We all know the feeling. It is frustrating and disappointing to hold a glass right out of a dishwasher to find it cloudy and milky when it was supposed to be sparkling clean and shining. This cloudiness can lead to embarrassment in front of your guests, and you’ll probably end up hiding those cloudy glasses and dishes in the closet.
Cloudiness can happen due to many reasons; your water is hard, you are using the wrong detergent, glasses are etching, or you have soft water. Whatever the reason may be, cloudy glasses and dishes are very irritating and annoying.
Water quality plays an important role in dishwashing. You’ll need to get a detergent that suits your water quality. The best way to assess your water is to perform a water hardness test. Test strips are available online and at home improvement stores and are easy to use but not very reliable. You can also get your water tested from a certified testing facility for more accurate results. Once you know the level of hardness in water, you can select the right detergent.
You will be surprised to know that 85% of American homes have hard water. Your cloudy glasses are likely due to anything other than hard water. Another telltale sign of hard water is a milky film on your appliances. If your dishwasher has white deposits or plumbing fixtures are covered with white scales regardless of regular cleaning, you are suffering from hard water problem.
The next question that comes to our mind is how to deal with the cloudy glasses problem? Don’t worry; we will help you deal with it in the best way possible. The solution is simple; you’ll need to change your detergent, double it if the problem persists or use a hard water booster.
Where can you find the best detergent for cloudy glasses? We have the answer to this question as well. Being the dishwasher expert, we researched all the detergents that can be used for hard water and selected the best ones for cloudy glasses and other dishes. We critically evaluated every feature, went through user reviews, and then tested the detergents, so you don’t have to.
Let’s make your glasses shiny again!
Best Dishwasher Detergents for Cloudy Glasses
1. Cascade Platinum Dishwasher Pods, ActionPacs Dishwasher Detergent, Lemon Platinum Plus, 70 Count
- Cascade cleaning power allows you to skip pre-washing dishes, saving up to 15 gallons of water with each load
- ActionPacs are formulated with the grease-fighting power of Dawn dish soap. Formulated with POWER BOOSTER.
- Cascade Platinum PLUS+ ActionPacs dishwashing detergent dissolve, lift, and rinse away food.
Cascade is the best detergent on our list. Countless reviews mention how Cascade solved the cloudy glasses problem for people who were about to throw away their glasses or started considering replacing the dishwasher. The detergent is so effective against hard water that it even removes age-old stains and marks from your dishwasher.
Some reviews mention smell problems, but they also highlight that smells vanish after a couple of hours. So, it is not a big problem. Moreover, some people use rinse and dry aid with the detergent for quick and effective drying.
The pods are great, but the packaging is not eco-friendly. A lot of plastic has been used in packaging. Each tablet comes wrapped in plastic which is a big concern for some of the buyers.
All the buyers are satisfied with the price. The pods are slightly expensive than other detergents, but they are worth it. The cleaning quality is unmatched, and you don’t need to double the detergent for extremely hard water. Overall, the detergent is worth buying.
2. Seventh Generation Fragrance Free Dishwasher Detergent Pack, 45 Count, 2 Pack
- Enzyme rich formula cuts through tough grease and food residue to leave dishes sparkling clean
- Free of fragrances, dyes, phosphates, and chlorine bleach
- Convenient single dose dishwasher pods, just toss right into the dishwasher
Many people look for an all-natural detergent with zero smells and excellent performance against hard water. Seventh Generation’s scentless detergent is feasible for people undergoing a detox campaign and wants spotless dishes and glasses.
Seventh Generation’s detergent is a favorite among thousands of Americans. We like the detergent for its ability to deliver spotless and shining glassware. There are no complaints about hard water and spots on the dishes. It keeps your dishwasher in mint condition as well.
The best thing about this detergent is scentless washing. All of your dishes will come out without any smells. If you are allergic to smells and taste on your dishes and want a superb cleaning, then Seventh Generation is the detergent to buy.
The detergent comes in a plastic bag which is a big concern for eco-friendly folks. The tablets are individually wrapped in plastic which is recyclable.
