CONSUMER REPORTS.ORG March 2005
Dish detergents: Enzymes rule
The secret to a successful dishwasher detergent isn’t a well-known name or cleaner packed into a gel
pac or rolled into a power ball. Rather, it’s enzymes that make the difference between an outstanding
detergent and one that’s as dull as dishwater.
In our tests, all the products judged very good or excellent overall contain enzymes. Most nonenzyme
detergents were merely fair. But you won’t see the word enzymes trumpeted on the packages. If it’s
there at all, it will be listed with the ingredients or mentioned in the cautions.
Our tests also show that:
Gels aren’t very effective. Enzymes usually aren’t compatible with gel formulations, hence their
generally poor showing in our tests.
A familiar brand name isn’t always a top performer. Electrasol and other big brands appear through
the list.
Store brands can also be standouts. The Trader Joe’s and Kirkland (Costco) store brands are
excellent, and one of our two CR Best Buys comes from Wal-Mart. Those products contain enzymes.
“Green” products can get dishes clean. Most dishwasher detergents contain phosphates, which
enhance cleaning ability. Phosphates also have a reputation for being environmentally harmful because
they promote the growth of algae. But the enzyme-containing powders from Trader Joe’s (2), Seventh
Generation (9), and Ecover (11) are phosphate-free.
March 2005
Ratings Dishwasher detergents
CR Quick Recommendations
See a summary of test findings and Quick Picks--the choices that merit first consideration, including
any CR Best Buys.
Quick Picks
Best all-round combination of price and performance, both CR Best Buys:
7 Great Value powder (Wal-Mart)
8 Electrasol tablets
Like most other enzyme detergents, these two were excellent at cleaning and at preventing dirt
from settling back on dishes. The Great Value (7) is also an excellent choice whether you have
hard water or soft because it minimized hard-water spots and prevented glasses washed in soft
water from eventually looking filmy. The Electrasol (8) also minimized soft-water filminess but
left more hard-water spots than others.
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DISHWASHER DETERGENTS
Availability: Most products at stores through May 2005.
Key numbers with a indicate Quick Picks.
Click for more information.
Excellent
Within types, in performance order.
Product
Type
Cost
per load
ENYZME DETERGENTS The more effective type.
1 Cascade 2 in 1 Action Pacs
packet
20¢
2 Trader Joe’s
3 Cascade Complete
4 Cascade Pure Rinse Formula
5 Electrasol 2 in 1 Tabs With
PowerBall
6 Kirkland Signature # 49453
(Costco) CR Best Buy
7 Great Value (Wal-Mart)
CR Best Buy
8 Electrasol Dual Action Tabs
CR Best Buy
9 Seventh Generation
10 Kroger
11 Ecover Natural
12 Cascade Complete
powder
19
powder
27
powder
19
tablet
22
powder
9
powder
9
tablet
13
powder
25
powder
14
powder
37
gel
35
NONENZYME DETERGENTS Much less effective.
13 Cascade Pure Rinse Formula
gel
24
14 Sun Light 2 in 1 Dual Action
Formula
15 Electrasol
16 Kroger
17 Great Value (Wal-Mart)
18 Palmolive
19 Electrasol
20 Kirkland Signature # 29248
(Costco)
powder
13
powder
16
gel
15
gel
13
gel
25
gel
19
gel
12
Very
Good Fair Poor
good
Overall score Test results
Treating
glassware
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