Susanna CellucciFounder
Published February 12, 2023 • Updated July 11, 2026
Avoid conventional dishwasher detergents made with toxic chemicals that are irritants and polluting the environment such as:
❌ Sodium hypochlorite, hydrozincite, wetting agent, sodium tripolyphosphate, anti-foam, alcohol alkoxylates, polyacrylates, sulfate, paraben, phthalate, 1,4-dioxane, optical brightener, dyes fillers, gluten, hormone disruptor, carcinogen, and fragrance-free
Greenwashing is when a brand pretends to be natural, eco-friendly, safer, or sustainable when it is not. These brands may promote their pods and sheets which are a Micro-Plastic issue.
❌ Avoid Dishwasher pods: break down into harmful microplastics that pollute our water and enter the food chain
Laundry or dishwasher pods are not recommended ⚠️Laundry or dishwasher pods made of biodegradable PVA are still made of plastic and should be labeled as plastic. ⚠️Laundry pods and Laundry Sheets that list Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA or PVOH) as an ingredient contain plastic
👉PVA-based products (laundry pods, dishwashing pacs, laundry strips) release plastic into the environment!
🐠💚For this reason, I switched to non-pod Dishwasher products. 🌿I listed here the best organic dishwasher detergents on the market:
Automatic Dishwasher Powder hypoallergenic, 100% biodegradable powder, or liquid
My number one organic dishwasher detergent brand recommendations are:
Shop with my links to support my research! 💖
10% off code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL
15% off code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL
5% off link
🌿MamaSuds Dishwasher Powder is for sparkling dishes with non white films
🌸This Organic Dishwasher Powder is unscented and made with better ingredients, 100% biodegradable.
🌿Made without palm oil, fragrances, and other cheap chemicals found in conventional or greenwashing laundry or cleaning detergents
It comes with a recyclable/reusable tablespoon scoop (optional)
Rinse dishes thoroughly (leave off the food) and put 1/2 to 2 scoops into the dishwasher soap dispenser, depending on load. For best results, use distilled white vinegar in the rinse aid dispenser.
INGREDIENTS: non-GMO citric acid*, sodium bicarbonate, sodium percarbonate, sodium carbonate.
🌿Pronounce Dishwasher Detergent
🌿 This natural dishwasher detergent powder is made with all-natural, simple ingredients that you can pronounce, including Enzymes and No Plastic Pod Film (PVA)!!
🌿Pronounce Dishwasher Detergent is unscented and an ultra-concentrated, effective formula. Safe for baby bottles
Enzyme-powered and boosted with oxi powder to cut through stuck-on messes, and works great with hard water.
INGREDIENTS: Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate), Sodium Citrate, Oxygen Booster (Sodium Percarbonate), Sodium Gluconate, Sorbitan Caprylate, Sodium Polyaspartate, Sodium Silicate, Protease Enzyme Blend, Amylase Enzyme Blend, Silica
Meadow & Fern Automatic Dishwasher Powder is a natural Micro-Plastic Free Dishwasher Powder.
This organic dishwasher detergent is 100% biodegradable powder, made from renewable plant and Earth mineral-derived ingredients.
🌿It won't break down into harmful microplastics that pollute our water and enter the food chain.
🌿 Unscented is recommended for pregnant, and breastfeeding mamas, babies, and pets!
To get dishes extra clean and chemical-free, use white vinegar or organic rinse aid.
This Dishwasher Powder is produced daily at a USA family-run factory.
INGREDIENTS: Sodium Percarbonate (non-chlorine oxygen bleach and natural whitener), Sodium Carbonate (washing soda, cleaner), Sodium Citrate (salt, prevents cloudiness), Sodium Metasilicate (salt, removes organic matter on dishes), Sodium Chloride (salt, removes spots), Sodium Gluconate ( salt, reduces water tension).
🌿Butter Me Up Organics Dishwasher Soap
This organic dishwasher detergent is handcrafted with natural ingredients. It will last for a long time. For a standard load, you will only need about 1 tbsp. full. To get dishes extra clean and chemical-free, use white vinegar as a rinse aid. This is the most effective way to have your dishes clean and shiny naturally without all the conventional additives.