For most reviewers, the price is reasonable. If you are getting fragrance-free dishes at an affordable rate, what else do you need?
3. Ecover Automatic Dishwashing Tablets Zero, 25 Count, 17.6 Ounce
- Dishwasher Soap
- Fragrance Free
- Ecover
Ecover is another top-of-the-line detergent to deal with cloudy glasses and hard water problems. The detergent is plant and mineral-based without any fragrances, dyes, or phosphates. It is the epitome of eco-friendliness.
Review analysis reveals that buyers are satisfied with its performance against hard water. You will not be getting any cloudy dishes, and your appliances and dishes will stay crystal clear and spotless. It is evident from the countless reviews mentioning hard water and detergent’s flawless performance.
Since the detergent is bio-based and 100% eco-friendly, there is no chance of smell or taste. The tablets are packed in a recyclable cardboard box, and each tablet is wrapped in recyclable plastic. Some people mention that tablets dissolve better if you just drop them in the dishwasher instead of putting them in the dispenser.
The price is great for the majority of the buyers. However, it is costly than other leading brands, but you get what you pay for. The detergent is 100% eco-friendly and bio-based. You’ll have to spend a few extra bucks for these features.
4. Finish – Quantum – 82ct – Dishwasher Detergent – Powerball – Ultimate Clean & Shine – Dishwashing Tablets – Dish Tabs
- Finish Quantum Scrubs, Degreases, and Shines. Because There’s Clean. Then There’s so Clean It Shines
- 3 Separate Fast Dissolving Chambers, Delivering 3 Different Power Actions
- Powder: Scrubbing Power to Break Down and Remove Toughest Stuck on Food in One Wash. No need to pre-rinse or soak. Cuts through grease, breaks down...
Finish is one of the leading detergent brands. It is recommended by leading dishwasher manufacturers like Bosch. Many people like Finish for its superior cleaning power and affordable price. Finish makes sure that you get spotless dishes even if you are running on a tight budget.
Just like Cascade, buyers are satisfied with Finish as well. The detergent performs outstandingly against hard water, as evident from numerous reviews mentioning hard water at homes.
Finish Quantum tablets come with the strength of powder, gel, and liquid. All of these combine to provide excellent cleaning and remove cloudiness from your glasses.
All Finish detergents have one problem; they smell. The dishes come out smelling for a lot of people. However, you can let the dishes sit for 1-2 hours in the dishwasher or use dry aid with the detergent.
The best thing about the detergent is the price. The cleaning capability is unmatched at this price.
5. Lemi Shine Dish Detergent Booster, Multi-Use Citric Acid Cleaner (24 oz Container, 2 Pack Bundle)
- POWERFUL CITRIC ACID FOR THAT EXTRA BOOST: This is a 2-pack of our 24 oz Booster Additive to be used in conjunction with dishwasher detergent to...
- GUARANTEED TO CLEAN EVEN IN HARD WATER: Our dishwashing booster contains natural ingredients, powerful citric acid that remove stains, hard water...
- PH BALANCE OPTIMIZATION: Use Dish Detergent Booster for optimizing your dishwasher's cleaning ability by balancing the PH caused by hard water.
People living in states like Florida, Indiana, Wisconsin, Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona have to bear very hard water. The water there is so hard that you are unable to shampoo your hair properly. People frequently suffer from dandruff, allergies, and rash.
Imagine how a detergent will work in such conditions. The worst thing is that problem persists even after installing a water softener. In such conditions, you need a hard water booster to get super clean dishes from your dishwasher.
Lemi Shine hard water booster is known for its effectiveness against hard water. All you have to do is add the booster in your dishwasher’s dispenser drawer, and it will do wonders for you. If your dispenser doesn’t have two compartments, you can simply add the booster over the dishes in the top rank.
The detergent performs outstandingly. When it comes to dealing with cloudy glasses, the detergent is a lifesaver. With Lemi Shine, you don’t need to hide your glasses anymore.
Many reviewers are pleased with its natural smell, which goes away after 10-20 minutes. The dishes come out neat and clean without any taste and a pleasant natural smell.
