M&S dishwasher tablets have emerged as the clear winner in a comparative test against Aldi, Sainsbury’s and Finish, delivering consistently spotless dishes and crystal-clear glasses with no watermarks. The test, conducted over several months, assessed cleaning performance on plates, glasses, cutlery and pans, as well as residue and water mark formation.
M&S tablets deliver outstanding results
The M&S all-in-one tablets, priced at £3.50 for a pack of 30, left dishes spotless and removed dried-on food with ease. Glasses came out crystal clear with no watermarks, and the lemon and ginger scent avoided the harsh chemical smell often associated with dishwasher detergents. The tablets were purchased from Ocado, though prices may vary by retailer. According to the tester, these were the most reliable and favourite option despite the higher cost per tablet compared to budget brands.
Aldi and Sainsbury’s offer budget-friendly alternatives
Aldi’s all-in-one lemon tablets, costing £2.99 for 40, performed reasonably well on everyday dishes but struggled with tougher food stains and occasionally left residue. Sainsbury’s all-in-one hard tablets, at £2.75 for 30, handled lightly soiled dishes without issue but were less effective on baked-on food and larger loads. Both brands offered decent cleaning for the price but did not match the consistency of M&S or the premium performance of Finish.
Finish proves effective but expensive
Finish Quantum All In One Lemon tablets, priced at nearly £13 for 64, delivered excellent cleaning results, leaving dishes sparkling clean and handling all kinds of residues well. However, the tester noted that the high cost may not suit everyone’s budget, and the price was significantly higher than supermarket own-brands. The test highlighted that branded products are not always better value.
Key takeaway: supermarket own-brands can outperform premium labels
The test demonstrated that paying more for a familiar brand does not always guarantee superior results. M&S own-brand tablets outperformed both Aldi and Sainsbury’s and matched Finish in cleaning efficacy while costing less per tablet. The tester concluded that supermarket own-brand products can deliver just as good, if not better, results than well-known names, a finding consistent with previous comparisons of ketchup, jam and other household items.
