[nennikers]

Consumer Reports recently listed the Great Value brand dishwasher detergent (powder) from Wal-Mart as a great value! I've been using this detergent for a year or so, and it's only around $2 for a box (compared to $6 for Cascade, my previous brand).

Also, I'm of the ilk that you should ALWAYS rinse your dishes before loading them in the dishwasher. Otherwise, the food disposer inside the washer gets all gunked up, shortening the life of your machine. That's what I've always been told. My Mom's had the same dishwasher for 10 years, and it runs like new. Also, if you use powder, NEVER overfill the dispenser. It wreaks havoc on the draining mechanism.