Best Dishwasher Cleaners of 2026

"These tablets do work, but you'll need to use them every time you run the dishwasher. The heating element of my apartment's dishwasher was heavily coated with white buildup (possibly calcium?). After using several boxes of these tablets, it's now back to its original black color and dries the dishes effectively! I now use one tablet every few washes to prevent the buildup from recurring. I don't have hard water, so I was surprised at the extent of the buildup when I first moved in!"

"My dishwasher had a persistent, unpleasant odor. Despite running it multiple times with bleach or vinegar, the smell remained. A repairman who came for a different appliance recommended this product. I used two tablets as per the instructions - one at the bottom of the dishwasher and one in the dispenser. I'm pleased to report that the unpleasant smell is gone. I highly recommend this product for eliminating bad odors."

"This is the only product that makes my dishes look clean. They used to appear foggy and speckled with food particles even after washing, but after using two to three tablets in an empty dishwasher, the appearance of my dishes has significantly improved. The only drawback is that the effect fades if you don't continue to use the product every month or two."

"We have hard water in our area, which leads to white crusty buildup in the dishwasher and spots on glassware. In severe cases, you may find white or grey sandy grit on your clean dishes. This product provides a powerful combination of citric acid and surfactants to help remove the calcium buildup from your dishwasher. I use it monthly in a double dose because I let the problem persist for a long time, and our water is quite hard."

"If you haven't deep cleaned your dishwasher, you might be unknowingly exposing yourself to germs. This product will definitely make everything inside cleaner. The smell is a bit strong, which can be worrying as it resembles a harsh chemical, but it's supposedly safe. If you're unsure, you can do an additional rinse afterwards."

"I bought one of these out of curiosity. The inside of our dishwasher is stainless steel, and it looked okay but a bit dull. After using this product, we were genuinely surprised by the difference - the dishwasher looked brand new and sparkling. I wish I had taken before and after photos! It seems to be very effective at removing scale or any thin film of grime on the surfaces. We've set up a 3-month subscription to remind us when it's time to clean the dishwasher."

"I always rinse food off my dishes before putting them in the dishwasher to avoid unpleasant odors. These tablets are great because they don't have a strong, overpowering fragrance, in fact, they hardly have any scent at all. However, I live in an area with very hard water which results in lime deposits. These tablets made a significant difference, clearing up the walls and reducing the thicker deposits at the bottom after a few uses. I highly recommend these tablets, I wish I had found them earlier."

"I was struggling with a load of dishes that wasn't getting clean even after two washes. These tablets cleaned the dishwasher, allowing the detergent to effectively clean the dishes. The mild food odor is now gone and the supply should last me quite a while. There isn't much of a scent, but I prefer my dishes not to smell like perfume, so this product is perfect for me."

"I live in the countryside and needed a product that's safe for septic systems. I was pleasantly surprised by how well this product worked. It cleaned my dishwasher beautifully. I followed the instructions and cleaned out the trap before using the product. I didn't notice any scent, but that wasn't a concern for me. My main goal was to clean the dishwasher and restore its new sparkle look - and it did exactly that!"

"My dishwasher hadn't been cleaned since I bought my house two years ago. Following the instructions, I used two packets for my first cleaning. The results were impressive, my dishwasher is now about 90% clean and my dishes are noticeably cleaner. However, due to the heavy buildup and grime in my dishwasher, using the cleaner caused a backup in the line which affected my sink and disposal. The product works incredibly well, but if your dishwasher has a lot of buildup, be aware that clogs can occur once the grime is flushed out. If it's your first time cleaning your dishwasher in a long time, it might be wise to do a light cleaning first to avoid a clog. This product is excellent and I plan to use it monthly, just be cautious if you're using it for the first time on a very dirty dishwasher."

"I used two packs and my dishwasher looked squeaky clean afterwards! I ran a load with my black dishes and they came out extremely shiny. I couldn't believe it! Plus, it doesn't contain any harsh chemicals."

"I was doubtful about this product. My dishwasher was filthy and covered with a white film. I put a packet in and let it work. Halfway through, there was a terrible smell, which affected the smell rating. However, after opening the windows and letting it finish, I realized the odor was the product working on the calcium-coated dishwasher. I was amazed to see that there was no yellowish ring at the bottom and all the white deposits on the heating element were gone!"