Worst product I've tried in a long time:
Review: Somat Gel Tabs by Henkel
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dishwasherrules
Well-known member
My 2 cents
Hi! I've been using the Italian version of Somat Gel Tabs for some loads by far but I'm not so disappointed: it cleans dishes, pots&pans, silver and glasses very well - and I run my dishwasher on the 3rd day of loading. I don't prerinse, just scrape off large residues and usually but not always run the rinse&hold at the end of the meal before the one I run the AUTO programme (I have a Bosch bought in 2006, of the range just before the introduction of VarioSpeed feature).
BTW you're right as far as bleachable stains like tea and coffee are concerned: an enzyme-based gel product which is actually able to strip off that awful brown rim inside cups and mugs has yet to come. In the meantime, I discovered and bought an oxygen bleach-based additive to be used as a detergente booster: http://www.mistermagic.it/index.php/sgrassate-lavastoviglie/ it claims degreasing and sanitizing actions and I must say it deals OK with the above mentioned stains when used with Somat, Finish Gelcaps and other non-bleaching gel detergents.
Hi! I've been using the Italian version of Somat Gel Tabs for some loads by far but I'm not so disappointed: it cleans dishes, pots&pans, silver and glasses very well - and I run my dishwasher on the 3rd day of loading. I don't prerinse, just scrape off large residues and usually but not always run the rinse&hold at the end of the meal before the one I run the AUTO programme (I have a Bosch bought in 2006, of the range just before the introduction of VarioSpeed feature).
BTW you're right as far as bleachable stains like tea and coffee are concerned: an enzyme-based gel product which is actually able to strip off that awful brown rim inside cups and mugs has yet to come. In the meantime, I discovered and bought an oxygen bleach-based additive to be used as a detergente booster: http://www.mistermagic.it/index.php/sgrassate-lavastoviglie/ it claims degreasing and sanitizing actions and I must say it deals OK with the above mentioned stains when used with Somat, Finish Gelcaps and other non-bleaching gel detergents.
dj-gabriele
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I used both the German version of Somat and the Italian version called Pril, I'm sure they're exactly the same product, just the packaging and name changes.
I found them to be the second worse performers, just a little better than the Italian Svelto from Unilever, worst ever.
Nothing cleans as nicely as Finish and I stick to it, changing only when I go to the discount and find the Madel (an Italian detergent manufacturer) tabs that work very well and cost a third.
I found them to be the second worse performers, just a little better than the Italian Svelto from Unilever, worst ever.
Nothing cleans as nicely as Finish and I stick to it, changing only when I go to the discount and find the Madel (an Italian detergent manufacturer) tabs that work very well and cost a third.
My favorite detergent is also Finish.
This has been the second load I used the Gel Tabs on. Because if the lackluster performance it delivered on the first load, I didn't even bother to accumulate a really filthy load and run the Intensive 45C cycle like I usually do for my review videos. I still don't see how one can sell a dishwasher detergent that cannot handle bleachable stains (without chlorine, of course). Coffee, tea, vegetables, fruit, red wine... all this needs bleaching.
I'm disappointed in Henkel. They are selling Persil Tabs with two compartments but couldn't use the same technology for their dishwashing products. One chamber should have held the detergent and another one some sort of liquid bleach - hydrogen peroxide, I think. The same stuff Miele uses in its liquid detergent for whites.
This has been the second load I used the Gel Tabs on. Because if the lackluster performance it delivered on the first load, I didn't even bother to accumulate a really filthy load and run the Intensive 45C cycle like I usually do for my review videos. I still don't see how one can sell a dishwasher detergent that cannot handle bleachable stains (without chlorine, of course). Coffee, tea, vegetables, fruit, red wine... all this needs bleaching.
I'm disappointed in Henkel. They are selling Persil Tabs with two compartments but couldn't use the same technology for their dishwashing products. One chamber should have held the detergent and another one some sort of liquid bleach - hydrogen peroxide, I think. The same stuff Miele uses in its liquid detergent for whites.
Disappointing to see they`re not working well in the video, because I was looking forward to give them a try as an alternative of the liquid Somat.
The thing is I was very happy with the results of Somat MultiPerfectGel, but the bottle didn`t work for me at all. One of the two components was used up before the other. So I went back to Lidl W5 tabs and never bothered to buy another bottle of it.
Also could not find any oxybleach in the ingredients list, despite the 2 components, but as a coffee drinker had no issues with that.
The thing is I was very happy with the results of Somat MultiPerfectGel, but the bottle didn`t work for me at all. One of the two components was used up before the other. So I went back to Lidl W5 tabs and never bothered to buy another bottle of it.
Also could not find any oxybleach in the ingredients list, despite the 2 components, but as a coffee drinker had no issues with that.
One of the two components was used up before the other.
Does this problem still exist? Years ago, when I tried the two-component gel, that happened to me as well. I wonder what's the reason for the two compartments?
Does this problem still exist? Years ago, when I tried the two-component gel, that happened to me as well. I wonder what's the reason for the two compartments?
jerrod6
Well-known member
Could be that the ingredients are not compatible with each other in very hot water. I am thinking about perhaps any type of bleach and enzymes or perhaps something else that causes poorer performance when both compartments are dispensed at once. I kind of thought that was the real reason the compartments were used anyway.
I thought so, too. However, I checked the ingredients of the gels and neither contain any bleach. I even listed them sibe by side (gel vs. gel tabs) and the ordinary gel in the bottle has even less ingredients. Most of them seem to be water softeners and preservatives anyway.
Maybe or maybe not related
But enjoy: http://www.teknoscienze.com/Article...catalysts-for-improved-tea-stain-removal.aspx
But enjoy: http://www.teknoscienze.com/Article...catalysts-for-improved-tea-stain-removal.aspx
That was interesting, thanks! Unfortunately, it seems that these bleach activators are only available in a granular form. And even if they were available as a liquid... none of the gels available here has bleach in it to be activated in the first place. Powders and powders pressed into tablets already have these catalysts (usually the mentioned TAED). Finish Quantum and Somat were probably one of the first brands at promote low-temp wash cycles. Store brands followed. They work very well, I must say.
