Finish Quantum released in US

[jt1985]

Finish Quantum Dishwashing Capsules are out. It features:

* POWERBALL with Jet Dry gel for shine

* POWERMAX Bleach (Sodium Carbonate & Percarbonate) to attack tough stains

* Powerful Enzymes (Protease) to soften burnt-on food.

It:
* Dissolves rapidly
* Has no wrapper - water soluble and coating is biodegradable.
* Fits all Dishwasher Detergent Cups.
* Pre-measured, no Guesswork.

 

[jerrod6]

Have you tried it yet? Do you think it cleans better than ElectraSol Finish Red ball tabs? What store did you buy it from?

 

[rolls_rapide]

Ahhh...Youv'e got the Mark II version!

When they were first released in Europe, they had a white powerball.

They were the same size but there was a compartment of blue biological powder; a round white 'powerball' of percarbonate bleach; and a blue gel rinse-aid.

The powder was supposed to dissolve first, efficiently breaking down food stains. Next, the white powder bleach dissolved a little slower (bleaches tend to slow enzyme activity). Finally the rinse-aid gel is supposed to act in the final rinse.

However...

Read the instructions on the pack very carefully. They are not suitable for quick washes, or cooler washes.

They weren't a success for my Bosch Logixx Automatic. I get far better performance with separate detergent, softener salt and rinse-aid.

Sometimes the Quantums become clogged in dispensers, or stuck to items (plates, pots, cutlery, etc).

There should actually be TWO enzymes: protease and amylase. Protease for protein based stains; amylase for starchy based stains.

 

[foraloysius]

Quite a coincidence!

Overhere in the Netherlands they are sold as Calgonit Quantum. I bought them earlier this week and just started the first load with it.

 

[jerrod6]

Cooler washes....so some of my regular program cycles are between 116F and 125F and some are 130F and the heavy soiled ones are 150F to about 170F but I don't use these often, so which one of these temperatures is going to work?

If at lower temps then it won't dissolve?

 

[spoodles]

They are awful in our Bosch too. The film they are encased in would often be found stuck to plates and any plastics in the load afterwards. The packaging is dreadful as well!

 

[logixx]

Calgonit Quantum worked just fine in our Siemens but caused a layer of suds, which even once forced an extra rinse. They also tend to be more expensive than detergent and rinse aid (and salt, if needed) bought separately, while not performing quite as well.

Many modern dishwashers run cycles at temperatures as low as 113 or even 105°F and I'm not talking about quick wash cycles - so the tabs should dissolve just fine. The wrapping is water-soluble anyway.

Alex

 

[aamassther]

Jerrod, Where are you going to store these when you buy them?
It's good to see you posting over here! Todd

 

[jt1985]

The place where I got it was....

Walmart.

 

[jerrod6]

Hi Todd!

I still have 9 boxes of different DW detergents left from my tests last year, but I am down to 1/4 box left of Electrasol Red ball tabs(55 tab box), so that gives me room for a few more tabs...somewhere.

Did anyone notice that Finish ElectraSol Red ball tabs don't exactly say they contain Jet Dry? The box says Jet dry shine, and the tab no longer has a jet dry layer or ball.

 

[jerrod6]

Finish Quantum tabs are not available in my area of the USA yet. Has anyone used it? How did it perform?

 

[dj-gabriele]

I tried it once and found it simply overpriced!
It cleans nicely but again I must tell I never had issues with cleaning bad stains except with Unilever's Svelto tablets and Fairy gel caps that are awful smelling too.
Anyway I find that the thing that works better is powder+rinse agent+salt

 

[jt1985]

Results

It works well. They removed the caked-on food and even left no spots, something regular Finish/Electrasol and Jet Dry combined couldn't do. But I'll stick with my Cascade Complete Pacs, as they really do it all.

 

[jerrod6]

Thanks jt1985. So no over sudsing then?

I alternate detergents every week and move between, Cascade Complete Pacs, Electrasol Gel Pacs, Electrasol Red Ball Tabs, Miele Tabs, and Cascade Complete Gel. Sometimes I use Electrasol powder with chlorine bleach..that works too. It all seems to work. This week I am using 1/2 Miele tab.

I'll try Quantum when it becomes available in my area.

 

[ronhic]

Aldi or Lidl

So far I have avoided the big brand tablets...

Our dishwasher isn't too keen on powder..no matter what we do it never fully dispenses so tablets it is...

I have had great success with Aldi's Logix dual layer tablet...everything comes out clean...it is basic, but works.

When we lived in the UK, Lidl's W5 tablets were fantastic. Our Bosch again loathed powder, but the tablets worked a treat. Which magazine recently praised the Lidl tablets and they rated as high (within a couple of %) as the most expensive Finish ones....

Gets my vote...quality and economy

 

[jt1985]

More washes, and a new favorite.

Well, I am retracting my previous comments. I do like the Quantum capsules. They have, in a way, changed my opinion of the Finish/Electrasol brand. I've always viewed Electrasol as an inferior competitor to Cascade. But now, it's just as good as Cascade, but at a lower price.

 

[logixx]

Here are the test results, in this case only Somat 7 versus Calgonit Quantum, from a dishwasher detergent test by our consumer test magazine (February 2008).

Somat 7 / Calgonit Quantum

Overall Score: B (2.1) – B (2.4)

Cleaning: B (1.8) – B (2.4)
Tea: 2 / 3
Milk: 2 / 3
Ground Meat: 2 / 2
Egg Yolk: 1 / 2
Egg-Milk Mix: 1 / 2
Starch: 1 / 3
Oatmeal: 2 / 3
Cleaning after storage: 3 / 4

Rinse aid substitution: B (2.3) / C (3.4)

Salt substitution: B (1.7) / C (1.9)

Gentleness: B (1.8) / B (2.1)
Glasses: 1 / 1
Silver: 2 / 3
Stainless steel: 1 / 1
Glazing: 3 / 5
Discoloration of plastic: 4 / 4

Ratings explained

0.5 – 1.5 = A (best)
1.6 – 2.5 = B
2.6 – 3.5 = C
3.6 – 4.5 = D
4.5 – 5.5 = E (worst/fail)

 

[jerrod6]

Logixx

What does cleaning after storage mean?

I don't think Somat is sold to the USA but I would love to try it. Is there significance to the number 7 in the Somat name?

 

[logixx]

"Cleaning after storage"

They test how well the detergents clean after being stored in a warm and humid environment for some time - some weeks IIRC. Claro tabs, by the same manufacturer as the Miele detergent, started dissolving on their own while still in the box. All the other detergents remained intact but the ingredients became less effective over time.

The "7" is supposed to represent the number of functions Somat will perform. It contains: 1) detergent 2) rinse aid 3) water softener 4) stainless steel protection and shine 5) glass protection/anti-etching 6) cleaning booster 7) something to activate the detergent at 104¡ãF ("low-temperature activator" - as Henkel calls is)

Alex