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What's the dish on dish soaps? - What are they
made of? Are there natural alternatives? Do they work?
Why do you care?
Dish soaps
- Most supermarket dish detergents are petroleum-based and
contain coal based colours (carcinogenic) and synthetic fragrance.1
- Dish detergents may also contain several ingredients that
are on the Hazardous Substance List, such as Ethyl Alcohol
(an irritate the eyes, nose, mouth, and throat and cause cracking
of the skin) and/or Ammonia that has the potential
to create noxious gases if mixed with chlorine (in some city
water).
- These chemicals can penetrate the skin and be deposited
on dishes.
- Another ingredient now found in more and more dish soaps
is triclosan which is the key ingredient in Anti-bacterial
soaps. See Germs e-bulletin.
Dishwasher detergents
- Many contain dry chlorine which, is activated when
dissolved in water. Chlorine fumes in the steam that leaks
from dishwashers may cause eye irritation and difficulty breathing.
- They may also contain quarternium 15, an eye and
skin irritant and an allergen which can release carcinogenic
formaldehyde. Dyes and synthetic fragrances are common ingredients.2
- Though phosphates were banned in laundry detergents they
can still be found in dishwasher detergent, affecting our
water systems by contributing to toxic blue-green algae.3
The Know How
- Try natural dish soaps and dishwasher detergents - be prepared
as you won’t have as many bubbles.
- If a product says, "Do not use with chlorine bleach",
then the product probably contains ammonia.
- Watch out for meaningless claims such as, "natural",
"environmentally friendly", and "non-toxic"
as there are no standards for these claims. 4
- Meaningful claims like "certified biodegradable”
(biodegrades in a specific time) is independently verified,
as is the Leaping Bunny symbol (not tested on animals) found
on Earth Friendly and Seventh Generation detergents.5
- Look for an ingredient list – although full disclosure
of all ingredients on labels is not required for household
products. If they don't have one – what do they have
to hide?
- The
Guide to Less Toxin Products recommends a slew of dish
detergents and Treehugger
likes Ecover.
Know and Tell
- Tamey has been using natural dish soap and dishwasher detergents
for over a year. She found it to be a somewhat difficult adjustment
at the start as she missed her bubbles.
- Patti has tried many and now sticks with Nature Clean detergents
for both hand washing and machine washing - one of the few
manufacturers that lists ALL ingredients in the products.
See
Product Reviews.
1/2 Less Toxin Guide
3
The Gazette, June 13, 2007
4/5 ConsumerReports.org
Dishwashing Detergents: A foam licks the liquids, January
2008
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