We have been committed to using safer more natural cleaning products for almost ten years now and have tried almost all of what’s offered on the market. We have even tried making our own. Conventional dish washer detergents are made from non renewable sources that are made into synthetic and harmful detergents. These ingredients often consist of surfactants, chelating agents, sudsing agents, phosphates, fragrances and dyes and chlorines. 

The ingredients do not readily biodegrade. We breathe in the fumes and vapors when our dishwashers vent steam, we eat off our dishes that contain some residue of the cleaners and then the ingredients get flushed. Water treatment facilities are not equipped to clean and filter toxins, so we either ingest any ingredients or chemicals that are washed down the drain when the water is recycled for reuse or they are sent back into what ever body of water the water treatment facility empties into to. This exposes all of nature to all the chemicals we use. Some are broken down and become inert, while others become more potent and harmful, almost no chemicals are really tested for adverse health effects and almost never tested when combined with myriads of other chemicals. 

Because of formula protection laws the actual ingredients do not have to be listed on cleaners. So we are left to guess what miracle chemicals we are exposing our families in trade for sparkling dishes (floors, toilets, etc for that matter). 

Cleansing agents/surfactants- such as Disodium Decyl phenyl Ether Disulfonate or Pentasodium triphosphate can cause skin, eye, mucosa and respiratory irritation as well as organ and reproductive toxicity. 

Phosphates- are used to aid surfactants in their cleaning ability, but when flushed into our waters they create algae blooms that create dead zones where life is inhabitable. 

Chlorine- is used to bleach stains from foods, but is extremely damaging to lungs, when inhaled (as when dishwasher is venting steam) and combines with other chemicals in water to form cancer causing agents.

Fragrances- are used to hide the chemical smells of the other ingredients and to trick you into thinking your dishes are clean, but are neuro and immune toxins. 

More natural dishwasher detergents are free of phosphates, chlorine, fragrances, and dyes. Most are also made entirely of biodegradable ingredients that become inert when broken down. But what works? and what companies are worthy of your money?

Our rank is:

ECOVER dishwashing detergent. It is hands down the best, safer detergent. The company started out as a dedicated to provide better, safer cleaners. It now has branched into one of the most sustainable companies in the world. http://www.ecover.com/us/en/About/

BIOKLEEN dishwashing detergent is the next best. From the beginning the company set out to create safer, more natural and effective cleaners. Their cleaners are super concentrated so they use less resources and save money. http://biokleenhome.com/about

With either brand you only need to use a heaping tablespoon. Save money.

the other brands I would recommend (but they do not always work well) are Seventh Generation, Wave, and Earth. I have used them and they are hit and miss. While these products don’t always work well, the companies are worthy. I would use them before I would use any mainstream dishwashing detergent or any so called “eco friendly” product made by a company that mostly profits from toxic, harmful cleaners and products yet wants some of the market in the “green” sector.