When it comes to maintaining a clean and healthy home, the products we use play a crucial role in ensuring both cleanliness and sustainability. One of the most essential household items is dishwasher detergent. With the daily demands of washing dishes, choosing the right dishwasher detergent is paramount—not just for the cleanliness of your dishes but also for the wellbeing of your family and the environment. In this guide, we’ll explore the cleanest dishwasher detergent options available, emphasizing eco-friendly choices that uphold both efficacy and health standards. Dishwasher detergent is specifically formulated to break down food residues, grease, and stains on your dishes, ensuring they come out sparkling clean. Unlike hand washing, which often involves traditional soaps, dishwasher detergents come in various forms, including powders, gels, and pods.
Switch to a more natural dishwasher detergent to reduce the number of potentially harmful chemicals in your home. Every time you run your dishwasher, you can expose yourself, your family, and the environment to potentially harmful chemicals. Exposure to these toxins and harsh chemicals comes from either the steam emitted from the dishwasher or the residue left on your dishes. Either way, switching to a non-toxic dishwasher detergent is essential to keep your family and the environment safe from toxic chemicals.
Key Features of the Best Natural Dishwasher Detergents
When selecting a dishwasher detergent, prioritize natural, plant-based ingredients, biodegradable formulas, and products free from harmful chemicals. Look for eco-certifications that demonstrate the product’s commitment to safety and environmental impact. While eco-friendly options may initially seem pricier, they often require smaller amounts per load and can lead to long-term savings. Investing in quality products can deliver better cleaning results and contribute to appliance longevity. Here are some ingredients that would be beneficial:
- Sodium bicarbonate (aka baking soda) – a mineral-based scouring agent and deodorizer.
- Sodium citrate, Sodium carbonate, Sodium carbonate peroxide, Sodium gluconate, Protease, Sorbitan caprylate, Hydrous sodium silicate powder, Sodium carboxymethyl inulin, Alpha-amylase.
Ingredients to Avoid
Many traditional dishwasher detergents use harsh ingredients to ensure sparkling clean dishes, but these can come at a cost. Here are some common culprits:
- Phosphates: Help remove food and grease but contribute to harmful algal blooms in waterways.
- Chlorine Bleach: A powerful cleaner but can release toxic fumes and harm aquatic life.
- Synthetic Fragrances: Often undisclosed and can contain phthalates, which are linked to hormone disruption.
- Triclosan: An antibacterial agent that may contribute to antibiotic resistance and environmental toxicity.
Switching to non-toxic dishwasher pods or tabs helps you avoid these harmful chemicals while still achieving clean, residue-free dishes.
Top Natural Dishwasher Detergents for 2025
Better Life Gel
Better Life Gel got the dishes sparkling clean, with no food residue left on the cutlery or dishes. In fact, Better Life was one of only three dishwasher detergent brands to earn a perfect score on performance during my testing (1/5). The main downfall is the fact that it’s slightly more expensive per load than my top performer (Nellie’s), earning a 2/5 for cost, compared to the 1/5 that Nellie’s scored in cost (remember: lower points are better). It’s still a very affordable choice, and is fairly comparable to big brands I looked at, such as Finish or Cascade, price wise. I scored the Better Life dishwasher gel as follows. Remember, 1 is the best and 5 is the worst: Overall, Better Life Gel performed near the top of the pack, and I have no hesitation recommending the product to friends, family and readers. Shop Better Life Gel on Amazon
Nellie’s Dishwasher Powder
Lets start with performance. Nellie’s dishwasher powder got my dishes completely clean and stain free, earning a perfect performance score of 1/5 (Better Life Dishwasher Gel and Ecover Citrus Tablets are the only other brands to get a perfect performance score). In my experience, it’s right up there with the best dishwasher detergents – natural or not. And it’s worth mentioning, it did so with no rinsing and no light scrubbing with a sponge prior to washing in the dishwasher. The dirty dishes used to test Nellie’s Dishwasher Powder · Sparkling clean dishes and cutlery! Completely stain free! Nellie’s also got perfect scores related to detergent scent (none), scent of washed dishes (none), detergent residue (none), and taste residue (none). I also love that it’s free from phosphates, made from just 9 ingredients, and is biodegradable. Shop Nellie’s Dishwasher Powder on Amazon
Ecover Dishwasher Powder
This Ecover detergent is an excellent option if you want to try out a powder for your dishwasher. The ingredients are plant-based and mineral, biodegradable, and safe for aquatic life. This phosphate-free formula is definitely a more eco-friendly option. What can it do for your dishes? It can attack stuck-on and stubborn food, leaving your dishes sparkling clean. It can remove dried food and tough stains without leaving behind a nasty residue. You’ll love that it has a pleasant fragrance derived from 100 percent natural ingredients. Customers love that this powder works super effectively. If you’re the kind who hates pre-rinsing dishes, this is the detergent for you! Even if you put the dirtiest plates in the dishwasher, this detergent ensures they come out spotless. Ecover never tests its products on animals, and this detergent is safe on septic systems. Shop Ecover Dishwasher Powder on Amazon
Dropps UltraWash Plus Pods
