On COMPUTER BILD’s test and comparison portal, we present the best dishwasher cleaners.
A dishwasher makes housework easier in 21. Century considerably. Whether it’s after a night out or for everyday use, plates and cutlery are simply placed in the dishwasher and washed automatically.
But every now and then the equipment must also be cleaned so as not to lose performance. Which product stands out positively from the many brands on offer here?? The results of dishwasher detergent tests provide information. We have looked at the comparisons and compiled a comprehensive buying guide for you. Read this article, if you want to buy the best detergents for your machine.
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Buying advice for dishwasher cleaners test or. -comparison: find your personal dishwasher cleaner test winner with our help!
- Modern dishwashers offer various environmentally friendly and water-saving short programs. But most of the time, the machine does not get sufficiently clean with a short rinse cycle. grease and limescale, for example, can only be dissolved at a high water temperature.
- A lot helps a lot? This does not apply to the use of dishwasher detergents. Overdosing can cause deposits that clog the appliance.
- If cutlery and dishes no longer get properly clean, it doesn’t have to be due to a bad detergent. Using tap water for the rinse cycles causes limescale to build up. Therefore, you should decalcify and clean your machine regularly.
They are available in liquid form, in solid form as dishwasher tabs and as powder: dishwasher cleaners are available on the market in a wide variety, depending on the brand and manufacturer. Which one offers the best cleaning result at the best price, examine the dishwasher cleaner tests of independent institutes and comparisons on the internet. Consumers can use these results as a guide when looking for suitable products for their appliance.
Since dishwasher cleaners usually contain a lot of chemicals, the testers pay very close attention to the ingredients in the dishwasher comparisons. Some manufacturers like heitmann or somat now take care to avoid surfactants and phosphates as far as possible. But environmentally friendly dishwasher detergents also perform less well when they are made with fewer chemicals? We have also investigated the dishwasher cleaner tests in that respect.
1. Why is the use of a dishwasher cleaner useful at all??
Check the float chamber
The causes of clogging and poor cleaning performance of the machine are not always obvious. On the back of the machine is the so-called float chamber. You should also check these at regular intervals.
You might think that nothing can get dirty where water is used. Unfortunately this is not the case. Because on dirty dishes there are naturally food residues that get stuck in the machine. This is especially true for grease and lime.
At the latest when the dishes are no longer clean when they come out of the machine or there are lime spots on them, it is time for a cleaning. Regardless of the dishwasher cleaner tabs, the dishwasher cleaner powders and the dishwasher cleaners in liquid form, you should pay attention to adequate hygiene. free the rack from food residues and don’t leave dirty dishes in the appliance for too long so they don’t dry out.
Tip: rinse the dishes well before putting them in the dishwasher. This prevents food residues from getting caught in the sieve, clogging the machine and damaging the cutlery& glasses do not get properly clean.
2. Which dishwasher cleaners are available on the market??
agents for cleaning the dishwasher are available in various dosage forms. You will find dishwasher tabs, dishwasher detergent gel resp. Cleaning agents in liquid form as well as dishwasher cleaners in powder form. Which variant produces the best cleaning result and when should you use which agent to decalcify the dishwasher?? Please read our overview below:
- Only available from a few manufacturers
- Tabs are very easy to dose
- Are usually simply placed on the bottom of the dishwasher
- Inexpensive dishwasher cleaner
- Residues of the tab can remain in the machine
- Package of liquid detergent is intended for a single use only
- Can be dosed well
- Comparatively expensive to buy
- Removes germs and bacteria
- Degreases and descales the machine
- Often very corrosive ingredients
- Powder is spread on the floor of the dishwasher
- Some variants are also used as washing machine cleaners
- Also available as organic cleaners without chemicals
- In most cases, longer intervals between cleaning cycles are possible
2.1. Are multiphase tabs for the dishwasher worthwhile??
Multi-phase tabs such as somat dishwasher cleaner contain not only detergents for the dishes, but also rinse aid in 2-in-1 products and water softener in 3-in-1 products. The manufacturers promise a glossy performance here – however, dishwasher cleaner tests show that the multiphase tabs only useful in a few machines can be used. These include, for example, the mini dishwashers or the dishwasher cleaners for the catering industry . However, on the other hand, these products save the purchase of additional detergents and additional rinsing cycles. We have compiled a list of advantages and disadvantages of multiphase tabs for you below.
- Dishwasher detergent, rinse aid and descaler in one
- Very good cleaning results with suitable machines
- Additional softener must be used for hard water
- More expensive than normal tabs, but not always more efficient
- Only suitable for some machines
2.2. Which ingredients are contained in the dishwasher detergents??
Many manufacturers now do not use surfactants and phosphates in the production of dishwasher detergents.
In the dishwasher detergent tests, the testers focus not only on the cleaning performance but also on the ingredients. Because after the rinse cycle, the detergent gets into the waste water. Many cleaners contain very environmentally harmful phosphates, bleaches and surfactants.
However, the demand for environmentally compatible dishwasher cleaners is increasing considerably and many manufacturers are experimenting with alternatives. While the dishwasher cleaners from miele and xavax as well as the finish dishwasher cleaner contain both phosphates and surfactants, the somat dishwasher detergent and the finish calgonit dishwasher detergent are phosphate-free from.
