• Burnt milk, dried oatmeal, coffee and tea deposits - check how popular dishwasher tablets deal with such stains.
• 60 tests, 750 results - UOKiK presents the results of the latest test.
• In a month, we will examine dishwashing liquids.

Spotlessly clean dishes? No lime scale or deposits inside the dishwasher? Which of the washing tablets will work best for you? Increasingly often, consumers expect a single dishwasher tablet to be a multi-purpose one and available at a reasonable price. They give a glossy finish, protect the dishwasher, remove dirt - this is what manufacturers declare. Is it really so? We checked it in our laboratories.

“Following the tests of washing powders, which were very well received by consumers and the market, the time has come for dishwasher tablets. We do see a strong need to perform a series of independent benchmarking tests. There are no such reports available on the Polish market, so we will regularly present the results of our tests. In the next edition of the series “UOKiK testuje” we will help consumers choose their dishwashing liquids,” says President of UOKiK Tomasz Chróstny.

How did we choose the dishwasher tablets?

We tested the 10 most popular brands of dishwasher tablets selected on the basis of market research, which was conducted for us by the Trade Inspection Authority in supermarkets, discount stores and drugstores. Three of them are private labels: Lewiatan, Biedronka and Lidl. All tablets have a multipurpose formula, mainly "all in one", i.e. in addition to the standard cleaning functions, they have additional features indicated by the manufacturer, e.g. glossing or water softening.

The tests were carried out by employees of the UOKiK accredited laboratory in Bydgoszcz in September. The tablets passed a total of 60 different tests, during which we obtained 750 partial results.

What did we test?

We tested how tablets deal with several types of soil left on different dishes for 3, 24 and 72 hours. We chose popular types of soil, generally considered difficult to remove:

• dried oatmeal, which during washing behaves similarly to dirt from other dense and sticky starch-rich foods such as groats, pasta, potatoes or rice;
• burnt milk to see how the tablets deal with the washing up of heavily sticky foods such as scrambled eggs, omelets or sauces;
• coffee or tea deposits.

We also assessed whether the net weight and number of tablets comply with the manufacturer's declaration on the label, whether the product dissolves completely during washing and whether it leaves no streaks and leaves the dishes glossy.

What have we found out? Detailed results

The tests proved that the washing efficiency depends on the type of soil and the time for which we left the dishes dirty. The longer they wait to be washed, the poorer the tablets deal with removing the soil. After 3 hours the average washing efficiency was 96%. If the dishes waited for one day to be washed, the efficiency dropped to 89%. The next 2 days reduced it to less than 84%.

Finish brand tablets proved to be the best in action - they removed all soil, even those of three days, with 100% efficiency. Filip and W5 proved to be almost as effective. Kraft brand tablets dealt with the soil the worst - they removed less than 80% of the soil.

The tests showed that the easiest to remove were coffee deposits, while the most difficult were the stains from burnt milk.

All tested tablets dissolved very easily during washing, left no streaks and the dishes were glossy when taken out of the dishwasher. We were surprised by the quantity of tablets in the packaging - some manufacturers packed less (Ludwik) or more (Brilly, Sunlight) than indicated on the label. In turn, the net weight of each tested product was consistent with the declaration.

We also calculated the cost per tablet and evaluated the quality/price ratio. We found out that the cheapest tablets are offered by the Big Efekt brand (price per tablet is 33 grosz).

“We want to support Poles in informed consumer choices by providing independent and objective test results for products available on the market, as well as by comparing their properties with their counterparts on other European Union markets. Polish consumer has the right to be offered top quality products,” says President of UOKiK Tomasz Chróstny.

Hints and tips for consumers:

1. Compare prices

When choosing dishwasher tablets, pay attention to the number of counts in the package. Calculate the price for one tablet, that is one washing cycle. You will also find it on a tag in the store. Compare offers from different brands, taking into account product properties. Remember that it usually pays to buy bigger packaging.

2. Hard or soft water?

Check water hardness. If soft water flows from the tap, you may be able to reduce the amount of chemicals used by applying, for example, standard tablets. This way you take care of the environment and wash your dishes more cost-effectively, with equally effective soil removal. You can check water hardness on the website of the waterworks company or yourself by buying testers designed for this purpose. This information will also be useful for dosing laundry detergents and all washing substances, e.g. shampoo or bath lotions.

3. Ecology

If you are looking for tablets that do not pollute the waters of our planet, choose those phosphate-free. Fortunately, they are increasingly rare in household cleaning agents. Also make sure that the tablets are packed in a film that dissolves in water. This way your hands will avoid contact with aggressive chemicals.

4. You can count on the assistance of the Trade Inspection Authority

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection kindly reminds that any objections concerning the marking, quality and safety of products may be reported to the Provincial Inspectorate of the Trade Inspection Authority. Download the results of the second test from uokik.gov.pl. In the report you will find recommendations and analyses of dishwasher tablets.

Consumer support:

Phone: +48 801 440 220 or +48 22 290 89 16 – consumer helpline
e-mail: porady@dlakonsumentow.pl
Consumer ombudsmen – in your town or district
Provincial Trade Inspection Authority Offices

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland
Phone +48 695 902 088, +48 22 55 60 246
E-mail: biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL