Green Dishwasher Detergent

Some detergents also eliminate chlorine, dyes and perfumes

Green dishwasher detergents are generally characterized by the omission of phosphates from their formulas -- but with a ban on phosphates now in effect in 16 states, nearly all dishwasher detergents are phosphate-free, regardless of brand. (Phosphates are a threat to the environment because they promote algae growth in fresh water and decrease oxygen for aquatic life.)

Many green detergents are also free of chlorine bleach, which is another concern: Inside the dishwasher, chlorine-containing detergents are dissolved in hot water, and the resulting steam and mist can be an irritant to sensitive individuals if they breathe it in. Many consumers also prefer detergents without added dyes or perfumes; most green brands do not contain these additives or offer a version without them. Many green detergents have packaging that's made from recycled materials or is recyclable itself. In addition, these products tend to be made from plant-based materials and are not tested on animals. To be truly green, however, these detergents need to clean effectively, because pre-rinsing and re-washing dishes wastes water.

Method Smarty Dish Detergent (*Est. 46 cents per load) is a green detergent that receives great reviews. Smarty Dish contains no phosphates or chlorine bleach. Although the ingredients are not specified, the manufacturer states that they are a "blend of mineral cleaning salts, anti-spotting agents and enzymes." Smarty Dish Detergent comes in premeasured tablets that are placed in the dishwasher.

In her test of five green detergents at EcoChildsPlay.com, Jamie Ervin finds that Method Smarty Dish Detergent cleans as well as traditional detergents. At the website RealBabyRealFood.com, a writer tries Method Smarty Dish against "the dirtiest possible load of dishes" and is impressed with its effectiveness. She also notes that this detergent leaves behind no water spots or residue. A reviewer at EcoCleanReview.com is very happy with Method Smarty Dish, stating that it has "gotten residual coffee stains out of cups, taken the weird mineral stains out of my bathroom cup, cleaned an old soap dish that I thought was permanently manky, and made my cocktail glasses sparkle." Stephanie Rogers of EarthFirst.com found that Smarty Dish cleaned extremely well and left no residue. This detergent comes in a pink grapefruit scent and a dye- and perfume-free version.

Ecover Dishwasher Tablets (*Est. 43 cents per load) is another green detergent that comes in tablets. It is made with plant-based ingredients. On About.com, housekeeping guide Sarah Aguirre praises the convenience of these tablets and likes that they contain no phosphates, bleach or synthetic fragrances. At EcoChildsPlay.com, Ecover places third in Jamie Ervin's test of five eco-friendly detergents. Ervin cautions that the tablets can crumble when they are removed from the package. Mamta Mule writes on Buzzle.com that Ecover is an excellent alternative to mainstream detergents. On Amazon.com, the handful of reviewers give Ecover tablets a perfect rating. Based on reviewer comments, this detergent works equally well in soft or hard water.

Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder (*Est. 21 cents per load) is a less expensive green detergent. It is free of phosphates and chlorine. On Amazon.com, about a dozen reviewers rate this detergent highly. At Drugstore.com, about 70 reviewers contribute to its average score of 4 out of 5 stars. Several reviewers are pleasantly surprised by how many loads they can get out of the 32-ounce canister. Biokleen detergent is also praised in reviews on websites such as GreenOptions.com and LivingCrueltyFree.com for the company's policy against animal testing. Results in professional testing of dishwasher detergents aren't quite as impressive. In measured comparison tests, Biokleen does a great job on dishes, but not quite as well as Cascade on heavily soiled pots and pans, and some glassware can become cloudy or etched over time. The regular Biokleen detergent is free of dyes but does contain some fragrance; a perfume-free version is also available.

We didn't see any reviews that compare the cheaper Biokleen powder with Method tablets, however.

One of the best-reviewed green dishwasher detergents on Amazon.com is CitraDish Automatic Dishwashing Detergent (*Est. 24 cents per load), which comes in a powder. CitraDish contains no phosphates, bleach, synthetic dyes or perfumes. About 10 reviewers on Amazon.com give it nearly perfect scores, and an additional reviewer says it doesn't work well in hard water. Reviewers say that it cleans well and does not mar glassware; they also like the mild orange fragrance. At The Green Clean Review website, the reviewer known as "lisbet" tries CitraDish and finds that "Nothing stuck to my dishes, and everything came out with a nice shine."

Seventh Generation dishwasher detergents are free of phosphates and chlorine and are made with plant-based cleaning agents. Although Seventh Generation cleaning products usually receive strong reviews, reactions to their dishwasher detergents are more mixed. Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwasher Powder Free & Clear (*Est. 36 cents per load) receives only an average rating from more than 70 reviewers at Amazon.com and more than 100 reviewers at Drugstore.com.  The consensus seems to be that this detergent works well in soft water, but in hard water it has trouble dissolving and leaves behind a white residue on dishes.

Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwasher Gel (*Est. 18 cents per load) gets similar mixed scores from about 100 reviewers on Amazon.com. Many users say this detergent does not clean well at all, saying it leaves behind a film and food particles on dishes and glassware. These detergents fare better in comparison tests and individual reviews. In Jamie Ervin's test of five green detergents at EcoChildsPlay.com, Seventh Generation liquid detergent cleans as well as traditional detergents.

Trader Joe's Automatic Dishwasher Detergent (*Est. 12 cents per load), another environmentally friendly option, receives mixed reviews on websites such as SustainLane.com and GreenPhoneBooth.com. This detergent seems to work best in soft water, users say.