Which Dishwasher Cleaner Is Best?
When our dishwasher stops performing at its best, we often think it’s time for a new one.
Wine glasses are covered in watermarks, food remains inside bowls and there might even be a funny smell.
Although these are all signs of a dishwasher’s demise, it might not be the end of the road.
Giving your dishwasher a good clean with a great dishwasher cleaner can get it back to its optimum performance. Or, at least give it another year of life.
Luckily, dishwashing machine cleaners aren’t expensive, and they can save you the financial hit of replacing your appliance.
The best method of prolonging the life of a dishwasher is to keep it clean with regular maintenance washes once a month, instead of waiting for signs of limescale to appear.
In this post, you’ll find our top 5 best dishwasher cleaners with reviews for each product including their pros and cons.
Alongside our dishwasher cleaner reviews, you’ll also find the following sections:
- What are Dishwasher Cleaners?
- Is Dishwasher Cleaner Necessary?
- Homemade Dishwasher Cleaner
- How to use Dishwasher Cleaners
So if you’re interested in finding out all about how to keep your dishwasher and dishes as sparkly as possible, you’re in the right place.
If you’re in a rush, here are the top 5 best dishwasher cleaners mentioned in this article as well as their key benefits:
1. Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Twin Pack – ORIGINAL – Best Dishwasher Cleaner
2. Home Master Limescale Remover for Washing Machine & Dishwashers – Best Dishwasher Cleaner for Hard Water
3. Reisser Finish Dishwasher Cleaner – LEMON – Best Smelling Dishwasher Cleaner
4. Finish In-wash Dishwasher Cleaner – Best In-Wash Dishwasher Cleaner
5. Ecozone Washing Machine & Dishwasher Cleaner – Best Eco Dishwasher Cleaner
What Is the Best Dishwasher Cleaner UK?
1. Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Twin Pack – ORIGINAL – Best Dishwasher Cleaner
If you’re looking for a dishwasher cleaner makes cleaning your dishwasher easy and fuss-free, this Finish Original cleaner is an ideal choice.
A dirty dishwasher won’t give you the sparkle you’re looking for, and will continue to worsen over time.
| A powerful, easy to use dishwasher cleaner that keeps appliances running at their best. |
Even if you don’t see it, grease and limescale build up on the vital parts of your dishwasher. Which, in turn, can cause damage to the internal system.
Using this dishwasher product can keep the machine running at it’s best and prevent costly repairs or replacements.
Pros
Cons
We love that this dishwashing appliance cleaner has a powerful performance and is very easy to use and think it’s the perfect fit for a household looking for a no-fuss effective solution.
However, we wouldn’t recommend this product for those who are looking for a year-long supply of dishwasher cleaner, as each bottle is for one use.
For more product information including customer reviews and price details, click the button below.
2. Home Master Limescale Remover for Washing Machine & Dishwashers – Best Dishwasher Cleaner for Hard Water
The Home Master limescale remover and dishwasher descaler reduces stale odours, limescale and detergent build-up whilst cleaning and sanitising the internal parts of your appliance.
It works on washing machines and dishwashers to keep them working at their best.
| Versatile limescale removing product that works on dishwashers and washing machines to descale the internal parts of appliances and keeps them working at their best for longer. |
By preventing or removing the build-up of limescale prominent in hard water areas, this cleaner helps extend the life of your appliance. It also reduces energy consumption by decreasing how hard the appliance has to work.
Pros
Cons
We love that this dishwasher cleaner has excellent limescale removing properties and think it’s the perfect fit for people living in hard water areas.
However, we wouldn’t recommend this product to people in a soft water area as the limescale build-up isn’t so much of a concern.
For more product information including customer reviews and price details, click the button below.
3. Finish Dishwasher Cleaner – LEMON – Best Smelling Dishwasher Cleaner
If your main priority for dishwasher cleaners is opening the dishwasher to a lovely smell, then we recommend this Lemon Scented product by Finish.
The lemon dishwasher product works in the same way as our number one recommendation (The Finish Original), with a stronger fragrance.
| A strong, lemon-scented dishwasher cleaner that is easy to use and powerful at cleaning. |
However, if you are interested in this product we recommend buying in bulk to save money: Finish Dishwasher Cleaner LEMON – Pack of 8.
Using this dishwashing cleaner can keep the machine running at it’s best and prevent costly repairs or replacements.
Pros
Cons
We love that this dishwasher cleaner has a very strong smell and think it’s the perfect fit for people who hate being hit in the face by that old food smell every time the dishwasher is opened.
However, we wouldn’t recommend this product to people with a big limescale problem as the priority is more for getting dishes smelling nice rather than improving the internal conditon of the appliance.
For more product information including customer reviews and price details, click the button below.
4. Finish In-Wash Dishwasher Cleaner – Best In-Wash Dishwasher Cleaner
In-wash dishwasher cleaners are a great way to maintain the health of the appliance without any extra effort.
Instead of running an empty cycle with a dishwasher cleaning product, these tablets go straight in with the dishes.
| Chuck one of these tablets in with your dishes once a month to clean and maintain the internal components of the dishwasher with no extra effort or time required. |
And since this is a yearly pack with one tablet per month, it works out at excellent value.
The Finish In-wash Dishwasher Cleaner cleans hidden grease & grime in hidden parts, filter and spray arms of your dishwasher.
Pros
Cons
We love that this dishwashing cleaner requires hardly any effort and can be chucked in with the dishes.
