Is it better to use all-in-one tablets or separates?
Three-in-one tablets supposedly provide all the consumables a dishwasher needs – detergent, rinse aid (to prevent watermarks) and dishwasher salt (to soften hard water) – in one handy tablet. Many dishwashers now feature a special program for these (see dishwasher program choices for more information). Four-in-one and five-in-one products claim to have an additional function to keep glasses looking newer for longer (four-in-one), as well as a function to give a better shine to stainless steel (five-in-one). Before using all-in-one tablets, check your dishwasher manual. If you have an older machine that doesn’t have a three-in-one button and isn’t designed to work with all-in-one products, you may invalidate your warranty. With all-in-one products you’ll usually still have to add dishwasher salt separately. See our dishwasher detergents review to help you choose the best one for you.
