The Best Non-Toxic Dishwasher Detergents for Eco-friendly Cleaning
Washing dirty dishes is an inevitable daily task, which means that dishwasher detergents and pods are a permanent fixture in our kitchen cupboards.
And just like so many of the other products in our kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms, it’s hardly surprising to learn that detergents and pods are laden with toxic ingredients, despite that fresh fragrance and clean smell.
In fact, sometimes that’s just what may point to the presence of something toxic.
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Is Dishwasher Detergent Toxic?
While some ingredients in conventional dishwasher detergents and pods may pose minimal risk on their own, they can be damaging when mixed with other chemicals.
Or they can become activated when mixed with water.
But how do they get into your body if you’re not making contact?
After all, the dishwasher is doing all the work and when you’re handwashing you can use gloves.
But chemicals can enter your body if you inhale the steam upon opening a dishwasher.
Residue can also linger on your clean dishes even after a wash cycle. And while you may not be making contact with the water, it does spill into waterways, posing a risk to human and aquatic life.
Detergents and pods also pose a serious risk to curious kids and pets who get their hands and paws on them and ingest them.
This is especially the case with pods, which may be mistaken for candy.
The Environmental Impacts of Dishwasher Detergent
When it comes to the environment, it’s not just the potent ingredients that end up in waterways that are a concern.
There’s also the plastic problem to contend with, as detergents come in plastic bottles that can’t be recycled or reused and so are chucked when empty.
Pods and tablets can be more eco-friendly than detergent as they are compact, pre-measured reducing the risk of overpouring traditional dishwasher detergent, and thus reducing carbon emissions in transportation.
But they can still wrapped in plastic and come in a plastic bag or container the consumer must dispose of.
As with other cleaning products, as well as cosmetics and personal care products, companies don’t have to provide a full list of ingredients.
To navigate this obstacle, try to become familiar with the ones that are listed, be wary of vague terms, and look for non-toxic alternatives.
It can be tricky to create a completely natural cleaner so look for brands that are transparent about what they use and that are continuously trying to improve.
What Harsh Chemicals Should Consumers Avoid When Washing Dishes?
There’s a whole host of toxic ingredients to be found in dishwasher detergents and pods that may be harmful both to you and the environment.
Phosphates, phosphorus-containing compounds that are a naturally-occurring nutrient necessary for plant growth, have long been a common ingredient in detergents and pods.
They don’t sound harmful, but phosphates cause problems when too much gets into waterways because they can cause algal bloom that produces toxins harmful to animal and human health.
As a result, phosphates have been largely removed from dishwasher detergents and high levels of the ingredient have been banned in seventeen states.
As with many cleaning and personal care products, be wary of fragranced varieties.
Synthetic fragrances are usually made up of multiple ingredients and what exactly that cocktail might consist of is not often specified on labels.
These ingredients can include irritants, endocrine disruptors, and carcinogens, while also being harmful to the environment.
Fragrances are an example of non-specific ingredients. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) automatically rates a product with vague terms with an F, even if there’s a chance the ingredients are low risk.
Other non-specific terms and ingredients include foaming agents, buffers, colors, preservatives, surfactants, and water softeners.
Toxic ingredients in detergents and pods can cause a variety of negative effects from skin irritation, an allergic reaction, and eye damage to triggering asthma, as well as being harmful when entering rivers, lakes, and oceans. Here are a few names to look out for:
Bleaching agents like sodium hypochlorite.
Chlorine such as sodium dichloroisocyanurate.
Formaldehyde which may appear on labels as methanol, methyl aldehyde, and methylene oxide.
Preservatives like methylisothiazolinone. It can even be found in products labeled as natural. Rather look for preservative- or MIT-free options.
Surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, commonly found in shampoos, can also be found in detergents
Sodium metasilicate is caustic and can cause skin burns, eye damage, and respiratory problems.
Triclosan is an antibacterial agent that is a known endocrine disruptor and as it is bioaccumulative, can persist in your body and the environment.
