Home › Forums › WSB Reader Recommendations › Dishwasher detergent without phosphates: looking for ideas
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October 10, 2010 at 7:40 pm #596645
DaveBParticipantSince we started using non-phosphate detergent the dishes are not clean. We have started rinsing but some things still require a hand wash after.
Two questions:
1. Are there any additives I can use that will help clean dishes until we use up the current detergent? After some online research, I found suggestions to add borax (which I tried, it helped a little) or baking soda (haven’t tried it yet).
2. Any recommended non-phosphate brands that do a good job of cleaning? Since phosphates are going away, it makes sense to seek out non-phosphate products that work well.
I don’t want this post to become a discussion (pro or con) of this change, just looking for ideas.
Thanks.
October 10, 2010 at 8:38 pm #705438
The Velvet BulldogParticipantDave: Here’s a list of natural dishwashing detergents:
http://www.greenyour.com/home/kitchen-cooking/dishwashing/tips/choose-natural-dishwashing-soap
I currently use Seventh Generation, but I’m not thrilled with it. Would also love to know if someone has found a really effective natural detergent for the dishwasher–thanks for asking the question.
October 10, 2010 at 9:04 pm #705439
JoBParticipanti just bought 7th generation…
the dishwasher is old so we pre-rinse anyway
i’ll let you know.
October 10, 2010 at 9:08 pm #705440
CarolPBMemberUsing Palmolive Eco +. Seems to do fine, but a pre-rinse as well.
October 10, 2010 at 11:15 pm #705441
mannamcParticipantWe’ve used the Ecover tablets for a couple of years now and love them. They worked well in our 20 year old dishwasher and work well in our brand new one too.
October 10, 2010 at 11:46 pm #705442
SueParticipantWe’ve been very happy with Bio-Kleen Automatic Dish Powder. We’ve been using it for over a year with no complaints, and we never prewash. No problems with dishes coming clean. We don’t wash pots in our dishwasher, so I can’t speak for that, but the dishes come out great.
October 10, 2010 at 11:47 pm #705443
timeslidParticipantDaveB – I had the same problem with the lack of cleaning or rinsing power of the non phosphate detergents. I did find a solution though. BioGreen Clean at 50% strength at the full rinse number works great. No streaks, smell, or bits. It works great on laundry spots too, as-well-as general cleaning.
Its worth a try.
October 11, 2010 at 4:12 am #705444
voodooMemberI use 7th Generation and add baking soda – I put the detergent in the covered detergent dispenser cup-thingy and the soda in the open one. We also pre-rinse our dishes. Seems to work well.
October 11, 2010 at 2:00 pm #705445
anonymeParticipantI use either Bio-Kleen or Seventh Generation, with a natural rinse agent such as Ecover. My dishes have always been spotless – until recently. I suspect the dishwasher needs to be cleaned. I’m wondering if the problem is not the lack of phosphates, but the dishwasher itself?
October 13, 2010 at 1:04 am #705446
DaveBParticipantFollow-up: I’ve now tried adding baking soda, which helped a bit. Then I tried a combo of soda and borax (about 1/4 cup of each) which works the best but there are still issues.
I will look into Big Green Clean but if that doesn’t help I may end up forgetting about using the soap I have (which irritates both my thrifty and green sides (sadly I got it at Costco (Kirkland brand) so there is lot)) and trying the brands suggested above.
Thanks everyone for your suggestions.
October 13, 2010 at 3:03 am #705447
hammerheadParticipantI gave up on the eco friendly stuff it just didn’t work. I tried everything and have a newer d/w and do a quick pre rinse.
October 13, 2010 at 3:21 am #705448
JoBParticipantit looks like i too am going to have some eco-friendly dishwasher detergent to donate to anyone who wants it.
tried the eco-friendly costco brand laundry detergent and already gave that away..
will be trying the free and clear next :(
October 13, 2010 at 4:35 am #705449
waterworldParticipantHammerhead: I just want to clarify and make sure you know one thing that’s affecting a lot of people, maybe you included: Washington state recently banned phosphates in dishwasher detergent. The law went into effect July 1, 2010, so a lot of people are just now beginning to use phosphate-free dishwasher detergents. If your regular brand was something like Cascade (formerly 7.7% phosphate content), Electro-Sol (formerly 8.7%), or Palmolive Tablets (formerly 8.7%), you may be surprised when you use your first box of the stuff that went on the shelf in the last couple months. I think people who are worried their dishwashers are not working well may actually be having their first phosphate-free experiences.
October 13, 2010 at 4:46 am #705450
JoBParticipantHammerhead…
i didn’t notice that one…
i so don’t want to go back to washing dishes by hand:(
October 13, 2010 at 6:21 am #705451
JulieMemberI’m pretty happy with CitraDish.
October 21, 2010 at 4:09 am #705452
lbockenParticipantI have tried most of the eco friendly brands and I have discovered three things:
1. Powders generally work better than liquids. The liquids tend to leave a film.
2. Meyers is great at first, but after several dozen loads, your plastic starts to smell/taste like lemon verbana.
3. Ecolever is the closest thing the old (no longer available in WA), phosphate laden Tide.
October 22, 2010 at 1:54 am #705453
voodooMemberFYI, at the Anniversary Sale that’s going on currently at Fred Meyer, all 7th Generation products are 50% off. I picked up a box of dish detergent for something like $4.50.
October 22, 2010 at 2:09 am #705454
FlyonthewallMemberTry researching Consumer Reports – they did a series of tests on dishwasher detergents a couple of years ago when non-phospates were just coming out. They also reviewed phospate ones as well.
Their conclusions were basically to NEVER use liquid gel detergents in any dishwasher because they do not have long enough temp”s to do the job effectively – so always use a powder – and for non-phospates they picked Trader Joe’s brand as #1. They might have updated their testing in the last year or so given all the new brands.
We used TJ’s brand for a while and the cleaning was good, but now we use the Method tablets and they clean really well.
October 24, 2010 at 4:53 am #705455
JoBParticipantflyonthewall..
thanks for the heads up…
i am not impressed with the 7th generation option..
it left a film on my dishes:(
and weather permitting i am off to trader joes tomorrow anyway…
anybody want some 7th generation dishwashing packs?
joanne at brayden dot org
October 25, 2010 at 1:19 am #705456
FlyonthewallMemberMethod & 7th Generation are two different products
October 25, 2010 at 1:40 am #705457
CarolPBMemberI may have to try powder again based on this thread. I found in my old dishwasher that it never desolved all the way, so switched to liquid back then. Yes, I ran the hot water before running.
October 25, 2010 at 3:29 am #705458
JoBParticipantflyonthewall…
i haven’t tried method yet..
I stood in front of the powder trader joes dishwashing detergent tonight without buying… i too switched from powders for a reason:(
buying detergent of any kind just shouldn’t be this hard.
i did try method clothes washing detergent on vacation and haven’t stopped itching yet.
everything i brought home will have to be rewashed:(
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