If you're anything like us, you probably feel pretty good about your dish soap. You've found a green brand that you're comfortable with, and you're not looking back.
We love Method's lavender scented dish soap. But, now we're reconsidering our options.
According to this highly informational article at Grist, there are some nasty things lurking in some of the dish soaps we'd always considered perfectly pure -- namely 1,4-dioxane.
The article recommends making your own dish soap using Dr. Bronner's, but does go on to test six green dish soaps.
Their favorite? You'll have to read the article to find out. (Hint: It's, unfortunately, not what we've been using!)
So, we're wondering. What dish soap do you use? How do you like it? And, have you tried making your own (using Dr. Bronner's or any other recipe)?
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Very timely post for me! I tried to make some dish soap out of Dr. Bronner's last week. I mixed it with water in a foam pump bottle. I thought it did a great job cleaning but left hands feeling a little film-y. I also tried a mix of vinegar, water and washing soda but that was a no-go. Has anyone else had success with other ingredients?
view mrs. jones's profile
Yikes! The soap I use, Planet, has the highest level of dioxane out of all those tested. I emailed them to see what they had to say.
Since I only hand wash (no dishwasher), I've discovered that baking soda is a necessity for getting rid of oil or grease on certain utensils/dishes, so I keep a jar of it handy by the sink. I plan on trying the Dr. Bronner's soap this week.
view sjbreeze's profile
Alas, the dishsoap --Ecover --favored by the writer of Grist article performed poorly in our very hard water.
I use Bronner's in both the home and garden, but I'll stick with the Seventh Generation Lavender-Mint for dish detergent.
I confess to sometimes loading up the dishwasher with glassware and running them through a rinse-only cycle with some vinegar. It removes built-up residue and leaves glasses sparkling.
view JaxByDefault's profile
I'm puzzled as to why 'regular' Dr. Bronner's would need to be made into dish soap when Dr. Bronner's makes a household cleaner that is 1 of the best I have ever used - including for doing the dishes. It's called Sal-Suds and can be purchased at WholeFoods markets among other places. Sal-Suds is the only cleaner that conquered the daunting task of making my apartment rental refrigerator (which is from the '80's) look sparkly and new. (I tried everything!) It also (for some unknown reason) keeps dish sponges from getting smelly - love that!
view x.girl's profile
We have Seventh Generation for the dishwasher. We've had a few nonclean dishes, but I'm inclined to blame the dishwasher, and the citrus sure does smell good.
Biokleen doesn't make my eczema worse, so it's earned my affection. Our nondishwasher-safe things rarely get greasy though.
view thursday's profile
I have been making my own for several years now. At this point I just freepour the ingredients, which are Dr. Bronner's, vegetable glycerine, and three essential oils: lavender, rosemary and eucalyptus.
view H.H. Hannah's profile
Plus water. Almost forgot that part.
view H.H. Hannah's profile
I 2nd Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds! Good stuff.
view MoJonson's profile