Frequently asked questions

Your detergent needs to complement the cleansing action of your dishwasher. Automatic dishwashing detergent is specially formulated to disperse food residue and greasy soiling, hold it in suspension, and remove it in the final rinse. It does all this while producing little or no suds.

For best results use the detergent recommended by the manufacturer of your machine.

However, Finish is the #1 Recommended brand by leading dishwasher manufacturers such as Bosch*. In very hard water areas we also recommend the use of separate Salt and Rinse aid to protect your machine and achieve the best result.

^*Finish is the most recommended detergent based on the market share of dishwasher manufacturers that recommend Finish

No need to! Pre-rinsing is a thing of the past. And although many British households do it, it’s time consuming and wasteful of precious resources.

Modern detergents such as Finish Quantum Ultimate contain both bleach and enzymes and are recommended by dishwasher manufacturers for use without pre-rinsing.

Bleach fights tough stains like tea and coffee, and enzymes breakdown proteins and starches. All you have to do is scrape the larger pieces into the rubbish bin and load your dishwasher.

Your dishwashing detergent should be stored in a dry environment. If you are using powder, be careful to close the spout after each use to help keep the product dry (and to avoid spills!). Like all cleaning products, store your detergent out of the reach of children.

Rinse aid is required to:

• Ensure spot-free, shiny dishes
• Assist the drying function

Salt is required to:

• protect your machine from limescale
• soften the water for better cleaning

With multi-benefit tablets such as Finish Quantum Ultimate and Finish All in One, rinse aid and salt functions are included. However, in very hard water areas we also recommend the use of separate Salt and Rinse aid products to protect your machine and achieve the best result.

Hard water can mean limescale builds up faster in your dishwasher, leading to mineral deposits being left on your dishes after a cycle. If you have hard water in your home instead of soft water, you may be looking for dishwasher detergent for hard water.

While detergents aren’t designed specifically for hard water, using a high quality detergent like the Finish® Quantum UltimateTM alongside a good Finish® rinse aid reduces the chance of the negative effects of hard water blighting your dishes.

Our rinse aids help prevent water from forming droplets on your dishes, making it harder for mineral deposits to settle on them. When used regularly alongside your detergent, the special formula will ensure you have streak-free dishes after every cycle.

Detergent tablets should always be placed in the detergent dispenser compartment.

If you’re placing the tablet at the bottom of the dishwasher it’s likely that it will dissolve too quickly, releasing the detergent during the prewash and leaving no detergent for the main wash cycle. This will reduce the efficiency of your wash.

Dishwasher tablets contain surfactants, which affect the liquid they are added to, making it more efficient at picking up and washing away debris. They also include enzymes (to break down starchy foods and protein), builders (to tackle hard water ) and safe bleaches.

Once you’ve put your dishwasher tablet into the detergent dispenser compartment, your machine will release the contents at the optimal time allowing the tab to disintegrate into the water, release all ingredients and clean your dishes!

Dishwasher tablets are very simple to use. If needed, remove any protective packaging, pop the tablet into your detergent dispensing compartment, close the compartment, turn on your washing machine and let technology and Finish handle the rest!

For detailed information on how to use Finish Tablets, read on below.

For optimal results, it is recommended to also use Finish Rinse Aid for shinier and drier dishes (vs detergent alone).

Detergent tablets should always be placed in the detergent dispenser compartment.

If you’re placing the tablet at the bottom of the dishwasher it’s likely that it will dissolve too quickly, releasing the detergent during the prewash and leaving no detergent for the main wash cycle. This will reduce the efficiency of your wash.

The standard shelf life of dishwasher tablets is two years but it’s best not to stockpile Finish products in case the product and its packaging deteriorates over time.

While using an out-of-date dishwasher tablet isn’t going to cause any damage to your kitchenware or dishwasher, it may be less effective than when used within the correct timeframe.

Whether you need to remove the plastic from your dishwasher tablet depends on the product you have bought. As a good rule of thumb, if the tablet comes individually wrapped then yes, you should remove the plastic wrap before using. If, however, the tablet is encased in a skin of thin, transparent plastic, this should not be removed and will dissolve itself safely during the washing process.

