DW detergent: Quantum

11 years ago

Several previous discussion threads had comments from those who mentioned "chemical smells" from certain rinse aids. I read them but didn't contribute, as we've never had any issues except for a Kenmore/GE DW that couldn't clean the dishes at all but refused to break down, LOL.

We bought a KA a year before phosphates were banned completely. Based on advice from this forum, I switched from Cascade Gel to Quantum tablets and was amazed at the difference in cleaning power. We were very pleased.

Now, I do hate ripping those little foil wrappers off. I try to remember to do it before I load the DW, but sometimes I just forget and then I have to wrestle the wrapping off with greasy wet fingers. Very annoying!

I accidentally purchased the Quantum gel paks and finally got around to opening the box. Wow, much easier to just drop the little pak in, although it barely fits in the KA dispenser. Ran the DW and went to empty it the next day...

OMG - WHAT AN ARTIFICIAL STINK!

Like one of those cheap air fresheners that hides odors by giving one an instant headache from their fake, perfume-y smell. And the plastic containers "hold" the smell - I have to air them out on the counter for a day or more longer before it goes away.

Going back to the powder tabs. I couldn't believe it; there's no smell at all I can detect from the powder detergent. Never buying those gel things again.

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Comments (9)

fauguy
11 years ago
The only Quantum one I've used is called "Quantum Finish", it has the blue and white powder with the red rinse aid in the center. I used it for about a week last year, and there wasn't any smell, but started to discolor some plastic items (cups). I then went to the Method Smarty tabs and have been using them ever sense. No smell and cleans well without being to harsh. This is being using in a Miele Diamante Plus dishwasher.
Cavimum
11 years ago
I've been using those same Finish Quantum tablets for years, and always been very happy with the results. Mostly, it was out of necessity.

We had to use the tablets because our old Kenmore Elite (Whirlpool) soap cup had a randomly bad habit of opening immediately, releasing all the soap. With the tablets, I waited 5 seconds after starting the DW, if I did not hear a clunk sound of the tablet hitting the floor of the DW, I knew all was okay and it was safe to leave the room.

We're getting a Bosch DW with our kitchen renovation, and it hope they work well in the Bosch.
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Just did a "test" on Finish Powerball Tabs vs. Method Smarty Tablets. OK, this was not scientific at all, it's just my impressions on two different loads of dishes on 2 nights. So, please, no challenging about methodology, exact number of dishes, exact same amount of food on the dishes, and the like. The DW is KA KUDS40. Both loads had my family's typical home-cooked meals' remains, some of it dried-on. We scrape, but don't rinse. Both loads had the usual glasses, coffee mugs, bowls, silverware, etc. Both loads were full. As to cleanability, both detergents cleaned identically well. Everything came out spotless, except a glass with dried-on milk in both loads. So, the differences between the two detergents come down to ease-of-use and packaging. Method Smarty Tablets wins in that respect because its packaging is a resealable bag that takes up no room under the sink, each Smarty Tablet comes without wrapping, and each Smarty Tablet is easy to break if you'd need to do a half-load. The Finish Powerball is in a bulky (by comparison) box, and each tab is a PITA to unwrap, and don't even try if you have wet hands. As already mentioned in this thread, there are issues with the Powerball if you just want to use a half tab. I also liked, as Kaismom mentioned, that Smarty Tablets are free of bleach, dyes and perfumes. Price-wise though, Finish Powerball Tabs wins. If you want to buy in bulk, I saw a box of 100 in Costco for about $20. Walmart has Finish Powerball box of 32 for $5.97. I have only seen Method Smarty Tablets in the 20-count bag, which is an inconveniently small number, and seems to cost $5.99 everywhere. HTH!
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markdavis: "I'm in the process of researching this as well for a new Miele that will be installed next week. "Our Costco only has the finish non-quantum version. The problem that some report on these is that you can't break down the tabs and it's a lot of very strong detergent...some use it only for highly soiled loads. "I have both the finish quantum and non-quantum versions that I plan to experiment with. "I'm also looking at: - Cascade all-in-1 actionpac - Miele tabs - Method Smarty tabs - these split nicely in half, but are rated pretty low by the latest CR stuff...obviously, highly dependent on water softness." In other words, you are limiting your choices to what is on the shelf at your local supermarket. That's o.k., but it is a pretty severe limitation. "I'm also doing a lot of wine glassware, so I may end up preferring something w/glassware vs. regular loads vs. heavy soil loads. "BTW, people recommend that you scrape, but not pre-rinse, else the detergent will eat up the plates/glassware." We have VERY soft water in Portland (Oregon). That means that very aggressive dishwasher detergents will etch just about anything you put into the dishwasher. However, in our Miele dishwasher, we wash quality crystal wine stemware every night with Ecover powder dishwasher detergent. Some of our glasses have been through 2,000 or more cycles in our Miele dishwasher, without even a hint of etching. Nevertheless, our dishes come out of the dishwasher every morning spotlessly clean.
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Difference is the dropps come ready made with phosphates...I picked up 2 more bottles of Powerhouse liquid D/W detergent with chlorine bleach and 4.5% phosphorus at the pharmacy this morning. ..59 cents a quart size bottle..I'll try it again. Mich I'm not completely giving up on the Korex after close inspection of the dishes it was oatmeal stuck to everything so I think someone didn't scrap well...oatmeal can put any detergent to the test. And failing again your right it can be used in the prewash. Now...I called the 800# on the cascade today and ask why there's no cascade with chlorine bleach anymore except the gel...the girl said all the Cascades that say Clorox on the front have chlorine bleach ...I explained that chlorine is not in those formulations as there's enzymes she said yes enzymes and chlorine bleach when I tried asking her to look..she said I don't need to LOOK this is my job and I know what I'm talking about and hung up LOL. Question Michi have a ton of different Cascade products all with enzymes, is there any reason I can't use them and just add my own chlorine bleach? Yes it will kill the enzymes but they won't work for me anyway and the surfactants will still work...thoughts??
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weissman
11 years ago
jkom51 - I'm not sure what foil wrapping you're talking about. I recently switched to Quantum Finish and they're the same ones that fauguy is talking about - cubes with blue and white powder and a red tablet inside - they have some kind of clear wrap around them that you don't remove - it dissolves in the wash.

