A dishwasher does not clean itself, however much it feels like it should. Grease, old food and limescale build up in the spray arms, the filter and the door seal, and you end up with cloudy glasses, a musty smell and dishes that come out no cleaner than they went in. A dedicated dishwasher cleaner once a month fixes all of that and adds years to the machine. These are the five we rate for 2026, picked from what is actually on UK shelves now.
We clean kitchens for a living, so we get through a lot of these. This guide is about the consumable cleaners, the tablets, liquids and sachets you run through to descale and degrease the machine itself, not the detergent that washes your plates. We have kept the cheap vinegar and bicarb method too, lower down, because it has its place between proper cleans. If the rest of the kitchen needs the same attention, our kitchen deep clean team can sort that, and there is a soft window cleaning products guide if you are working through the house.
Best dishwasher cleaners: quick comparison
| Product | Form | Targets | Best for | How often | Approx UK price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish Dishwasher Cleaner (Liquid) | Liquid bottle | Limescale, grease, odour | An easy, trusted monthly clean | Monthly to every 3 months | About £3–£5.50 |
| Dr. Beckmann Service-It Deep Clean | Powder sachet + wipe | Limescale, grease, bacteria, odour | A proper deep clean and the door seal | Every 1–2 months | About £3–£3.75 |
| Ecozone Washing Machine & Dishwasher Cleaner | Tablet | Limescale, detergent residue, odour | An eco-friendly option that still works | Monthly | About £4.99 for 6 |
| Oust Dishwasher & Washing Machine Descaler | Powder sachet | Limescale, food and detergent deposits | Cheap, fast descaling in hard water | Every 3 months | About £3–£4.50 for 2 |
| Finish In-Wash Dishwasher Cleaner | Tablet (with dishes) | Grease, grime, odour | Skipping the empty cycle | Monthly | About £4.75–£5 for 3 |
Finish Dishwasher Cleaner (Liquid)
The cleaner we hand most people: trusted, easy, and good on limescale and grease.
| Form | Liquid, 250ml bottle |
|---|---|
| Targets | Limescale, grease, hidden deposits, odour |
| Treatments per pack | 1 per bottle (also sold in 2, 4 and 8 packs) |
| Fragrance | Lemon, or unscented Regular |
| How to use | Bottle upside down in the rack, empty hot cycle of 60°C or more |
| How often | Every 1–3 months |
Reasons to buy
- Finish is the brand most people already trust, and the liquid is the one we reach for first
- Formulated to clear limescale as well as grease, so it suits hard water areas like most of London and the South East
- You see the difference on the glassware after the first cycle
- Cheap on a Clubcard or Nectar deal, often around £3 for the 250ml
Reasons to avoid
- You have to run an empty cycle, so it is less convenient than the in-wash tablets
- One bottle is one clean, which works out dearer per use than the bigger tablet packs
- The scent is light and fades fast
If you only buy one dishwasher cleaner, buy this. You take the sticker off the cap, leave the cap on, stand the bottle upside down in the bottom rack and run the machine empty on a hot cycle. The liquid empties slowly through the wash, so it reaches the spray arms, the filter housing and the pipework where grease and limescale hide. Finish say every three months; in a hard water area we would do it monthly.
It is not the cheapest per clean and it does mean running the machine empty, which the in-wash tablets at number five get around. But for a reliable result from a brand you can find in any supermarket, this is the safe pick. If the limescale in your kitchen has spread to the kettle and the taps as well, that is usually a sign your whole end of tenancy clean or deep clean needs descaling attention too.
Where to buy
Sold single or in 2, 4 and 8 packs through Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Ocado and Amazon. Affiliate links coming soon — price last checked May 2026.
Dr. Beckmann Service-It Deep Clean
The most thorough single clean here, and the only one with a seal wipe in the box.
| Form | Powder sachet plus a hygiene wipe |
|---|---|
| Targets | Limescale, grease, food residue, bacteria, odour |
| Treatments per pack | 1 deep clean per pack (75g, also in 3 and 6 packs) |
| Fragrance | Light, fresh |
| How to use | Wipe the seal, tip the powder in the tray and the base, empty cycle at 60°C or more |
| How often | Every 1–2 months |
Reasons to buy
- The hygiene wipe deals with the rubber door seal, where most of the black mould and grime actually sits
- The powder works on limescale, grease and food residue and claims to kill 99.99% of bacteria and fungi
- Best choice if the dishwasher has started to smell or you cannot remember the last clean
- Usually under £4 in most supermarkets
Reasons to avoid
- One clean per pack, so it is not the cheapest for routine monthly upkeep
- Two steps, the wipe then the powder, rather than one
When a dishwasher has gone properly grimy, this is where we start. You get a powder sachet for the inside of the machine and a separate wet wipe for the door seal and frame. That seal wipe is the bit that sets it apart, because the fold of rubber around the door is where mould and old food gather, and a powder cycle alone never reaches it. Tip some powder into the detergent tray, scatter the rest over the base, and run it empty on a hot cycle with no detergent.
