I’m on a quest. A quest to find a natural, biodegradable automatic dishwashing detergent that actually cleans. I have a relatively new dishwasher that cleans well with popular “normal” dishwashing detergents, but I’ve yet to find a more conscientous product that does the job.
I started with Seventh Generation’s Free & Clear Automatic Dishwashing Powder , but since I wasn’t planning to write about my search, I really don’t have a lot to say about them. I know that I didn’t find it to be an effective product, but I can’t remember what, specifically, I didn’t like about it. It’s also not the most natural product on the market, although they are making an effort to change that.
Currently, I’m using Earth Friendly Products’ High Performance Wave Auto Dishwasher Detergent. It claims “natural pH, chlorine free, caustic free, biodegradable, phosphate free and non-polluting”– everything I could possibly hope for in a dishwashing detergent. Oh yeah, except every time I wash my dishes (no matter what setting) the dishes come out with a fine dusting of detergent still on them. Yuck. Other than that, I think it does clean better than Seventh Generation’s powder. But it’s really not what I’m looking for. So, after my final eighth of a box, or so, I’ll be switching to a new detergent. To be fair, they do recommend using a rinse agent and running vinegar through your dishwasher if you’re having problems. But I do have a whole house water softener, and I really don’t want to use a rinse agent, so I’ll keep looking. Stay tuned for my results.
***addition to the review: I did end up running my dishwasher with vinegar. I do think that it improved the performance of Earth Friendly’s product, but I still think there’s a better product out there.