The powder-based booster is free from any harmful ingredients and will keep your septic system safe. It comes in a recyclable plastic bottle, so you don’t need to worry about it.
Some people complain that if they use boosters, the dishwashing price goes high. This is true. Well, there are no shortcuts here. If you have extremely hard water at home, you’ll need to support your detergent with boosters.
6. Finish Hard Water Booster Powder, Lemon Sparkle, 14 Ounce
Another top-of-the-line hard water booster comes from Finish. It is compatible with Finish detergent and works great when used in a Bosch dishwasher. The booster is costly than Lemi Shine but works in the same way.
The major complaints about the booster are related to its high price and strong scent. People don’t like it when the dishwashing budget exceeds the expected limit. Moreover, some people have reservations about the smell it imparts to the dishes. This is common to all Finish detergents and boosters. However, the smell is often ignored for excellent cleaning.
The booster is so powerful that it can deal with hardness above 400 PPM and a water pH of 9.0. You will not face any issue regarding hard water or cloudy glasses with this booster.
Please note that Finish boosters are recommended for Finish detergents. You may experience some performance problems with other detergents.
7. Cascade Platinum ActionPacs Dishwasher Detergent with Dawn, Fresh Scent – 92 Count
Cascade Platinum detergent with Dawn is another fan-favorite detergent. The detergent may not be famous as the Platinum Plus variant reviewed above, but the customers are pleased with it.
The detergent is great for hard water and works nicely in soft water as well. So, it is a lifesaver for your cloudy glasses. You don’t need to worry about cloudy glasses anymore with Cascade.
Apart from being economical, the detergent leaves no smell behind. It is better than Cascade Platinum in terms of scentless washing.
The major problem with many people is plastic packing and the pods sticking together in humid weather. You may need to separate the pods manually before adding them to the dishwasher. A few reviews also mention dissolving issues.
8. Grab Green Natural Automatic Dishwashing Detergent Powder, Fragrance Free, Organic Enzyme-Powdered, 80 Loads
- Contains: 1- 3.17 Pound (80 Loads) Bag of Grab Green Natural Fragrance Free Automatic Dishwashing Detergent Powder. Our velcro closure bags are...
- Naturally Effective: Specifically formulated to cut through grease and stuck on food without harsh chemicals, noxious fumes or caustic chemicals,...
- Fragrance Free: Our powerful dishwasher detergent, easily measured with the included scoop, is hypoallergenic, free and clear of all scents and dyes,...
Some people cannot compromise on the ingredients of the dishwashing detergent. If you are one of them and want a detergent with 100% transparency and bio-based ingredients, then Gran Green is an ideal detergent.
Many people with a detox plan for their homes use this detergent and explain how the dishes come out smell and taste-free after every wash. Moreover, all the ingredients in the detergent are septic safe, making it one of the best detergents for homes with septic tanks.
The detergent is suitable for moderately hard water. Most of the reviews with excellent performance are from Montana, Idaho, Nevada, California, Texas, and Oklahoma. You may need to use hard water boosters if you don’t have a water softener at your home.
The powder comes in a recyclable, eco-friendly bag, so you don’t need to worry about the environmental impact.
The detergent receives mixed reviews when it comes to price. Some people are highly stratified with the value of money, while some say it is way overpriced.
9. Finish All in 1 Gelpacs Orange, Dishwasher Detergent Tablets 84 count (packaging may vary )
- Easy-to-use, pre-measured dishwasher pacs with a refreshing orange scent
- Powerful cleaners remove the toughest stains and gently scrub your dishes and glasses sparkling clean
- To use properly, remove one gelpac and place in the main detergent cup and close completely
Finish Gelpacs are best for people who want more cleaning power. It is best for families where the dishes are extremely dirty with residues like oatmeal, dried cheese and butter, ketchup, jam, and egg yolk. All you need is to use one gelpac, and your dishes will come out neat and clean without any cloudiness or white films.
People with water wells and septic systems use this detergent and state that it works flawlessly for them. The cloudy glass problem is behind them now, and they look forward to using more glass dishes.