🌿Finally sparkling clean dishes with all-natural ingredients
It will last for a long time, it comes in a 1lb bag of handcrafted dishwasher soap. For a standard load, you will only need about 1 tbs. To get dishes extra clean and chemical-free, use white vinegar or organic rinse aid.
Note: When the brand does not offer the code, shop with My SHOP NOW links to support my research. Click my links each for each order.
INGREDIENTS: Washing Soda, Kosher Salt, Sodium Borate, and Non-GMO Citric Acid. ** Indicates Certified Organic
🌿Earthley’s Dishwasher Detergent effectively cleans dishes without harsh chemicals. Using plant-based ingredients, our detergent is tough on dirty dishes but safe for the whole family. 🌸The natural power of washing soda, baking soda, citric acid, and saponified oils combine to clean dishes without harsh chemicals.
The result is a pure, all-natural dishwasher detergent that is eco-friendly and safe for the whole family.
🍃Natural essential oils are added to our Lemon-Thyme scent to leave behind a light, fresh smell. However, if you prefer unscented products, we have that option available too! Enjoy the difference a pure clean can make with our Dishwasher Detergent!
• Fragrance-free, septic-safe, Biodegradable, Hypoallergenic, Vegan and cruelty-free. Non-GMO, Made in the USA
It comes in the following versions:
INGREDIENTS: Citric acid, Sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), Sodium carbonate (washing soda), Saponified oils of (coconut oil*, olive oil*, castor oil*),
Lemon-Thyme scent: lemon and thyme linalool essential oil
Eucalyptus-Spearmint: eucalyptus and spearmint essential oil
Grapefruit scent also: grapefruit essential oil
💚 Complete Natural Products Brighter Shine Citric Acid Dishwasher Additive removes hard water film and spots on dishes and glassware, restoring a better-than-original shine. Great as a natural dishwasher rinse aid.
It removes hard water buildup in the dishwasher, and in the clothes washer, and will remove typical mineral and oil buildup and odors in sinks, showers, and home drain plumbing.
It removes mineral and oil Buildup Dissolves Buildup, Cleans the Dishwasher, and Removes Hard Water Spots. This Hard Water Additive Removes Cloudy Film and spots from dishes and glassware. Brighter Shine is also great for your organic laundry: in an empty load will eliminate odor and mineral deposits from your washer. Great as a natural washing machine cleaner.
INGREDIENTS: Natural Fruit Citric Acids, Organic Lemon Fragrance*, Organic Fruit Oils*. *Organic Ingredients
30% off code: PRETTYORGANICGIRL
🌿TrulyFree offers eco-friendly household cleaners and refill solutions to cut plastic and costs!
🍃Dissolve Caked-On Food Fast Without Toxic Chemicals
For The Shiniest Glasses & Dishes Of Your Life!
Easily dissolve food particles, erase water spots and stains, and wash away rust and limescale even with older dishwashers, hard water, and heavy loads.
Dishwasher Booster and Rinse Aid uses powerful but non-toxic citric acid and natural salts without any harsh chemicals like bleach, ammonia, or formaldehyde.
🍃For the shiniest glasses & dishes, use in combination with Truly Free Dishwasher Soap
INGREDIENTS: Potassium Hydroxide , TetraSodium Salt , Sodium Gluconate , Sodium Carbonate , Acrylic Acid Homopolymer , Sodium Benzoate , Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine , Water , Sodium Citrate , Citric Acid , Alkyl Polyglucoside
🌸 These are my favorite and the most eco-friendly, sustainable Household gloves on the market.
This is what I use personally daily!
If You Care Household Gloves are made from FSC-certified latex, i.e., the natural rubber is sourced from a responsibly managed plantation. Furthermore, the rubber tappers, who cut the bark to get the raw material flowing, have received a fair trade premium, and it is their decision how to spend their extra income.
