Did you know almost all dishwasher detergents contain harmful ingredients that can do serious damage to your health?
Many dishwasher detergents contain chemicals like Alcohol Ethoxylates (known to cause gut health issues), Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach–known to cause gut health issues), 1,4-Dioxane (linked to cancer and GI damage), SLS, SLES, Phthalates, Formaldehyde…the list goes on.
You wouldn’t drink harsh chemicals, so why are you letting them wash your dishes?
I decided to try dozens of dishwasher detergents WITHOUT these harmful chemicals. Here are the 5 best!
SPOILER ALERT: The #1 Pick is CLEAN PEOPLE Dishwasher Detergent Tablets. They clean great, are mess-free, and are made with no harsh chemicals, no alcohol ethoxylates, no synthetic fragrances. I made the switch to Clean People in my home, and I never looked back!
I wish I found Clean People dishwasher detergent tablets sooner! These tablets were my top pick by far, earning 5 stars ★★★★★. Not only did they cut through tough grease and sticky food residue, but they did all that WITHOUT any harsh chemicals–meaning they won’t cause any gut issues.
Clean People uses simple ingredients: NO bleach, 1,4-Dioxane, alcohol ethoxylates, SLS, SLES, synthetic dyes, synthetic fragrances, phthalates, or parabens. Plus, there’s no mess! The tablets are pre-measured and work in all dishwashers (and they’re even septic system safe!)
Their packaging uses up to 60% less plastic than other dishwasher detergent brands, the tablets take about 50% less energy to produce. This means Clean People produces far lower CO2 emissions too. Not only is using Clean People tablets safer for your health, it’s also better for the environment!
Finally, the best part: Clean People’s Dishwasher Detergent Tablets are Made in the USA.
Sparkling clean dishes while supporting an American-owned company? That’s a win-win for me!
Clean People is definitely my #1 recommendation, and what I use at home.
UPDATE: Clean People has a BOGO deal right now: Buy 120 pack of dish tablets, get a FREE liquid dish soap.
Nellie’s took the #2 spot. Like #1 Clean People, this detergent comes in pod form and is free from harsh ingredients–another win for your gut!
Nellie’s detergent got my dishes super clean. I didn’t notice any residue left behind, either. Just sparkly-clean dishes!
The combination of cleaning power & ingredients landed Nellie’s at #2! It is just a little more expensive but comes in a super cute paper box!
After hearing about Seventh Generation’s popularity among the “clean living” crowd, I was excited to try it. I am, however, ranking it at #3.
It definitely cleaned my dishes and didn’t leave any residue, but I just can’t get past the liquid format. Liquid detergent is just too messy–it gets everywhere, is way too sticky, and you never know if you’re pouring too much or too little.
The positive is that there are no harmful chemicals and the ingredients are plant based!
I just personally don’t like to deal with a heavy plastic jug of diluted liquid.
Some people do swear by it, though.
Finally, coming in at #4 is Dirty Labs Dishwasher Detergent.
The ingredients are natural and work great! I honestly don’t have anything bad to say about Dirty Labs’ cleaning power.
The biggest negative for me was just the powder format. Unlike the tablets, this detergent comes in loose powder that definitely gets everywhere and is hard to measure.
Although powder is definitely a step above liquid, the high price is what brought Dirty Labs to #4.
Being the most expensive for less detergent, I couldn’t justify the price when there were better options.
We had heard all about Truly Free from online reviews, and were excited to give it a try. We were impressed…for the most part.
I do love that this is a powder! My bag had more clumps but I am not sure if I accidentally used wet hands or its their formula.
Because of this, Truly Free powder are coming in at #5.
And the winner is…
The winner is CLEAN PEOPLE! Simple ingredients that WON’T damage your health, powerful cleaning power, multiple scent options, and less damage to the environment than other options. It doesn’t get better than that!
Plus you can get a FREE bottle of dish soap when you buy a pack of Clean People Dishwasher Detergent Tablets.
#1 CLEAN PEOPLE: Buy It Here
#2 Nellies: Buy It Here
#3 Seventh Generation: Buy it Here
#4 Dirty Labs: Buy it Here
#5 Truly Free: Buy it Here
I use normal dishwasher detergent pods you can buy at the grocery store. Is it really worth switching? It’s so convenient to just grab some on my normal grocery run.
Totally get it, I thought the same thing! But after I found out about the microplastics the traditional dish pods leave on the dishes thanks to the plastic casings (not to mention the way they clog up dishwashers), I knew it was worth making the switch. Clean People Dishwasher Tablets are plastic free, don’t contain toxic chemicals, and I was even able to subscribe so they show up at my door before I have to worry about restocking!
I was so excited to see Clean People release plastic-free dish tablets! Love them.
Glad to hear it! I definitely am glad I made the switch.
Where can I buy Clean People dishwasher tablets?
You can grab yourself a pack of the dish tablets here: https://www.getcleanpeople.com/product/dishwasher-detergent-tablets/
And when you buy a 120 pack of dish tablets, you get a FREE bottle of dish soap!
I subscribe to Blueland dishwasher tablets, but I’ve noticed they don’t always get my dishes clean. Especially tough grease. Any recommendations?
I’ve definitely heard that from a few people, and the same thing happened to me when I tried them. I’ve found that Clean People Dishwasher Tablets were better at removing tough food, and they’re still free from toxic chemicals and microplastics! I definitely recommend giving Clean People a try. Let me know what you think!