The 5 Best Dishwasher Detergent 2026

What we love

• You want MADE SAFE + EWG VERIFIED dual certification — the strictest available combination.
• You prefer a PVA-free tablet with a mineral-dominant, non-ethoxylated formula.
• You have soft or medium water, or you already use a separate rinse aid.

Worth knowing

• You have hard water and need a product with an explicit hard-water performance claim.
• You need the absolute lowest price per load ($0.39 vs $0.30 for Earthley).

What we love

• You want the highest-certified dishwasher tablet with zero ethoxylated surfactant exposure.
• You have hard water and don't want to buy a separate rinse aid.
• You value a transparent 10-ingredient INCI verified by EWG scientists.
• A $0.35/load price point works for your household budget.

Worth knowing

• You specifically need a pod format (not a tablet).
• You want the absolute cheapest option (Earthley is $0.30/load).

What we love

• You want a pod format with EWG Verified certification and clean APG surfactant chemistry.
• You have hard water and want a built-in rinse action without a separate rinse aid.
• PVA film is an acceptable trade-off for you given EWG's accepted safety determination.

Worth knowing

• You specifically avoid all PVA pod films based on Mamavation / IRLFY guidance.
• Cost per load matters — at $0.79 you pay 2× Blueland and 2.6× Earthley.
• You prefer a tablet format (Branch Basics or Blueland are the clean tablet alternatives).

What we love

• You want enzyme-powered mineral cleaning at the lowest price point per load.
• EWG B-rated (vs Verified) is an acceptable certification level for your household.
• You already own or plan to buy a rinse aid for your dishwasher.

Worth knowing

• You require EWG Verified or MADE SAFE certification for ingredient vetting.
• You have hard water and don't want to buy a separate rinse aid.
• Powder format is inconvenient — tablet or pod formats are available from other brands.

What we love

• You have soft or medium water (or use a water softener).
• You want a 6-ingredient formula — the simplest in the category.
• EWG A-rated is the certification level you trust for household cleaners.
• Keeping per-load cost at $0.30 is a priority.

Worth knowing

• You have hard water and don't want to add a separate rinse aid.
• You regularly run heavily soiled loads — no enzymes means lower performance on baked-on protein/starch.
• You need EWG Verified or MADE SAFE certification.