When it comes to making changes in our environment, one thing to think about is what items you come into contact with the most often. Notable items that come to mind are dishes, as we obviously eat every day and need plates, bowls, utensils, etc. to do so. Keeping this in mind, some dishwasher soaps can leave toxic residues behind from the chemicals that are used, and that in turn can get ingested when we eat or drink. If we are eating or drinking as often as we should, that's a lot of contact with harmful ingredients over time. This is why I've curated a list of dishwasher soaps that are non toxic, effective, and that you can keep in mind once your current dishwasher soap starts to run low; remember that making little swaps over time is more effective than purging everything all at once. Slow and steady wins the race!
Here's 8 Best Non Toxic Dishwasher Soaps:
Aspen Clean
Aspen Clean Dishwasher Pods are one of the 3 non toxic dishwasher soaps that are EWG-verified! These pods are fragrance-free, plastic-free, and use plant and mineral-based ingredients to keep your dishes clean. This product really cuts through the grime, due to the addition of enzymes, and won't leave a residue on your dishes, all in the convenience of a little pod! You can buy it in a 28 pack or 84 pack; they're a little pricey at $17 for 28 pods, but I think having dishes free from toxic chemicals makes the price worth it!
Blueland
The second EWG-verified dishwasher soap on the list is Blueland. I'm a big fan of this brand (love their hand soap and all purpose cleaner), and their dishwasher soap is no exception. It's free from fragrances, dyes, plastics, parabens, chlorine bleach, phosphates, ammonia, and VOCs; only the cleanest of ingredients for this brand! If you have allergies, hormonal imbalances, or sensitivities to certain ingredients, Blueland is the way to go. You also get more bang for your buck, as you get can get 60 pods for $22. Try it here!
Dirty Labs
If you're not a fan of pods and prefer powder, Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Dishwasher Detergent is a great option! It comes in scented and unscented versions, and both use the power of Phytolase, an enzyme, to break down stuck-on food and grease. It uses cardboard-based packaging, and contains no petroleum-based ingredients or synthetic surfactants. Plus, with powders, depending on how much you use or how dirty your dishes are, it can last you a little longer than pods. You can get roughly 48 loads for only $18, so this is another fairly-priced option you can implement in your household!
Defunkify
Our last EWG-verified dishwasher soap is from Defunkify. It'll leave your dishes sparkling clean AND with no residue, all without the use of dyes, fillers, fragrances, SLS/SLES, and optical brighteners. It also includes a Rinse-Aid in the formula to ensure your dishes come out squeaky clean! One thing to note is when purchasing, it comes in a 2-pack only, so you'll get 96 pods for $41, which comes to around $0.43/load, which is a great price! If you like buying in bulk, Defunkify comes out very cost-effective.
Dropps
Dropps is another decent dishwasher soap option, if you get the unscented version. The lemon and fresh rain scents contain 'fragrance', which is blanket term that can cover up endocrine disrupting ingredients. Other than fragrance, there are some other ingredients to be cautious of are silica and polyvinyl alcohol (found in the pod membrane); despite these ingredients, it still gets an A-rating from EWG. Dropps does a good job of getting a deep clean with your dishes, and it works for all dish and dishwasher types. It's also a good budget option, at $12 for 32 pods. Is it perfect? No. But if you're on a budget and don't care about a few ingredients, then give Dropps a try!
Molly's Suds
A popular brand in the laundry realm is Molly's Suds, so it makes sense that they also have a great non toxic dishwasher soap available. They have a fragrance-free and citrus scent available, and the citrus utilizes essential oils instead of synthetic fragrances. These pods are also hypoallergenic, free from ethoxylates, and use plant-based ingredients, so they are safer for your reproductive system (no endocrine disruptors here). Their powerful, plant-based formula is effective at getting tough stains and grease off of your dishes, and is safe for all types of cookware and dishware. Molly's Suds dishwasher soap is also an amazing price, as you can get 120 pods for $34, which runs at about $0.28/load. That's a steal!
Truly Free
Yet another brand known for their non toxic laundry soap (my personal favorite that is) is Truly Free. Also formulated with plant-based ingredients, their dishwasher soap is free from just about every harmful ingredient there is, so it's one of the safest options on the market for cleaning your dishes. It won't leave a residue, either! This comes in a powder formulation, and the packaging is plastic, but it's recyclable. One package runs at around $20 and you get about 25 loads from it, so this is one of our pricier options, but Truly Free has an amazing reputation with their non toxic products, so I highly recommend you give it a try. Get it here!
Puracy
Last but not least on this list is Puracy dishwasher pods, a very popular option on Amazon that's also easy on the wallet for the amount you get: $18 for 50 pods. There's no SLS, parabens, phthalates, phosphates, fragrances, or other harmful chemicals, and also utilizes powerful enzymes to break down food grime. It also eliminates the need to pre-wash your dishes before loading the dishwasher, saving you lots of time. I love that it doesn't emit an overwhelming, chemically smell, either. With over 10,000 packages being sold every month, it's safe to say this is a winner. Give it a try here!
See more Non Toxic Household Swaps
*Disclosure: The links in the article above are affiliate links, so if you are inclined to make a purchase based on the recommendations, the author will make a small commission. Thank you for your support if you so choose.*
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