Unlike other brands, If You Care Household Gloves are reusable, made from 100% latex, and contain no fillers so they are super strong and perfect for a variety of uses like dishwashing, house and bathroom cleaning, and gardening.
🌸 They are reusable, made with soft natural latex rubber and delicate cotton lining.
Recommended if you are dealing with eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, or dry skin.
These conditions could be caused by toxic gloves.
These natural gloves are:
By using them, we are reducing the number of gloves that end up in landfills to stay! You can compost your Household Gloves by cutting them into small pieces with scissors.
MATERIAL: FSC-certified latex (natural rubber)
🌎NEW Plastic-free tip: 👉Laundry pods made of biodegradable PVA are still made of plastic and should be labeled as plastic.⚠️ ⚠️Laundry Pods and Laundry Sheets that list Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA or PVOH) as an ingredient contain plastic According to the Meliora Cleaning blog: 👉“Many people using laundry pods and strips think that these products contain zero plastic. Several brands state loudly, and incorrectly, that they contain ‘zero plastic’ while also listing PVA as an ingredient. We aim to clear things up: if there is PVA or PVOH in the ingredients, there is plastic. 👉Plenty of people know that the outer coating of a laundry pod does in fact contain PVA, but some may not realize that it can also be found in laundry sheets. Both products often contain Polyvinyl Alcohol, which is a water-soluble plastic. 👉PVA, also called PVOH, is a dissolvable plastic that is used in many applications including laundry and dishwasher pods. A recent study, Polyvinyl Alcohol in US Wastewater Treatment Plants and Subsequent Nationwide Emission Estimate [1], has concluded that the PVA used for these products does not readily biodegrade during wastewater treatment.” 👉About 75% of PVA used does NOT degrade in wastewater treatment plants in the USA[1]. 👉PVA-based products (laundry pods, dishwashing pacs, laundry strips) release plastic into the environment 🐠💚For this reason I switched to non-pods laundry products. My current favorite brand is the MELIORA 🌿Not only their products are 100% plastic-free but also their packaging!! I am committed to reducing plastic waste and using Meliora products is so rewarding!👏
This product has:
INGREDIENTS: Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Carbonate Peroxide, Sodium Citrate, Taed, Sodium Polycrylate, Deceth-6, Sodium Silicate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Citric Acid, Subtilisin, Ceteareth-25, Bentonite, Amylase, Acrylic/Sulphonic Acid Copolymer, Simethicone
Too many synthetic ingredients
May cause genetic defects
Known to cause reproductive toxicity (to females)
Simethicone: The European Union Ecolabel program reports this substance is persistent in the environment. The European Union Ecolabel program reports this substance is not anaerobically degradable. European Union Ecolabel program data show this substance has moderate acute toxicity to aquatic life
TAED: Tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) is a synthetic organic compound widely used as a bleach activator in laundry detergents and cleaning products.
This product has controversial ingredients, plus it is pods.
INGREDIENTS: Sodium carbonate*, sodium percarbonate*, poly(itaconic acid-co-AMPS) sodium salt*, trisodium citrate dihydrate*, alkoxylated alcohol*, subtilisin, silicic acid*, tetraacetylethylenediamine*, alpha amylase, polyvinyl alcohol film (PVOH). *Denotes plant or mineral origin.
Too many synthetics ingredients!
Plus is is pods containing plastic.
Here you can check that. Polyvinyl alcohol film (PVOH) is a synthetic film that make the pods, and that will be melted in your dishes than discharged in the environment in the ocean.
Too many synthetics ingredients
the most controversial is their fragrance composition:
FRAGRANCE (ingredients may include those found at https://www.ifraorg.org/)Blended composition of natural essential oils (lemon oil and natural extract from citrus peels) + synthetic ingredients
I don't recommend Better Life Dishwasher Detergent Gel
NEW FORMULATION! While the older version was safer and even A-rated on EWG.org, and I used to use this product personally, the newer formulation contains 2 toxic synthetic preservatives:
Methylisothiazolinone: synthetic preservative, The US EPA reports the LC50 value is very toxic to aquatic life.
