Frequently asked questions

Finish® is the #1 recommended brand by renowned dishwasher manufacturers*. We have been at the forefront of automatic dishwashing for over 60 years.

* Bosch, LG, Hisense, Midea, Smeg

Finish has been at the forefront of automatic dishwashing for over 60 years, with our products being recommended by more dishwasher brands worldwide than any other brand. Finish’s dishwashing tablets are wrapper-free, with biodegradable, water soluble film. Our tablets dissolve faster than ever, effectively cutting through grease and breaking down tough food stains. You can save time in your daily wash by not pre-rinsing, knowing your dishes will come out clean and shiny with Finish detergent.

No need to! Pre-rinsing is a thing of the past. And although most Australians do it, it’s time consuming and wasteful. It can waste up to 65L of water per washload*.

Quality detergents like Finish tablets contain both bleach and enzymes, so you don’t need to pre-rinse. 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 trash and load your dishwasher.

*Source: Colmar Brunton Study, Project Bono, 2009 

Automatic dishwashing detergent is specially formulated to disperse food residue and greasy soiling, hold it in suspension, and remove it in the final rinse.

Dishwasher tablets contain surfactants, which affect the liquid they are added to, making it more efficient at picking up and removing debris. They also include enzymes (to break down starchy foods and protein), 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.

1. With dry hands, remove the tablet from the container and place it in the detergent dispenser. Ensure both the dispenser and the tablet is dry to prevent it from dissolving prematurely.
2. Close the tablets packaging lid tightly. Store away from heat and moisture to protect the remaining tablets.
3. Our tablets are wrapper-free (with the exception of Finish Classic) and are designed to release their contents when they come into contact with water. Do not pierce or attempt to unwrap the tablets.
4. Clip the detergent dispenser shut and close your dishwasher.
5. Make sure all items are dishwasher safe and separate silver from stainless steel.
6. Wash metal items according to manufacturer’s instructions.
7. Run dishwasher. The optimal water temperature is 51° – 60° C .

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.

Our dishwasher tablets are wrapper free. It is recommended that you do not pierce or attempt to unwrap the tablet, otherwise this will reduce the efficiency of your wash.

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