A dishwasher washes everything except itself. Food debris collects around the filter, hard water leaves a film, and one day the machine smells a little off when you open the door. A monthly cleaner is a small fix for that, as long as you pick one that suits the actual problem.
This guide covers eight dishwasher cleaners from named makers, in tablet, liquid, powder and pack form. We have not used them ourselves, and we found no controlled comparison worth citing, so we tell you what each maker says and where the evidence stops.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for, maker instructions, product listings and published reviews, which we name where we use them.
Quick verdict: the best dishwasher cleaner for most homes
Start with Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner. Its directions cover a full load, an empty machine and heavy buildup, and the listing says it is EPA Safer Choice certified. In hard-water areas, consider Lemi Shine, which relies on citric acid.
Check the filter first. If it is clogged, no tablet will solve the problem, and a manual filter is often the real source of the smell.
Five dishwasher cleaners side by side
Five of the eight, one for each kind of buyer. All eight are described in full below.
| Cleaner | Best for | Format | Key limit | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets, 6 CountBest overall
|
Most homes | Tablet, 6 count | Parent company supplies its appliance recommendations | View on Amazon |
Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets, 12 CountBest long supply
|
A year of monthly use | Tablet, 12 count | Maker’s claims only | View on Amazon |
Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Liquid, 8.45 ozBest for a deep clean
|
A quarterly deep clean | Liquid, 8.45 oz | Empty machine | View on Amazon |
Lemi Shine Natural Dishwasher Cleaner, 8 PackBest for hard water
|
Hard water | Powder, 8 pouches | Don’t mix with bleach | View on Amazon |
Seventh Generation Machine Cleaner, 6 CountBest without artificial fragrance
|
Avoiding artificial fragrance | Pack, 6 count | No limescale claim | View on Amazon |
Details come from Amazon listings and maker pages. Labels change, so read the box you receive.
Our picks for the best dishwasher cleaner
Affresh and the two Finish products are the easy starting point. The rest cover hard water, scent, heavier scale, a probiotic formula and a large pack.
1. Affresh Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets, 6 Count – Runs With or Without Dishes
Affresh is the easiest cleaner to recommend because its directions cover the most situations. For a routine clean, Affresh says to put one tablet on the bottom of the machine with a full load and your usual detergent. With an empty machine, the tablet goes in the detergent dispenser. For heavy buildup, it calls for two tablets in an empty run, one in the dispenser and one on the bottom.
Affresh recommends monthly use. The listing says it is safe for all makes and models, EPA Safer Choice certified and septic safe. One thing to weigh: the listing says the brand is recommended by Whirlpool, Maytag and KitchenAid, and Affresh is a Whirlpool Corporation brand, so that is not an outside opinion. Affresh also warns against using chlorine bleach to clean a stainless steel dishwasher, a useful warning whichever cleaner you buy.
Why we like it
- Clear directions for loaded, empty and heavy-buildup runs
- EPA Safer Choice certified, per the listing
- No powder or liquid to pour
Key specifications
| Model | W10549851 |
|---|---|
| Count or size | 6 tablets |
| Format | Tablet |
| Used with dishes | Yes, or run empty |
| How often, per maker | Monthly |
| Key ingredient or claim | Targets limescale and mineral deposits |
| Certification stated | EPA Safer Choice |
| Bottle or pack note | Six-month supply, per the listing |
Why we recommend it
This suits most homes: a tablet a month, no dedicated cycle if you don’t want one, and a stronger method when the machine is really dirty.
Skip it if you want an outside review behind your choice. We found no controlled comparison, so this pick rests on the maker’s instructions and listing.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Works during a normal wash
- Stronger method for heavy buildup
- Sold directly by Amazon when we checked
Cons
- Its appliance recommendations come from its own parent company
- Two tablets for heavy buildup uses up a pack faster
- No independent comparison to cite
2. Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets, 12 Count – Monthly Tablet, Long Supply
Finish sells this as a monthly tablet for hidden grease, hard-water buildup and grime in the spray arms, filter and pipes. You place one in the bottom of the machine and run your normal cycle, with dishes in the machine. There is no extra wash to plan around, which is the main reason people keep up with it.
