FINISH ULTIMATE LEMON Dishwasher Capsules: A Mixed Bag

Hello everyone!

I'm excited to share my experience with FINISH ULTIMATE LEMON dishwasher capsules today!

I picked them up on sale at Aashaa for 1199₽ - 44 capsules (full price was 2386₽, which is pretty steep), after reading all the rave reviews about how they perfectly clean any stains...

PACKAGING

The packaging has a ton of information on it, and it's not easy to find what you're looking for. It's a soft-zip pouch with a reusable closure.

CAPSULES

They're made up of three components: a powder and two types of gel, yellow and red. The capsules are fully dissolvable, and you don't need to remove the outer shell - just load them into the special tablet compartment. The scent is strong and chemical, with notes of freshness and lemon. I'm a fan of strong scents, and I love products with aromas!

DESCRIPTION

Does not contain

Chlorine bleach, preservatives, or added phosphates

For cleanliness

Oxidizing components - release active oxygen for hygienic cleanliness; Non-ionic surfactants - remove grease

Care and protection for dishes and the dishwasher

Phosphonates - enhance dish shine; Polycarboxylates - soften hard water

Assisting components

Aroma - gives dishes a freshness; Polyvinyl alcohol - forms a biodegradable, water-soluble film

COMPOSITION

15% or more, but less than 30%: non-ionic surfactants; 5% or more, but less than 15%: oxygen-based bleaches, polycarboxylates, phosphonates; enzymes, zeolites, fragrances, including benzyl benzoate and geraniol.

HOW I CLEAN MY DISHES

I usually run my dishwasher every other day, so I let it fill up completely, and by that time, the grime has dried on and is basically impossible to scrub off by hand. Before loading it up, I scrape off any leftover food and burnt-on residue from the pans – if something's really stuck, I'll try to soak it in water first, based on my experience with different tablets. I've learned that really tough stains, like the kind that can't be scraped off with a knife, are often a pain to get rid of with any tablet, and sometimes they just don't come out perfectly clean...

Before Before Before I use my dishwasher for pretty much everything, except for a few special items like wood, aluminum, cast iron, and glassware – but I don't have much of that stuff anyway.

До

ДоEXPECTATIONS FROM MY DETERGENTI was expecting super-clean results, even on super-greasy and burnt dishes, and a shine and sparkle... I don't know, I guess I was expecting something more from all the hype, but honestly, my old cheap dishwasher tablets cleaned just as well... I thought Finish would be a game-changer, but I was hoping it would clean the bottom of pots, pans, and my Dutch oven, which gets stuck to the stovetop... old, stubborn stains...

RESULTS

First wash on the 90-minute cycle left me underwhelmed - there were still bits of the capsule left behind, and some food particles stuck to my utensils and some dishes... it was a first for me, as I've never had that issue with Somat or other cheaper tablets, except on really burnt dishes...

The particles in the capsule didn't fully dissolve The tea residue didn't come off

The dishes, in general, cleaned up pretty well, the glasses and plates sparkled, all as usual… Later on, I used the capsules on an intense cycle of 2:40 hours and 70 degrees, and the results were pretty good, everything sparkled and sang, the capsule fully dissolved, the dishes and appliances were spotlessly clean. With burnt pans and the wok, it's a bit trickier, it depends on the level of grime and it's not always the same. Sometimes there might be some particles left at the bottom, and the next time it's sparkling clean, it also depends on how the dishes are arranged… The bottom of the side that's on the stovetop didn't come clean and after multiple uses, but it's slowly coming off, also the shine on the pots is returning, but that's not just down to these capsules, the shine started coming back from washing in the dishwasher before them…

After After After After, the pan didn't dry completely, there was a small leftover egg bit

After, some stains on the pot The old stains on the pot lid didn't come offWhen I'm using the capsules, I also add some salt and Finish rinse aid. The salt helps soften the water, and the Finish rinse aid makes sure everything dries off nicely and sparkles. Not every time, though - sometimes the dishes are still a bit damp, and water drips when you take them out. But I take everything out at once, put it away in its place, and let the dishwasher do its thing. It's not the most efficient system, but it works for me.

ADVANTAGES

✅ They handle the main tasks, clean everyday messes, and stuck-on food residue from dishes.

✅ They do a decent job, but not perfectly, at cleaning pots, pans, skillets, baking sheets, and other cookware.

✅ The pleasant capsules with dissolvable coating and fresh scent (for many, this is a huge minus❗️)

✅ In most cases, they don't leave any streaks.

✅ The dishwasher is spotless, shiny, and smells fresh after a wash.

DISADVANTAGES

❌ They don't clean heavily burnt cookware with stuck-on food residue.

❌ They don't always remove tea stains from glasses.

❌ Sometimes the capsule might not fully dissolve, even on the short or normal 90-minute cycle.

❌ The strong chemical smell is overwhelming for many people.

❌ The packaging is pricey.

One wash costs me 27₽, considering the discounted price…

FINAL VERDICT

Ordinary capsules that get the job done, cleaning everyday dishes…

I was expecting to use them sparingly, for heavily soiled dishes, but unfortunately… I didn't notice any super-strong effect… The Synergetic tablets don't lag far behind Finishing…

I'd love to find some real game-changers when it comes to cleaning up tough stains - if you've found any, be sure to share in the comments below!

Thanks again for tuning in!