The dishwasher tablet you use will also depend on the results you want from your wash, the type of water in your area, and the types of stains you need it to clean. Eco-friendly dishwasher tablets often substitute bleach and other chemical ingredients for more natural cleaning agents, such as sodium citrate and sodium percarbonate. Are more expensive dishwasher tablets worth it? I’ve just [bought] Astonish Dishwasher Tablets. They’re really good!” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Gilead) Our verdict As recommended by global manufacturers, such as Whirlpool, Indesit and AEG, these tablets come with integrated rinse aid and salt, and have a built-in pre-wash system so you don’t have to waste time – or water - rinsing your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. Once you’ve closed the dishwasher door, the dispenser will open and start depositing the detergent into the hot water that’s filling in the bottom of your machine. The hot water dissolves and releases the ingredients within the tablet and these are then pumped around the dishwasher. What are dishwasher tablets made from?

While you might struggle to fit the tablet in your dishwasher dispenser, the Fairy team say you can pop the tablet in the cutlery basket instead.The lemon-scented all-in-one capsules come with integrated salt and rinse aid, promising to remove tough stains and leave your dishes and glassware sparkling and streak-free. (And on the subject of sparkling, don't miss our guide to the best glass cleaners) This was repeated on an economy cycle and on an intensive cycle, adding more difficult to clean items like pasta-stained Pyrex dishes to our standard stained load. Each of these tests was also carried out in a second dishwasher to ensure consistency.

No one else tests like Which? – our independent lab tests recreate the tough dried-on food and drink you put in your dishwasher. Which performed the best? You might be surprised – some of the best-performing dishwasher tablets are also among the cheapest. Dishwashers also need rinse aid to assist with drying and to leave your dishes shiny and with fewer spots, and salt for softening the water and protecting the machine from limescale. You can buy dishwasher tablets that come with rinse aid and salt included. But in hard water areas where you can get a build-up of limescale, you may need to top them up separately to get the best out of your machine. Not sure what you need or where to put the salt? Which? has more information on how to use salt and rinse aid. PriceWhile they don’t contain intentionally added preservatives and are fragrance-free, the tablets promise to deliver the same cleaning performance as Finish All In 1 Max Dishwasher Tablets while being kinder to the environment – and to your nose. We've tested big dishwasher tablet brands including Fairy and Smol, as well as supermarket own brands from the likes of Aldi, Tesco and Sainsbury's. I use Fairy Platinum Plus [tablets] which do the job.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user username4214) Our verdict The UltraTabs come in a water-soluble casing, so there are no plastic wrappers to throw away, and they’re phosphate-free, making them better for the environment. With rinse aid, salt and glassware protection, your glassware, including champagne glasses, should come out sparkling every time.

From our testing, we found there’s little difference between branded and own-brand dishwasher tablets. In fact, three of our four highest-scoring dishwasher tablets are from supermarkets, showing swapping to own-brands is well worth it if you’re looking to save money in your weekly shop. The dishwasher tablets are easy to use and dissolve fast even in low temperature. They are also in-built with a silver and glass protection formula. Wilko. Wilko is a popular UK based online portal. They have stored a huge collection of high-efficiency Fairy Platinum products. Whether one is looking for washing up liquid or washing up tablets, everything is available here. Besides revealing our Best Buys, our results show how good each dishwasher tablet is at removing certain foods and drinks, keeping your glasses shiny, and preventing cloudiness and water marks from building up.

1. Best overall dishwasher tablets: Finish Quantum Ultimate Dishwasher Tablets

For crystal-clear glasses, Fairy Platinum All in One tablets come with integrated salt and rinse aid, as well as glass and silver protection. You’ll find a variety of Finish dishwashing products around, but the Quantum Ultimate Dishwasher Tablets have been designed to achieve impressive results. It’s also important to remember that dishwasher tablets that contain salt and rinse aid only help to soften the water, so you’ll still need to refill the salt in your machine once a month. How do I choose the best dishwasher tablets? Ingredients