Twelve tablets at one a month gives you a year’s supply, according to the listing. Finish says the tablets work with standard, older and small dishwashers. It also claims more degreasing power than detergent alone, a claim it makes against detergent and not against other cleaners. We read no independent review of this exact pack, so treat that as the maker’s statement.
Why we like it
- No separate cycle
- One tablet a month, for a year
- Names older and small dishwashers
Key specifications
| Model | Not clearly stated |
|---|---|
| Count or size | 12 tablets |
| Format | Tablet |
| Used with dishes | Yes |
| How often, per maker | Monthly |
| Key ingredient or claim | Targets grease, hard-water buildup, grime |
| Certification stated | Not stated |
| Bottle or pack note | Twelve-month supply, per the listing |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you run the machine full most days and would rather not stop to run an empty cycle.
Skip it if hard-water scale is your main problem. Finish’s own liquid makes the stronger claim there.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Simple monthly routine
- Long supply
- Sold directly by Amazon when we checked
Cons
- Maker’s claims only
- Its strongest claim compares it to detergent
- Finish says the liquid outperforms it
3. Finish Dishwasher Cleaner Liquid, 8.45 oz – Empty-Machine Deep Clean
The liquid is a different kind of product from the tablets, so it earns its own place. You empty the machine, remove the sticker, turn the bottle upside down in the bottom rack and run a hot cycle. Finish recommends this every three months, and it claims more cleaning performance than its own tablets.
That makes it a sensible quarterly job, with tablets or nothing in between. Because it needs an empty machine and a hot cycle, plan it for a day when the machine is free. The offer we saw was from a third-party seller and not from Amazon or Finish, so look at the seller name and the date on arrival.
Why we like it
- No measuring; the bottle sits in the rack
- Maker says every three months is enough
- Names limescale directly
Key specifications
| Model | RAC95315EA |
|---|---|
| Count or size | 8.45 oz |
| Format | Liquid in an inverted bottle |
| Used with dishes | No, empty machine |
| How often, per maker | Every three months |
| Key ingredient or claim | Targets limescale, grease |
| Certification stated | Not stated |
| Bottle or pack note | Single bottle; three-month supply, per the listing |
Why we recommend it
This is for a machine that has clouded glasses or a hard-water film and needs one thorough run.
Skip it if you want to clean while washing dishes. This one needs an empty machine.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Straightforward single-use bottle
- Quarterly schedule
- Finish’s strongest cleaning claim
Cons
- Needs an empty machine
- Third-party seller when we checked
- One bottle per clean
4. Lemi Shine Natural Dishwasher Cleaner, 8 Pack – Citric Acid for Hard Water
Lemi Shine is built around citric acid, the ingredient Consumer Reports’ experts bring up for this job. In its article on dishwasher odor, CR quotes an LG engineer suggesting citric acid or a maker-recommended cleaner, and a GE Appliances expert naming a citric acid cleaner as a way to clean without bleach. Lemi Shine says its powder removes odor-causing buildup and hard-water stains, and recommends monthly use.
The listing says it is EPA Safer Choice certified and plant based. The pack holds eight pouches, sold by Lemi Shine itself. One older warning applies to acidic products of this kind. A 2012 WMC-TV report on Consumer Reports’ findings warned against using Lemi Shine Original, an additive, with a detergent containing bleach, because acidic products can produce toxic gases when mixed with bleach. That was a different Lemi Shine product, but the rule is worth keeping: don’t mix this with bleach.
Why we like it
- Citric acid, an approach named by appliance experts in Consumer Reports
- EPA Safer Choice certified, per the listing
- Sold by the maker when we checked
Key specifications
| Model | 80217002 |
|---|---|
| Count or size | 14.08 oz, 8 pouches |
| Format | Powder pouch |
| Used with dishes | Follow the label |
| How often, per maker | Monthly |
| Key ingredient or claim | Citric acid |
| Certification stated | EPA Safer Choice |
| Bottle or pack note | Lemon scent |
Why we recommend it
Choose this in a hard-water area, where mineral film is the main complaint and a citric acid cleaner is the logical tool.
