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What You Need to Know Before Buying: Cascade or Kirkland Dishwasher Pacs Review

What You Need to Know Before Buying: Cascade or Kirkland Dishwasher Pacs Review

Let’s talk about what you need to know before you buy, about getting our dishes clean.

Really clean

Sparkling clean.

Eat with the Queen clean.

(I know, it’s weird I referenced the Queen – but she’s fancy and most likely wants – EXPECTS! – to eat her cake with a clean fork.)

What You Need to Know Before Buying

This post is a review between Kirkland dishwashing pacs (the Costco house brand) and Cascade Platinum dishwasher pacs.

Before we begin, know this is NOT a sponsored post – just my experience with both products.

Things to Know About This Personal Experience Review:

  1. I LOVE Costco and Kirkland, their house brand – I LOVE ‘EM!
  2. I will NOT stick with a product that doesn’t work, no matter the brand or my love for said brand.
  3. I’m here to offer the truth about my experience – but just my experience.
  4. I’m also all about keeping an open mind. Got something better? TELL ME!
  5. Not sure something better is possible, but tell me!

~ A gentle reminder: OMT! uses Amazon referral links at no cost to you.~

Cascade Platinum Dishwasher Pods

This will serve as review #1

 

(source: AMAZON)

Oh, momma!

These tiny fresh scent pacs clean like YOU’D clean.

They work hard and efficiently.

Everything, from the silverware to the glasses to the bowls with hardened schmutz on them, came out squeaky clean and sparkly.

Cascade Dishwasher Detergent Exceeded My Expectations

While I was expecting nothing short of a solid cleaning product, the Cascade dishwasher pacs were surprisingly good.

For this experiment to find the best dishwasher pacs, I loaded my dishwasher with the grimiest dishes and everything came out without needed a touch up.

I LOVE this particular Cascade product.

LOVE. IT.

Cascade Detergent Details:

  • ~ No pre-wash needed-Cascade Platinum dishwasher detergent removes burnt-on food without pre-washing.
  • ~ ActionPacs are formulated with the grease-fighting power of Dawn dish soap.
  • ~ Our triple chamber Action Pac is tough enough to finish cleaning even your burnt on messes without pre-washing.
  • ~ Cascade’s best dishwashing detergent keeps your silverware and dishwasher sparkling finish.

Cascade Product Description:

  • Cascade Platinum ActionPacs clean burnt-on messes in just one wash, with no prewash needed.
  • Premium tough-food cleaning powers away burnt-on foods, while built-in rinse-aid action and the grease-fighting power of Dawn make your dishes dazzle.
  • They’re our best clean for sparkling silverware and even your dishwasher.
  • Plus, Cascade Platinum dishwasher detergent is formulated to help prevent hard-water filming—keeping your machine looking fresh and clean. Simply pop in an ActionPac and reveal a Platinum sparkle.

Does Cascade Have The Best Dishwasher Pods?

Was the product description on Amazon sales hyperbole?!

I found all of it to be true, which honestly shocked me.

Cause really, how many products live up to their own hype?

No pre-washing needed = truth.

Dishes came out sparkling clean = truth.

Bonus: the inside of my dishwasher looks cleaner than ever!

I can and do, highly recommend Cascade Platinum action pacs.

Kirkland Premium Dishwasher Pacs

Review #2 on deck!

As I said above, I love me some Costco.

I live roughly five minutes away from my local warehouse and they know me well!

I walk in: PATTI!

When I first got my membership, I was so happy to find a lower cost dishwasher pac than Cascade, until…

(is that a spoiler alert? me thinks so, my darlings)

 

(source: Amazon)

Kirkland Premium Dishwasher Pacs Product Information:

  • ~ 115 Dishwasher pacs per pack
  • ~ Lemon citrus scent
  • ~ Grease-fighting power with enzyme action, power of activated bleach
  • ~ Attached the toughest stains
  • ~ Works great on grease, coffee, wine, eggs
  • ~ Contains a rinse aid
  • ~ Sparkling clean, streak-free dishes
  • ~ Incredibly easy to use, no unwrapping and no mess
  • ~ Phosphate Free, Chlorine-Free, Salt-Free and Safe For Septic Systems

Oh, Costco – how I love thee.  Truly, deeply, madly.

Kirkland Product Letdown

I WANTED to love the Kirkland dishwasher detergent pods, I did.

~wiping tear from eye~

But, I think for the first time ever, I didn’t care for the Costco brand over a national one.

And, I was equally shocked and saddened that they let me down.

After I originally bought, and started using, the Kirkland brand pacs, I thought my dishwasher had seen better days, because thangs just weren’t getting clean.

I told Garry it might be time to go shopping for a new appliance.

Yep, I thought it was me, not them.

Switching from Kirkland Brand Dishwasher Pacs To Cascade Platinum Pacs

When the Kirkland brand failed me, I decided to try the Cascade Platinum Pacs.

When I switched brands, I wasn’t expecting much. I mean really, how much difference could there be in basically the same type products?

Color me stunned about how clean my dishes came out of the dishwasher.

How clean?

So clean that I would make Garry stop what he was doing and come look – for weeks!

LOOK! SO CLEAN! SO SHINY!

