Cleaning & Laundry

Dishwasher detergent

Dishwasher detergents that tackle food and grease, with fragrance-free options and no unnecessary dyes.

Enzymes help break down food, while other ingredients support cleaning in hard water or tackle stains.  We assess the complete formula and favor fragrance-free options.  Dissolvable film is disclosed on packs; machine care, water conditions and correct dosing still affect the wash and rinse.

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Finish Free & Clear Dishwasher Pods Finish Free & Clear Dishwasher Pods Why we recommend it: These fragrance-free pods combine enzymes for food residue with oxygen bleach for stains, without intentionally added dyes.  They're a convenient option if you want to avoid a scented dishwasher detergent.  Each pod has a dissolvable PVA plastic wrapper; leave it intact and handle with dry hands.  Keep the pack closed and out of children's reach. Materials: sodium carbonate · oxygen bleach · cleaning enzymes · PVA film $24.99★ 4.8 · 65 ratings View on Amazon
Clean People Unscented Dishwasher Powder — 30 oz Clean People Unscented Dishwasher Powder — 30 oz USA PRODUCTION Why we recommend it: Prefer a scoop to a premeasured pod? This powder combines washing soda, oxygen bleach and enzymes to tackle food residue, and its manufacturer describes the selected formula as fragrance-free.  Follow the recommended dose; some owners report film on glassware, although most recent reviewers found it cleaned well. Materials: washing soda · oxygen bleach · enzymes $18.99★ 4.5 · 200+ ratings View on Amazon
Eco-Max Fragrance-Free Dishwasher Pacs (20 Count) Eco-Max Fragrance-Free Dishwasher Pacs (20 Count) Why we recommend it: Citrate helps soften wash water so the detergent can work on food instead of hard-water minerals.  Eco-Max combines it with oxygen bleach and enzymes in a fragrance-free formula made in Canada.  Each dose comes in dissolvable PVA film, which is plastic.  This 20-count offer currently adds $19.99 shipping to the price shown. Materials: sodium citrate · washing soda · oxygen bleach · enzymes · PVA film $9.97★ 4.5 · 700+ ratings View on Amazon
Method Free + Clear Dishwasher Packs (108 Count) Method Free + Clear Dishwasher Packs (108 Count) Why we recommend it: A blend of water softeners helps these unscented packs clean in hard water, while enzymes loosen food and oxygen bleach lifts stains.  Method publishes the formula and identifies this version as made without added perfume or dyes.  The packs are made in Canada and wrapped in dissolvable PVA plastic; this offer contains two 54-count tubs. Materials: washing soda · oxygen bleach · water softeners · enzymes · PVA film $34.00★ 4.5 · 200+ ratings View on Amazon
If You Care Automatic Dishwasher Tablets, Unscented (40 Count) If You Care Automatic Dishwasher Tablets, Unscented (40 Count) Why we recommend it: Enzymes help remove protein and starchy food residue, while oxygen bleach tackles stains.  These unscented tablets are made in Italy and use citrate to help with hard water.  They contain synthetic cleaning polymers and a dissolvable PVA wrapper, so they are not plastic-free.  Leave the wrapper on when loading the dishwasher. Materials: washing soda · oxygen bleach · sodium citrate · enzymes · PVA film $9.69★ 4.2 · 3,000+ ratings View on Amazon
Dropps Unscented Dishwasher Pods, 64 Count Dropps Unscented Dishwasher Pods, 64 Count USA PRODUCTION Why we recommend it: The unscented formula combines oxygen bleach with enzymes that break down protein and starch residues, without adding a perfume to the wash.  These US-made pods contain both a polymer anti-scaling agent and dissolvable PVA film, so they are not plastic-free.  Raw-material countries are not itemized.  Handle with dry hands and keep the concentrated detergent out of children's reach. Materials: oxygen bleach · enzymes · polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film $27.28 View product
The Unscented Company Dishwasher Tabs, 30 Count The Unscented Company Dishwasher Tabs, 30 Count Why we recommend it: A measured, fragrance-free tablet that pairs citrate for hard-water minerals with enzymes for food residues and oxygen bleach for stains.  Made in France from globally sourced ingredients, it comes in a cardboard box.  The formula includes a polyacrylic-acid dispersant, and each tablet has a dissolvable PVA wrapper; leave that wrapper on for the wash and keep unused tabs dry. Materials: oxygen bleach · enzymes · polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film $11.99 View product

What we avoid

These are category-level exclusions when materials or treatments are disclosed.  Each product card explains why we recommend it and lists the disclosed materials.

Chlorine & ammonia Synthetic fragrance Optical brighteners Quats