Routinely clear your machine of grime and buildup. It’s a chore we all forget, but your dishwasher needs a deep clean too. Food bits and cloudy film can trap odors and leave spots on your glasses. That’s where a good dishwasher cleaner comes in. It’s a simple solution for a hidden problem, working hard to dissolve that greasy residue you can’t always see.
Think of it as a spa day for your appliance. Using a cleaner monthly helps maintain performance and ensures everything comes out sparkling. You’ll notice the difference in your next load, with cleaner dishes and a fresher smelling kitchen. It’s a small step for a big payoff.
Product Comparison Table: 10 Best Dishwasher Cleaner
| Image | Why We Like This Product | Editor’s Rating | |
 |
Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner, Helps Power Away Odor Causing Bacteria,…
|
9.6 |
Read Review |
 |
Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner, Helps Power Away Odor Causing Bacteria,…
|
9.4 |
Read Review |
 |
Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Liquid, Deep Cleans Hidden Grease &…
|
9.2 |
Read Review |
 |
Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets, Deep Cleans Hidden Grease &…
|
9.0 |
Read Review |
 |
Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Liquid, Deep Cleans Hidden Grease &…
|
8.8 |
Read Review |
 |
Dishwasher Cleaner And Deodorizer Tablets – 24 Pack Deep…
|
8.5 |
Read Review |
 |
Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets – 24 Tablets (1-Year Supply) Lemon-Scented,…
|
8.3 |
Read Review |
 |
Lemi Shine Natural Dishwasher Cleaner – Hard Water Citric…
|
8.1 |
Read Review |
 |
Dishwasher Cleaner and Deodorizer Tablets 24 Pack – 1…
|
7.9 |
Read Review |
 |
Seventh Generation Dishwasher Cleaning Packs 6 Count Free &…
|
7.7 |
Read Review |
Quick Review For Top 10 Dishwasher Cleaner
Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner, Helps Power Away Odor Causing Bacteria, Limescale, Mineral Deposits & Grime Inside Pump, Tub & Hoses, 6 Tablets, 6 Month Supply
Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner is a simple tablet designed to maintain your dishwasher’s performance and hygiene. It tackles the hidden grime your regular detergent doesn’t reach, cleaning the machine itself while your detergent handles the dishes.
Over time, every dishwasher accumulates limescale, mineral deposits, and food grime. This buildup happens inside the pump, the tub, and the hoses—places you can’t see or scrub.
This residue can lead to unpleasant odors and may even effect your dishwasher’s cleaning efficiency. Affresh works to power away these odor-causing bacteria and deposits, helping your appliance run like it should.
One key feature is it’s ability to dissolve limescale and mineral build-up. Hard water leaves behind chalky deposits that can clog internal parts. By removing this scale, the cleaner helps maintain water flow and heating element function.
This is a proactive step that can contribute to your machine’s longevity.
The process is straightforward. You simply place one tablet in the empty dishwasher’s main detergent cup and run a normal cycle, without any dishes or detergent. It cleans your machine while your detergent cleans your dishes. This dedicated cleaning cycle ensures the solution reaches all the internal components.
Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner, Helps Power Away Odor Causing Bacteria, Limescale, Mineral Deposits & Grime Inside Pump, Tub & Hoses, 6 Tablets, 6 Month Supply
The Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner is a specialized cleaning tablet designed to maintain the hygiene and performance of your dishwasher. Over time, even the most reliable dishwasher can develop hidden issues. Food particles, grease, and soap scum don’t always get fully washed away. They can accumulate in the machine’s internal components, like the pump, filter, hoses, and spray arms.
This buildup is more than just an annoyance; it can lead to unpleasant odors, reduced cleaning power, and even affect the longevity of your appliance. That’s where a dedicated cleaner like Affresh comes in.
This product is the number one recommended dishwasher cleaner by major appliance brands like Whirlpool, Maytag, and KitchenAid. It’s formulated to tackle the problems you can’t easily see.
The tablet works to power away the odor-causing bacteria that can linger and transfer onto your supposedly clean dishes. It also helps break down limescale and mineral deposits from hard water, which can cause cloudy film on glassware and clog internal parts.
Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Liquid, Deep Cleans Hidden Grease & Limescale, Fights Odors & Maintains Performance, 3 Month Supply, 8.45oz, 1 Bottle
The Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Liquid is a specialized maintenance product designed for your dishwasher. It goes beyond just cleaning your dishes to clean the machine itself. Over time, hidden grease, food particles, and hard water minerals like limescale build up in places you can’t see. This happens in the spray arms, the filter, and the internal pipes.
This buildup isn’t just unhygienic; it can actually affect how well your dishwasher works.
