Green Dishwasher Soap

Dishwasher detergent without phosphates or bleach

Although Cascade dishwasher detergents receive great reviews for cleaning, their environmental credentials are less solid. Like many mainstream dishwasher detergents, Cascade contains phosphates, which can cause algae to overgrow in waterways, killing fish and plants. According to Amber Shinn from the Michigan Environmental Council, "Dishwasher detergent has more phosphate than other household cleaners." Phosphates have been removed from most laundry detergents, but manufacturers of dishwashing detergents are just starting to address this concern. In July 2008, certain counties of Washington State banned the sale of dishwasher detergents that contain more than half a percent of phosphates. Cascade and other popular brands were removed from store shelves. This ban will expand statewide in 2010.

Chlorine 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.

Many phosphate-free and chlorine-free detergents are available. In general, reviews of eco-friendly detergents have been mixed. Many reviewers try several different brands before they find one they like. A newer green detergent, Method Smarty Dish (*Est. 39 cents per load), 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 Seriously Spoiled, 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." This detergent comes in a pink grapefruit scent and a "Go Naked" dye-free and perfume-free version.

Ecover Dishwasher Tablets (*Est. 30 cents per load) is another green detergent that comes in tablets. It is made with plant-based ingredients. On About.com, Sarah Aguirre praises the convenience of these tablets, and likes that they contain no phosphates, bleach or synthetic fragrances. At a blog for the Los Angeles Times, Ecover tablets are one of three recommended green detergents. 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. 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.

One of the best-reviewed dishwasher detergents on Amazon.com is CitraDish Automatic Dishwashing Detergent (*Est. 22 cents per load), a powdered detergent. CitraDish contains no phosphates, bleach, synthetic dyes or perfumes. Ten reviewers on Amazon.com give it nearly perfect scores, while an additional reviewer claims 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. 18 cents per load) receives only an average rating from 50 reviewers at Amazon.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 75 reviewers on Amazon.com. For many, this detergent does not clean well at all. 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.

Biokleen Automatic Dish Powder (*Est. 13 cents per load) is an inexpensive, environmentally friendly option. It is free of phosphates and chlorine. On Amazon.com, about 10 reviewers rate this detergent highly. At Drugstore.com, 70 reviewers give it four out of five 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 Green Home and LivingCrueltyFree.com. Results in professional testing aren't quite so 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.

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

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.