One of the most impressive things about the detergent is its price. People like the price at which the detergent is being sold. It is way cheaper than other top detergents and even Finish products.
However, the major complaint is the smell and slight orange taste on the dishes. Many reviewers mention how the detergent never worked for them and failed them even after adding rinse and drying aid.
10. Lemi Shine Natural Dishwasher Pods – All-in-One Powder & Gel Dishwasher Detergent Pods with Powerful Citric Acid, 65 Count
- SPARKLINGLY CLEAN FINISH: Lemi Shine Natural Dishwasher Detergent Pods are Dual Chamber, Powder and Gel Combo, so you can finally skip the pre-wash...
- NO MESS, NO POWDERS: Our dishwashing detergent pods clean and remove grease, stains, and stuck on food from dishware, without leaving a soapy residue.
- ECO-FRIENDLY AND GREEN CLEANING: Powered by natural citric acid, making our dishwashing pods a safer and more eco-friendly choice for cleaning your...
Lemi Shine also manufactures high-quality detergents along with hard water boosters. The detergent may be costly compared to other brands, but it has a good reputation among buyers.
The detergent works great with hard water for the majority of the buyers. There are some complaints from a handful of buyers who also mention they have a very old dishwasher. We can assume that the dishwasher works great with newer models. You can try adding a hard water booster to make it work in old dishwashers. For the majority of people, cloudy glasses are no longer an issue.
There are no complaints about smells from dishes. The dishes come out neat and clean without any taste. However, the pods are individually wrapped in plastic, and the detergent comes in a plastic bag. Many environment caring people don’t find it a great feature, but they also praise the detergent for its all-natural ingredients.
The price is higher than other leading brands, but most people are satisfied with the value it brings. If the detergent shows results, you can ignore a $5-10 monthly increase in the dishwashing cost.
11. Puracy Platinum Dishwasher Detergent Pods, 50 Count, Natural Enzyme Powder Tablets, Spot & Residue-Free Dish Packs, Free & Clear
- Designed to work better when you skip the pre-rinse ] Wash your dishes effortlessly with Puracy Free & Clear biodegradable dishwasher tabs. With...
- Developed by biochemists, tested by households nationwide ] These third-generation dishwasher tablets are tried, tested & trusted. These dish washer...
- Perfect for All Dishwasher Safe Items ] Made from plant and mineral-derived ingredients, Puracy dishwashing pods are a grease-cutting, spot-free,...
Puracy is yet another eco-friendly and bio-based detergent that you can use to get rid of cloudy glasses. The detergent works for the majority of the buyers. People review the detergent with words like “we have a winner,” “best natural detergent on the market,” “IT WORKS,” and “works better than many leading brands.”
Many people with extremely hard water like this detergent. Some people with soft water say that it makes too many suds and lather. It means that the detergent is best for hard water. You don’t need a hard water booster with this detergent, even if you have extremely hard water. Homeowners with water wells frequently buy Puracy.
A couple of buyers cite smell problems. Other than that, the detergent leaves no smell for the majority of the buyers. Some people are so impressed by its scentless cleaning that they recommend it for people with allergies.
The price is in line with other brands. You don’t need any boosters with this detergent.
12. Bubble Bandit Dishwasher Detergent with Phosphate. The Best Dishwasher Detergent for Spotless Dishes in Hard Water! ALL-IN-ONE (Soak, Wash & Rinse). One Bag (3.75 lbs.)
- Proudly Handcrafted in Small Batches in the USA
- Now Free of Perfumes, Clear of Dyes
- Eliminates limescale buildup, white film
Bubble bandit is a detergent with phosphate. Please note that you must not use this detergent if you have a septic tank at your home. Moreover, you must check that phosphate-based detergents are not banned in your state before buying them.
The detergent is rated one of the best for solving hard water problems and cloudy glass issues. The detergent has matchless cleaning abilities. We would have placed this detergent in the top 3 if it was phosphate-free. Phosphates kill good bacteria in your septic tanks and are harmful to marine life. Some people complain about smells but like its cleaning power.
