When using a dishwasher, the user must select a special detergent for its use.[1] All detergents are designed for use after the user scrapes leftover food from the dishes before washing.[2] To function, the user places dishes in the dishwasher in such fashion that the surface of all dishes is open to the flow of water.[2]
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Dishwasher detergent can be categorised into three main groups:[3][4][5]
Powder is a typically budget-friendly detergent, containing powders or granules of water softeners and buffers (e.g. sodium tripolyphosphate), anti-caking agents, and surfactants. Unlike other types of detergent, powders have a much higher percentage of alkaline builders (up to 45-70% sodium carbonate and 5-30% silicates by weight).[6][7]
Gel or liquid detergent is mostly water, with less than 10% builder by weight. It also contains a high concentration of sulfates (20-50% w/w) to control density and even pouring, bind ingredients, prevent corrosion in the washing system, and as a water softener.[7][8]
Pods (also called pac(ket)s or tab(let)s) are either small, concentrated bricks of compressed powdered detergent or concentrated liquid detergent encased in a poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) packet.[5][7]
Composition
Different kinds of dishwashing detergent contain different combinations of ingredients. Common ingredients include:[5][7]
Phosphates: Bind calcium and magnesium ions to prevent 'hard-water' type limescale deposits. They can cause ecological damage, and have been partially banned or phased out.
Oxygen-based bleaching agents (older-style powders and liquids contain chlorine-based bleaching agents): Break up and bleach organic deposits.
Non-ionic surfactants: Lower the surface tension of the water, emulsifies oil, lipid and fat food deposits, prevents droplet spotting on drying.
Anti-foaming agents:[citation needed] Foam interferes with the washing action. Foam may affect operation of the machine's water-level sensors and will leak past the door seals.
Additives to slow down the removal of glaze & patterns from glazed ceramics
Inexpensive powders may contain sand[citation needed]. Such detergents may harm the dishes and the dishwasher. Powdered detergents are more likely to cause fading on china patterns.[13]
Besides older style detergents for dishwashers, biodegradable detergents also exist for dishwashers. These detergents may be more environmentally friendly than conventional detergents.
Hand-washing dish detergent (washing up liquid) creates a large foam of bubbles which will leak from the dishwasher.[14]
Rinse aid
Rinse aid (sometimes called rinse agent) contains surfactants and uses Marangoni stress to prevent droplet formation, so that water drains from the surfaces in thin sheets, rather than forming droplets.[citation needed]
Rinse aid prevents "spotting" on glassware (caused by droplets of water drying and leaving behind dissolved limescale minerals), and improves drying performance as there is less water remaining to be dried, and a thinner sheet of water has a much larger surface area than a droplet of the same volume.
1234Meesters, J. a. J.; Nijkamp, M. M.; Schuur, A. G.; Biesebeek, J. D. te (2018), "Dishwashing products", Cleaning Products Fact Sheet: Default parameters for estimating consumer exposure: Updated version 2018 [Internet], National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, retrieved 2025-12-23
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