2.3. Are organic dishwasher cleaners useful?
Some manufacturers have made it their business to dispense completely with harmful chemical ingredients and to use the cleaners made from purely biological and ecological ingredients manufacture. The according to the manufacturer, sonett, for example, removes even very heavy and dried-on soiling And does not use surfactants, enzymes or aggressive bleaching agents. the secret behind this is silicates, which make the grease water-soluble. Food residues are simply swollen and detached by it.
Tip: a dishwasher deodorizer helps to combat unpleasant odors in the machine. This is simply hung in the dishwasher and is available for example from the manufacturer finish.
3. Our buying advice: what to look out for when buying a dishwasher cleaner?
Dishwasher cleaners are available in powder form, as tabs or as liquid detergent.
We have already explained some of the criteria that are relevant when buying dishwasher detergent. In addition to the ingredients and the formulation, there are other factors you should consider before buying your favorite dishwasher detergent. Read our buying guide below.
Quantity in g
this information gives you an indication of how expensive the cleaner really is. Pay attention not only to the contents of the package, but also to the efficiency of the product. In the dishwasher tests, the testers calculated exactly what one application costs the consumer. There are sometimes considerable differences here. Whereas, for example, the finish dishwasher detergent costs you only about. 0.98 per application, miele’s detergent costs over 13.00 euros per application.
Application
Depending on the form in which it is dispensed, the cleaning agent is placed in the cutlery basket or on the floor of the dishwasher, for example. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions in order to achieve the best possible cleaning results.
Against odors
some cleaners have integrated fragrances that are effective against unpleasant odors. These include, for example, the dishwasher cleaner from dm (denkmit-tabs). With siemens dishwasher cleaner, for example, you have to do without such conveniences. even bosch dishwasher detergent does not contain any ingredients that help against odors.
Also suitable for normal rinse program
dishwasher cleaners that can also be used during the normal rinse program are particularly user-friendly. Most detergents, however, must be run through a separate rinse cycle because they would otherwise leave a harmful residue on the dishes.
4. Which product performs particularly well in dishwasher cleaner tests??
A good guide to the search for the best dishwasher cleaner are the results of the dishwasher cleaner tests. These are carried out by independent institutes such as stiftung warentest and the magazine okotest, among others.
stiftung warentest last compared different dishwasher cleaners in 2003. At that time, 3-in-1 tabs with integrated rinse aid and descaler were tested. However, the tabs largely failed at that time because they still caused streaks and lime spots on the glasses after they were used. There was no real dishwasher cleaner test winner. Unfortunately, recent tests only examine the performance of dishwasher tabs for cleaning plates, cutlery and glasses.
In the internet comparisons of 2022 there are already more usable results. To the test winners in terms of cleaning performance and price-performance ratio include branded products from claro and dr. Quickly, but the "denkmit" brand, the dishwasher cleaner from dm, also performs well.
5. your most frequently asked questions about dishwasher cleaners – and our answers
5.1. Can you clean your washing machine with dishwasher detergent??
Some dishwasher cleaners can also be used to decalcify washing machines.
This is indeed possible with some products. The time for a cleaning has then come, when the washing machine smells unpleasant or the laundry no longer washes properly clean.
Although dishwasher cleaners are actually – as the name suggests – used for the dishwasher, they can also get a washing machine clean. If you put dishwasher tabs in the washing machine, they belong in the drum. ideally, use two tabs – the ingredients that clean a dishwasher can also get a washing machine clean. Cleaning is sufficient twice a year.
5.2. Dishwasher cleaner – how often should it be used?
It all depends on the product. Inexpensive dishwasher cleaners usually have to be used once a month. For expensive products, one cleaning every 6 months is sufficient. the most expensive product in tests from miele only has to be used once a year. So it’s worth checking how the more expensive products are more efficient in the end despite their higher price.
5.3 you can make your own dishwasher cleaner?
If you don’t like the products available on the market, for example because they contain too many chemical ingredients, you can make your own dishwasher cleaner. For this you need three main ingredients: lemons, salt and vinegar. Boil the lemons in hot water until they are soft. Then cut them into small pieces, take out the seeds and puree them. Add salt and vinegar. Pour the broth into bottles and put them in the washing machine. You have to start an extra wash cycle.
5.4. How useful are dishwasher detergents?
your dishwasher should be cleaned regularly (just like the washing machine). Otherwise dirt and deposits remain behind. This not only smells unpleasant, but can under certain circumstances also reduce its functionality. Use a dishwasher cleaner for the cleaning process.
5.5. What cleans better: dishwasher tabs or powder??
Dishwashing powder and dishwasher tabs have advantages on both sides. Dishwashing powder dissolves much more quickly. You can dose it like this, that no residues remain in the dishwasher. Dishwasher tabs, on the other hand, score points with a complete solution in compressed form. The tab already contains rinse aid, detergent and salt contained in an optimal ratio to each other.
5.6. How often to clean the dishwasher?
Cleaning the dishwasher should be carried out every three months. First clean baskets, strainers and other dishwasher accessories outside the machine. Then put all the components back in place. add dishwasher detergent according to instructions. In a final step start a cleaning program without prewash. The temperature should be 60 degrees celsius.