Skip it if you use a bleach-based detergent and cannot switch for that run. Keep acid and bleach apart.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clear active ingredient
- Eight uses at one a month
- Sold by the maker
Cons
- Don’t combine with bleach
- Whether dishes can stay in is not clear from the listing
- Powder pouches are slightly less tidy
5. Seventh Generation Machine Cleaner, 6 Count – No Artificial Fragrance
Some people don’t want a strong scent around their glasses. Seventh Generation’s dissolvable packs use active oxy power and carry no dyes or artificial fragrances, according to the listing. It also says they are EPA Safer Choice certified, 92 percent USDA Certified Biobased and septic safe.
Use is simple. In an empty machine, one pack goes in the dispenser cup, or in the bottom if it doesn’t fit, and you run a normal cycle once a month. The listing talks about odor-causing residue from dish soils and does not make limescale claims. So this is a freshening routine and not a hard-water fix. We read no independent review of it.
Why we like it
- No dyes or artificial fragrances, per the listing
- Dissolves fully, so no wrapper to remove
- Runs on a normal cycle
Key specifications
| Model | 732913453108 |
|---|---|
| Count or size | 6 packs |
| Format | Dissolvable pack |
| Used with dishes | No, empty machine |
| How often, per maker | Monthly |
| Key ingredient or claim | Active oxy |
| Certification stated | EPA Safer Choice; USDA Certified Biobased |
| Bottle or pack note | Septic safe, per the listing |
Why we recommend it
It suits a home that is sensitive to scent, or one where odor and not scale is the problem.
Skip it if your glasses have mineral film. The listing makes no limescale claim.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No artificial fragrance, per the listing
- Clear certifications
- Simple routine
Cons
- Needs an empty machine
- No hard-water claim
- Maker’s statements only
6. Glisten Dishwasher Magic Machine Cleaner, 12 oz, 2 Pack – Liquid for Scale and Iron
Dishwasher Magic comes from Summit Brands under the Glisten name and is the only liquid here sold in a larger bottle. The listing says it removes lime scale, iron, soap scum and grease left behind in the dishwasher, and that it is safe for plumbing and septic systems. It also describes itself as a disinfectant against named bacteria. We report that only as a listing claim, so read the bottle for exact directions.
The listing gives no schedule or step-by-step, so you will need the bottle itself for those. Two bottles means two runs, which suits a machine with visible marks. The offer we saw came from a third-party seller, which is one more reason to check the bottle on arrival. Iron in the listing’s claims makes this one worth a look if your water leaves rusty marks.
Why we like it
- Names lime scale and iron
- Two bottles
- Plumbing and septic statement on the listing
Key specifications
| Model | DM03N-SS |
|---|---|
| Count or size | 12 oz, 2 bottles |
| Format | Liquid |
| Used with dishes | Read the bottle |
| How often, per maker | Not stated on the listing |
| Key ingredient or claim | Targets lime scale, iron, soap scum |
| Certification stated | Not stated |
| Bottle or pack note | Summit Brands product |
Why we recommend it
This is for a machine with visible marks from hard or iron-rich water, where a liquid made for scale makes more sense than a freshening tablet.
Skip it if you want clear instructions before buying. The listing does not give them.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Names iron as well as lime scale
- Two runs in the pack
- Sold under a named brand, Summit Brands
Cons
- Thin listing
- Third-party seller when we checked
- No stated schedule
7. Frigidaire ReadyClean Probiotic Dishwasher Cleaner, 6 Count – Probiotic Approach
Frigidaire takes a different route with a probiotic formula. The listing says it reduces odors from food remnants and removes grease, grime, limescale and buildup, and that it keeps working during normal use and while the dishwasher sits idle. It also says it works on all brands of dishwashers, so you don’t need a Frigidaire.
It leaves a light lemon scent. The statement that it cleans better than a leading competitor names no competitor, so it tells you little. We read no independent review. The attraction here is the different approach, and the appliance name behind it. The seller was a parts dealer when we checked, so check the seller and return terms.
Why we like it
- From a major appliance brand
- Works on all brands, per the listing
- Keeps working between washes, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 10FFPRDT01 |
|---|---|
| Count or size | 6 count |
| Format | Packets |
| Used with dishes | Read the box |
| How often, per maker | Not stated on the listing |
| Key ingredient or claim | Probiotic formula |
| Certification stated | Not stated |
| Bottle or pack note | Light lemon scent |
Why we recommend it
Try this if you are curious about a probiotic cleaner, or already use Frigidaire’s ReadyClean line and want one supplier.
