http://www.care2.com/greenliving/automatic-dishwashing-detergents.html
Automatic Dishwashing Detergents
Until now, if you have hard water, the most difficult product to substitute an environmentally preferable one for has been automatic dish detergent.
Most commercial products contain phosphates and chlorine, and while these are problematic for the environment, they leave the dishes sparkling clean. But phosphates soften water and can cause algae blooms in lakes and ponds, and the production of chlorine can cause dioxin and other organochlorines that are long-lasting in the environment.
I am sure I am not alone in having had to wash a film off the dishes a few times after experimenting with the green brands of automatic dish detergent over the years, and ultimately given up and bought a leading commercial brand. It is great to announce that those days are over. Two leading green brands of automatic dishwashing detergent, Seventh Generation and Ecover, have reformulated their products, and the new formulas truly work as well as the leading national brands, even if you have hard water. They are chlorine and phosphate free. The Seventh generation product is also “Free and Clear of Perfumes and Dyes,” and the formula has been particularly improved to reduce spotting and filming.
related stories
-
Should I worry about chlorine in household cleaners? In a…
(52 comments)
-
If we want water coming in our taps to be clean, we need to…
(16 comments)
-
annie
Many people are confused about the difference between soap…
(5 comments)
Annie B.
Melissa
Jana
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Eric
Andrew
Dave
Robyn
Deepak
10 comments
add your comment »ENJO's Calcium Dissolver is great as an additon to dishwasher soaps -just a few drops and helps keep the glasses clear and not cloudy. www.enjo.net
-CJM
flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I also use the Shaklee dishwasher product and have for 6 years. I have lived in a house with hard well water with lots of mineral deposits, semi- hard city water, and very soft water. In all of these conditions I have never had to pre-clean my dishes or rinse them afterwards. They always come out sparkling - unless the water temp is too cold from too many showers. Then sometimes my glasses look a little cloudy. But then, I rinse them and they are fine.
flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Mary M, sorry about that. It could depend on your water. Water can be hard or soft, and have a variety of minerals, additives, etc. Everyone's water is different, so what works for one person may not work for another.
flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Hey, I recently tried that homemade dishwasher detergent recipe as posted by Lady Cat. I'd run out of my usual biodegradable, environmentally-friendly, Shaklee GET CLEAN Automatic Dishwasher Concentrate. Her recipe
didn't work for me and in fact, made MORE work for me! It left an awful powdery residue all over my glasses, even with vinegar in the rinse cup and so they all had to be hand-washed. Even running them through AGAIN with only vinegar in the wash as well as the rinse cycle failed to remove it! I can't WAIT for my GET CLEAN to come in!
Mare
flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
to cat lady:
is that really all that it takes to put in your diswasher? it almost sounds too good to be true!!! would it hurt to add a little vinegar to that to help make my wine glasses sparkely??
flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
You can also make your own Dishwashing detergent:
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup washing soda
Mix and use 2Tablespoons per load.
flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I forgot to mention too....I started using Seventh Generation powder dishwasher detergent and it works great! I have very hard water and haven't had any problems with streaks or spots so I am really impressed with this product.
flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
For Ellen Jones:
Hello:) I also have very hard well water and I have found that adding a 1/2 of a cup of vinegar to my wash cycle really helps my clothes. The vinegar acts as a natural softner for both the water and the clothes. It also helps to remove any remaining soap deposits from them. I have really sensitive skin too and have recently started using a brand of detergent made by Planet that uses coconut oil based cleaner and it has really helped my skin. You can find it at health food stores or Publix supermarkets, if you have those in your area. Good luck!
flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I just moved to a place with incredibly hard water and don't know what to do about my laundry. I wash in cold water and line dry mostly. My clothes feel like they are covered in slime after I was h them. By the way, I am allergic to almost eveything- currently using All Free and Clear detergent. Can you (or anyone) suggest anything for a laundry additive to deal with the hard water and avoid the ashy streaks without turning me into the skin rash lady?
flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I've been using 7th Generation Free & Clear and I have very hard water. I also have a bottle of this powder called "Lemi Shine" that keeps all of my dishes from getting spots. It's ingredients are "fruit acids, natural citrus oils, and fragrance". Actually, now that I'm seeing that, I need to check out what the "fragrance" is. www.lemishine.com. Anyhow, it works great and you can also dissolve it in water in a spray bottle and use it to clean showers.
flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?