Benzisothiazolinone: synthetic preservative, toxic, is not anaerobically degradable, and skin sensitizer.
NOTE: EWG didn't update to the new formulation, so it still has the old, better version in their database, still rated A by EWG.org
INGREDIENTS: Water, Ethoxylated Alcohol, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Silicate, Citric Acid, Sodium Polyacrylate, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Protease, Amylase, Titanium Dioxide, Methylisothiazolinone, Benzisothiazolinone
I dont recommend Puracy Dishwasher Pods
Even if they claim "Free & Clear" they still have a toxic synthetic preservative:, plus they are pods.
Sodium Metasilicate: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage, May cause respiratory irritation
INGREDIENTS: Sodium Citrate (Plant-Based Water Softener), Sodium Carbonate (Mineral-Based Cleanser), Sodium Percarbonate (Mineral-Based Cleanser), Alkyl Polyglucoside (Plant-Based Cleanser), Sodium Metasilicate (Mineral-Based Cleanser), Protease (Plant-Based Enzyme), Polyvinyl Alcohol (Biodegradable, Water-Soluble Film), Carboxymethyl Inulin (Plant-Based Softener), Amylase (Plant-Based Enzyme)
INGREDIENTS: Sodium carbonate (mineral-based cleaning agent), citric acid (plant-derived water softener), sodium sulfate (mineral-based processing aid), sodium percarbonate (mineral-based oxygen stain removal agent), ppg-10-laureth-7 (plant-modified synthetic cleaning agent), sodium polyaspartate (synthetic anti-filming agent), sodium silicate (mineral-based cleaning enhancer), sodium magnesium silicate (mineral-based anti-spotting agent), sodium aluminosilicate (mineral-based water softener), protease and amylase (plant-derived enzyme blend soil remover).
ppg-10-laureth-7 :May cause genetic defects, May cause cancer.
sodium polyaspartate: non biodegradable, acute toxicity to aquatic life
I don't recommend this product, since it has controversial and toxic ingredients.
INGREDIENTS: Sodium Citrate (plant-based water softener), Sodium Carbonate (mineral pH adjuster and water softener), Sodium Percarbonate (mineral stain remover), Sodium Sulfate (mineral processing aid), Sodium Polyaspartate (plant-based anti-redeposition agent), Sodium Silicate (mineral corrosion inhibitor), C12-14 Pareth-11 (plant-based surfactant), Citric Acid (plant-based pH adjuster), Protease, Amylase (enzymes), Polyvinyl Alcohol (dissolvable pac casing)
C12-14 Pareth-11: May cause genetic defects, Known to cause cancer. European Union Ecolabel program data shows this substance has high acute toxicity to aquatic life.
I don't recommend this product, since it is made with pods.
INGREDIENTS: Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Silicate, Alkyl Polyglucoside, Sodium Citrate Di-hydrate, Sodium Percarbonate, TAED, Itaconic Acid/Sulfonate Copolymer, 100% Natural Fragrance*, Protease, Amylase, PVOH (Water-Soluble Film)
I don't recommend AspenClean Dishwasher Pods since it is made in pods: Film: Polyvinyl Alcohol Polymer (greenwashing: still plastic)
INGREDIENTS: Sodium Citrate; Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Carbonate Peroxide; Sodium Sulfate; Sodium Silicate, Decyl Glucoside (Coconut, Palm Kernel Oil derived), Subtilisin (Enzyme), Alpha-amylase (Enzyme), Sodium Carboxymethyl Inulin (Chicory Root derived), Water / Eau, Alcohol (Corn derived)**, Sodium Chloride (Salt) Film: Polyvinyl Alcohol Polymer (water-soluble, biodegradable)
I don't recommend it Truly Free Dishwasher Soap.
INGREDIENTS: Lauryl Alcohol, TAED Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Carboxymethyl Inulin, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Percarbonate, Precipitated Silica, Sodium Citrate, Protease, Amylase
Claim your FREE gift & celebrate with us