Ok the cheapest way to clean your dishes is by hand, but this is basically the best way to clean dishes in the dishwasher. I know everyone likes those pods, but they aren’t that great for the longevity of your dishwasher. Anyway the use of Cascade liquid, regular price is like 2.99 and you can find it on sale for like 1.99 for the big bottle, and then the rinse aid which is about 5.99 regular price, or on sale for about 2.99. But the secret is to actually put a drop of the blue DAWN dishwashing liquid and you have just made your own platinum pod solution minus the plastic that damages your dishwasher! Spot free wonderfully clean dishes!