Eco vs Non-Eco: Dishwasher Tablets

Can the most eco-friendly dishwasher tablet really compete with the most powerful mainstream brand?

In this direct matchup, we put two top-rated products to the test:

• One is plastic-free, refillable, and fully vegan.
• The other is a supermarket staple, known for its muscle on baked-on messes.

This is a straight shootout—eco credentials are shown but not scored.
We’re looking purely at real-world cleaning, cost, and customer satisfaction.

If eco can win on performance and price? The switch is on!

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Smol Dishwasher Tablets (Eco Pick)

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Finish Quantum Ultimate (Non-Eco Pick)

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Side-by-Side Comparison

Category	Smol	Finish Quantum Ultimate
✨ Cleaning Power	4.4	4.6
🫧 User Experience	4.5	4.4
⭐ Customer Feedback	4.6	4.5
💷 Cost per Use	£0.15	£0.36
♻️ Eco Rating	5/5	2/5
★ Overall Rating	⭐ 4.5 / 5	⭐ 4.5 / 5

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Verdict

This one’s incredibly close. Finish is fractionally better at tackling heavy grime and oily loads—but Smol holds its own on everyday dishes, all while using plastic-free, vegan-friendly tablets.

Both products score equally in overall performance, but:

Smol matches the cleaning—and costs less than half per wash.

It’s not just the more ethical choice—it’s the more economical one, too.
Finish still wins for ultra-tough jobs, but for most households, Smol delivers without compromise.

And that’s rare.

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Related posts

Top 5 Eco dishwasher Tablets

Top 10 Dishwasher Tablets in the UK

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Other Formats: What About Powder, Gels, or Sheets?

While tablets dominate this comparison, they’re not the only way to clean dishes in a machine. You can also find:

• 🥄 Powder – Cost-effective and dosage-flexible, but messier and often weaker on baked-on food
• 💧 Gel – Easy to pour and ideal for short cycles, but generally less effective
• 📄 Detergent Sheets – Plastic-free and compact, but new to the market and under-tested
• 🔄 Auto-Dosing Cartridges – Convenient, but exclusive to certain machines (e.g. Miele)

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🧠 FAQs: Why don’t other formats rank in the Top 10?

Tablets dominate our rankings because they consistently deliver the best balance of cleaning power, ease of use, and customer satisfaction.

Eco-friendly powders, gels, and sheets often:

• Fall short on stain removal and rinse quality
• Receive fewer verified reviews
• Require extra steps or equipment (e.g. scoop, dosing, or specific machine models)

That said, these formats aren’t failures—they’re just early-stage. Many are designed with sustainability in mind and may improve with time and innovation. If their performance catches up, expect to see them break into the top rankings in future updates.

For now, tablets are king—and it’s earned, not inherited.

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What Does the Eco Rating Mean?

We show an Eco Rating out of 5 for transparency, even though it doesn’t impact scoring in this post.

Here’s how we judge it:

• 5/5 – Fully eco-led (plastic-free, biodegradable, refillable, vegan)
• 4/5 – Mostly eco-conscious with some limitations
• 3/5 – Mainstream with some green claims (e.g. recyclable packaging)
• 2/5 – Minimal effort beyond recyclability
• 1/5 – No visible sustainability features

We look at:

• Ingredients (plant-based, non-toxic)
• Packaging (refillable, plastic-free)
• Brand intent and transparency

Smol earns a 5/5 for offering plastic-free refills and biodegradable formulas.
Finish scores 2/5 for basic recyclability but no eco-focused innovation.

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Disclaimer

All products in this comparison were reviewed using publicly available information, customer feedback, and product performance data where applicable. Prices and availability are accurate at the time of writing but may vary. Some links may be affiliate links, meaning we may earn a small commission—at no cost to you—if you choose to make a purchase through them.