Start by checking the hardness of the water supplied to your home, then use the setting specified in your dishwasher manual. The words ‘all-in-one’ alone don’t tell you whether you’ll need any additional products. Instructions vary by product: Finish also recommends using separate salt and rinse aid in areas with very hard water, while L’Arbre Vert and Rainett give thresholds for the specific tablets they have documented. If you’d like to adjust washing, softening and rinsing separately, choose your products based on the measured water hardness and your appliance’s instructions.
You want to find out whether water hardness and your appliance’s settings could be causing deposits before switching detergent. The government department responsible for health publishes water quality test results, and Bosch Home Appliances recommends taking the supply network serving your home into account.
You prefer the convenience of a ready-measured dose, but want to check whether your chosen product also requires salt or rinse aid to suit your water hardness. The instructions we reviewed from Finish, L’Arbre Vert and Rainett vary depending on the products concerned.
You’d rather adjust the detergent and manage softening and rinsing separately. Bosch Home Appliances describes the flexibility of dosing powder, while L’Arbre Vert explains that the rinse aid setting depends, among other things, on water hardness and the appliance manufacturer’s advice.
Choose this if: you prefer a ready-to-use dose and have found a product with instructions that suit your water hardness.
Bear in mind: all-in-one tablets don’t always make salt and rinse aid unnecessary; instructions vary from product to product.
Choose this if: you want to adjust the detergent and manage softening and rinsing separately, following your appliance manual.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to follow the dosage instructions and refill the relevant reservoirs when required.
| What to consider | What to check | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Limescale and settings | Identify your water supply and its hardness, then follow the adjustment scale in your appliance manual. | When I notice deposits, I want to check the water hardness and appliance settings before changing detergent. Around 33% of consumers prioritise limescale and settings. |
| All-in-one compatibility | Compare the instructions for the exact product with the measured water hardness; don’t apply a threshold to a different formula. | If I prefer a ready-to-use dose, I check whether its instructions cover my water and specify any additional products I may need. Around 27% of consumers prioritise all-in-one compatibility. |
| Marks and drying | Check the rinse aid level and setting, as well as the water hardness setting, in line with your appliance manual. | When dishes come out with marks, I want to check the rinse aid and settings before blaming the detergent. Around 20% of consumers prioritise marks and drying. |
| Dosage per cycle | Check the dosage for your chosen product and which additional products are actually required for your water and appliance. | To adjust the amount to the load and how dirty the dishes are, I compare the dosage instructions and the products needed for each cycle. Around 20% of consumers prioritise dosage and cost per cycle. |
The instructions for the products we reviewed aren’t all the same: depending on its formula and the water hardness, a tablet may require additional salt or rinse aid.
First check the local water hardness, then the instructions for the exact product and your dishwasher manual.
You may still need salt and rinse aid, depending on the product and measured water hardness.
Bosch Home Appliances says that an incorrect water hardness setting can contribute to marks on dishes and deposits inside the appliance.
Before changing formula, check the water hardness, water softener setting and the reservoirs specified in your model’s manual.
Multifunction tablets and separate dishwasher products.
All-in-one tablets and rinse aid documented for the French market.
Bicarbonate all-in-one tablets with published water hardness guidance for the product reviewed.
Ultra Tabs All in 1 tablets and separate products, particularly for Miele dishwasher users.
This selection includes dishwasher salt, all-in-one tablets and rinse aids. Choose according to your measured water hardness and your appliance manual.
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Use in the salt compartment of a dishwasher with a built-in water softener, following your appliance manual.
2 kg pack. The product information also recommends using detergent and rinse aid.
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The product information recommends one tablet per cycle. For this bicarbonate product, Rainett recommends adding salt and rinse aid above 38 °f; also follow your dishwasher manual.
The product information states that the formula is phosphate-free.
Follow the warnings on the packaging: keep out of reach of children and avoid contact with eyes and skin.
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The product information recommends one tablet per cycle and states that the formula is phosphate-free. Check the label for this product and your appliance manual to find out whether you need any additional products for your water hardness.
The product information mentions anti-limescale and rinse aid agents. An all-in-one formula alone doesn’t establish that separate products are unnecessary in every situation.
Follow the usage and storage instructions on the packaging, including keeping the product out of reach of children.
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Pour the rinse aid into the designated compartment; the product information recommends adjusting the dosage to suit the water hardness.
The product information warns of a risk of serious skin burns and eye damage. Follow the label and use any protective equipment it specifies. Keep out of reach of children.
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The product information says to fill the dedicated compartment and adjust the dosage according to the water hardness and your appliance instructions.
The product information warns of a risk of serious eye irritation. Avoid contact with eyes and keep out of reach of children.
Check the water quality test results published by the government department responsible for health and identify the supply network that serves your home. A single town may have several networks. If the information available isn’t enough to set your appliance, you can supplement it with a hardness test at the tap.
Use the result with the scale and controls specified in your model’s manual. Bosch Home Appliances notes that settings vary between appliances, so don’t assume that a button sequence is universal.
No. It depends on the product instructions and water hardness. For the products we reviewed, L’Arbre Vert recommends adding salt and rinse aid above 25 °f, while Rainett recommends adding them above 38 °f for the bicarbonate tablets reviewed. Check the exact product and your dishwasher manual.
Check the water hardness, water softener setting and rinse aid level or setting before changing detergent. Your model’s manual will tell you which reservoirs and settings to check.
Read the label and follow the precautions for your chosen product. European regulations on detergents govern their placing on the market, while EU classification and labelling rules communicate the hazards of the mixtures concerned. These rules alone don’t confirm that a particular item sold online complies with them.