A popular trend these days is to be eco-friendly and environmentally conscious. One way to incorporate this into your life is by making the switch from a conventional dishwasher detergent to an eco-friendly, biodegradable variant. These best brands of plastic-free dishwasher detergent are all-natural and safe for you and your family.
Plastic is making headlines worldwide right now, both in terms of its environmental impact and relationship to humans. The average person uses single-use plastic products 300 times daily, including using a plastic toothbrush, eating with a plastic fork, and drinking from a plastic water bottle.
All that plastic has serious implications for human health; approximately 93% of Americans have traces of BPA (a heavy metal used in the production of plastics) in their bodies. This means that they are directly ingesting trace amounts of BPA daily simply by consuming food or beverages.
Along with health concerns comes the issue of environmental impact; it is estimated that there are 5 trillion pieces of plastic debris in our oceans today. At this point, there is almost no place on Earth that is not impacted by plastic pollution.
These problems have led people from all walks of life to re-evaluate their reliance on single-use plastics and look for alternatives. One area where the effects of plastic pollution are particularly noticeable is in dishwashers; each year, 81 billion dishes are washed in American dishwashers, creating an enormous amount of waste when every single plate requires a separate piece of disposable plastic (usually in the form of a plastic or paper napkin).
The good news is that consumers don’t need to fill landfills with more plastic waste; there are plenty of environmentally friendly options available for cleaning up after dinner. Here are 20 Plastic-Free Dishwasher Detergent options to look for in a dishwasher.
1) Bar Keepers Friend
![BAR KEEPERS FRIEND Powdered Cleanser 12-Ounces (1-Pack)']](https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/to_webp,q_lossy,ret_img,w_500,h_500/https://www.ecomasteryproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/71HxEojprcL._SL500_.webp)
Bar Keepers friend is a powdered, non-toxic cleaning product that can clean almost anything – including dishes. It combines the cleaning power of oxalic acid and mineral oil with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to create an effective alternative to chemical-laden dishwashing detergents. As a bonus, it’s less expensive than many commercial brands too!
2) Salt
An oldie but a goody, salt is one of the most well-known plastic-free dishwasher detergents. Fill the soap dispenser portion of your dishwasher with table salt run as normal; the salt will help break down any grease and grime on your dishes, leaving them sparkling clean after a rinse. Just make sure it’s pure salt without any anti-caking agents or iodized versions.
3) Lemon Peels
Lemon peels are full of citric acid, which is great for giving you a squeaky-clean dishwasher. Drop the peels into your soap dispenser and run a cycle as usual; no need to add additional water!
4) White Vinegar
White vinegar is one of the most popular options for natural plastic-free dishwasher detergent; it has been used in commercial dishwashers since the 1800s. It was developed by Edwin C. Hardesty, who was known as “the vinegar man.” Though it is less acidic than lemon, white vinegar is an effective natural degreaser. Plus, it’s inexpensive and comes in concentrated form so that you can use just a small amount of it for each load of dishes.
5) Essential Oils
Essential oils are all the rage right now due to their aromatherapy benefits, but they have many practical uses around the house as well. Many people make their dishwasher detergent with essential oils; 2-3 drops in your soap dispenser or some water poured into the bottom of the dishwasher before starting will give your dishes a fresh scent while leaving them clean!
6) Baking Soda & Citric Acid
Borax (found in most conventional dishwasher detergents) is a good cleaner but also poisonous. To avoid the risk of Borax exposure, mix small amounts of baking soda and citric acid to create a paste that can be added to your soap dispenser before running a load.
7) Lemi Shine Dishwasher Detergent Booster
Citrus fruits are full of natural degreaser that help clean dishes; one product that harnesses this power is the Lemi shine dishwasher detergent booster. It’s made from lemon-peel-based cleaners and doesn’t contain any dyes or fragrances so that it won’t affect the scent of your dishes. This product needs to be used sparingly – just 1/8th tsp. to every load of dishes – but it can provide an extra-clean feel after each dish comes out.
8) Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soaps
Dr. Bronner’s Castile soaps are high-performing, concentrated soap products that come in three different varieties; peppermint, lavender, and baby unscented. All varieties are formulated using organic coconut oil and other environmentally friendly oils, making them a great green alternative to chemical-laden dishwashing detergents.
