Source-headline guide · 15 cited facts · 1 source hosts
Single source: theguardian.com — not independently corroborated.
Choice test finds dishwasher tablets beat powders in Australia
Answer and evidence scope
- Answer
- Consumer group Choice tested 34 dishwasher detergents and found tablets outperformed powders, with the top three products all being tabs, according to the Guardian. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
- Significance
- The listed evidence does not establish broader implications.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15]
- Uncertainty
- Source-headline guide · 15 cited facts · 1 source hosts — Source claims do not establish independent corroboration.

What happened
Consumer advocacy group Choice has found that dishwasher tablets are more effective than powders, the Guardian reports. In a test of 34 detergents, the top three products were all tabs. Finish Powerball Ultimate 0% Tabs took first place, while Finish Powerball Ultimate Plus Tabs and Earth Choice All-in-1 Dish Tablets tied for second with a score of 76% (theguardian. com). Choice senior project officer Chris Barnes said "the old dishwasher powder is just not impressing any more. " [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
Key facts
Barnes said tablets were more effective because they are formulated with more ingredients, such as rinse aids, whereas powders were "more simplistic"; he added that tablets also offer more controlled dosage (theguardian. com). Price told a contrasting story. Earth Choice tablets cost $0. 42 a wash, significantly cheaper than the two Finish products, while second-placing Finish Powerball Ultimate Plus was the most expensive detergent tested at $1. 26 a wash. The cheapest product in the test was also the worst-performing, and the second-lowest performer was Earth Choice Dishwasher Powder Lemon Fresh at 47% and $0. 21 a wash. Barnes said the "one big advantage" of powders was their price. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13]
What remains unknown
The Guardian account does not give the full ranking of all 34 products, nor the scores of most entries beyond those named. It also does not detail the testing methodology or how performance was measured. An Earth Choice spokesperson said the company currently used local external manufacturers for its powders, as its factory only produced liquid products, and said it was "extremely pleased" with the tablets' result given the lower cost per wash — but the report does not say whether the company plans to change its powder line. Single source: theguardian. com — not independently corroborated. Source: https://www. theguardian. com/lifeandstyle/2026/oct/20/australia-best-dishwasher-detergent-tablets-in-test [2] [14] [15]
Corrections
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