# Dishwasher detergent that leaves no residue

Source: HiveTried, https://hivetried.com/home/dishwasher-detergent/no-residue/
Category: Home > Dishwasher detergent. Updated 2026-10-08. Based on 228 counted first-hand reports from Target shopper reviews, Mar 2017 to Oct 2026.

**Question:** Which dishwasher detergent leaves no residue?

**Short answer:** Cascade Platinum Plus ActionPacs has the best record for spot-free dishes: 18 of 21 shoppers said glasses and dishes came out without film or residue, from a fairly small group. Every other detergent here falls below half, and Blueland Dishwasher Tablets has the weakest record here at 3 of 29. Shoppers often write when a film shows up, so low shares are common in this category.

**What stands out:** Reviews copied from brand websites are much kinder than Target's own for Seventh Generation and Blueland. Blueland's site shows 7 of 9 with no residue, against 3 of 29 at Target, which is one reason we show those reviews but don't count them.

## Ranking (shoppers who said whether it worked)

| Rank | Product | No residue | Share | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cascade Platinum Plus ActionPacs | 18 of 21 | 86% | yes |
| 2 | Cascade Powder Dishwasher Detergent | 34 of 70 | 49% | no |
| 3 | Seventh Generation Triple Action Clean Dishwasher Packs | 6 of 16 | 38% | no |
| 4 | Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Gel | 8 of 31 | 26% | no |
| 5 | Seventh Generation Natural Power Dishwasher Packs | 8 of 38 | 21% | no |
| 6 | Blueland Dishwasher Tablets | 3 of 29 | 10% | no |

Ranked by the lower bound of a 90% Wilson confidence interval, so a product needs a high share and enough reports to rank high. An Amazon link is shown only when at least 60% say it works.

## Product notes

### 1. Cascade Platinum Plus ActionPacs

Shoppers single out the glasses, with 42% saying they sparkle and 79% saying it gets dishes clean. Cascade's own site is a bit cooler at 7 of 10, which we show but don't count.

- Praised for: Cleans well (79%), Glasses sparkle (42%)
- Complaints: Dishes still dirty (13%), Pod doesn't dissolve (8%)
- Reports counted: 24

### 2. Cascade Powder Dishwasher Detergent

More shoppers weighed in on this powder than on any other detergent here, and they split almost evenly (34 of 70). 46% of reviews mention a film or residue and 20% say dishes came out still dirty.

- Praised for: Cleans well (39%), Glasses sparkle (10%), Good value (5%)
- Complaints: Dishes still dirty (20%), Cloudy glasses (3%)
- Reports counted: 79

### 3. Seventh Generation Triple Action Clean Dishwasher Packs

A small group weighed in, and 10 of 16 said it left a film or residue. 19% say a pack didn't fully dissolve.

- Praised for: Cleans well (25%)
- Complaints: Dishes still dirty (25%), Pod doesn't dissolve (19%)
- Reports counted: 16

### 4. Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Gel

Film is the main complaint, at 62% of reviews, and 45% say dishes came out still dirty. Seventh Generation's own site shows 8 of 8 with no film, which we show but don't count.

- Praised for: Cleans well (28%)
- Complaints: Dishes still dirty (45%)
- Reports counted: 40

### 5. Seventh Generation Natural Power Dishwasher Packs

30 of 38 shoppers said it left film, spots or cloudy glasses. 15% say a pack didn't dissolve, though 25% still say it cleans well.

- Praised for: Cleans well (25%), Glasses sparkle (8%)
- Complaints: Dishes still dirty (30%), Pod doesn't dissolve (15%), Cloudy glasses (8%)
- Reports counted: 40

### 6. Blueland Dishwasher Tablets

Residue sinks this one: 72% of reviews mention film or residue and 31% say the tablets didn't dissolve.

- Praised for: Cleans well (14%)
- Complaints: Dishes still dirty (41%), Pod doesn't dissolve (31%), Cloudy glasses (7%)
- Reports counted: 29

## Questions

**Which dishwasher detergent leaves no residue?**

Cascade Platinum Plus ActionPacs has the best record (18 of 21). Cascade Powder Dishwasher Detergent comes next but splits almost evenly at 34 of 70, and the rest come in lower.

**Why is there a white film on my dishes after the dishwasher?**

Hard water, a short or cool cycle, and detergent that doesn't fully dissolve are common causes, and a rinse aid can help with spots. In these reviews, 31% of Blueland reviews and 15% of Seventh Generation Natural Power reviews mention tablets or packs that didn't dissolve.

**Do Seventh Generation and Blueland leave a film?**

Often, according to Target shoppers. Film-free results came in at 6 of 16 for Triple Action Clean, 8 of 31 for the gel, 8 of 38 for Natural Power and 3 of 29 for Blueland Dishwasher Tablets. Reviews on the brands' own sites are much kinder, and we show but don't count them.

**Are Cascade pods better than Cascade powder for residue?**

In these reviews, yes: 18 of 21 said Cascade Platinum Plus ActionPacs left no film, against 34 of 70 for Cascade Powder Dishwasher Detergent. They're different formulas, so it isn't a straight pods versus powder test.

## Method

HiveTried counts first-hand reports only, drops reviews written for free products, shows brand-site reviews without counting them, and never accepts payment for placement. Full method: https://hivetried.com/how-we-count/