9) Biokleen Dishwasher Tablets & Lemongrass Automatic Dishwashing Detergent
Biokleen also makes two other green dish wash options that are all-natural: dishwasher tablets and lemongrass automatic dishwashing detergent. Each product is formulated using biodegradable materials and plant-based surfactants, meaning they’re better for you and the environment.
10) Mrs. Meyers Dish Soap
If you don’t want to go fully natural, Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap made from olive oil and coconut-based cleaners is a more traditional alternative. Add one pump of the concentrated soap to your soapy dispenser before running a load of dishes in your machine; it will leave behind a fresh scent that isn’t too overpowering or perfume-like.
11) Earth Friendly Dishwashing Liquid
One more green option is Earth-friendly dishwashing liquid, biodegradable, phosphate-free, and uses 80% less plastic than the leading name brand. Add one pump to the bottom of your dishwasher before running a load for fresh-smelling dishes every time.
12) Nellie’s All-Natural Laundry Soda
One final green cleaner is Nellie’s all-natural laundry soda which can also be used as a natural dishwasher detergent around once per month or so. Each box has about 100 uses, so it’s more cost-effective than other options. Add one scoop to the bottom of your dishwasher along with some vinegar and run through a complete cycle without any additional soap; this combination will clean your dishes thoroughly while cutting down on harmful chemicals that are found in most standard dishwasher detergents.
13) Distilled White Vinegar & Baking Soda
For extremely dirty dishes, combine distilled white vinegar with baking soda in the soap dispenser; this combination is very strong and will cut through even the most difficult messes. After running a cycle like this, rinse your dishes thoroughly to avoid lingering residues from being left behind on them.
14) Bar Keeper’s Friend
If you have hard water stains or rust that won’t come off with other detergents, try Bar Keeper’s Friend, which uses oxalic acid as its main active ingredient. You can buy small packets of this or purchase a bigger container and measure out about 1/2 cup for use in every load of dishes.
15) Powdered Citrus Based Dishwasher Detergent
When looking for a powdered dishwashing detergent, look for a citrus-based one, so it doesn’t leave any scents or residues behind on your dishes. Measure out about 1/2 cup per load and run through a normal cycle to have squeaky clean dishes every time.
16) Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda
Another alternative to using dish soap is to use half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of distilled white vinegar for every load. This combination can be used in any regular machine and keep your dishes extra sparkly clean every time you run the cycle.
17) Grab Green Automatic Dishwasher
Grow green automatic dishwasher gel is made from all 100% natural, non-toxic ingredients free of ammonia, chlorine bleach, and phosphates, so it’s perfect for those who want an environmentally friendly option with minimal chemicals. Each box comes with about 60 loads worth of cleaner, so it’s pretty cost-effective compared to other brands.
18) Seventh Generation Automatic Dishwashing Detergent
Seventh-generation automatic dishwashing detergent is great for those who want a more natural option without any dyes or unpronounceable ingredients on the label. This product has some of the best reviews out of all of the green dish soaps on our list, making it an excellent choice for those new to using natural cleaners around their home.
19) Cascade Complete Dishwasher
If you’re looking to cut down your dish soap use even further, try this unusual trick: save up all your table scraps throughout the week and toss them into your dishwasher along with 1/2 cup vinegar; run through a full cycle as usual and rinse thoroughly before putting dishes away. This combination will create plenty of suds without using any regular soap.
20) Biokleen Automatic Dishwashing Powder
Last is Biokleen automatic dishwashing powder, which uses plant-based enzymes to eat through even the toughest food stains while being hypoallergenic and free of harsh chemicals? This product can be used in all types of machines, including HE washers, and has over 100 loads worth per box, so it’s a great value too!
Conclusion
Save the environment with a clean dishwasher detergent! Plastic-free, biodegradable, and eco-friendly dishwashing products are nothing new. But if you’re looking for an easy way to make your kitchen green while also saving money on soap, here are some of our favorite suggestions from around the web. You can get started today by ordering at least one of these 20 plastic-free dishwasher detergents that have been designed to keep your dishes sparkling clean without harming the planet. Happy cleaning.
