Finish Ultimate Plus Citrus Review: ~195 Dishwasher Caps Tested

How much did I pay for 390 Finish Ultimate Plus Citrus caps?

On May 12, 2026, I purchased the five-pack of 78-cap pouches for €45.99, with no discount or compensation. That is 390 caps in total and works out to €45.99 ÷ 390 = €0.1179, or about 12 cents per dishwasher cycle if using one capsule per cycle.

One reason the price feels good to me is that the tablets work consistently enough that I do not usually have to run another cycle because the detergent failed to dissolve. However, the cost of electricity, water, rinse aid, salt and occasional rewashing is not included in the 12-cent figure. Nor did I count precisely how often I needed to rewash something.

The main buying drawback is the pack size: having to buy 390 at once to get a good unit price. If you only use your dishwasher a few times a week, consider storage space and whether you will finish them before the product’s typical shelf life, while storing it cool and dry.

How well do the capsules clean plates, glasses and pans?

Most of the time, very well. I wash plates, cutlery, glasses and pans, and they generally come out looking and smelling clean. The grease-cleaning performance has impressed me, particularly with residue from scrambled eggs, something that can be frustrating to wash away.

I would not say the caps remove every dried-on mess. Sometimes dried food still sticks, and I occasionally have to wash an item a second time. I cannot isolate the detergent as the cause: I use a relatively small countertop dishwasher, and programme selection, water flow, positioning and how much the food has dried may all matter.

An important limitation: I usually rinse dishes before loading them. Finish advertises performance without prerinsing, but I have not established that performance in a controlled comparison. My positive judgment applies primarily to my own pre-rinsed household loads.

The biggest advantage: the caps actually dissolve

This was the deciding factor in switching detergents. Before Finish, I bought cheap, hard blue-and-white dishwasher tablets at my local supermarket. In my experience, roughly half the time they failed to dissolve completely. I did not keep a formal log, and I cannot identify the exact brand or eliminate differences between wash programmes.

With Finish Ultimate Plus Citrus, I remember only one or two incomplete dissolutions despite using roughly 195 capsules. That is a dramatic practical improvement in my routine. I regard this as observed near-consistency—not a precisely measured 99% success rate or a universal promise for every dishwasher.

Finish calls these capsules CYCLESYNC and describes a water-soluble film and controlled release. Those are manufacturer descriptions, not features I can verify by inspecting wash chemistry. What I can report is that I rarely find an intact cap at the end of my wash.

Shiny glassware—but don’t credit the cap for everything

My glasses and cutlery generally come out shiny and clean. I do not usually see major limescale spots or streaks, and the dishes are normally dry at the end of the wash. There have nevertheless been occasional glasses with white powder-like residue, so I would not describe my results as absolutely residue-free.

I also use a separate Finish rinse aid and dishwasher salt. Those are potential contributors to glass appearance and drying, along with the machine settings and water quality. I have not compared this detergent with and without rinse aid and salt under otherwise identical conditions. Finish itself says supplemental rinse aid may improve drying and shine in some setups. For more on my specific dishwasher, see my Siemens countertop dishwasher long-term review.

Citrus scent, handling and packaging

The citrus scent is pleasant: detectable when I handle the caps, but not overpowering to me. The dishes look and smell clean after washing. That is a sensory observation, not a laboratory hygiene test or proof that the product leaves no residues.

The capsules are very easy to put into the detergent dispenser, and I like the resealable bags. The only damage I recall was one capsule breaking where I store the supply; I suspect something pressed on it, although I cannot know exactly what caused it. This has not been a recurring problem.

For safe use, follow the instructions on your pack. Finish says to handle with dry hands, place one capsule with its water-soluble film intact into a dry detergent dispenser, keep the pouch closed and dry, and store dishwasher detergent away from children. Do not remove or puncture the dissolvable film, and follow all hazard warnings printed on your specific packaging.

Finish Ultimate Plus vs cheap supermarket tablets: my actual comparison

I have used both kinds, but this is not a simultaneous blind comparison. The cheap tablets were firm, blue and white, from my local supermarket. I no longer have the exact brand and price, so inventing a formal cost comparison would be misleading.

I cannot prove the same difference would occur in another dishwasher. I can say the change has made an everyday task less frustrating for me, which is why a somewhat higher detergent price feels worthwhile.