Skip it if you want evidence beyond a maker’s claim. We found none to report here.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Different method from acid or oxy
- Claims cover odor and limescale
- Fits any brand
Cons
- Competitor claim names no one
- Third-party seller when we checked
- No stated schedule on the listing
8. Bastion Dishwasher Cleaner Tablets, 24 Count – Largest Pack Here
Bastion is an Amazon-first brand, and we include it for the size of the pack. The 24 tablets are sold as a 12-month supply, which means two tablets a month rather than one, and the listing doesn’t spell out why. Put one in the detergent compartment and run a normal wash cycle.
It claims to remove grease, grime, limescale and buildup and suits all major dishwasher brands, per the listing. The claim about extending the machine’s life is one we would not lean on, since nothing we read supports it. There is no certification stated and no independent review we can point to. It is here for buyers who want a large pack and accept that the evidence is thin.
Why we like it
- Long-lasting pack
- Lemon scent
- Simple use in a normal cycle
Key specifications
| Model | RBDWC24 |
|---|---|
| Count or size | 24 tablets |
| Format | Tablet |
| Used with dishes | Follow the label |
| How often, per maker | Twelve-month supply, per the listing |
| Key ingredient or claim | Targets grease, limescale, buildup |
| Certification stated | Not stated |
| Bottle or pack note | Amazon-first brand |
Why we recommend it
It fits a household that runs the machine hard and would rather buy once a year.
Skip it if certification matters to you. Affresh, Lemi Shine and Seventh Generation state theirs.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Big pack
- Simple routine
- Fits major brands, per the listing
Cons
- Amazon-first brand with thin evidence
- No certification stated
- Longevity claim is unsupported here
How to choose a dishwasher cleaner
Decide what the problem is
Smell and hard-water film are different problems. For odor, a monthly tablet or pack is usually where to start. For cloudy glasses and scale, look for a named acid such as citric acid or a product that names limescale. If your dishes come out gritty, check the filter first.
Clean the filter before you buy anything
Consumer Reports quotes its dishwasher lead, Larry Ciufo, on food trapped in manual filters as a cause of odor. Maytag’s Lindsay Jones tells CR to clean the filter monthly, while Bosch says every few months, so check your manual. A cleaner tablet can’t fix a clogged filter. Scrub the door gasket too, since CR’s Maytag expert says mold and mildew can collect there.
Loaded or empty
Affresh and the Finish tablets can run with dishes. The Finish liquid and the Seventh Generation packs need an empty machine. Bosch’s own instructions for its cleaner also call for an empty machine and the hottest, longest cycle, so a maker’s guidance for your machine may decide this for you.
Bleach and stainless steel
Affresh says not to use chlorine bleach to clean a stainless steel dishwasher, and a GE Appliances expert tells Consumer Reports the same. Never mix an acidic cleaner with bleach.
How we picked these eight cleaners
We have not used these products ourselves. We chose named makers with clear directions, and we covered tablets, liquids, powders and packs. Our search for independent comparisons turned up mostly affiliate lists without a stated method, so we did not use them. The page leans on maker instructions, Amazon listings and the appliance experts quoted by Consumer Reports. We capped Amazon-first brands and included one. Bosch makes a cleaner for its machines, but the listing we found was from a third-party seller with little detail, so we left it out.
Dishwasher cleaning tablets and other questions
How often should I use dishwasher cleaning tablets?
Affresh, Finish tablets, Lemi Shine and Seventh Generation all suggest monthly use. Finish liquid says every three months. Follow the box you buy.
Are dishwasher cleaning tablets the same as detergent pods?
No. Detergent cleans your dishes, and a cleaner targets buildup in the machine. Our dishwasher pods guide covers detergent.
Can I use vinegar instead?
A GE Appliances expert tells Consumer Reports that on a machine with no self-cleaning cycle, you can run a cup of white vinegar in a dishwasher-safe container on the top rack through the hottest cycle. Your manual may advise otherwise, so check it first.
Does a small or countertop machine need something different?
Finish names small dishwashers. Otherwise, go by your manual. If you are shopping for one, see our countertop dishwasher guide.
Our final pick for a cleaner machine
Buy Affresh for the most flexible routine, and Lemi Shine if hard water is the real trouble. If scale also shows up in your kettle or coffee maker, our descaler guide is the next stop.