Hi, I’m Beth!
I'm an eco-conscious consumer with a PhD and I have spent the last several years researching and testing the best eco-friendly products on the market.
The Best Dishwasher Detergent of 2025:
My husband and I came across dishwasher detergent sheets as a lightweight and plastic free alternative to the large, heavy and messy plastic liquid detergent jugs. We tested the top dishwasher detergent sheet brand on the market for cleaning effectiveness, residue on dishes, dishwasher compatibility, and packaging. Our winner is also running a 15% off sale for January - that's only $12.75 for a 1 month supply! Here are my results:
Our results
HeySunday
4.9/5
I also reviewed these diapers
Platinum Pods
4.3/5
Cascade Liquid
3.9/5
Why we think dishwasher sheets are better than liquid detergent, pods or powder
The detergent sheet brand we tested🔬
How we tested dishwasher detergent
- Used equally dirty dishes - We put four dishes into the dishwasher each time: a pan used to cook eggs, a dish with ketchup on it, a dish with cream cheese and a cup with cranberry juice.
- Washed dirty dishes with each brand - We ran the dishwasher with each of the different types of detergent and unloaded the dishes when it finished running.
- Graded each detergent sheet using the following criteria:
✅ Cleaning effectiveness
✅ Amount of leftover residue on dishes
✅ Dishwasher compatibility
✅ Packaging - Selected A Winner Based On The Results - We ranked each detergent sheet on a score of 1-5 for each of the different critera and summed up the results.
The best detergent sheet we tried: HeySunday
★ Winner ★
HeySunday
Best overall clean.- Removed residue well.
- Sparkling clean silverware.
- Easy to open packaging.
- Small envelope for storage.
- Excellent customer service.
- 100% plastic free packaging.
- Ships from Richmond, Virginia.
- Third-party tested.
- Dissolves in warm and hot water.
- Works on all machine types.
- Only $15 for a 1-month supply.
They aren't available on Amazon.
⭐ Overall Rating ️
Our ABSOLUTE favorite! HeySunday detergent sheets completely cleaned all dishes, was easy to use, cost effective AND gentle on the environment. It's a win-win-win! This was an effective dish cleaner and grime remover and left my family's dirty dishes looking amazing! This detergent sheet left no residue on my dishes and is 100% plastic jug free and compostable.
❤️ What I love ️
This is the easiest to use and most effective detergent we tried. I loved how this detergent made my dishes look and feel. Dishes were left sparkling fresh and clean with just one sheet!
Another thing we loved about HeySunday is their team and story. The company is run by moms! They started the company to find ways to make cleaning and household chores easier. The CEO is a single mom with two boys and I love supporting a brand and business that I can believe in.
HeySunday is my family's new go to!
They're also offering a limited time, 15% off New Year sale.
🙈 What could be better
Honestly I can't think of very many things I would change about this product (other than I wish these were around 20 years ago!). If I had to pick one, it's that they are not available on Amazon, but honestly for such a high quality product I'll order it straight from the store.
📄 Description
"We believe that small acts can have a big impact. We are dedicated to creating products of the highest quality, are ease to use, and effective. HeySunday is dishes made easier!"
💪 A powerful clean and food residue remover with none of the harmful packaging
Left my family's dirtiest dishes smelling fresh and clean and had clean packaging that is fully compostable.
🌱 Sustainable production
A zero waste, plastic free, lightweight, mess-free, and biodegradable detergent alternative.
✨ Dissolves instantly and safe for your darks and whites
Safe for all types of dishes and it dissolves in warm and hot water, not just hot!
🔒 Safe for all dishwasher machines:
Works for all kinds of dishwasher machines and cycles! This doesn't need boiling hot water to dissolve fully, so you can use it for quick wash cycles (but if you are using a pre-wash cycle, you do need to put the sheet into the dishwasher detergent container!).
- Subtle fresh scent.
- Best for lightly dirty dishes.
- Leaves glasses sparkling clean.
- No plastic residue on most washes.
- Easy to use.
- Heavy plastic bin with no easy carrier.
- Sometimes left residue in dispenser.
- Only fully dissolve in very hot water.
- Pods stick together in the container.
⭐ Overall Rating
We found Cascade Platinum Pods to be a dependable and powerful solution for most dishwashing needs. They consistently delivered excellent cleaning performance, leaving dishes spotless and glassware sparkling. Occasionally, we noticed that the pods didn’t dissolve completely in shorter cycles, but overall, they worked effectively on a variety of loads.
❤️ What we love ️
The Fresh Scent was a highlight, leaving a subtle, clean fragrance after each wash without being overpowering. We also appreciated the convenience of the all-in-one formula, which includes a built-in rinse aid and action against hard water spots, saving time and effort.
🙈 What could be better
One issue we encountered was the pods occasionally being slightly misshapen, making it difficult for them to fit in the detergent dispenser. Additionally, while they performed exceptionally well on everyday messes, heavily baked-on food sometimes required an extra pre-rinse or additional cleaning.
