Somat Maschinenreiniger Review: The Surprisingly Powerful Dishwasher Cleaner Everyone Forgets to Use
13.01.2026 - 14:53:07
You open the dishwasher expecting that satisfying burst of clean, steamy air. Instead, you get a faint, sour smell. Glasses look a little cloudy, plates aren’t as spotless as they used to be, and the cutlery basket always seems to have something stuck to it. You run extra-hot cycles, switch detergents, maybe even blame the water hardness – but nothing really changes.
What’s actually happening is simple: your dishwasher is dirty.
Grease, limescale, food residues, and detergent films build up in hidden places – spray arms, filters, pipes, and the door seal. Over time, this buildup quietly steals performance, wastes energy, and can even shorten your machine’s lifespan.
That’s exactly the problem Somat Maschinenreiniger (Somat Machine Cleaner) is designed to solve.
Meet Somat Maschinenreiniger: A Deep Clean for the Machine That Cleans Everything Else
Somat Maschinenreiniger is Henkel’s dedicated cleaner for dishwashers – not a detergent, but a maintenance product that cleans the inside of the machine itself. Instead of just masking odors or relying on a hot cycle, it uses a targeted formula to remove grease, limescale, and residue from the areas you can’t easily reach.
Developed by Henkel AG & Co. KGaA (ISIN: DE0006048432), the same company behind big European household names like Somat, Pril, and Persil, this cleaner is meant to be used regularly to keep modern dishwashers running like new.
Why This Specific Model?
Dishwasher cleaners aren’t new, and there are plenty of options from supermarket own brands to global names like Finish. So why do many users on forums and review platforms keep coming back to Somat Maschinenreiniger?
Based on current product listings, Henkel’s documentation, and recent user discussions, a few clear advantages stand out:
- Designed for use with dishes inside (depending on variant): Somat offers machine cleaners that can be used during a normal washing cycle with dishes still inside (check your specific product packaging for exact instructions). That means you don’t have to waste water and energy on a completely separate cleaning run in many cases.
- Targets grease and limescale together: Users consistently report that Somat doesn’t just freshen the machine; it tackles greasy filters, spray arms, and limescale film that can otherwise block water flow and reduce cleaning performance.
- Easy, no-fuss application: Typically, you place or hang the product as directed, start your dishwasher, and let it do the work. No disassembly, no scrubbing the interior with brushes or homemade vinegar concoctions.
- Noticeable improvement in results: Many reviewers mention that after a treatment with Somat Maschinenreiniger, glasses look clearer, odors disappear, and cycles seem more effective again.
- From a specialist in cleaning chemistry: Being a product under the Henkel/Somat umbrella, it benefits from long-term development in automatic dishwashing chemistry that smaller or generic brands often can’t match.
On Henkel’s official Somat site, the machine cleaner is clearly positioned as part of a holistic dishwasher care routine: detergent for everyday cleaning, salt and rinse aid for water and shine optimization, and Somat Maschinenreiniger for deep maintenance.
At a Glance: The Facts
Here’s how Somat Maschinenreiniger translates from technical product into real-world benefits for you and your kitchen.
| Feature | User Benefit |
|---|---|
| Specialized dishwasher machine cleaner formula | Targets the inside of the machine (spray arms, filters, pipes, and interior surfaces) instead of just cleaning dishes, improving long-term performance. |
| Removes grease and residue | Helps clear oily buildup that can trap food particles and reduce water pressure, so your dishwasher cleans more effectively again. |
| Combats limescale deposits | Supports better spray arm function and heating efficiency in hard-water areas, which can mean cleaner dishes and more consistent temperatures. |
| Regular maintenance recommendation (e.g., periodic use) | Prevents problems before they become visible – fewer odors, less cloudy film, and potentially longer appliance lifespan. |
| Designed for modern automatic dishwashers | Compatible with standard household dishwashers from major brands, fitting naturally into an existing Somat detergent/rinse aid routine. |
| From Henkel's Somat brand | Backed by a well-known European cleaning brand with a focus on automatic dishwashing products. |
What Users Are Saying
Looking at recent user feedback across online shops and discussion forums (including English-language threads about Somat dishwasher products), the sentiment toward Somat Maschinenreiniger is largely positive, with a few recurring themes.
