Finish is a global brand of automatic dishwasher detergents and dishwashing care products owned by Reckitt, a British multinational consumer goods company specializing in health, hygiene, and nutrition products. Introduced in 1953, Finish has become one of the world’s leading dishwasher detergent brands, offering products designed to clean dishes, protect dishwashers, and improve washing performance. Today, Finish products are sold in more than 70 countries, making it one of the most recognized names in the automatic dishwashing industry. [1]

Finish was launched in 1953 by Economics Laboratory (later Ecolab) in the United States during the early growth of household dishwashers. As automatic dishwashers became increasingly common, there was a need for detergents specifically formulated for machine washing rather than handwashing.

The company introduced two products:

• Electrasol (mass-market dishwasher detergent)

• Finish (premium dishwasher detergent)

During the following decades, Finish became known for introducing several innovations in dishwasher detergent technology. In 1987, the Finish brand was acquired by Benckiser, which later merged with Reckitt & Colman in 1999 to form Reckitt Benckiser (now Reckitt). [1]

Finish offers a comprehensive range of products for automatic dishwashers.

1. Dishwasher Tablets

The company’s flagship product, available in several formulations:

• Finish Power

• Finish All in One

• Finish Quantum

• Finish Ultimate

These tablets combine detergents, enzymes, rinse agents, and stain removers into a single dose.

2. Dishwasher Gel

A liquid detergent formulated for automatic dishwashers, designed to dissolve quickly and perform well on lightly soiled dishes.

3. Dishwasher Powder

Traditional powdered detergent that allows users to adjust dosage depending on the load size and water hardness.

4. Rinse Aid

Helps water sheet off dishes during the rinse cycle to reduce water spots and improve drying performance.

5. Dishwasher Salt

Specially designed to soften hard water inside compatible dishwashers, helping prevent limescale buildup and improving cleaning effectiveness.

6. Dishwasher Cleaner

A maintenance product used periodically to remove grease, mineral deposits, and odors from the dishwasher itself. [1]

Finish has introduced several technologies over the years, including:

• Powerball Technology – a red cleaning booster intended to help remove dried-on food.

• Enzyme Cleaning – enzymes target protein- and starch-based food residues.

• Multi-Chamber Capsules – separate cleaning ingredients until the wash cycle begins.

• Glass Protection – formulations designed to help reduce cloudiness on glassware.

• Quick Dissolve Technology – tablets and capsules engineered to dissolve rapidly during wash cycles. [2]

Finish promotes environmental initiatives centered on reducing water consumption. Its “Skip the Rinse” campaign encourages consumers not to pre-rinse dishes before loading the dishwasher, arguing that modern detergents can clean effectively without this step and that avoiding pre-rinsing can save significant amounts of water.

The brand has also introduced packaging innovations, including paper-based packaging in some markets that reduces plastic use. [1]

Finish products are sold across:

• North America

• Europe

• Asia

• Australia

• Latin America

• Middle East

• Africa

The brand is marketed under different names historically:

• Finish (current global name)

• Electrasol (former North American name)

• Calgonit (former name in parts of Europe) [2]

Finish is widely recognized as one of the leading automatic dishwasher detergent brands worldwide. According to Reckitt, it is the No. 1 global automatic dishwashing brand by value sales, based on NielsenIQ market data. [1]

Finish collaborates with many dishwasher manufacturers, whose products may recommend or be tested with Finish detergents to help optimize cleaning performance. These partnerships are used in product development and marketing. [3]

Finish is owned by Reckitt, a multinational consumer goods company founded through the merger of Reckitt & Colman and Benckiser in 1999. Reckitt’s portfolio also includes brands such as Dettol, Lysol, Harpic, Vanish, Durex, Strepsils, Nurofen, and Veet. [1]

For more than 70 years, Finish has been a major innovator in automatic dishwashing, introducing advances such as enzyme-based detergents, multi-layer tablets, and the Powerball system. Alongside product development, the brand has emphasized water conservation through campaigns encouraging consumers to skip pre-rinsing and rely on modern dishwasher detergents. [1]

1. Finish| Reckitt.com | Reckitt.com

2. Finish (detergent)

3. Découvrez l’origine de Finish | Finish® FR