People don’t like the price at which it is being sold. We recommend you only go for this detergent if nothing else works for you.
13. Cascade Complete Gel Dishwasher Detergent, Fresh Scent, 2 Packs of 45 Ounces
- Dishwasher detergent gel with the grease-fighting power of Dawn
- Pure Rinse Formula rinses cleanly away
- Also available in Powder and ActionPacs
Some people don’t find it convenient to use powder-based detergent. They prefer gel detergents, particularly for ease of use. If you are one of them and want a detergent with maximum convenience, then Cascade gel detergent is the best.
The product works well when you have a cloudy glass problem. You may need to add boosters if you have very hard water. The detergent works nicely with soft water without adding any boosters.
Some people mention smell problems, but the smell evaporates after a couple of hours, leaving your dishes neat and clean.
Many people mention that the detergent is not priced fairly. Even the reviews that praise the detergent mention that its price is a rip-off.
14. Miele Dishwasher Tabs (120 Tabs)
- Sparkling Results – even with stubborn soiling and food deposits
- Water-soluble Wrapping - No unpacking thanks to the water-soluble foil
- With functions such as rinse aid, salt, glassware protection, and Quick Intense Wash
Miele Dishwasher detergent is not very famous, but it has some extremely loyal customers. You might be thinking about why this detergent is not among the top detergents. The reason is the high price. The detergent is sold at almost double the price of leading brands like Cascade, Finish, and Ecover.
The main reasons for the price hike are its spotless cleaning, bio-based ingredients, and eco-friendly packing. The detergent comes in recyclable, eco-friendly packing, with each tablet wrapped in a dissolvable water packing. What else do you need when it comes to being environmentally friendly?
Miele performs really nicely against hard water for majority of the users. Moreover, it doesn’t leave any smell or taste on your dishes.
The only issue with this detergent is its high price.
15. Amaze! Premium All-in-One Dishwasher Tablets – Powerful Hard Water Performance (32 Count Pack)
- place a tablet in the detergent dispenser tray or the utensils holder.
- Our tablets are protected by a dissolvable film. No need to unwrap, just place in the dishwasher detergent tray and start your preferred wash cycle.
- Outperform in hard water conditions; reduces need for salts, rinse-aid and other additives
The last detergent on our list is from the house of Amaze. Some buyers mention that the detergent fails to perform in hard water but deals with cloudy glasses flawlessly in soft water.
The best thing about the detergent is that it comes with a biodegradable film. You don’t need to un-wrap the tablet. Just through it in your dishwasher, and you are good to go. It is also a good detergent to prevent etching.
The detergent receives mixed reviews when it comes to scentless washing. Some people mention that their dishes never smell, and for some, they always come out smelly.
The price is moderate and in line with other leading brands.
FAQs
Which is the best detergent for cloudy glasses?
Cascade Platinum, Seventh Generation, Ecover, and Finish are the best detergents for cloudy glasses and hard water.
What should I not put in my dishwasher?
Avoid putting the following in your dishwasher:
- Items that are not dishwasher safe
- Gold-plated dishes or gold-trim dishes can become discolored and lose their design.
- Fine crystal that is sensitive to heat
- China dishes with patterns and designs
- Anything made of pewter, bronze, brass as these materials tarnish in dishwashers
Can I use a hard water detergent in soft water?
Yes. You can use most of the hard water detergents with soft water, but you will have to use half detergent.
How can I remove hard water stains from my dishes without using a hard water detergent?
You can remove hard water stains from your dishes with vinegar. You can add a cup of vinegar at the bottom of your dishwasher and then run a washing cycle. Your dishes will come out neat and clean.
Is hard water dangerous for my dishwasher?
Yes. Hard water is harmful to your dishwasher and other appliances. The white film deposit can reduce the lifespan of your machine.
Can I use extra detergent to remove cloudiness from my glasses?
No. It is not recommended. Extra detergent can cause too much suds, leave residue on dishes, and even lead to flooding in the dishwasher.
Author
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