Complete Powder Dishwasher Detergent, Fresh Scent, 75 oz, White

Cascade is my go-to choice for dishwasher detergent. It always leaves my dishes perfectly clean! I’ve tried several dishwasher detergents over the years — pods, gels, and powders — and Cascade Complete Powder consistently delivers the most reliable clean. What stands out most is its ability to cut through tough, dried-on food without needing to pre-rinse. Even after a full load that includes casserole dishes, coffee mugs, and glassware, everything comes out spotless with no cloudy residue or water spots. The powder dissolves completely, even in shorter or eco cycles, which hasn’t always been my experience with other brands. I appreciate that I can adjust how much I use depending on the load size — a small but important advantage over pre-measured pods. The light, fresh scent is subtle and not overpowering, and the interior of my dishwasher actually looks cleaner after repeated use. A small tip: store the box in a dry cabinet or transfer it to an airtight container to keep the powder from clumping, especially in humid environments. Overall, this detergent strikes the perfect balance between performance and value. It’s dependable, efficient, and leaves dishes sparkling clean every single time. I’ll definitely keep this as my go-to for daily use.

This is not only the best type of detergent for the dishwasher, but the 75oz at under $7 is the best value of this type. We had spotting issues with pods and often had to run some dishes again to get them clean. After some research I found the 2 main issues with pods. They don't put any detergent into the pre-wash cycle, and put too much detergent into the main load for us. We have 2 stages of whole home water filtration and a softener, so it takes less detergent. We split the same amount of powder detergent for the full fill between the regular load and pre-wash sections and have not had to re-wash any dishes in over a year. It works much better than the pods, and we don't have issues with partially dissolved pods getting stuck, spotting, or dirty dishes after the load. It is marginally more difficult than the pods since you have to pull open the metal pour tab and not over-pour it in to the dispenser of the dishwasher, but still easy enough. I have not used a gel or any other powders, mostly because I can't find other powders at a reasonable cost and I feel the powder is less likely to make the cover of the dispenser stick.

How can you beat the low, low, low price of this Cascade DW powder? You can't. It's so good at cleaning, and only 9¢ per ounce! I'm guessing it's approximately 9¢ per regular full load (2 Tbl = 1 ounce). Look at the (micro)plastic wrapped pods' prices. That's a BIG difference just to not have to pour it out. Seems silly to me. Here are some tips: I have very hard water in my rental, no water softener. Often there will be a film that vinegar can get rid of, by hand washing after, but who wants to do that? Not me. Trying to justify the more expensive DW detergents I looked at their ingredients. Huh - they simply add "Citric acid"! Then charge 3x the price ! Citric acid is inexpensive, made from the peels of citrus like lemon, grapefruit, etc., so it's also environmentally friendly, and so it's also less chemicals in our homes and Mother Earth. I buy that in powder form (a wind Mill pictured on front of package) and add about 1-2 teaspoons, basically just covering the bottoms of the soap and prewash pockets. (There's lots of other uses for citric acid BTW). Then fill the rest of the pockets with Cascade powder (using less or more depending on how dirty &/or how many items there are). Perfect! Glasses are clear and dishes sparkle, everything is clean! Now, 1 reason we're buying powder is to eliminate Plastic right? Another is to better regulate the amount of DW detergent we use per the type & size of load, but also... Ever have a pot or pan that, oops! got burnt crud on the bottom somehow? Simply put some Cascade in it, a spoonful or so, fill with enough hot water to cover burnt areas and soak overnight. It'll be so easy to clean in the a.m.! If it's really bad, or it didn't clean it completely, do same but boil the water & Cascade for 10 minutes B4 leaving it to soak a minimum of a few hours, best overnight. You'll be amazed! How are people getting the DW powder wet?!? (a few reviews complain about clumping...). They can't pour apparently (even tho any spillage will simply do the prewash bit) and the wrapped cardboard container (again, not plastic, yay!) surely will get wet if lots of water/liquid gets on it. If it's sitting in liquids obviously the detergent will then get wet also and ultimately dry in clumps, not powder anymore. Huh??? What are they doing getting it so wet in the 1st place? Don't understand this basic logic, unless maybe they're trying to justify the $$$ cost of plastic pods to cover their laziness and lack of basic skills? Seems easy enough to me to keep it dry. And takes what? a few extra *seconds* to pour vs throwing in a plastic pod. And believe me, I am no Suzy Homemaker. All in all, at 1/10 - 1/3 of the price of plastic wrapped pods, even with the additional citric acid, you just can't beat Cascade powder! I won't use anything else. Highly recommend!