However, we wouldn’t recommend this product to people looking to do a deep clean of their dishwasher as the liquid cleaners are probably a bit stronger.
These in-wash tablets are perfect for a monthly maintenance solution.
For more product information including customer reviews and price details, click the button below.
5. Ecozone Washing Machine & Dishwasher Cleaner – Best Eco Dishwasher Cleaner
These Ecozone cleaning tablets are specially formulated to clean and freshen by getting rid of stubborn limescale from inside the appliance.
They have a lovely fresh lemon scent and are vegan & cruelty-free international approved.
Simply use one Washing Machine & Dishwasher Descaler tablet every month to keep your appliances in tip-top shape.
This is a pack of 24 which means it’ll last for up to 2 years if used once each month.
| An effective dishwasher cleaner with a nice fragrance that uses natural ingredients and is cruelty-free. |
The eco-friendly formula will leave your appliance free of any nasty odours and clean the internal components to keep your dishwasher working for longer.
Pros
Cons
We love that this dishwasher cleaning product is eco-friendly. We also think it’s the perfect fit for households looking to maintain their dishwasher and improve the internal parts without opting for powerful chemicals.
However, we wouldn’t recommend this product if your dishwasher requires a powerful descaler as the natural ingredients may not cut through the limescale.
For more product information including customer reviews and price details, click the button below.
What are Dishwasher Cleaners?
Dishwasher cleaning products tackles grease and limescale which has built-up over time in the visible and hidden parts of the dishwasher.
It comes in liquid, tablet or powder form, and is generally used once a month as part of a maintenance wash.
You can also find in-wash dishwasher cleaners designed to be used in an ordinary dishwasher cycle, such as the Finish In-Wash Dishwasher Cleaner.
Is Dishwasher Cleaner Necessary?
Dishwasher cleaners prolong the life of a dishwasher by cleaning limescale and grease from the inner components, including the hidden pipes and parts.
Regularly cleaning a dishwasher with a purpose-designed cleaning product has short term and long term benefits.
In the short term, dishes will be cleaned better with fewer watermarks and food deposits left on glasses after washing.
The long term benefits of a dishwasher cleaning product are a lower likelihood of parts needing replacing and internal issues arising over time.
Using a dishwasher cleaner monthly or bi-monthly can prolong the life of a dishwasher by months or even years, reducing the number of times you’ll need to fork out for a replacement.
Homemade Dishwasher Cleaner
If you don’t like the idea of using chemicals in your dishwasher or want to save some money, consider making a homemade dishwasher cleaner.
White Vinegar:
To use white vinegar as a dishwasher cleaner, simply fill a container with 2 cups or 450-500ml of white vinegar, place on the top shelf and run your dishwasher on a hot cycle.
The vinegar and hot water will cut through grease and the acid in the vinegar could help to break down limescale. Although this works better as a preventative solution to limescale rather than a way of removing it.
If you’re a fan of cleaning with white vinegar, take a look at our tips on How To Clean A Washing Machine With White Vinegar.
Baking Soda:
If you’re looking to remove bad smells in your dishwasher then baking soda may just do the trick.
Bicarbonate of soda neutralises odours, so sprinkling a layer on the bottom of an empty dishwasher before running a hot cycle could get rid of that musty stench.
For more bicarbonate of soda and vinegar cleaning tips, you might like our Clean and Tidy Living Article How To Use Bicarbonate Of Soda For Cleaning.
How to use Dishwasher Cleaners
Since three of our products listed above are from Finish, the following instructions are for using the Finish Dishwasher Cleaner from their website.
- Ensure that your machine is empty, and do not use any other soap or detergent.
- Place the bottle upside down while keeping the lid on the bottle (but, instead, remove the sticker).
- Close the door and set the machine to a high/intense heat setting, and then begin the cycle.
- Once the cycle is finished, remove the bottle, recycle it, and use your dishwasher safe in the knowledge that it can work at optimum efficiency.
- Repeat around once a month after regular use.
Instructions will vary depending on the type of product, but generally using a dishwasher product is very simple.
Follow the guidelines on the cleaner you have, and place in the suggested compartment with no dishes inside the appliance.
Turn your dishwasher to a long, hot cycle and let the cleaner do its thing.
And that’s it!
How To Use In-Wash Dishwasher Cleaner:
To clean your dishwasher with an in-wash dishwasher product like the Finish In-Wash Tablets, simply fill your dishwasher as usual place the tab in the detergent drawer as usual and switch on your machine.
You might find better results from a hotter wash cycle although this depends on the specific product.
What Is the Best Dishwasher Cleaner UK – Key Takeaways
The main lesson from this post is that once a dishwasher stops performing at its best, it’s worth attempting a deep clean before you start shopping around for a replacement.
Although dishwashers are designed to clean, they do need occasional cleaning to keep them working at their best.
Think of it in the same way that even though our shower’s main purpose is to clean, they still require a wash and descale occasionally.
Luckily, cleaning the internal components of a dishwasher is relatively easy.
Depending on your chosen method, most of our best dishwasher cleaner UK recommendations simply require putting the product inside the appliance and turning it on.
So there’s no excuse for neglecting the monthly maintenance of our dishwashers. Especially when the benefit is not having to fork out on a new dishwasher every few years.
If you enjoyed these dishwasher cleaner reviews and maintenance tips, you might also like some of our similar Clean and Tidy Living articles listed below.
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- What To Deep Clean A Fridge With │ Best Products And Techniques
- How To Use Bicarbonate Of Soda For Cleaning
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