I remember reading a long time ago that each DW is very particular about the detergent it works best with. I would therefore follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

Generally, powder is what most manufacturer's recommend these days.

I hated the Cascade tablets with the blue gel so much that I finally gave away what was left. Using Cascade Complete powder now, which seems fine (although my supermarket does not carry it and I have to go to a Target 1/2 hr away to buy the stuff). Also have just tried the Finish tablets, which are much better than the Cascade. I have a new KitchenAir KUDSO3.

Cascade Complete powder is where it's at. Careful about dosage. A small amount does a great job. Good cleaning; good rinsing; nothing remaining.

I believe there was a thread a few months ago about the mfr recommendations for jet-dry being purely marketing-based and not at all engineering-based, so when Thermador gave me a sample of Jet-Dry I just ignored it and continued to use the same Costco powder that I've been using for years. No complaints here about streaking, spotting, or anything.

I have used the Cascade powder for years and been very happy with it. My first dishwasher, a Sears, came with a bunch of sample cleaning products to try. The Jet-Dri left spots, which we didn't have after it ran out! None of the various other products seemed to get dishes as clean, so I went with Cascade. I do not like the little packets, much more expensive than powders.

Cascade in our soft water, does an excellent job cleaning all kinds of dirty dishes, never leaves any spots. I seldom rinse or pre-soak dishes and sometimes they even sit overnight before washing, still does a good job.

I presently have Kitchen Aid dishwashers, and with the double arms under baskets, the dishes come very clean 99% of the time. Loading the baskets well, so everything is exposed to the water jets, helps. Husband tends to pile on things, which doesn't allow cleaning jets to work well.

I used Electrasol tablets for a long time, and was pretty happy with them. When we lived in west TX, I always ended up with a big pile of undisolved powder, until I went to the tabs when they came out (this was over 10 years ago so I have no idea if I just kept using too much, or what the deal was. We had very hard water though).

I tried Cascade gel pacs several years ago, but wasn't impressed enough to pay the extra price.

I quit using the tabs somewhere in the last 3 years or so, and frankly I don't remember why. I might have gotten a good price on a tub of Electrasol powder. This was in the 2nd house, in Montana. Seems like that worked pretty well, but we also had my teen stepson doing the dishes, so I may have blamed any unclean stuff on his methods...)

3rd house, on well water, in Alaska, I wasn't there long enough to finally find something that worked with that machine.

Current house, Electrasol powder wasn't working well with this machine. The earth friendly powder (I forget which brand, something I got at Safeway) I just finished using wasn't working well either. I'm trying 7th Generation liquid next...but I'm pretty much pre-washing my dishes before they go in the DW at this point.

I don't want to harshly judge the detergents in the current house however, I think our dishwasher just sucks. It's worse than the one in AK.

How come in our very first starter house, with a cheaper dishwasher model, my dishes were pretty clean, and I never rinsed unless it was some major crud, and the last 2 houses have much more elaborate machines (and I'd imagine more expensive), and I have to freakin' wash the dishes before they go in to get clean dishes??

BTW, my MIL told me when she had her new DW installed a couple years ago, the tech told her not to use liquid. I don't know why though...

Maybe I need to try Cascade too...
Maybe I need a new dishwasher...(at least it's quiet, I can say that much about it...)

I use the Ecover tablets and they seem to work fine. They are also a green choice.

I currently use 1/2 Ecover tablet in my Asko. We have a whole house water softener and have had problems with etching prior to changing to Ecover. I had used Cascade Complete, the Walmart equivalent and Electrosol prior to Ecover.

We are planning on disconnecting the water softener, so will wait and see what that will entail with detergents. I am thinking that I may have to use a whole Ecover tab, but will stick with Ecover as our state is banning all phosphates in dw detergents.

I'm currently using Finish Ultimate and Finish Jet Dry. Finish used to be Electrasol, which I remember.

The little packets contain microplastic. I’ve switch to liquid for now, but happy to hear the powders are still available lee and will look for them.