Dishwasher Detergent Options

 

I started doing a little research this week on dishwasher detergents and boy was it an eye opener for what not to use. Needless to say that when what we are currently using runs out we are switching to a much healthier option. Not just for allergies but for our general health from chemical exposure and its affects on our surroundings and environment.

The chemicals that are found in dishwasher detergent can enter your body through several ways through inhalation, through your skin and from the residue that's left on all your dishes.

So what's in your typical economy dishwasher detergent that we should know about. Quite a bit actually. Did you know that manufactures are not required to list All their ingredients on their products? Something that many consumers find frustrating. I know I do.

One of the first ingredients I wanted to talk about is fragrances.  This is one of those ingredients I've never understood when it come to dishwasher detergent. Why would I want my dishes to smell like something I would never eat?  Honestly it's always kind of grossed me out, but maybe that's just me. 

 When fragrance in listed in the ingredients list it's rarely if ever includes just a couple of ingredients, and these ingredients are often not listed.  Phthalates are often added to both synthetic and natural fragrances to help them last longer. And as you may or may not remember (as this ingredient comes up frequently in my posts) phthalates have been linked to serious health issues. So just these ingredients alone can cause allergies, asthma, endocrine disruption and damage to lungs, kidneys and the liver. On the environmental side of things it causes excessive algae blooms when it is washed away into waste water and finds its way back into our environment.

Then there are Dyes.  The only reason they are added is to make it look better. It in no way helps the product clean better but it can have several negative health effects.

Polyacrylates (a polymer) coexist with acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate. Acrylic acid can cause respiratory irritation, allergic dermatitis, burns and eye damage. It's also very toxic to aquatic life. Both 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and methacrylic acid can cause skin irritation.

Methylisothiazolinone is a preservative used in both synthetic and natural detergents. It's been linked to serious allergic reactions and inhalation toxicity.  This ingredient is not always listed so you may want to look for labels that read Preservative Free, MIT Free or Non-Toxic detergents.

Sodium hypochlorite (also know as bleach) is used as antimicrobial and bleaching agents. It's a known respiratory irritant, causes throat irritation, is corrosive to skin and eyes. and it's especially problematic for those with respiratory issues.

And finally there is benzisothiazolinone which is an antimicrobial agent which is an environmental pollutant and a lung, eye and skin irritant.

A quick look on EWG's (Environmental Working Group) website shows a breakdown of dishwasher detergents both good and bad along with everything in between. 

You can check out the website here ewg.org guide for dishwasher detergent

Some of the top brands that earned A or B ratings were the brands ECOS, Nellie's, Seventh Generation, and The Honest Company.

Some of  the worst rated brands that earned an F include well known brands like Palmolive, Finish, and Cascade.

Sources:

ewg.org

wikipedia.org

noharm-uscanada.org/issues/us-canada/phthalates-and-dehp

forceofnatureclean.com/guide-to-choosing-non-toxic-dishwasher-detergent/

ethicalconsumer.org/home-garden/shopping-guide/ethical-dishwasher-detergent