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. 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. 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 using reliable dishwasher tablets, there are a few steps that you can take to improve the cleanliness of your dishes if they aren’t emerging as dirt-free as you’d like.If you want minimal faff then an all-in-one dishwasher tablet is the way to go - and Fairy’s Platinum Plus Dishwasher Tablets have everything you could need. 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. 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. However, some cleaning experts say this tip could do more damage than good to your machine, which is why we’d suggest a specially designed washing machine cleaner for the job instead. What are the best dishwasher tablets to buy? No matter what dishwasher tablets you use, if your machine is dirty you’ll never get the best results. Some dishwasher cleaners require you to put the dishwasher on empty, which can be frustrating when you have piles of dirty plates waiting to go in. However, Finish has developed the In-Wash tablets so that you can clean your dishes at the same time.

The Miele Ultra Dishwasher Tablets have been designed with Miele dishwashers in mind, but can be used in any dishwasher make or model. They are pricey but promise to deliver shining results, even on the toughest of stains. 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. 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.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. 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. 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 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? Finally, ensuring dishwasher salt is topped up will keep the machine cleaner. How we test dishwasher tablets

The tip, which was posted on the Mums Who Clean Facebook group, recommends that you pop four dishwasher tablets into the drum on a hot wash. The water turns brown as it cleans out the inside of the washing machine and, when it drains, the drum is left gleaming. I use Fairy Platinum Plus [tablets] which do the job.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user username4214) Our verdict 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) 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. 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.

Why you should trust us

For crystal-clear glasses, Fairy Platinum All in One tablets come with integrated salt and rinse aid, as well as glass and silver protection. 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.

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? 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. Astonish makes a range of budget-friendly cleaning products, and their dishwasher tablets are excellent value.

How we chose our recommendations

I’ve just [bought] Astonish Dishwasher Tablets. They’re really good!” (Recommended by Mumsnet user Gilead) Our verdict 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).