This is the original go-to for a reason. I have tried several different pods and liquids, but I always come back to this powder. It dissolves completely and never leaves that chalky residue on my glassware. It handles stuck-on food easily and leaves everything smelling fresh without being too perfumed. It is a reliable, high-quality detergent that always delivers consistent results.

I am tired of the quality of every dishwasher soap pod and tablet. Finish used to have the best tablets, sold in a tub of 96 for around $15. Apparently, that was not making them enough money so they reduced the count to 80, placed each tablet in an indestructible bag, and raised the price to over $20. It takes forever to get soap in the dishwasher with those horrible little packages and the amount of waste packaging it creates is embarrassing. Cascade is no better with their pods. The gel skins stick to each other so you end up with a nasty mess in a bucket under your sink counter. A wad of useless dish soap that goes in the trash, wasting money. I am done. I am going back to powder dish soap. Powder dish soap is cheap and you get plenty of loads out of a box. I went with Cascade because it used to be the best and they don't seem to have adulterated the soap. It cleans well and leaves my dishes streak free. The smell is ok. I can use as much as I want or need so it is the perfect size. the box fits easily under the sink, takes up way less space than the bulbous tubs for pods. Screw the pods and tablets. Go with the powder. I am so much happier with it.

Let me start by saying I’ve seen a lot in my years of dishwashing drama—crusty lasagna pans that laugh in the face of soap, coffee mugs with stains so stubborn they could double as modern art, and silverware that emerges from the dishwasher looking like it’s been on a camping trip. But then I discovered Cascade Dishwasher Powder Detergent, and oh boy, it’s like I invited a superhero into my kitchen! Five stars isn’t enough—this stuff deserves a cape and a theme song. Here’s the full, hilarious saga of how this powder transformed my dishwashing woes into a stand-up routine. First off, the packaging. It arrived in a sturdy box, looking like it meant business. I ripped it open with the enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning, only to be greeted by a bright yellow bag of what looked like powdered sunshine. The instructions were simple: scoop, load, and let the machine do its thing. Easy enough, right? Famous last words. I grabbed my measuring scoop (because I’m a rule-follower when it comes to not blowing up my kitchen) and dumped a generous portion into the dispenser. The powder glittered slightly under my kitchen lights, and I swear I heard a faint “poof” sound effect, like it was ready to cast a spell. I loaded my dishwasher with the usual suspects: a casserole dish that had been marinating in baked-on cheese for three days, a set of wine glasses with lipstick smudges that looked like abstract paintings, and a fork that had tangled with some particularly sticky spaghetti sauce. I hit start, crossed my fingers, and waited. Now, I’ll be honest—I’ve been burned before by “dishwasher detergents” that promise the moon but deliver a puddle of disappointment. So, I wasn’t holding my breath. But oh, how wrong I was! When the cycle finished, I opened the door, and it was like the heavens parted. My dishes gleamed like they’d been hand-polished by a team of Michelin-starred chefs. The casserole dish? Spotless. The wine glasses? Crystal clear, with not a hint of that rogue lipstick. The fork? Shining brighter than my future prospects after a good night’s sleep. I half-expected a choir of angels to start singing, but instead, I just stood there, mouth agape, wondering if I’d accidentally invented a time machine that transported my dishes to a parallel universe of cleanliness. But let’s talk about the real magic here—the grease. You know that greasy film that clings to plates after a particularly oily stir-fry? The kind that makes you question if your dishwasher is secretly a grease spa? Cascade annihilated it. I’m talking full-on annihilation, like a sci-fi laser beam vaporizing an alien invasion. One scoop of this powder, and the grease didn’t just melt—it surrendered unconditionally. I ran my finger over a plate, and it was smoother than a politician’s promise. I even caught myself whispering, “Impressive… most impressive,” in my best Darth Vader impression. Now, I should mention the scent. It’s not overpowering, which is a relief because I don’t want my kitchen smelling like a perfume factory explosion. Instead, it’s a clean, fresh aroma—like someone opened a window after a spring rain. My husband wandered in, sniffed the air, and asked if I’d hired a cleaning fairy. I laughed and pointed to the Cascade box like it was my new best friend. He was skeptical until I showed him the dishes. His jaw dropped, and he immediately demanded I order a year’s supply. I think he’s planning to propose to the powder next. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. About halfway through my first load, I noticed something peculiar. My dishwasher started making… noises. Not the usual hum and swish, but a series of rhythmic beeps that sounded suspiciously like Morse code. I leaned in closer, and—call me crazy—I swear it was saying, “Thank you.” I blinked, rubbed my eyes, and checked the manual, but there was no mention of sentient appliances. By the end of the cycle, I was convinced my dishwasher had developed a personality, and it was grateful for the upgrade from its previous detergent, which I now realize was basically dishwater-flavored sawdust. The next load, I swear I heard a faint, “Keep it coming!” I’m not saying Cascade turns your dishwasher into a chatty Cathy, but I’m also not not saying it. The real test came when I decided to push the limits. I threw in a baking sheet that had been through a chocolate chip cookie apocalypse—think melted chocolate, butter, and sugar fused into a culinary crime scene. I added a couple of bowls caked with dried oatmeal that had the consistency of concrete, and a knife that had been used to spread peanut butter so thick it could’ve been a sandwich filling on its own. I doubled the scoop (because why not?), started the machine, and waited with popcorn in hand—this was better than a Netflix binge. When I opened the door, I nearly dropped my snack. The baking sheet looked like it had never met a cookie. The oatmeal bowls? Spotless, as if they’d never harbored a single oat. The peanut butter knife? Gleaming like it was fresh from the factory. I stood there, dumbfounded, wondering if I should send Cascade a thank-you note or nominate it for a Nobel Prize in Chemistry. My kitchen smelled like victory, and I felt like a domestic god. Of course, no product is perfect, and I do have one tiny complaint. After a few loads, my dishwasher started demanding a tip. I’m not kidding—every time I opened it, there was this faint clinking sound, and I could’ve sworn I saw a little note in the steam that read, “Service fee: $1.” I laughed it off, but now I leave a dollar bill on the counter just in case. It’s a small price to pay for dishes that look like they’re ready for a photo shoot. My friends came over for dinner the next night, and they couldn’t stop complimenting the sparkle. One of them asked if I’d hired a professional cleaner. I just grinned and pointed to my Cascade stash, now proudly displayed like a trophy. In all seriousness, this detergent has saved me hours of scrubbing and spared me the existential dread of hand-washing. It’s eco-friendly enough to make me feel good about my choices, and it works so well I’m considering using it as a secret weapon for other household messes (don’t tell my carpet). The value is unbeatable—my dishes are happier, my dishwasher is sassier, and I’m the hero of my own kitchen comedy. If you’re tired of battling grime and losing, do yourself a favor and get Cascade Dishwasher Powder Detergent. Just don’t be surprised if your appliances start sending you thank-you notes—or tipping requests. Highly recommend!

Works great, much cheaper than pods and aslo does a better job of cleaning dishes because you can make use of the prewash compartment. Scent is not too strong, and product is easy to use due to the pour spout on the side.

Way better than pods, tabs, or liquids! Takes the same amount of effort as the other options with way less cost and waste. It’s odd that the other options became more popular…good marketing I guess. I casually pour about 1-2 tablespoons (no measuring!) into the main compartment and the pre-wash compartment to get the same benefits of prewash as those multi part pods. I also run the sink on hot into the water is full temperature so that the dishwasher starts with hot water during the pre wash. Everything comes out clean every time for about $7 every three months. Such a deal!