Cascade Platinum ActionPacs Dishwasher Detergent

Cascade Platinum ActionPacs Dishwasher Detergent boasts powerful cleaning prowess by way of a triple-chamber pack, including grease-fighting Dawn dishwashing liquid and a built-in rinse aid. Our editors and parent testers found that this detergent lives up to its claims, offering a sparkling finish that helps to offset its somewhat-higher-than-average price per dishwashing load.

CLEANING POWER

In the Today's Parent Approved lab, the Cascade Platinum ActionPacs were tested against a broad range of crusted-on foods and food residues—cheese and tomato sauce, pasta, peanut butter, egg yolk, mashed potatoes, milk and pulpy orange juice—on dishes (plastic and ceramic), glasses, pots, baking dishes, cutlery and a box grater. The detergent scored highly in nearly every category, providing streak-free results with minimal spotting, and struggled only slightly with tomato sauce and some burnt-on pasta.

Our parent testers offered high praise for Cascade Platinum’s effectiveness, and were happy to report that it eliminated the need for pre-soaking, scrubbing and an additional rinse aid. They appreciated its high quality, and noticed it even left plastics clean and dry.

EASE OF USE

Our editors found that the 16-pack package resealed easily and effectively, although the plastic tore slightly when first opened. (In larger quantities, Cascade Platinum comes in a tub, which is slightly easier to store as well as open and close with each use.) One parent tester noted that the packaging may not be child-proof, but in general, testers were pleased with how straightforward and unfussy these ActionPacs are. 

Prepackaged dishwasher detergent packs already offer convenience, and the all-in-one formulation of Cascade Platinum makes it all the more helpful for a busy family. The pre-measured detergent packs come with simple instructions that our testers had no difficulty with, even with first-time use.

FINAL WORD

Cascade Platinum ActionPacs Dishwasher Detergent offer a great balance of convenience and effective cleaning, producing a sparkling finish that impressed our editors and parent testers alike. Although the more premium price point gave some of our testers pause, the detergent’s quality makes it a good value for the money and helped it earn recommendations across the board. And with everything you need to do the dishes in one handy pack that you pop in the dishwasher, it couldn't be easier.