Who should buy the 390-cap pack?

I recommend it for frequent dishwasher users, including small households like mine where a countertop unit runs once or twice daily. It is an especially sensible option if you have experienced detergent tablets failing to dissolve and can store a large supply in a dry location. The €45.99 price I paid made it excellent value for my routine, but do your own unit-price calculation at the current selling price.

Consider a smaller pack instead if you rarely run a dishwasher, do not want to store five pouches, or would rather try the formula before committing to 390 capsules. I have not personally tested every other Finish line, scent or current generation, so I will not claim this is definitively the best tablet across all machines.

How I calculated the 4.6/5 rating

These are subjective, weighted editorial scores based on my use of roughly 195 capsules in one dishwasher, not laboratory measurements or pooled customer ratings. Because a detergent must primarily clean and dissolve reliably, those two criteria account for 60% of the overall score.

Cleaning of everyday dishes and greasy items — 4.5/5: Most plates, pans, glasses and cutlery wash very well; dried-on food sometimes needs another cycle.

Capsule dissolution and reliability — 4.8/5: Almost every capsule dissolves, with only around one or two exceptions across roughly 195 used; a striking improvement over my previous budget tablets.

Glass appearance and wash results — 4.6/5: Glasses and cutlery generally look shiny with few marks; occasional white powder on some glasses. My rinse aid and salt also contribute.

Handling, packaging and scent — 4.8/5: Easy to dose, pleasant light citrus smell, resealable bags; one capsule broke under possible storage pressure.

Price and bulk value — 4.6/5: €45.99 for 390 caps, approximately €0.12 each, is good value for me; buying five pouches at once is a drawback.

Formula: (4.5 × 35%) + (4.8 × 25%) + (4.6 × 15%) + (4.8 × 10%) + (4.6 × 15%) = 4.635/5, which rounds to 4.6/5. I could reasonably change my rating after materially different experiences or a much higher repurchase price.

Frequently asked questions

How many Finish Ultimate Plus Citrus capsules have I tested?

Approximately 195, equivalent to two and a half 78-cap pouches. I started using them in May 2026 and made this review in October 2026.

Do they dissolve completely?

Almost always in my Siemens countertop dishwasher. I remember only one or two incomplete dissolutions over roughly 195 capsules. This is a first-hand recollection, not a controlled measurement.

Will they remove all dried-on food without rinsing?

I cannot promise that. I normally rinse my dishes before loading, and occasional dried residue still needs another wash. Manufacturer no-prerinse claims are separate from what I personally verified.

Do I need extra rinse aid and dishwasher salt?

I personally use both with this detergent. The good shine and drying in this review therefore reflect the combined system, not just the caps. Follow the instructions for your dishwasher and water hardness.

What if white powder appears on a few glasses?

I have seen this occasionally. It can have several potential causes, including dosing, programme, machine conditions and water chemistry; I have not isolated the cause. Check the dishwasher manufacturer’s troubleshooting guidance and your detergent, rinse aid and salt settings rather than assuming the tab itself is always responsible.

Is buying 390 capsules worth it?

For me, yes: I paid €45.99, or around €0.12 each, and I run a dishwasher frequently. A less frequent user may reasonably prefer paying more per tab for a smaller pack.

Would I repurchase this exact product?

Yes. The near-total dissolution, good everyday cleaning and shiny glassware make it worth the price difference compared with the cheap tablets I previously used.

Product identity, shopping links and sources

My reviewed product is Finish Ultimate Plus Citrus Dishwasher Capsules, 390-count economy bundle (5 × 78). The Amazon Germany product page for ASIN B0FMYBX5GD is the exact-product reference supplied for this review. My separate Amazon affiliate link has been provided for the product card; I could not independently resolve the shortened link’s final destination, so check the selected Citrus scent and 390-count quantity at checkout. Neither link is a guarantee of current price or availability.

For the manufacturer’s general Ultimate Plus technology, dispenser instructions, handling and storage guidance, see Finish Germany: Ultimate Plus. For rinse-aid caveats see Finish: when rinse aid helps. These are manufacturer statements, whereas the performance observations, purchase details and photos in this review are my own.

Read How I Test for my testing and weighted rating approach and Affiliate Disclosure for my commercial links.