This liquid cleaner targets those hidden areas directly. It works to dissolve and remove that stubborn grease and crusty limescale deposits. By cleaning these inner parts, it helps restore water flow and pressure. This means your dishwasher can get back to cleaning your plates, glasses, and cutlery more effectively. It’s a simple way to help maintain your appliance’s performance over the long term.
The formula is also designed to fight odors at their source. Lingering, unpleasant smells in your dishwasher often come from old food residue trapped inside. By giving the machine a thorough internal clean, this product neutralizes those odors, leaving your dishwasher smelling fresh after the cycle.
Using it is very straightforward. You simply empty your dishwasher, remove the sticker from the top of the bottle, and place it upside-down in the bottom rack.
Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets, Deep Cleans Hidden Grease & Grime, Fights Odors, No Extra Wash Cycle, Helps Maintain Dishwasher, 4 Month Supply, 4 Count
The Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets are a maintenance product designed to keep your dishwasher running at its best. Over time, dishwashers accumulate hidden grease, food particles, and hard water minerals in places you can’t see, like the spray arms, filter, and internal pipes. This buildup can effect performance and lead to unpleasant odors.
These monthly cleaner tablets are formulated to tackle that grime right where it forms, helping to ensure your machine cleans dishes effectively and stays fresh.
A key benefit is the simplicity. You don’t need to run a separate, empty cycle to clean your machine. Just place one Finish cleaner tablet in the bottom of your dishwasher and run your normal cycle with your dishes loaded.
It works alongside your regular detergent to deep clean the machine’s inner workings while it washes your load. This saves you time, water, and the hassle of remembering a extra step. It’s a convenient way to incorporate machine maintenance into your existing routine without any disruption.
The formula is powerful, designed to cut through tough grease and residue.
Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Liquid, Deep Cleans Hidden Grease & Limescale, Fights Odors & helps maintain Performance, 1 Year Supply, 8.45oz, 4 Bottle
The Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Liquid is a specialized maintenance product designed to tackle the hidden grime that regular dishwashing cycles miss. Over time, grease, food particles, and hard water minerals like limescale build up inside your machine’s inner workings. This residue can cling to the spray arms, filter, and internal pipes, which not only creates unpleasant odors but can also reduce your dishwasher’s cleaning efficiency.
This cleaner is formulated to address these specific issues, helping to ensure your appliance runs smoothly and hygienically.
Its primary function is a deep clean of the machine’s inner parts. The liquid formula targets and breaks down hidden grease and stubborn limescale deposits that can block water flow. By clearing these buildups from critical components, it helps restore water pressure and coverage from the spray arms.
This means your dishwasher can clean your dishware more effectively, as it’s not fighting against its own internal grime. It’s a simple step that can make a noticeable difference in how your dishes come out, especially if you’ve noticed film or spots.
A major benefit is how it fights odors at their source. Lingering smells in a dishwasher often come from decomposing food trapped in the filter or grease in the pipes.
Dishwasher Cleaner And Deodorizer Tablets – 24 Pack Deep Cleaning Descaler Pods for Dish Washer Machine, Heavy Duty, Septic Safe, Natural Limescale Remover, Calcium, Odor, Smell – 12 Month Supply
The ACTIVE Dishwasher Cleaner and Deodorizer Tablets are a simple monthly maintenance solution for your appliance. If you’ve noticed your dishes aren’t coming out as spotless or a lingering odor has developed, it’s likely time for a deep clean. These tablets are designed to tackle the hidden grime and scale that regular dishwashing cycles leave behind.
Over time, hard water minerals like limescale and calcium build up inside your machine.
Food grease and residue can also accumulate in the filter, jets, and tubes. This gunk not only effects cleaning performance but can lead to unpleasant smells. The ACTIVE tablets use a powerful descaling formula based on citric acid to break down that buildup. It works to remove hardwater stains, grease, and grime, helping to prevent clogs and keep water flowing freely through all the internal parts.
A key benefit is the fresh odor elimination.
Each tablet has a natural lemon-citrus scent that combats those funky smells, leaving your dishwasher smelling clean after every maintenance cycle. It’s a dual-action approach: clean the machine and freshen it up at the same time.
Compatibility is wide, suiting most residential and commercial automatic dishwashers. This includes major brands like GE, Bosch, LG, Samsung, Whirlpool, and KitchenAid, among others.
Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets – 24 Tablets (1-Year Supply) Lemon-Scented, Heavy Duty Cleaning Descaler Pods for Dish Washer, Deep Cleans & Maintains Your Dishwashing Machine for Optimal Performance
The Bastion Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets are a simple, year-long solution for maintaining your machine’s performance. This 24-count pack provides a full 12-month supply of heavy-duty cleaning pods, designed to tackle the hidden grime that regular washes miss. Over time, dishwashers accumulate grease, food residue, and limescale from hard water, which can lead to unpleasant odors and less effective cleaning for your dishes.
These tablets are formulated to deep clean the interior, including the spray arms, filter, and pipes, where buildup most commonly occurs.
Using the tablets is incredibly straightforward. You simply place one pod in your empty dishwasher’s detergent compartment and run a normal, hot wash cycle—preferably without any dishes inside. There’s no messy powders or liquids to handle, and no complicated steps to follow.
It’s a set-it-and-forget-it maintenance task that fits easily into your routine. For best results, its recommended to use one tablet per month to keep your appliance in top shape, making this box your entire supply for the year.
A key feature of these cleaner tablets is their fresh lemon scent. After each cleaning cycle, your dishwasher is left not only cleaner on the inside but smelling noticeably fresher too.
Lemi Shine Natural Dishwasher Cleaner – Hard Water Citric Acid Cleaning Powder – Lemon Scented Eco-Friendly Dishwasher Cleaner & Deodorizer – 14.08 oz (8 Pack)
The Lemi Shine Natural Dishwasher Cleaner is a specialized powder designed to tackle the hidden grime that regular dishwashing cycles leave behind. Over time, dishwashers accumulate food particles, grease, and mineral deposits, especially in areas with hard water. This buildup doesn’t just sit there; it can lead to unpleasant odors and reduce your machine’s cleaning efficiency.
This product adresses that core problem directly, aiming to restore your dishwasher’s performance rather than just covering up smells. Its primary function is to REMOVE ODOR CAUSING BUILDUP AND FIGHT HARD WATER STAINS. It works by getting into the hidden parts of your machine—the spray arms, filters, and drains—to break down the leftover gunk that can hinder water flow and cause bad smells. If you’ve noticed spots on your glasses or a faint mildew odor, this is likely the culprit.
The cleaner targets that residue to help your entire machine run more effectively. The key ingredient is citric acid, a natural cleaning agent derived from citrus fruits. The formula is SUPERCHARGED WITH CITRIC ACID to cut through tough lime scale and mineral stains without the need for harsh chemicals. This means it’s tough on buildup but gentle on your dishwasher’s internal components.
Dishwasher Cleaner and Deodorizer Tablets 24 Pack – 1 Year Supply Deeply Removes Dirt With Odor Eliminating, Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets Naturally Removes Scale Andblockage From Pipes
The Dishwasher Cleaner and Deodorizer Tablets 24 Pack is designed to be a simple, year-long solution for maintaining your appliance. Over time, dishwashers can accumulate grease, limescale, and food particles in places you can’t see. This build-up doesn’t just cause unpleasant smells; it can actually reduce your machine’s cleaning power and efficiency. These tablets adress that core maintenance need directly.
Their primary function is power cleaning.
Each tablet works to deeply remove stubborn limescale, grease, and old food debris from the hidden parts of your dishwasher, like the spray arms and filter area. This process helps ensure water flows freely and your machine operates at it’s best for every wash cycle. It’s a proactive step to help prevent future performance issues.
Just as important is the thorough sanitization. A clean dishwasher should also be a fresh-smelling one.
The tablets eliminate odor-causing residue that regular dishwashing detergents leave behind, disinfecting the interior tub. This improves the overall hygiene of the appliance, so your clean dishes come out of a truly clean machine. No more musty surprises when you open the door.
Using them couldn’t be easier. The process is completely hassle-free. You simply place one tablet in the empty main dishwasher basket—no pre-rinsing or messy liquids involved.
Seventh Generation Dishwasher Cleaning Packs 6 Count Free & Clear Removes odor-causing residue Powered by oxy power
Seventh Generation Dishwasher Cleaning Packs 6 Count Free & Clear: Your dishwasher works hard to clean your dishes, but over time, it can develop a bit of a funk itself. Food particles, grease, and soap scum can build up in the hidden parts of the machine, leading to lingering odors that can transfer back to your supposedly clean glassware. That’s where a dedicated cleaner comes in, and these packs from Seventh Generation offer a simple, effective solution.
The core job of these packs is to remove odor-causing residue. They’re powered by an active oxy formula that targets and lifts away the stuck-on soils from your dishes that regular cycles might leave behind. This deep cleaning action helps refresh your machine, ensuring it runs more efficiently and leaves everything smelling clean. The best part is the convenience. Each cleaning cycle requires just one pre-measured pack.
