Radiance Dish Washing Products

Last Updated on January 13, 2020

EDITOR’S NOTES: Updated March 27, 2018, with information about how the gel dishwasher detergent performs with prolonged use. 

Click here to read about Aldi’s new dishwasher pacs introduced in 2019. 

For years, Aldi has sold dishwasher detergent as well as liquid soap for washing dishes by hand under the name of Reeva. Within the last few months, the store has transitioned to the the Radiance brand for all dish washing products.

Many of the Radiance products appear to be the same or very similar. There’s still just one option for dishwasher powder pacs and one gel detergent option for dishwashers. One obvious difference I noticed is that Aldi now sells three varieties (and scents) of liquid detergent for hand washing dishes instead of two.

Let’s take a look at the new products.

Radiance Premium Dishwasher Powder Pacs

These are comparable to Cascade Platinum. They claim to leave dishes clean with no prewash required, and they claim to fight grease and stuck-on food. They are septic safe.

To use the powder pacs, place one in the main dispenser cup of your dishwasher and close the the dispenser. Use one powder pac per wash, and do not unwrap or puncture the pac. Pacs are designed to dissolve completely during the wash cycle. Handle the pacs with dry hands only. Reseal the bag after each use and store in a cool, dry place. The pacs should fit in most dishwasher dispenser cups.

I’ve seen several people complain that the new Radiance powder pacs leave their dishes cloudy or filmy-looking after washing. I have not noticed that, but I also have a newer dishwasher, which may or may not make a difference. The powder pacs seem to work fine for me, and they seem to work about the same as Aldi’s discontinued Reeva powder pacs.

The package warns not to get powder from the pacs in the eyes, on the skin, or on clothing. Naturally, don’t ingest them either. They contain sodium carbonate, sodium carbonate peroxide, and enzymes. The pacs contain no phosphates.

These are sold for $2.49 per package at my Aldi, or about 12 cents a load.

Radiance Automatic Dish Detergent Gel:

In the past, Aldi’s old Reeva gel detergent for dishwashers has been a bit of a dud. It usually left my dishes cloudy and filmy, so I was curious to see if the new Radiance Automatic Dish Detergent Gel was any better.

During the first week I used the new Radiance gel in my dishwasher, it seemed to be okay. As I continued to use it, though, I noticed that after wash cycles many of my plates had large greasy smudges, a few pieces of silverware had dirty brown spots, and some of my drinking glasses still had smears from my lip balm. Yuck. Clearly, the new gel detergent is not cutting it.

For those who are interested, this gel compares to Cascade Complete. It has a citrus scent and — unlike the old gel that was clear or white — an orange color. The bottle claims this gel is able to power away tough foods, with an advanced grease cutting formula that leaves dishes sparkling. Well …

To use the gel, the bottle instructs to “fill all cups according to machine directions.” It is septic safe. It does warn that silver and stainless steel should be washed in separate loads to avoid discoloration. Do not spill gel directly on silverware. The gel is an eye and skin irritant and contains chlorine bleach and sodium silicate. (It will kill any clothes it touches, leaving classic white bleach marks.) It is not for hand dish washing.

The gel comes in a 75-ounce bottle and sells for $2.89 at my Aldi. You clearly get quite a few more loads out of this bottle compared to the powder pacs mentioned above, so the gel is the winner in terms of cost savings. It just is not a winner in terms of actually getting your dishes clean.

Radiance Grease Cleaning Power Original Ultra Concentrated Dishwashing Liquid

This blue dish washing liquid is compared to Dawn Ultra Original Scent Dishwashing Liquid. It comes in a 24-ounce bottle and claims to be tough on grease, promising to leave dishes clean. It is not for use in dishwashers, contains surfactants, and is phosphate free.

Radiance Antibacterial Green Apple Scent Ultra Concentrated Dishwashing Liquid

This green dish washing liquid is comparable to Dawn Ultra Antibacterial Hand Soap Apple Blossom Scent. It comes in a 24-ounce bottle and claims to be tough on grease, promising to leave dishes clean. Its active ingredient is cholorxylenol, an antibacterial. It is not for use in dishwashers, contains surfactants, and is phosphate free.

Radiance Antibacterial Citrus Scent Ultra Concentrated Dishwashing Liquid

This orange dish washing liquid is comparable to Dawn Ultra Antibacterial Hand Soap Citrus Scent. This is the same as the green bottle of antibacterial hand soap mentioned above, except the scent is different. It comes in a 24-ounce bottle and claims to be tough on grease, promising to leave dishes clean. Its active ingredient is cholorxylenol, an antibacterial. It is not for use in dishwashers, contains surfactants, and is phosphate free.

The Verdict:

Aldi has discontinued its Reeva dish washing line of products and replaced it with the Radiance line. This includes many of the same standard products: a choice of powder pacs or gel for the dishwasher, and several varieties of liquid detergent/soap for hand washing your dishes.

I like the Radiance Premium Dishwasher Powder Pacs for the dishwasher. Some customers have complained the Radiance powder pacs leave their dishes cloudy, but I have not experienced that problem. However, I do have a newer dishwasher, and I’m not sure if that makes a difference.

Aldi also sells Radiance Automatic Dish Detergent Gel for dishwashers, which, like its Reeva-brand predecessor, leaves cloudy marks all over my glasses and plates and spots on my silverware. I will not be purchasing the gel for dishwashers again.

The various Radiance Ultra Concentrated Dish Washing Liquids for washing dishes by hand all are perfectly functional and come in several scents, with some offering antibacterial properties as well.