Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder

April 2009. Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder is an environmentally friendly dishwasher detergent that consumers say cleans very well and costs less than other eco-friendly detergents. Many mainstream dishwasher detergents contain phosphates, which can contribute to overgrowth of algae in waterways, and chlorine, which can irritate your lungs. Biokleen is free of both phosphates and chlorine, and is made with plant-based ingredients. Biokleen is also among the less expensive detergents (eco-friendly or otherwise), and many users are pleasantly surprised by how many loads they can get out of the 32-ounce canister. There are reports that this powdered detergent can leave behind a white residue, in which case less detergent should be used, or one to two tablespoons of vinegar added as a rinse aid.

In head-to-head testing, Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder does not clean quite as well as Cascade Complete All-in-1 Gel (*est. 20 cents per load), especially when it comes to heavily soiled pots and pans. However, the Cascade Complete line of dishwasher detergent contains phosphates and, in some formulations, bleach.

Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder is included in the Consumer Reports test of dishwasher detergent. We found consumer reviews for Biokleen on websites such as Amazon.com, Drugstore.com, Green Home and LivingCrueltyFree.com.