Best Non-Toxic Dishwasher Detergent Brands to Try
These eco-friendly brands feature some of the best detergent and detergent packs that are tough on stains, yet gentle on the environment. These natural detergents are free from toxic chemicals and are the perfect choice for conscious consumers looking for an effective detergent.
Public Goods Affordable Plant Derived Dishwasher Pods
Public Goods is a one stop shop for healthy, sustainable, everyday essentials.
Public Goods carries dishwasher pods which are natural, plant-derived ingredients to remove stains, sanitize silverware, emulsify grease and oil, protect metal from corrosion, and minimize water spots, all without additives like chlorine, bleach and phosphates.
Public Goods also carries dish soap which is free from fragrances, dyes, synthetic foaming agents, unnatural preservatives, water softening agents, pH adjusters, buffering agents, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, and anything derived from formaldehyde.
The dishwashing detergent can also be purchased with refills.
This dish detergent products range from $4-7 and can also be paired with their plant based sponges to make your dishwashing routine more sustainable.
Dropps Biodegradable Dishwasher Detergent
Dropps is an innovative brand of plant-based cleaning products encouraging consumers to take part in eco-conscious cleaning.
With responsibly sourced materials and eco-friendly packaging, Dropps is a great brand to get conscious consumers excited about doing laundry or running the dishwasher.
Dropps products are fragrance free, dye free, chlorine free, phosphate free, phthalate free, and never tested on animals.
Dropps dishwasher detergent is powered by an enzyme-rich formula which eliminates the need for harsh chemicals.
This sustainable brand provides a quality product, using eco-friendly ingredients delivered in low-waste packaging and shipped in recyclable, compostable, and reusable boxes.
They’ve also partnered with Oceana to raise awareness and fight back against plastic pollution in our oceans.
Dropps dish washing products range from $18-$50.
Blueland’s Plastic Free Dishwasher Pods
Blueland offers green solutions for cleaning your dishes with dishwasher tablets made from natural or naturally-derived products.
The tablets are plastic free and come in steel tins that keep out humidity and can be reused, saving you money and space while reducing plastic. Once you’ve run out, simply order refills.
If you wash by hand, you can order their hypo-allergenic powder dish soap. All Blueland’s products are vegan and cruelty-free, with packaging that is compostable and shipped in recyclable boxes.
Blueland’s cleaning sets range from $10-$75 depending on how much product you decide to purchase.
Cleancult’s Natural Dishwasher Detergent
Cleancult keeps dishes clean with dish soap and tablets that are made with natural ingredients. These can be stored (and refilled) in Cleancult’s refillable soap dispensers and tablet jars. Their products come in 100% recyclable packaging and are cruelty- and palm-free.
The tablets are dissolvable, 100% biodegradable that deliver a complete clean in every cycle. Each one is wrapped in a plant-based, water-soluble film that’s designed to deliver an easy, effective clean. No left over food particles, gunk, grit, or harmful chemicals left behind - just spotless dishes.
Through their recycling program, Cleancult helps those without curbside recycling responsibly dispose of their cartons.
Cleancults dishwashing products range from $15-$45 depending on the product or set conscious consumers decide to purchase.
Shopping Tips for Eco-Friendly and Non-Toxic Dishwasher Detergents and Pods
Buy refillable products.
Look for safe ingredients like plant-based alternatives.
Look for a biodegradable formula that is easy on the environment
Check the ingredient list for chemicals discussed above.
Search for low-phosphate or phosphate-free brands.
Avoid artificial fragrances. Look for unscented options, or if you want a nice smell, find something using less harmful ingredients, like essential oils.
Look for products verified or rated by the EWG, which assesses products based on the safety of their ingredients for humans and the environment.
Choose eco-friendly and non-toxic brands.
Consider making your own homemade dishwasher detergent and avoid toxic dish soap all together. This is a great option if you are a DIY person.
Hopefully this guide helped clarify some of the harmful chemicals that can be found in dishwashing detergent and encouraged you to discover some natural brands for the next time you're shopping for cleaning products.
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