7 Best Dishwasher Detergents for Squeaky Clean Dishes

We updated this story in July 2022 to add photos of our testing in progress. We also added a new recommendation from Method based on recent testing in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab.

Dishwasher detergent should be making your life easier. It should power through all types of baked-on, dried-on foods on dinnerware, flatware and cookware while also preventing cloudy glasses. It should be safe for your dishwasher — whether it's a full-sized or a countertop dishwasher — and work with your water hardness. The right dishwasher detergent will mean you can spare yourself prewashing (or, worse, rewashing!) your dishes.

When testing dishwasher detergents in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, we fill the dishwashers to capacity with dishes, flatware, glasses, mugs, cookware and bakeware. We make sure our test loads are dirtier and more soiled than any of the loads you would ever put in your dishwasher at home. We coat dishes with our own proprietary greasy spinach mix, milk, egg and even lipstick. We bake on and dry on macaroni and cheese, baked beans and more. And we never pre-rinse! Evaluating the loads after this heavy-duty test enables us to differentiate between superior and so-so brands so that the best performers really stand out.

Our top picks:

Read on for a glimpse at the dirty dishes we employ in our tests. We also share which form of dishwasher detergent is right for you and how to get the most out of whatever dishwasher detergent you choose.