Dropps UltraWash Plus biobased dishwasher detergent pods claim to give big-brand detergents a run for their money. We put them to the test. Along with being USDA biobased certified, the company’s cleaning products contain zero dyes. And as far as we know, these pods are the only multi-chambered pods available in a fragrance-free version. Dropps also uses ingredients found on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice list, and its products come in recyclable cardboard packaging. To determine how well Dropps UltraWash Plus cleans, we ran the pods through our dishwasher testing protocol. First, we dirtied a day’s worth of plates, casserole dishes, and Pyrex bowls with pesky food stains such as baked egg, melted American cheese, burned pasta, avocado, beans, and peanut butter. For the most part, Dropps UltraWash Plus bested the grossest stuff, eliminating egg yolk on prestained porcelain tiles and buffing crusty casserole dishes back to their formerly shiny selves. Shop Dropps UltraWash Plus Pods on Amazon
Testing Scenarios and Performance
Consumer Reports Testing Protocol
CR’s test engineers smear eight dinner plates with a carefully measured portion of starchy goop (it’s a secret recipe), then bake each plate until the goop gets crusty (and very difficult to remove). After running the plates through a normal wash cycle, we use imaging analysis to determine precisely how clean each dish is, and whether any water spots are present. Then we run a set of clear drinking glasses and aluminum plates through 10 consecutive wash cycles, all with very hard water (we use well water, with a wealth of minerals, to make the test extra-challenging). After that, we use a spectrophotometer to assess whether any haze or film forms on the glasses and note whether the aluminum plates have begun to discolor. The best dishwasher detergents we test are able to get the dirtiest dishes spotless while resisting water spots and white film.
Wirecutter Testing Protocol
We tested over 30 detergents—pods, powders, tablets, and liquids—on the grimiest loads, and we found that Cascade Free & Clear ActionPacs came the closest to cleaning nearly every dish. These convenient pods are the best at annihilating tough messes, and they neutralize odors with a mild lemon scent. But they don’t leave glassware as shiny as some other detergents. We loaded a GE Profile dishwasher and older Whirlpool model with unrinsed dishes, including cookware, collected from a full day of meals and ran each load with a different brand of detergent. We used the “regular wash” and “heated dry” settings for each load.
Comparison Table of Top Natural Dishwasher Detergents
| Product | Form | Key Ingredients | Price per Load | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Better Life Gel | Gel | Plant-based, biodegradable | $0.30 | Perfect cleaning score, no residue | Slightly more expensive |
| Nellie’s Dishwasher Powder | Powder | 9 ingredients, phosphate-free | $0.25 | Perfect cleaning, no scent or residue | Messy to pour |
| Ecover Dishwasher Powder | Powder | Plant-based, mineral | $0.28 | Effective on tough stains, eco-friendly | Fragrance may not suit all |
| Dropps UltraWash Plus Pods | Pods | Biobased, dye-free | $0.40 | Strong cleaning, recyclable packaging | Higher cost per load |
Buying Guide for Natural Dishwasher Detergents
Consider Your Dishwashing Needs
Consider your specific dishwashing needs before making a purchase. Are you washing heavily soiled pots and pans, or do you primarily clean delicate glassware? The type of dishes you wash can significantly influence the type of detergent that will work best for you. For very hard water, we recommend using a rinse aid to prevent spots and film.
Tips for Optimal Performance
- Skip prerinsing: Most dishwashers have a sensor that checks how dirty the water is. The sensor determines the amount of water and time needed to get the dishes clean.
- Load correctly: Load large items along the sides and back, so they don’t block the water and detergent. Face the dirtier side of dishes toward the center of the machine.
- Use the right dispenser: Put your dishwasher detergent in the dispenser unless your dishwasher’s manual specifies otherwise.
- Use a rinse aid: If the dishwasher detergent you use doesn’t include a rinse aid, consider using one separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are natural dishwasher detergents as effective as conventional ones?
Yes, many natural dishwasher detergents, like Nellie’s and Better Life, have been tested to perform as well as or better than conventional brands, especially on tough stains and grease, while being safer for the environment and your health.
Can natural detergents work in hard water?
Natural detergents like Ecover and Dropps are formulated to work effectively in hard water, often with ingredients like citric acid to combat mineral deposits. Using a rinse aid can further improve results.
Are pods or powders better for eco-friendly cleaning?
Both can be eco-friendly, but powders like Nellie’s and Ecover often come in recyclable cardboard packaging, reducing plastic waste. Pods like Dropps are convenient but may involve more packaging.
How can I avoid residue on my dishes?
To avoid residue, use the correct amount of detergent, load dishes properly, and consider a rinse aid. Powders may require careful measuring to prevent clumping, while pods like Dropps dissolve consistently.
Conclusion
Choosing the cleanest dishwasher detergent is a crucial step toward ensuring the health and safety of your family while contributing to a more sustainable environment. By prioritizing eco-friendly options, you can enjoy sparkling clean dishes without compromising on safety or environmental integrity. For more information on eco-friendly cleaning, check out EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning.