Supermarket shelves are chockablock with liquids, pacs, powders, and tablets that promise to get even the dirtiest dishes, glasses, pots, and pans sparkling clean. But some detergents stand out among the many brands in stores.

A powerful combo works. Cascade detergents topped the Ratings (available to our subscribers) in our detergents review, proving strong at cleaning and preventing redeposits and water spots; they were also gentle on glass and silver. Three newer Cascades have what the manufacturer calls a "Hydroclean Action" bleach-and-enzyme formula. Enzymes appear to be important to superior performance. These molecules that break down food deposits distinguish effective detergents from poor ones. Indeed, the five lowest-scoring cleaners (and one midlevel detergent) lack them.

Green can clean. Phosphates help boost the cleaning power of detergents, but they also harm the environment by encouraging algae growth in freshwater. Of the eight phosphate-free cleaners tested for this detergents review, six have enzymes. The Ecover tablet and powder, Citra-Dish, 365 Everyday Value, and Seventh Generation do a good to excellent job cleaning. The last two are reasonably priced, making those eco-friendly cleaners an attractive option.

Washington state has banned the sale of household detergents with more than 0.5 percent phosphorous; the law goes into effect in some areas on July 1, 2008, and statewide two years later. Five other states have introduced similar legislation.