Cascade (brand)

Cascade
Product typeDishwasher detergent
OwnerProcter & Gamble
CountryUnited States
Introduced1955 (1955)[1]
Websitecascadeclean.com

Cascade is a brand of automatic dishwasher detergent manufactured by Procter & Gamble. Introduced in 1955, it is the most popular dishwasher detergent brand in the United States.[1][2][3]

History

Cascade was developed by Procter & Gamble in 1955 as a specialized product for automatic dishwashers. Its creation stemmed from a business decision to differentiate the company's cleaning products. Before Cascade, the company had marketed Tide as a multi‑purpose detergent, including for dishwashing, but found Tide powder did not leave dishes sufficiently shiny. The company identified a market for a product specifically formulated for increasingly popular automatic dishwashers.[1]

The brand's formulation has evolved over time. A patent for an "automatic dishwasher detergent composition" that became part of the Cascade brand was granted to Procter & Gamble chemists Dennis Weatherby and Brian J. Roselle. The patent, issued on December 22, 1987, described a formula that included a class of dyes to give the detergent a lemon-yellow color without staining dishware and the dishwasher interior.[4][5]

In August 2003, Procter & Gamble launched Cascade ActionPacs, a line of unit-dose detergent pods. The pods utilized two-compartment packets composed of water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) film, designed to sequester liquid and solid ingredients until dissolution during the wash cycle.[6] In 2010, Cascade reformulated their products to remove phosphates (such as sodium tripolyphosphate) in response to environmental regulation and concerns about eutrophication of waterways.[7][8]

Products

As of 2026, Cascade markets the following products in the US:[9]

  • ActionPacs (Single-Dose Pods)
    • Platinum Plus
    • Platinum
    • Complete
    • Free & Clear
  • Gel Detergent
    • Complete Gel
    • Free & Clear Gel
  • Powder Detergent
    • Complete Powder
  • Additives & Machine Care
    • Power Dry Rinse Aid
    • Dishwasher Cleaner

References

  1. ^ a b c Conte, Annemarie (February 26, 2025). "How I Came to Love the Dusty Powdered Dishwasher Detergent of My Childhood". Wirecutter. The New York Times. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  2. ^ "Cascade Safety and FAQ". Cascade Detergent. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  3. ^ Blau, Max; Younes, Lylla (December 20, 2021). "The Dirty Secret of America's Clean Dishes". ProPublica. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  4. ^ Cabrera, Claudio E.; Jacobs, Julia (February 24, 2019). "Seven Black Inventors Whose Patents Helped Shape American Life". The New York Times. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  5. ^ "Dennis Weatherby". Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  6. ^ Hartman, Lauren (January 29, 2014). "Water-soluble pouches dish up convenience for Cascade". Packaging Digest. Retrieved January 4, 2026.
  7. ^ McCoy, Michael (January 24, 2011). "Goodbye, Phosphates". Chemical & Engineering News. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  8. ^ "What Are Phosphates in Detergent?". Cascade Detergent. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  9. ^ "Product Type by form". Cascade Detergent. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
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