Pros people mention:
- Visible difference inside the machine: Users often say the interior looks brighter and cleaner after a cycle – especially around the door, rubber seal, and stainless steel surfaces.
- Odor reduction: One of the most common positive comments is that persistent musty or sour smells disappear or noticeably decrease after using Somat Maschinenreiniger.
- Improved dish results over time: While it’s not a magic fix for every problem, many users report clearer glasses and better overall cleaning performance in subsequent washes.
- Simple routine: People like that they can just follow the on-pack directions and let the product work during a normal program without manual scrubbing.
Cons and caveats you should know:
- It’s a maintenance product, not a miracle repair: If your machine has severe mechanical issues, blocked pumps, or years of neglect, no cleaner alone will fix that. Some disappointed reviews come from expecting a total transformation in one go.
- Recurring cost: Regular maintenance cycles mean adding another line to your household budget, especially compared to DIY options like vinegar or citric acid.
- Packaging and variant confusion: Because Somat offers different cleaning and care products (tabs, powder, liquid cleaners, intensive machine cleaners), some buyers initially pick up the wrong type; always double-check that you are buying the machine cleaner, not standard detergent.
Overall, the community consensus is that Somat Maschinenreiniger is especially appreciated by users who run their dishwasher frequently, have hard water, or live in households where the machine is central to daily life. For them, the product feels less like a gimmick and more like cheap insurance.
Alternatives vs. Somat Maschinenreiniger
The dishwasher care market is crowded. Here’s how Somat Maschinenreiniger fits into the landscape.
- Finish / Quantum-style machine cleaners: These are Somat’s most direct competitors in Europe and beyond. They offer similar limescale and grease removal. In many user comparisons, Finish and Somat are considered roughly on par in effectiveness, with the choice often coming down to price, regional availability, or brand loyalty.
- Supermarket own brands: Cheaper private-label machine cleaners are easy to find and sometimes work adequately for mild buildup. However, users who switch to Somat from a store brand often report a more noticeable difference after the first use, especially in smell and interior shine.
- DIY methods (vinegar, baking soda, citric acid): Popular on Reddit and in frugal living communities, these can help with light limescale or odor, but they lack the targeted formulation of a product like Somat. They also may not be ideal for all dishwashers, as some manufacturers warn against frequent vinegar or acid use on rubber and metal parts. Somat Maschinenreiniger gives you a solution that’s purpose-built and backed by an appliance-focused brand.
Where Somat really stands out is its integration into a full Somat ecosystem: detergent, rinse aid, salt, and specialized cleaners all tuned to work together. If you already use Somat tabs or gels, adding Somat Maschinenreiniger makes even more sense.
Is Somat Maschinenreiniger Right for You?
You’re most likely to benefit from Somat Maschinenreiniger if:
- You use your dishwasher daily or close to it.
- You live in a hard-water area where limescale is a constant problem.
- You’ve noticed dull glasses, lingering odors, or greasy residues inside the machine.
- You’d rather prevent issues than pay for repairs or an early replacement.
If you rarely use your dishwasher or already follow a strict manual cleaning routine (removing and scrubbing filters, wiping seals, running occasional hot empty cycles), Somat Maschinenreiniger is still helpful but less critical. It’s about raising the baseline and keeping things consistently clean with minimum effort.
Final Verdict
Think of your dishwasher as the unsung hero of your kitchen. It quietly handles the dirty work every day – until it doesn’t. When the performance drops, most people immediately blame the detergent, the brand, or the water. The truth is often more mundane: the machine itself needs a deep clean.
Somat Maschinenreiniger steps into that gap as a smart, low-effort way to restore and protect your dishwasher’s performance. It doesn’t promise miracles, and it won’t replace a technician for real mechanical problems, but for the everyday reality of grease, limescale, and hidden residue, it’s one of the most practical maintenance products you can add to your routine.
If you’re tired of dull glasses, mystery smells, and the creeping suspicion that your dishwasher just isn’t what it used to be, Somat Maschinenreiniger is a simple, science-backed way to give it a fresh start – and keep it that way.