It is a deep clean rather than a routine one, so the honest plan is to start here, then switch to a cheaper monthly cleaner to keep on top of it. If you have several months of build-up, run two cycles back to back. In London’s hard water this is the one we recommend most often for limescale.
Where to buy
Sold as a 75g pack with wipe, and in multipacks, through Amazon, Wilko and most supermarkets. Affiliate links coming soon — price last checked May 2026.
Ecozone Washing Machine & Dishwasher Cleaner
A plant-based tablet that descales properly, and one pack covers two machines.
| Form | Tablet |
|---|---|
| Targets | Limescale, detergent residue, odour |
| Treatments per pack | 6 tablets (one machine, one tablet) |
| Fragrance | Fragrance free |
| How to use | One tablet in an empty machine on a hot cycle |
| How often | Monthly |
Reasons to buy
- Plant-based, vegan and approved by PETA, with plastic-free packaging
- Works in the dishwasher and the washing machine, so one pack does both
- Fragrance free, which suits anyone sensitive to scented cleaners
- Six tablets at monthly use covers a good stretch for the money
Reasons to avoid
- A pack of 6 costs more up front than a single Crystale or Oust
- Fragrance free means no fresh smell afterwards, if that is what you are after
- On heavy limescale the Finish liquid or Dr. Beckmann hit harder
If you would rather not put harsh chemistry through the machine and down the drain, this is the one. The tablets are plant-based, vegan and PETA-approved, the box is plastic-free, and they still shift limescale and detergent scale rather than just freshening. You drop one tablet into an empty machine and run a hot cycle, same as any tablet cleaner. The neat part is that the same tablet works in your washing machine, so one pack keeps both appliances happy.
It is fragrance free, so do not expect a lemony hit at the end; you get a clean machine and nothing more, which is rather the point. For routine monthly upkeep in a soft or medium water area it is plenty. For thick limescale, pair it with an occasional deep clean from number two.
Where to buy
Sold as a pack of 6 through Amazon, Currys, Ethical Superstore and Ecozone direct. Affiliate links coming soon — price last checked May 2026.
Oust Dishwasher & Washing Machine Descaler
A cheap, strong descaler that clears limescale and food deposits in a single cycle.
| Form | Powder sachet |
|---|---|
| Targets | Limescale, food and detergent deposits |
| Treatments per pack | 2 sachets |
| Fragrance | Unscented |
| How to use | Tip one sachet into the base of an empty machine, run a normal hot program |
| How often | Every 3 months, more often in hard water |
Reasons to buy
- A serious descaler for the price, recommended by appliance brands like Siemens and Russell Hobbs
- Works in one cycle, and does the washing machine as well as the dishwasher
- Two sachets per box, so it works out cheap per clean
- Easy to keep a box in the cupboard for when limescale flares up
Reasons to avoid
- Unscented, so no fresh smell at the end
- It is a descaler first, so for grease and odour the Finish or Dr. Beckmann are more rounded
- Plain powder sachets, no seal wipe like the Dr. Beckmann
For limescale on a budget, Oust is hard to beat. It is sold as a descaler rather than a general cleaner, so it goes hard at the chalky deposits that hard water leaves on the element, the spray arms and the inside of the door. You empty the machine, tip a sachet into the base, and run a normal hot program with no pre-wash. The same sachet works in a front-loading washing machine, which is handy.
Two sachets in a box keep the cost per clean low, and it is widely stocked at Robert Dyas, Wilko and Amazon. If you want a bit of scent and an even cheaper monthly option, the supermarket Crystale liquid (often under £1.50, in a pink grapefruit and pomegranate scent) is the other budget choice worth a look. For limescale specifically though, Oust is the stronger of the two.
Where to buy
Sold as a 2-sachet box through Robert Dyas, Wilko, Home Bargains and Amazon. Affiliate links coming soon — price last checked May 2026.
Finish In-Wash Dishwasher Cleaner
Cleans the machine while it washes your dishes, with no empty cycle to remember.
| Form | Tablet, used with a normal load |
|---|---|
| Targets | Grease, grime, odour |
| Treatments per pack | 3 tablets |
| Fragrance | Light, fresh |
| How to use | One tablet on the base of the machine alongside your usual detergent and dishes |
| How often | Monthly |
Reasons to buy
- No empty cycle: it cleans the machine on a normal wash with your dishes in
- Finish claim 100% more grease-removing actives than detergent alone
- The easy option for anyone who will never run a separate maintenance cycle
- From a brand stocked in every supermarket
Reasons to avoid
- It maintains rather than rescues, so a neglected, smelly machine still needs a deep clean first
- Lighter on heavy limescale than the liquid or a dedicated descaler
- Three tablets a pack, so dearer per clean than the bigger tablet boxes
Be honest about whether you will ever run the dishwasher empty just to clean it. If the answer is no, this is the one for you. You drop a tablet on the base of the machine, load your detergent and dishes as normal, and the cleaner does the spray arms, pipes and filter during the same wash. No extra cycle, no wasted water, no remembering.
The trade-off is that it cleans as it goes rather than stripping out months of grime, and it is gentler on heavy limescale than the Finish liquid. So if the machine already smells or the glasses are cloudy, start with the Dr. Beckmann deep clean, then keep it that way with these. It is the maintenance step, not the rescue.
