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

The company initially introduced two products:

• Electrasol (mass-market dishwasher detergent)
• Finish (premium dishwasher detergent)

Over 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.

Dishwasher Tablets

The company’s flagship product line is available in several formulations, including Finish Power, Finish All in One, Finish Quantum, and Finish Ultimate. These tablets combine detergents, enzymes, rinse agents, and stain removers into a single dose.

Dishwasher Gel

This liquid detergent is formulated for automatic dishwashers and is designed to dissolve quickly, performing well on lightly soiled dishes.

Dishwasher Powder

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

Rinse Aid

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

Dishwasher Salt

Specially designed to soften hard water inside compatible dishwashers, helping to prevent limescale build-up and improve cleaning effectiveness.

Dishwasher Cleaner

A maintenance product used periodically to remove grease, mineral deposits, and odours 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 that target protein- and starch-based food residues.
• Multi-Chamber Capsules: Technology that separates 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 centred 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 to reduce plastic use.1

Finish products are sold across North America, Europe, Asia, Australia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Historically, the brand has been marketed under different names in various regions:

• Finish (current global name)
• Electrasol (former North American name)
• Calgonit (former name in parts of Europe)2

Finish is widely recognised as one of the leading automatic dishwasher detergent brands worldwide. According to Reckitt, it is the number one global automatic dishwashing brand by value sales, based on NielsenIQ market data.1

Finish collaborates with numerous dishwasher manufacturers, whose products may recommend or be tested with Finish detergents to help optimise cleaning performance. These partnerships are utilised in both product development and marketing.3

Finish is owned by Reckitt, a multinational consumer goods company formed 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 emphasised 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