I've been very pleased with how well they perform.
Cavimum
11 years ago
@weissman - the Finish Quantum tablets I've been using, blue & white rectangle with red ball in center top, come wrapped in thin plastic, similar to the type the snack-size Halloween candies come wrapped in. It is a bit of a bother for me, to have to remove that.
weissman
11 years ago
Cavimum - read the package - you're not supposed to remove the "thin plastic" - the capsules are wrapper free - the outer coating that holds the capsule together dissolve during the wash.
jakvis
11 years ago
I think Cavimum is talking about the Finish Power Ball Tabs. They are a hard tab that has a plastic foil around them that has to be removed. The Finish Quantum is the soft squeezable tab.
Cavimum
11 years ago
@jakvis must be right. Everything is packed up in a box in the basement, since I am without a kitchen and appliances right now. I thought it was all the same.
mike_73
11 years ago
I used powerball tabs with the Builders grade GE that was in the apartment I'm renting out now and they did well. also Cascade complete powder was fine too with no odd smell. never tried Quantum. I got a box of Finnish power ball again at Bj's for the new Frigidaire Gallery I'm installing in my current kitchen. I hope the formula has not changed in the last year or so since I had a dishwasher.
alwaysfixin
11 years ago
I am with Fauguy, I like the Method Smarty Tabs (unscented version). For me, the biggest thing is that Method Tabs do not have the smell of bleach. I've used Finish Quantum, and agree they are effective, but I do not like opening the DW, and smelling that bleach and chemical smell.

Another thing I really like about the Method tabs is that they are easily broken in half. As has been discussed several times on this forum, the amount of detergent should be adjusted depending on the hardness of your water and how dirty your dishes are. If you use too much detergent (i.e. usually if you follow the manufacturer's instructions, it's too much), your dishes and glasses may get etching or a white film. I can easily break the Method tabs in half, I don't have to mess with a wrapping, and my full load of dishes comes out perfectly with a half tab, unless it's a tomato-sauce-type or greasy dinner, and then I use a full tab. (My water is slightly hard).

Here is a link that might be useful: Method Unscented Smarty Tabs at Target

DW detergent: Quantum

Comments (9)

fauguy

Cavimum

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