Where to buy
Sold as a 3-tablet pack through Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Ocado and Amazon. Affiliate links coming soon — price last checked May 2026.
The DIY alternative: vinegar and bicarb
You do not always need a branded product. Between proper cleans, white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda do a decent job of cutting grease and killing smells for almost nothing. It is what we use between professional product applications, and it is the cheapest thing on this page by a mile.
The method is simple:
- Stand a cup of white vinegar on the top rack and run the machine empty on a hot cycle. The vinegar breaks down grease and neutralises odours as it spreads through the wash.
- Then scatter a handful of bicarbonate of soda across the bottom and run a short hot cycle. It deodorises and lifts light staining.
Two honest caveats. It will not shift serious limescale the way a dedicated descaler does, so think of it as upkeep rather than a deep clean. And do not use vinegar every single cycle, because over time the acid can degrade the rubber seals and gaskets. Once or twice a month between proper cleans is fine. Our kitchen cleaning team uses this between product applications, not instead of them.
How often should you clean your dishwasher?
Once a month with a dedicated cleaner is the general rule. In a hard water area, and that means most of London, the South East and East Anglia, every two to three weeks is better, because limescale builds faster.
Between cleans, two quick habits make a real difference. Wipe the rubber door seal with a damp cloth, since that is where mould and grime gather fastest. And pull out the bottom filter and rinse it under the tap every couple of weeks. It takes thirty seconds and it is the single biggest thing for how your dishes come out.
Signs your dishwasher needs cleaning
- A musty or unpleasant smell when you open the door
- A white film or cloudy residue on glasses
- Food particles left on dishes after a full cycle
- Visible grime, grease or black mould around the door seal
- The machine takes longer to drain than it used to
If you are seeing several of these at once, a single clean might not be enough. Run two cycles back to back with a heavy-duty cleaner like the Dr. Beckmann, then drop to monthly upkeep. If the smell or the slow drain persists after that, the problem may be mechanical, a blocked drain hose or a tired pump, and it is worth getting a professional to look.
If your oven, hob or extractor need the same treatment, our professional oven cleaning service strips them down and brings them back to factory condition, and we also run full kitchen deep cleans across London, Liverpool and Manchester. For a price, ask us for a quote or call 0333 555 2076.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best dishwasher cleaner in 2026?
For most people the Finish Dishwasher Cleaner liquid is the best dishwasher cleaner, because it is trusted, easy to find and tackles both limescale and grease. For a deeper clean and a smelly machine, the Dr. Beckmann Service-It is stronger and comes with a door seal wipe, and Ecozone is the pick if you want a vegan, plant-based option.
Do dishwasher cleaners actually remove limescale?
Most do, but some are far better than others. The Finish liquid, the Dr. Beckmann powder and the Oust descaler are the strongest limescale removers on this list. If limescale is your main problem, look for a product that says descaling on the label, because general freshening cleaners focus more on grease and odour than chalky deposits.
Can I use a washing machine cleaner in my dishwasher?
Sometimes, but only if the product says it is for both. The Ecozone tablets and the Oust descaler are made for the dishwasher and the washing machine. Do not assume any washing machine cleaner is safe for a dishwasher: check the label, because some chemicals that are fine in a washing machine can damage dishwasher seals or leave residue on dishes.
Is white vinegar safe to use in a dishwasher?
Yes, used occasionally. It is mildly acidic, so it cuts grease and neutralises smells. Do not use it every cycle though, because over time undiluted vinegar can degrade the rubber seals and gaskets. Once or twice a month between proper cleans is fine, and a cup on the top rack on a hot empty cycle is all you need.
Should I run the dishwasher empty when I clean it?
For most cleaners, yes. You get a better result with an empty machine on the hottest cycle and no detergent added. The exception is the Finish In-Wash tablets, which are designed to clean the machine while it washes a normal load of dishes, so you skip the empty cycle altogether.
How often should I use a dishwasher cleaner?
Once a month is the general rule. In a hard water area like London or the South East, every two to three weeks keeps limescale down. Between cleans, wipe the door seal and rinse the bottom filter every couple of weeks, which takes the pressure off the monthly clean.
Are eco dishwasher cleaners as good as the chemical ones?
For routine upkeep, yes. The Ecozone plant-based tablets descale and deodorise well in soft and medium water and do both the dishwasher and the washing machine. For thick limescale in a hard water area, a stronger product like the Finish liquid or an occasional Dr. Beckmann deep clean still has the edge.
How much should I spend on a dishwasher cleaner?
Not much. A budget Oust descaler or a supermarket Crystale liquid keeps a machine ticking over for a pound or two a clean. A Finish liquid is about £3 to £5.50, and a Dr. Beckmann deep clean with its seal wipe is around £3 to £3.75. Spending more buys descaling strength and the seal wipe, not a wildly better routine clean.
Last updated 29 May 2026. Written by the team at Monster Cleaning, professional cleaners working in UK homes since 2014. Prices and pack sizes were checked against UK retailers and manufacturer listings at the time of writing and do change.