There’s no messy powder to spill or liquid to measure—you just drop it in and run the cycle. The pack is fully dissolvable, so there’s no cleanup afterward either. For maintence, using one pack monthly is recommended to keep your dishwasher performing its best. A significant aspect of this product is what it *doesn’t* contain. It’s Free & Clear, meaning no dyes or artificial fragrances are added. This is a big plus if you or your family members are sensitive to strong scents.
Dishwasher Cleaner Buying Guide
A dedicated dishwasher cleaner maintains appliance performance and hygiene. Over time, food debris, grease, and limescale build up inside your machine, leading to odors, cloudy glasses, and less effective cleaning. Using a specialized cleaner is a simple fix that can make a big difference in your kitchen’s routine.
Cleaning Action and Formula
Not all cleaners work the same. Some use powerful enzymes or oxygen-based agents to break down greasy, stuck-on grime. Others rely on strong acids to dissolve tough limescale and mineral deposits, which is key if you have hard water. Consider what your dishwasher suffers from most—is it a filmy residue or chalky white buildup? Choosing the right formula targets your specific problem.
Ease of Use and Process
How much effort are you willing to put in? The most convenient options are single-use pods or liquids you just place in the empty dishwasher and run on a hot cycle—no pre-rinsing or scrubbing required. Tablets are similarly straightforward. If you’re dealing with severe neglect, a two-part system or a powder that requires soaking might be necessary, but it’s more hands-on. Think about what fits your schedule best.
Safety and Material Compatibility
Your dishwasher’s interior is built to last, but harsh chemicals can sometimes cause wear. Look for a cleaner that’s safe for stainless steel tubs, plastic components, and rubber seals. A non-toxic, fragrance-free formula is also a smart choice if your household is sensitive to strong chemical smells. It’s about maintaining your appliance without risking damage to its parts or leaving behind irritating fumes.
Frequency and Value
How often should you run a cleaning cycle? Most brands recommend monthly use for optimal results. When comparing products, check how many treatments come in the package. A bulk pack of pods might seem like a better deal upfront, but ensure you’ll use them before thay expire. A slightly more expensive bottle that offers more cycles per ounce could actually save you money in the long run.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dishwasher Cleaner
Why do I need a separate cleaner for my dishwasher?
Your dishwasher cleans your dishes, but it doesn’t clean itself. Over time, food bits, grease, and limescale build up inside. This can cause odors and make your dishes less sparkly. A dedicated cleaner breaks down that hidden grime.
How often should I clean my dishwasher?
It’s a good idea to run a cleaning cycle about once a month. If you have hard water or use your dishwasher daily, you might want to clean it every two weeks. If you start noticing a smell, it’s definately time.
What’s teh difference between tabs, liquids, and powders?
Tabs are super convenient—just drop one in and run a cycle. Liquids are also easy to pour. Powders can be a bit messier but are often very effective. The best choice depends on your preference and what your dishwasher handles best.
Can I just use vinegar instead?
Vinegar is a popular home remedy. It can help with some mineral deposits. However, a formulated cleaner is usually stronger. It’s designed to tackle grease and food residue that vinegar might not fully dissolve.
Where do I put the cleaner in the machine?
This depends on the product. Most tabs and pods go right in the bottom of the empty dishwasher. Some liquids or powders go in the detergent cup. Always check the instructions on the bottle or box first to be sure.
Is dishwasher cleaner safe for my machine?
Yes, when used as directed. These products are made specifically for dishwasher materials. They won’t harm the racks, spray arms, or interior. Using harsh chemicals not meant for dishwashers, however, could cause damage.
What if my dishwasher still smells after cleaning?
First, check and clean the filter—it’s often the main culprit. You can find it at the bottom of your dishwasher. Remove any trapped debris. Also, wipe the door gasket with a damp cloth. Sometimes grime hides there too.
Do I need to run a special cycle?
Usually, you just run a normal hot wash cycle with the dishwasher empty. Some people use the sanitize or heavy-duty setting for extra heat. Avoid using any detergent or rinse aid during the cleaning cycle. Just let the cleaner do it’s work.
The Short Answer
Keeping your dishwasher clean is a simple way to avoid bigger headaches. It helps prevent clogs, odd smells, and those annoying spots on your glasses. A quick monthly routine can save you money on repairs and keeps everything running smoothly. Think of it as a small favor for a hardworking appliance.
For the best results, make a dishwasher cleaner part of your regular home care. Run a cycle with it every month or so to tackle hidden grease and residue. Pair this with checking the filter and wiping the door seal, and you’ll have a machine that works like new for years to come. It’s an easy win for cleaner dishes and a more reliable kitchen helper.