I think that Finish Quantum is better than Cascade Institutional

[mark_wpduet]

In the past, I always used Cascade Complete, which was great. Then they took the phosphates out and it became terrible, so then I went to Cascade Institutional which is much better. But I have some samples of Finish Quantum and it works much better than the Cascade Institutional which kind of shocked me. In the past, no matter what detergent I used, it was never able to get EGG of spatula, even Cascade Complete with enzymes, but Quantum does. There were also a few other small things I noticed that Cascade complete was never able to get off of a couple of stainless steel pots, which Quantum did. When I finish up the supply of Cascade institutional, I'm switching to Quantum.

 

[launderess]

I've Told Ya

By and large most "commercial" and or institutional automatic dishwashing detergents are heavy on chlorine but do not contain enzymes. While chlorine bleach will help breakdown and remove protien soils such as egg, cycle times aren't nearly long enough in those settings for the use of enzyme products.

Am using up a stash of Cascade "Complete" NOS and did a load just the other day which contained several bowls and other items covered in egg yolk (batter for baked chicken), everything came out clean with no trace of the stuff. Indeed never have a problem with CC getting things clean.

Being as all this may Finish Quantum is perhaps the current highest rated dw detergent by many including Consumer Reports. It just must bug Cascade's people that after being top dog for years they are losing ground because of the no phosphate reformula.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

I agree. The Quantum pacs are doing a bang up job in my JetClean. I was experimenting around with different brands after the reformulation and wasn't happy until I tried the Quantum pacs. Like you, I was a die hard Cascade Complete fan until it all hit the fan...

RCD

 

[DADoES]

 
But Mark's post is comparing Finish Quantum to Cascade Institutional, not to Cascade Complete.

My question is how does Quantum fare on tea stains, tomato stains, coffee stains and such compared to the bleach in Institutional?

 

[mark_wpduet]

DADoES

Honestly, I know what you're talking about. The bleach that used to always be in the auto dish washing detergents contained bleach, which would get rid of all of those stains. Cascade Complete without phosphates fell short and I noticed the inability to remove some of those stains you're talking about.....However, with the quantum, I have not noticed any stains, even on the white interior.....

Then again, I haven't had any red wine....but I do drink tea and coffee.

My ratings:

1. Finish Quantum
2. Cascade Institutional
3. Cascade Complete (phosphate free)

I have moderately hard water in my area.

PS - I recently have been filling my rinse aid dispenser with distilled white vinegar as well and setting it on the highest setting. I think the vinegar does better than the liquid rinse aid.

I still can't believe three years went by and I thought my rinse aid was leaking and I didn't use it........Only to find out that I simply overfilled it. Lame!

 

[jakeseacrest]

I just switched from Finish Powerball tabs to Cascade Complete pacs. I have soft water and find that the Cascade makes everything shinier. Plus the Finish seems to create alot of suds in my Maytag vs the Cascade pacs.

 

[redcarpetdrew]

I apologize for not having any experience with the Cascade Institutional. All I can go by is Complete to Quantum.

RCD

 

[appnut]

I have been using the Institutional Cascade for a while.  I still have a stash of Cascade Complete  All-in1 Pacs that has the olpd phosphate formula.  I use those ONLY fort exceptionally heavy soil that the Institutional won't thoroughly get rid of.  that old Cascade Complete is still my absolute favorite and tackles anything I throw at it.  In comparison the Institutional formula is 2nd best for caked on, practically burned on stuff.  I had a skillet with eggs, cheese, and tortillas from last injght's dinner that dind't come clean, but I also had the machine so full it didn't get great water coverage.  But, it hardly bnudged any of the intense residue.  So I"ll throw it back in and put it face down with Institutional and see how it does.  There were some other "doubtfuls"  (peanut butter coated knives sitting for a week) in the load that came out perfect.  I have to admit, I don't noitice much of a difference in tea/coffee stains between Institutional or the old Complete.  But those old Cascade Pacs I use extremely sparingly.  INcidentally, I recently read a new Frigidaire user manual online and it specifically state to NOT use any of these commercial/institutional formulas with belach in them.  I guess wsater doesn't get hot enough to effectively use the bleach lol.

 

[dustin92]

We have a Kenmore Ultra wash, and I have found that Cascade Complete pacs with a little lemishine added work great. Institutional Cascade is by far the worst we have used in this maxhine, everything came out filmy and gross. The Quantum tabs foam up too much and choke the dishwasher, and leave the glasses slightly filmy. We have rock hard city water, so we have to use the lemishine or everything starts getting crusty after a few washes.

