As long as your dishwasher tablet works well with your appliance then it doesn’t really matter which brand you choose. However, some brands might work better with your dishwasher than others. The lemon-and-lime-scented tablets come in boxes made from 100% recycled cardboard and they are also cruelty-free while promising to be tough on grease and dried-on food.

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) I use Fairy Platinum Plus [tablets] which do the job.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user username4214) Our verdict ALDI Magnum Dishwasher Tablets keep cropping up on the Mumsnet forums, with many Mumsnetters saying how effective these tablets were. And at 11p a tablet, they’re budget-friendly to boot. 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. Price

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

When placed in dishwashers that aren’t Miele, some reviewers have found that a whole tablet creates too much soap, which then stays on the dishes. We recommend putting in half a tablet to begin with. The only downside is that the capsules are quite large, so might not fit in every dishwasher. However, some reviewers found that they could fold the capsule and fit it in the dispenser without any problems. If you’re not a fan of strong-smelling cleaning products, suffer from allergies or just want to avoid the odour that can be left behind on dishes or glasses, then Finish 0% Dishwasher Tablets could be your solution. While other tablets can leave a cloudy residue behind, reviewers have found these powder and liquid capsules keep glasses shiny, even after multiple washes. They also promise to prevent the build-up of grease in your dishwasher and clean your filter, while leaving your machine smelling lemony fresh (although the lemon scent might linger on your dishes and leave an unpleasant aftertaste).

Astonish makes a range of budget-friendly cleaning products, and their dishwasher tablets are excellent value. I’ve just [bought] Astonish Dishwasher Tablets. They’re really good!” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Gilead) Our verdict

If you’re trying to make your home more environmentally-friendly, Ecover’s Classic Dishwasher Tablets are made with renewable plant-based and mineral ingredients. Many dishwasher manufacturers recommend a specific brand or tablet to use, and these often help to achieve the cleanest results. But it might be beneficial to try different brands and tablets to see which one works best for you and your family.

With built-in rinse aid and salt, you don’t have to mess around adding other elements to your dishwasher, and the tablets can even work at lower temperatures. They also come in a 100% biodegradable wrapper. 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. 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.Both their washing up liquids and tablets are the expertise in cleaning up the tough to toughest foods left behind. The build-up dullness lifts away by their premium cleaning products and also restores the original shine again. 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. As well as being really good value, they also work just as well as other more expensive brands, leaving dishes clean and glasses streak-free and gleaming, even on a short cycle. These triple-chamber tablets not only save you time on rinsing and cleaning but also help care for your dishwasher with built-in detergent, salt and anti-corrosive ingredients. They’re suitable for those wanting to be more eco-friendly as the wrappers are 100% biodegradable and the tablets also work at lower temperatures. How we chose our recommendations