Dishwashing
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Choosing natural dishwashing soap and detergents ensures that washing dishes doesn't harm the environment or your health.
Find it! Natural dishwashing soaps
We've got you covered, no matter your dishwashing preference. Choose from automatic dishwasher powders, gels, and tablets, as well as old fashioned dishwashing soap.
ECOS Wave Dishwashing Products
ECOS has a wide variety of eco-friendly cleaning products, including these dishwasher solutions. Choose from Wave dishwashing liquid, dishwasher powder, or dishwasher tablets, depending on your cleaning preferences.Ecover Dishwasher Tablets
Discover the convenience of Ecover's dishwasher tablets. These easy-to-use tabs are made from plant-based ingredients so they decompose quickly and completely. There's no animal testing on their products, and it even comes in a box made with 95 percent recycled materials.method dish soaps
These naturally derived dish soaps are available in cucumber, lavender, and grapefruit varieties. Their dish soap is made from simple ingredients like table salt, corn oil, and citric acid and comes in a variety of scents including green and herbaceous, gourmet, citrus, floral and fruity, and even fragrance-free.Mrs. Meyer's Automatic Dishwashing Gel
Give Mrs. Meyer's a try for your dishwashing needs. The automatic dishwashing gel is phosphate-free and readily biodegradable and it comes in lavender, lemon verbena, and geranium scents. They've also got regular dish soaps for those preferring to handwash their dishes.Natural Choices Free Dishwashing Liquid
Soy-based product developed for individuals with asthma, allergies, and other chemical sensitivities. It's free of dyes, fragrances, phosphates, chlorine, and petroleum solvents, but will do a great job on your toughest dishes.OurHouse Dish Liquid
OurHouse Liquid Dish Soap is made from readily biodegradable surfactants which ensures they break down in very little time, compared to conventional products. They'll do the job well without compromising the health of you or the planet.Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dishwashing Soap
Seventh Generation Free & Clear dishwashing liquid is nontoxic and biodegradable, and contains no dyes, fragrances, chlorine, or phosphates. They've got some automatic dishwasher detergents, too.Shaklee Dish Wash Automatic Concentrate
This natural, biodegradable dishwasher detergent contains deep, enzyme-activated cleaning power that gently removes tough stains, leaving dishes and glasses sparkling clean.Shaklee Dish Wash Concentrate
This nontoxic, concentrated dishwashing liquid is tough on grease but not on your hands. With a formula that's natural and biodegradable, you can even use it while camping because it's safe and works well in warm or cold water.Your Guide to Green Oasis Biocompatible Soap
Totally biodegradable and biocompatible, this 22 oz bottle of dish soap is infused with tea tree oil for cleaning and aloe vera for conditioning. The bottle is made of recycled plastic and a portion of the profits is donated to organizations like the Sierra Club.
Choosing natural dish soap helps you go green because…
- It lessens the amount of toxins in your home that are sent down the drain, limiting harm to soil and waterways.
- Mixing your own dishwashing soaps cuts down on the need to purchase products with unnecessary packaging that would otherwise wind up in a landfill.
Many commercial dishwasher detergents contain phosphates, which prevent those filmy dishwasher spots, but also promote algae blooms in waterways that rob water and aquatic life of oxygen. Phosphates were voluntarily phased out of laundry detergents by manufacturers in the 1990s after states and localities began to limit them. Many states and localities are now beginning to limit phosphates in dishwasher detergents, but they remain in many brands.[1]
Controversies
In a recent study that shook the natural products industry, 100 “natural” and “organic” soaps, shampoos, dish liquids, lotions, and body washes were tested and nearly half contained 1,4-Dioxane, a carcinogenic chemical. This toxin has been found in conventional personal care products but this study commissioned by the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) was the first to test green products.[2]
In scientific studies, 1,4-Dioxane has caused cancer in animals; scientists have not yet confirmed the long-term effects on humans. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says current levels do not pose a hazard to consumers but have advised manufacturers to lower amounts in cosmetics and cleaning products as much as possible.[3] None of the products tested that were Certified Organic by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) contained 1,4-Dioxane. In response to this study, some of the affected companies have said they will work toward removing 1,4-Dioxane from their products.[3]
Glossary
- 1,4-Dioxane: A petroleum-derived contaminant classified as a probable human carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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