per load than pods, but our testing has shown that it simply lacks the cleaning power.” Ciufo says. While there isn’t an issue with dissolving, liquid detergent is just not as effective as others. He says powder detergent cleans better than most liquids, but he acknowledges that many consumers find it messy so it’s not as widely used. That being said, Ciufo suggests that using pods that are at least partially powder will likely give you the best results, depending on your machine. 

Why Your Dishwasher Detergent May Not Be Dissolving Properly

If undissolved powder or pods is a problem you’re facing in your dishwasher, Ciufo says there are some steps to take to mitigate. “Clean your dishwasher, especially the spray arm and filter. That is likely the cause of the undissolved detergent. If it’s a pod that hasn’t fully dissolved, and you’ve used a quick-wash or shorter cycle than normal, it may be that that cycle isn’t long enough to allow the pod to dissolve fully.”

The secret sauce at our house? We don’t put the pods in the dispenser, we just toss one in the bottom of the dishwasher before running. We never have an issue with an undissolved pod, and our dishes come out sparkly clean every time!

How to Get the Cleanest Dishes If You Have Hard Water

Water hardness is one of the main factors that will impact your dishwasher’s performance, Ciufo notes. “Hard water contains high levels of calcium and magnesium, which can leave spots on dishes and affect how well your dishwasher cleans,” he says. “The harder your water, the more detergent a load needs.” Some European brands, like Miele, have an option for water softening built right in, so if you have hard water and are in the market for a new dishwasher, it’s worth doing some research. 

Bottom Line

We all want to open our dishwashers and revel in the pleasure of delightfully clean dishes. And how much and what type of dishwasher detergent can make the difference. If you haven’t already, consult your dishwasher’s user manual to see if the manufacturer recommends how much dishwasher detergent to use and/or if they advise using liquid, powder or pods. And don’t forget to clean your dishwasher regularly so gunk doesn’t build up, preventing the machine from working as it should.