For more ways to keep your household running smoothly, sign up for our Home newsletter – it's free monthly. The lemon-and-lime-scented tablets come in boxes made from 100% recycled cardboard and they are also cruelty-free while promising to be tough on grease and dried-on food. Finally, ensuring dishwasher salt is topped up will keep the machine cleaner. How we test dishwasher tablets The only downside is that the capsules are quite large, so might not fit in every dishwasher. However, some reviewers found that they could fold the capsule and fit it in the dispenser without any problems. Washing dishes in a dishwasher is certainly more efficient than washing up by hand, but to make sure you’re being 100% efficient, make sure you’re buying the best detergent for the job.

The best dishwasher tablets to buy are the Finish Quantum Ultimate. They come with built-in rinse aid and salt actions, promising to cut through grease and baked-on food the first time round while protecting glasses from water spots to leave them gleaming. They’re suitable for those wanting to be more eco-friendly as the wrappers are 100% biodegradable and the tablets also work at lower temperatures. How we chose our recommendations

4. Best all-in-one dishwasher tablets: Fairy Platinum Plus Dishwasher Tablets

So say your final goodbyes to sponges, cloths and endless scrubbing with our range of dishwasher tablets. The tip, which was posted on the Mums Who Clean Facebook group, recommends that you pop four dishwasher tablets into the drum on a hot wash. The water turns brown as it cleans out the inside of the washing machine and, when it drains, the drum is left gleaming. I use Fairy Platinum Plus [tablets] which do the job.” (Recommended by Mumsnet user username4214) Our verdict

Once you’ve closed the dishwasher door, the dispenser will open and start depositing the detergent into the hot water that’s filling in the bottom of your machine. The hot water dissolves and releases the ingredients within the tablet and these are then pumped around the dishwasher. What are dishwasher tablets made from?While their dishwasher tablets aren't included in this price match, we decided to compare the two supermarket rivals, to see how their own brand dishwasher tablets performed. Here’s the results Sainsbury's All In One Dishwasher Tablets, Lemon x30 These Ecozone Ultra All-In-One Dishwasher Tablets leave dishes shiny and streak-free and are suitable for vegans and allergy sufferers too. If you live in a hard water area, more dishwasher salt and rinse aid will be required to keep your dishwasher running smoothly. No matter what dishwasher tablets you use, if your machine is dirty you’ll never get the best results. Some dishwasher cleaners require you to put the dishwasher on empty, which can be frustrating when you have piles of dirty plates waiting to go in. However, Finish has developed the In-Wash tablets so that you can clean your dishes at the same time. As well as being really good value, they also work just as well as other more expensive brands, leaving dishes clean and glasses streak-free and gleaming, even on a short cycle. These triple-chamber tablets not only save you time on rinsing and cleaning but also help care for your dishwasher with built-in detergent, salt and anti-corrosive ingredients.

If you want to choose an environmentally-friendly option, look for plant-based ingredients, which are also vegan and cruelty-free as well as being suitable for septic tanks.

How do dishwasher tablets work?

With our dishwasher tablets, you don’t need to use sponges and cloths. Let the tablets do the hard work for you, while you enjoy soft and moisturised hands. Leaving you with more time to enjoy the things you love. While other tablets can leave a cloudy residue behind, reviewers have found these powder and liquid capsules keep glasses shiny, even after multiple washes. They also promise to prevent the build-up of grease in your dishwasher and clean your filter, while leaving your machine smelling lemony fresh (although the lemon scent might linger on your dishes and leave an unpleasant aftertaste). After placing a dishwasher tablet in the dispenser (or in the bottom of your dishwasher) and selecting the wash cycle you want, many of us don’t spare a thought for how dishwasher tablets actually work. But here’s how those small tablets get your dishes, cutlery and pans sparkling. If you want minimal faff then an all-in-one dishwasher tablet is the way to go - and Fairy’s Platinum Plus Dishwasher Tablets have everything you could need. If you’re trying to make your home more environmentally-friendly, Ecover’s Classic Dishwasher Tablets are made with renewable plant-based and mineral ingredients.

No one else tests like Which? – our independent lab tests recreate the tough dried-on food and drink you put in your dishwasher.

How we chose our recommendations

On top of this, an old mug of hot chocolate looked like it hadn't been washed at all, which was very disappointing. Granted, this small issue wasn't the end of the world, but it did mean I had to rewash some mugs and glasses. Here I’ll discuss how water hardness changes the amount of salt and rinse aid your dishwasher needs. I’ll also examine popular all-in-one tablets to see how well they perform the salt and rinse aid functions. How Water Hardness Affects the Amount of Salt and Rinse Aid Your Dishwasher Needs The only other thing I noticed was that mugs weren’t always coming out quite as gleaming as I’d like, with a few stubborn tea and coffee stains lingering in the bottom. But overall I was pleased with the performance of this budget box and I’ll be switching from now on.