The Best Dishwasher Pods for Sparkling Dishes

Best Overall

Cascade Platinum ActionPacs + Dishwasher Cleaner Action

$22 at Amazon


$20 at Walmart


$15 at Home Depot

Cascade products are highly rated among customers for their effective cleaning power. Cascade Platinum ActionPacs + Dishwasher Cleaner Action, however, is the top-performing product when it comes to cleaning dishes. In comparison to Cascade Complete ActionPacs, Cascade Platinum ActionPacs hold 50% more cleaning power thanks to the higher concentration of cleaning agents.

Although these pacs are also slightly more expensive than Cascade Complete, their effectiveness plus their extra ability to clean your dishwasher make these the best pods for those looking to remove tough stains and stuck-on food. Compared to Cascade Complete, the ActionPacs only fall short in terms of variety: Cascade Complete comes in three scents and types (gel, powder, and pods), while Cascade Platinum is available only as pods and in two scents.

Cascade Platinum ActionPacs are formulated with enzymes to break down stuck-on food particles. Combined with the grease-fighting power of Dawn, these pods are powerful enough to work even in quick wash or light wash cycles. They're also formulated with an agent to prevent hard water stains and filming, leaving your dishwasher as clean as your dishes. Just note that although Cascade Platinum ActionPacs do not contain bleach or phosphates, they do contain artificial fragrance, which may be a con for some people. 

Amount: 18, 36, 48, or 62 pods | Scent: Fresh | Price Per Load: $0.36

Best Value

Kirkland Signature Platinum Performance UltraShine Dishwasher Detergent Pacs

$30 at Amazon


$15 at Costco.com

If you use your dishwasher daily or even a couple of times per day, it’s important to choose dishwasher pods that aren’t just effective but also come in a high-quantity package. With a total of 115 pods at just 12 cents per pod, the Kirkland Signature Platinum Performance UltraShine Dishwasher Detergent Pacs offer an incredible value. We love the lemon citrus scent, its ability to remove stuck-on food that’s up to 48 hours old, and the fact that you don’t need to run a pre-wash cycle.

It’s important to keep in mind that these may be hard to track down, particularly if you don’t have a Costco membership since Kirkland is a Costco brand. Although they are available on Amazon, they’re not the same price and therefore not the same value as buying them at Costco. However, we still think the performance, quality, and quantity of these pacs are more than worth it.

Amount: 115 pods | Scent: Lemon citrus | Price Per Load: $0.12, $0.26