 

[mark_wpduet]

Isn't Lemishine just citric acid?

So it can be used WITH the detergent or is it only put in during the rinse? I seem to remember reading someone say that citric acid shouldn't be used WITH detergent. Why? I don't know. I think something about it causes the detergent itself not to work as well and that it should be used during rinse. Don't quote me; it just seems like I remember reading that. Possibly on this forum.

 

[chris74]

Institutional?

Meaning professional?

The Quantum tabs don't save you from that orange dye on plastics caused by tomato. Though I believe that all in Germany available tablets do contain oxygen-based bleach.

 

[mattl]

I've been using Cascade Commercial for some time now, overall mostly happy with it.  I has failed to get the eggs off my grab-it's I use for scrambled eggs in the microwave, but that is it's only failure.  I like Finish, but the per use price is so high that I think I can deal with the egg issue and save some $.

 

[MikeS]

Finish Vs. Cascade

With me, I have found both Finish Quantum and Cascade Complete work well in my Bosch, so whichever has the best price/coupon/sale is the one I buy. Recently, however, I found a three-pack of Finish Powerball (90 tabs for $10) at my local Big Lots, so I snapped it up. When my Cascade stash runs out, I'll give them a shot. CR likes the Powerball, so I have faith it will get my dishes just as clean as either CC or Quantum. We'll see.

 

[dustin92]

Yes, the lemishine is mainly citric acid, I have tried it in the first rinse, it works just as well to put it in the main wash compartment. I am using far less than the directions call for, maybe about a teaspoon. It says you should fill the prewash compartment completely with it. I Havent found it to decrease the detergents performance at all.

 

[DADoES]

 
I have a small supply of NOS Cascade Complete (enzymes & phosphates), and bought a case of Cascade Institutional (chlorine bleach & phosphates).  I use the Institutional on loads that need the bleach effect (iced tea maker funnel & tea pitchers), Complete rest of the time.  Both have no trouble with egg residue.  Complete definitely doesn't handle the tea stains.

 

[polkanut]

For awhile now I've been using a 50-50 mixture of Cascade w/ Dawn (6.4% phosphates) & chlorinated Hytron (7.3% phosphates), and the results have been outstanding.  I love the chlorine smell while it's in the wash cycle.  I'm also using vintage Jet-Dry in the rinse aid dispenser.  It's from circa 1970, and made by Economics Laboratory (now EcoLab).  

 

[rayjay]

Bubble Bandit

I do like Finish Quantum and think it is the best for a Non Phosphate detergent.

I ordered the Bubble Bandit dishwasher detergent recommended by a member here. The detergent has phophates in it.

Well........I just have to say this stu is FANTASTIC. Better than anthing that is out there now. I want to throw out all my stash and just use this. Cleans very well especially if you have hard water. (Use 1/2 the amount for soft water).

I spoke with the genleman at Bubble Bandit. They said they can sell it with the phosphates because it has the word 'Insitional" on it. Actually there are on 17 st states in the USA that ban phosphate detergents. Jersey is NOT one of them.

They are also coming out with Phophate Rinse aid, and down the road a phsphate laundry detergent.

The website is: www.bubblebandit.com.

This link will take you to Amazon.com

Once you use this, you will not want to use anthing else.

Ray

 

[super32]

back and forth

I had been using the finish quantium. Lately i have been having some issues with things not coming clean, part of this due to my machine did have a problem. The finsh quantium, tho expensive was rated #1 for quite some time. I, like many others was a diehard cascade fan until phosfates were banned. My company use to recommend cascade product but some years ago has switched to recomending finish to customers for quite sometime now. Since the latest ratings from CU, they have bumped finish products down a few notches and cascade complete action pacs have moved to #1. I bought a small package just to give them a try. They worked very well. After i use up this package, i want to try some of the brands/flavors they recommended #2 and #3. And once again, the walmart brand has inched its way toward the top brands.

 

[Iowegian]

We use Finish Quantum. Because we can buy a big bucket of it, and it costs about $0.10/load.

But without a good supply of Jet-Dry rinse aid in the dispenser, we don't get very good results.

That's based on our results with a middle-of-the-road Whirlpool dishwasher that is supposed to sense a bunch of stuff and is Energy Star rated, FWIW.

Haven't been dissatisfied enough to try something else, though.