http://www.care2.com/greenliving/green-automatic-dish-detergent.html
Green Automatic Dish Detergent?
Hello Annie,
I am new to this Web site (2 weeks I think). I have been buying organic and eco-healthy for some while, however, I cannot find a dishwasher detergent that works. The Ecover brand did an extremely poor job as does Seventh Generation. Any ideas?
–Megan, CO
Hi Megan,
Welcome! Dish detergent is one of the only areas left where there isn’t an adequate green product, especially if you have hard water! While the green automatic dish detergent products are much better than they were 10 years ago, by not using phosphates the green products are at a disadvantage. (Phosphates cause algae bloom in lakes and streams.) What I do in my own home is to use a green brand most of the time, and every few months I buy a mainstream brand and wash the dishes for a few cycles using that and then returning to the green brand. The mainstream brand does get all the cloudiness off the glasses.
I know that the green cleaning companies are working hard on this problem so we can hope they get it right soon.
Cheers,
Annie
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46 comments
add your comment »I've ALWAYS had good luck with Seventh Generation!!
We are in a very hard water area so I don't think that's the problem that some people are experiencing.
I have absolutely no complaints!
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i make my own dishwasher soap. equal parts of borax and washing soda. Then i add some lemon powder. ( i store this in a cleaned peanut glass jar). then it is just 2 tbsp in the dispenser.
For rinse i just add white vingear (where you would place jet rinse). My dishes come out great! and it helps with my hard water here in Minnesota.
If washing dishes by hand you can use the same.. but i fill one side of the sink with some vingear for the rinse.
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I use Diamond Brite from Melaleuca. No chlorine bleach, No Phosphate. Works great and does not leave glasses clouldy.
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Actually i just looked on the label of Polmolive ECO automatic dishwashing detergent today and it does contain bleach! omg im not using this anymore! im mad now because this is a brand new dish washer and never wanted to ever use an unnatural dishwashing product in it ever, Can someone recommend an all natural detergent for automatic dishwashers? an all natural product with no hidden bleach? AND remember its important to read the label of what your using i sure learned that!
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Polmolive Eco smells like bleach when the dishwashers running i even heard it has bleach in it! so how is that natural? so now im looking for a new organic type automatic dish washing detergent and i use clorox green works for handwashing or any other natural kind on sale
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I don't use dishwashers, they use electricity, and you have to buy all those extra detergents, salt and that thing that makes your glases sparkly which I don't know the name of in english lol.
Anyway that's why I prefere handwashing. Haven't tried with vinegar but will it's cheaper. You only need one detergent, and vinegar can clean your entire house mixed with water. Eaven rinse your drains. :-o
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Responding to comments about what kind of of vinegar. Silly me! White vinegar of course...however, gets me thinking, if I rinse salad plates in balsamic, might that not be a prep for a salad if refrigerated? JUST KIDDING :-) Not everyone has my sense of humor and does not necessarily translate via the typed word that does not allow for inflection. Have a good one everyone!
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Apple cider vinegar also is "colored" by nature: a pale to mid-gold. I would strongly suggest using white vinegar. You can buy a gallon of white vinegar for less than $5.
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regarding the reader comment about vinegar, I think anykind of vinegar but balsamic would be OK. That said, I only recommend white distilled for housecleaning, so as not to stain.--Annie
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What kind of vinegar? White or apple cider?
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