📄 Description
"Cascade Platinum Pods are designed to tackle tough messes with ease, delivering superior cleaning power to leave your dishes sparkling clean every time. With their advanced formula, these pods simplify the dishwashing process and keep your machine running at its best."
- Safe for all dishwasher machine types.
- Good stain and grime removal.
- No residue in the dishwasher.
- Nothing to clump or stick together.
- Big, heavy plastic bottles.
- Need to measure each time.
- Confusing to know how much to use.
- Only dissolves in hot water.
⭐ Overall Rating
We found Cascade Liquid Detergent to be a solid option for everyday dishwashing needs. It delivered good results on most loads, leaving dishes relatively clean and glassware streak-free. However, it occasionally struggled with tougher messes, like baked-on food, especially without pre-rinsing.
❤️ What we love️
The liquid formula is easy to use and allows for flexible dosing depending on the load size. The Fresh Scent was a nice touch, leaving a subtle and clean fragrance in the dishwasher. It performed well on lightly soiled dishes, making it a convenient choice for quick, everyday cleanups.
🙈 What could be better
One issue we encountered was that it sometimes left behind slight residue on certain items, particularly plastics. Additionally, it wasn’t as effective on heavily soiled or greasy dishes, requiring extra effort or pre-rinsing to achieve better results.
📄 Description
"Cascade Liquid Detergent is designed to simplify dishwashing with its easy-to-use formula, offering reliable cleaning for everyday messes. With a fresh scent and consistent performance on lighter loads, it’s a convenient choice for regular use."
- Worked well with small loads.
- No powder residue left on dishes.
- Free shipping on orders over $12.99.
- Free of phosphorous.
- Multiple tablets needed for larger loads.
- Ingredients listed felt vague.
- Unclear if free of 1,4 dioxane.
⭐ Overall Rating
I was excited to try Blueland Dishwasher Tablets because of their plastic-free, eco-conscious design. It’s refreshing to see a product that prioritizes sustainability. Unfortunately, the performance fell short in a few key areas. While they worked decently on lightly soiled dishes, they struggled with tougher messes and didn’t always fit well in the detergent dispensing compartment, which was frustrating.
❤️ What we love️
The plastic-free design was a huge draw for me. Knowing I was using a product that aligned with sustainable values felt great. The compact size and simple packaging also showed thoughtfulness in reducing waste. On lightly soiled loads, they performed adequately, leaving some dishes reasonably clean.
🙈 What could be better
One of the most frustrating issues was that the tablets didn’t fit properly in my dishwasher’s detergent compartment, often requiring me to break them into smaller pieces. Additionally, they struggled with baked-on or greasy messes, often leaving residue or requiring a second wash. While I appreciate the environmental benefits, I was disappointed by the lack of consistent cleaning power.
📄 Description
"Blueland Dishwasher Tablets are crafted to minimize waste with their plastic-free, environmentally friendly design. They aim to deliver a sustainable solution for your dishwashing needs, though their performance may vary depending on the level of soiling."
- 90% plastic-free packaging.
- Good removal of light grime and food.
- Works in all machine types.
- Offer other plastic-free products.
- Came in a box that was hard to open.
- They come in a heavy pack.
- The powder is wrapped in plastic.
- Did not clean pots and pans well.
⭐ Overall Rating
I had high hopes for Seventh Generation Powder given its reputation as an environmentally friendly brand. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. The cleaning performance was inconsistent, and I was disappointed to find that the powder was wrapped in plastic, which felt contradictory to its eco-friendly claims.
❤️ What we love️
The fragrance-free formula is appreciated by those sensitive to scents. Some users have noted that it cleans well without leaving an odor. The powder format allows for adjustable dosing, which can be economical.
🙈 What could be better
The detergent struggled with removing crusted-on foods, often leaving residue that required hand-washing or soaking to remove completely. This inconsistency in cleaning performance is frustrating. Moreover, the plastic-coated packaging is not recyclable, undermining the product's eco-friendly appeal.
📄 Description
"Seventh Generation's Dishwasher Detergent Powder aims to provide a powerful clean with plant-based enzymes, free from chlorine bleach and phosphates. However, its inconsistent performance on tough food stains and non-recyclable plastic-coated packaging may not meet the expectations of environmentally conscious consumers."
Why We Chose HeySunday.
So to recap, I didn't go into this thinking I'd fall in love with a dishwasher detergent sheet product, especially a product that wasn't on Amazon, but I am absolutely in love with HeySunday. HeySunday's dishwasher detergent sheets were leaps and bounds better than any other product we tested and checked all of my boxes on clean dishes, ease of use, packaging, and residue. Additionally, given the company's commitment to sustainability I could feel confident the product I was buying wasn't some greenwashed, over marketed product whose eco-friendly claims weren't all they were cracked up to be.
The HeySunday's detergent sheets were the only brand that left my family's dishes clean after washing and could actually stand up to toughest cooking stains with only 1 sheet! Talk about effective.
Overall I'm thrilled I have found a detergent that is not only tough on stains but isn't tough on our planet. This conscious consumer is definitely very happy!
Thanks for reading!
Eco-conscious consumer, avid hiker, and mother.
