Your dishwasher tablets may contain more than you expect – see the contents here

Your cups, plates, and cutlery may be cleaned with chemicals that come with an unfortunate downside in the form of unwanted chemicals that can affect health and the environment. Your exposure to these substances from dishwasher tablets is not high, but there is no reason to clean with unwanted chemicals when it is possible to avoid them.

We have tested the ingredients in a wide range of dishwasher detergents, so you can easily avoid unwanted chemicals in your dishwasher.

We tested 31 dishwasher tablets, four dishwasher powders, and five liquid dishwasher detergents.

The test shows that the same brand can receive different ratings, as it depends on which chemicals are used in each individual product.

For example, there are three dishwasher tablets from Salling that receive an a-rating, b-rating, and c-rating respectively. Therefore, you cannot simply rely on a single brand but should check how each individual product performs in the test.

Main conclusions from the test of dishwasher tablets

Every fifth dishwasher tablet contains problematic chemicals for health.
Fragrance is widely used in dishwasher detergents.
There are many good dishwasher tablets in the test that do not contain unwanted chemicals.
Most of the best choices in the test are eco-labeled and allergy certified.

See the danish test here

Suspected carcinogenic substance found in one product

In the test, At Home Clean Premium Pods were found to contain trisodium nitrilotriacetate, a substance suspected of being carcinogenic. The product receives a c-rating.

In a dishwasher tablet, it does not pose a risk to your health – but it is sensible to limit your exposure to suspected carcinogenic substances when you have the opportunity.

If you choose dishwasher tablets with an a-rating, you are ensured a product without these kinds of substances.

Suspected endocrine‑disrupting substance is on its way out — but not gone yet

In our 2022 test, we found the suspected endocrine disruptor benzotriazole in nearly every third product. In 2026, the number is lower — the substance is now present in just under every fifth product.

Benzotriazole is most likely added to dishwasher detergents as a corrosion inhibitor, but the substance is also listed by the authorities as a suspected endocrine disruptor and was classified in the fall of 2025 as persistent in the environment, meaning that it accumulates in nature. Therefore, it is unwanted in the dishwasher, where the substance ultimately ends up in the environment.

These dishwasher tabs perform poorly

In the test, these seven dishwasher tablets receive the lowest chemical rating because they contain suspected endocrine disruptors and problematic chemicals:

Finish Finish Quantum Essential
Finish Powerball Ultimate Plus Intensive Clean & Shine
Neophos Powerball ultimate
Neophos Ultimate Plus
Salling All-in-one opvasketabs
Shine Dishwasher tablets, all in 1
W5 Dishwasher tabs classic clean

Fragrance in every other dishwasher tablet

Half of the dishwasher detergents we tested contain fragrance. And fragrance serves only one purpose: it smells. It does not make your dishes any cleaner.

In some cases, you may even taste the fragrance when eating from plates washed with fragranced dishwasher tablets. Items made of materials such as melamine or plastic may absorb chemicals more easily than stainless steel, porcelain, or glass.

Fragrance is unnecessary – and easy to avoid. By choosing a fragrance-free product, you reduce unnecessary chemicals and the risk of fragrance aftertaste at the same time. A good choice is products with allergy labels, which are always fragrance‑free.

Eco-labels and allergy certifications point the way to better choices

17 dishwasher detergents are free from unwanted chemicals and receive the top rating, an a-rating. Most of these are labeled with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel, the EU Ecolabel, and Asthma Allergy Nordic.

Be aware that a few products with the Nordic Swan Ecolabel may contain fragrance and receive a medium rating, a b-rating.

How we tested dishwasher tablets

We purchased dishwasher detergents from Danish stores and reviewed the ingredients to see if they contained a range of unwanted chemicals, such as suspected endocrine disruptors, allergens, and more.

Whenever possible, we obtained the ingredient lists from the product websites listed on the packaging. Otherwise, we requested the ingredient lists directly from the companies. We then checked whether the ingredients are listed as problematic on various lists of unwanted substances.

We also contacted the companies to ensure that the lists were correct and that the products were still on the market.

In total, we tested 40 dishwasher detergents for unwanted chemicals.

The test does not consider the concentration of the substances in the products.
The test includes 31 dishwasher tablets, four dishwasher powders, and five liquid dishwasher detergents.

Unwanted chemicals in dishwasher detergents

One dishwasher detergent contains the substance trisodium nitrilotriacetate, which is suspected to be carcinogenic.

This product receives the lowest rating in the test, a c-rating.
Seven dishwasher detergents contain the substance benzotriazole, which is suspected to be an endocrine disruptor. The substance is a corrosion inhibitor and is listed on the Authority List of endocrine-disrupting substances.

Benzotriazole is difficult to break down in the environment and is included on the Swedish NGO ChemSec’s so-called SIN List of particularly problematic chemicals, which are expected to be strictly regulated or banned in the near future.

Products containing Benzotriazole receive the lowest rating, a c-rating.
Half of the dishwasher detergents in the test contain fragrance, which is added to give a specific scent to the dishwasher and your dishes.

Fragrance has nothing to do with how clean your dishes get.

Dishwasher detergents with fragrance receive a medium rating, a b-rating.
Eight dishwasher detergents contain a manganese catalyst, which can be environmentally harmful. It appears on ingredient lists as Bis (N, N, N Trimethyl 1.4.7 triazacyclononane)trioxo dimanganese (IV)di(hexafluophosphate)monohydrate, Manganese methyltriazacyclononane, MN-TACN, or MN catalyst.

Three dishwasher detergents contain LAS in the form of benzene, C10-13-alkyl deriv, Dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, and sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate. LAS can be environmentally problematic because it does not break down in oxygen-poor areas.

Three dishwasher detergents contain Zinc hydroxy carbonate, which can be environmentally harmful.

These environmentally harmful substances receive a medium rating, a b-rating.
- 17 dishwasher detergents are free from unwanted chemicals and receive the highest rating, an a-rating.
- 15 dishwasher detergents contain fragrance, perfume compounds, LAS, or other suspected environmentally harmful substances and receive a medium rating, a b-rating.
- 8 dishwasher detergents contain, for example, suspected endocrine disruptors, persistent substances, or suspected carcinogens, and receive the lowest rating, a c-rating.