God bless that man for humoring me!

So…Wait – WHAT?

Yep, it wasn’t me – it was them.

It pains me to say this, because the Kirkland brand and Costco are at the top of my list for most products, they are my beloved go-to for savings and superior products, but I wasn’t saving money buying the less expensive Kirkland dishwasher pacs.

They just didn’t get the job done for me.

Towards the end of my acceptance that I should try another product, I was using two pacs for one cycle and it still didn’t get them as clean as one pac of Cascade.

Nothing says NOT WORKING! like having to use twice the amount to get the job done.

Cascade Dishwasher Pac Ingredients

If you are interested, you can zip over to the Cascade page to see a full list of their ingredients.

Scroll down that page a bit until you come to the “smartlable” button. Click on it and it will take you to an informational page listing ingredients, safety, usage, handling, etc.

Cascade – Nothing Cleans Better!

Yep, they nailed it with their slogan.

At least for this review between Kirkland and Cascade.

Hands down, Cascade won this battle in our house as the best dishwasher detergent.

What about you?

Anything you’d like to add? A favorite brand I (we) could pit against Cascade?

Whatever you are using, even if it’s Kirkland dishwashing pacs, I hope your dishes are serving the Queen worthy.

Happy clean dishes, y’all!

Original post: April 13, 2018 ~ Updated post: January 22, 2024

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Super Soaker Life Hack: How to Kill Wasps Naturally

I saved the best for last! Since learning this non-toxic method of ridding the outside of our eaves from wasps, we’ve shared it and used it every year since.

Plus, SUPER SOAKER! lol

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Thank you for indulging my silliness!

And thank you for reading: What You Need to Know Before Buying: Cascade or Kirkland Dishwasher Pacs Review

Let me know what you think (about any of it)!

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jayna

Saturday 18th of March 2023

So, Costco has a new product (probably because of your blog!) Would love to see you do another update. I got two samples and will try it myself but I probably don't have the best house to do it in because we rinse all the time since there are just two of us... Kirtland Signature Premium Performance UltraShine Automatic Dishwasher Detergent.

Tim

Thursday 26th of October 2023

@jayna, I bought a package of these Kirkland Platinum Performance UltraShine dishwasher tabs last month, and while the dishes seem to get clean, I am not a fan of the citrus fragrance they use in those tabs. The fragrance is quite strong, and it’s still noticeable when I open the dishwasher door to unload after a cycle. This morning, I sliced up a mango on a plastic cutting board that just been washed in the dishwasher last night. As I was eating the mango, I was tasting the lemon fragrance of the UltraShine on the mango, which was clearly “attached” to the cutting board surface. That’s a deal-breaker for me. I should NOT be eating any detergent residue along with my food. Has anyone else noticed this problem?

Patti Tucker

Friday 24th of March 2023

MAking a COstco run soon and will look for this product!

Sarah

Monday 13th of March 2023

Totally agree. I also love Kirkland brand but unfortunately their dishwasher pods don’t work. Also agree Cascade platinum is the best pod, I much prefer it over Finish. If you want something more natural, animal and eco-friendly, Biovert is the best I’ve found. Works just as well as Cascade.

Carol Ford

Tuesday 6th of September 2022

I have been using Cascade Platinum since getting my new dishwasher a year ago. I am in awe every time I empty it. I no longer rinse...anything! I keep doing experiments but I have never had anything left on anything. I use glass baking pans and have washed lasagne pans, egg bake pans and a meatloaf pan. Everything, clean as a whistle! Today I bought Kirkland to try to save a few bucks. After reading all of this, I am going to return it and stick with the Cascade. Why ruin a good thing?

Patti Tucker

Tuesday 6th of September 2022

I always love trying new Costco products, and am usually very impressed, but...this was one that fell short.

Amy

Wednesday 20th of July 2022

I also thought it was just me. I have been using the Kirkland brand for a few weeks and I am finding that my glassware is starting to develop rings and my silverware is appearing pitted. I never had these issues with Finish or Cascade and I have quality dishes/silverware. I will never purchase this Kirkland product again and I am an avid Kirkland brand user.

Patti Tucker

Wednesday 20th of July 2022

Always a disappointment when Kirkland isn't better! Love their house brand.

Margie Mott

Friday 4th of March 2022

My new Bosch Dishwasher recommend using Finish Products. Well, I know that often times manufacturers have friendly “agreements” so I didn't hold that reliable. However, when we used the last of the Cascade, from our previous dishwasher, I did buy Finish & I was amazed at the difference. I have ALWAYS used Cascade products. Yet, we also LOVE LOVE Costco. Since we’re there all the time, the next time we needed dishwasher detergent, my husband came home with the Kirkland detergent. I could not believe how disappointed I was. It was noticeably less quality than either Cascade or Finish. So, i actually bought more Finish before we used hardly any of the Kirkland. Bottom line, I dont know if Finish works better in all dishwashers, or just mine. But while I'm the proud owner of a Bosch dishwasher, i will never stray again from the Finish products.

Patti Tucker

Friday 4th of March 2022

Whew! Glad you have found what works for you. Since we are both Costco lovers, I feel your pain over the disappointing Kirkland product.

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