Dishwasher tablets should only go in the dishwasher detergent compartment of your dishwasher, not loose in the dishwasher itself.

If your tablet is not dissolving properly this could be down to two reasons: the water isn’t hot enough or it isn’t being released from the detergent compartment at the right time.

You should first check that the cycle you are using is hot enough (around 45 to 65°C) to fully dissolve the ingredients – see your manual for more advice.

Check that the spring on the detergent dispenser door/clip is working. Sometimes they get stuck and it can mean the tablets aren’t released at the proper time, i.e. when the water is hottest. If you’ve found that this is an issue, you may want to check our articles on dishwasher maintenance and care.

Our liquid dishwashing detergent comes in a refreshing citrus fragrance – Finish® Gel Lemon Scent. Simply fill your dishwasher detergent dispenser (using more for heavily soiled dishes and/or hard water) and turn your dishwasher on at the optimal water temperature of 60°C/140° F.

Always make sure you place your Finish® liquid dishwasher detergent into the dispenser, usually located on the inside of the dishwasher door. Be sure to wipe up any residue that might have spilled to avoid suds escaping your machine!

When it comes to dishwasher liquid vs dishwasher tablets, both offer comparable cleaning power – but one may be better than the other in certain situations. Some households may prefer dishwasher liquid because:

• Dishwasher liquid is usually cheaper than dishwasher tablets
• It can often run on a quicker dishwashing cycle
• It’s water-based, meaning that it is less abrasive on delicate tableware such as glasses and dishes
• It offers more flexibility for specific washing requirements, as you can use as much or as little as you like

However, many people may prefer to use dishwasher tablets in their household because:

• They are convenient as you can just pop them in the dishwasher
• They do not waste any detergent through spillage or over-measuring
• They are specially formulated to target stains and remove even the toughest
• Our Finish® Quantum UltimateTM tablets can carry out 21 power actions during a dishwashing cycle

Using dishwasher cleaner is a crucial part of maintaining your dishwasher, ensuring it continues to operate smoothly and cleaning your items beautifully.

Finish® dishwasher cleaner has been formulated to protect your dishwasher in two ways:

• By removing any grease or debris left over by food residue.
• By breaking down the build-up of limescale, which can be caused by calcium in water. 1

Finish® offers two types of dishwasher cleaner that can be used in different ways; either in-wash with a full load or when the machine is empty.

In-wash cleaners can be used frequently for regular maintenance, while a cleaner used during an empty cycle allows the formula to work its magic on common problem spots and hidden parts, such as the filters, spray arms and pipes. Both products clean the dishwasher efficiently, so it’s up to you what you prefer.

To use your Finish® Dishwasher Cleaner, first make sure that the dishwasher is empty, and clear the filter of any leftover food or debris.

To maintain a sparkling clean dishwasher, you might prefer to use Finish® In Wash Dishwasher Cleaner on a monthly basis to avoid grease and grime build up.

Cleaning your dishwasher is necessary to prolong the life and efficiency of your machine.

Before we show you how to use dishwasher rinse aid, let’s look at the science behind it. Sometimes our dishes come out a little less sparkly than we would like, which is usually because food and drink particles have circulated inside the dishwasher, ending up back on dishes, glassware and cutlery and the end of their cycle.

Our Finish® Rinse Aid uses “surfactants”, reducing the surface tension between the water and glass to ensure that when it slowly evaporates, it doesn’t leave anything behind.

With a little help from rinse aid, you can expect shinier and drier dishes:

• Rinse aid prevents food and drink particles from ending up on your dishes at the end of the cycle
• It fights nasty water spots that stain both your dishwasher and your kitchenware
• Your kitchenware will come out sparkly every time, rather than having residue, grease or water streaks
• It ensures that you are truly saving time: rinse aid disperses the droplets that land on your dishware, meaning your dishes come out of the cycle dry

Your rinse aid should go in your liquid rinse aid dispenser, which would be located near the detergent cup in your dishwasher.