Consumer NZ says shoppers could save money on dishwasher detergents without sacrificing cleaning performance, after new testing found little connection between price and results.
Consumer NZ tested 26 dishwasher detergents, including tablets, capsules and powders, and found some lower-priced products matched the performance of detergents costing significantly more.
Head of Product at Consumer NZ Joe Slater says the findings challenge the assumption that paying more guarantees cleaner dishes.
“We’ve found shoppers don’t necessarily need to spend top dollar to get excellent cleaning results. Some relatively inexpensive products delivered results that were comparable to products costing two or three times as much.”
Traditional dishwasher powders generally offered the lowest cost per wash, with one powder detergent scoring highly while costing around 20 cents per load. By comparison, some premium capsules cost more than $1 per wash.
“If you’re looking to cut household costs, there are genuine savings to be made by choosing carefully,” Slater says.
The testing also identified a clear loser. Exonic Dishwashing Tablets scored just 55 out of 100 overall, struggling across several food stains and falling well behind the majority of products tested.
Consumer NZ found important performance differences depending on the type of food being cleaned.
Rice starch proved particularly challenging, with scores ranging from 30 to 85. Egg yolk was another that separated strong performers from weak ones, while coffee was comparatively easy for most detergents to remove.
Consumer NZ found several New Zealand-made detergents performed strongly, matching or exceeding many well-known international brands.
Beyond cleaning performance, the organisation noted product information and safety labelling, finding some products provided limited advice on first aid, poisons information and recyclability.
Consumer NZ says it's worth considering overall value rather than assuming the most expensive option is the best choice.
“The message from our testing is simple: check the results before you buy. A higher price tag isn’t a guarantee of cleaner dishes.”
See our full dishwasher detergent test results.
