Cascade (brand)

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

External links