The best natural dishwasher detergent comes in a wide range of formulations that are designed to clean your dishes safely and effectively.
In this article, we’re going to review six of the best choices that are currently available and rank them based on their popularity and user ratings.
Contents
- 1 Best Natural Dishwasher Detergents (Updated List)
- 2 6. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Automatic Dish Packs
- 3 5. Ecover Dishwasher Soap Powder
- 4 4. Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Gel
- 5 3. Best natural dishwasher detergent for value: Grab Green Natural Automatic Dishwashing Detergent Pods
- 6 2. Best dishwasher detergent for fragrance: Method Smarty Dish Plus Dishwasher Detergent Packs
- 7 1. Overall best natural dishwasher detergent: Dapple Naturally Clean Auto Dishwasher Pods
- 8 Do you really need natural dishwasher detergent?
- 9 Final Thoughts
Best Natural Dishwasher Detergents (Updated List)
Each review will cover specific information, like the product’s size and the available scent choices that it comes in.
Before we get into our ranking and detailed reviews, here are our top three best natural dishwasher detergent picks that have caught our attention due to their efficiency, ease of use, and complete lack of chemical ingredients.
6. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Automatic Dish Packs
- Automatic dishwasher detergent pods leave dishes sparkling clean & are safe for use in all machines
- Dish soap tablets made without animal derived ingredients, phosphates, or chlorine
- Garden-fresh Lemon Verbena has a light, refreshingly mild citrus scent
| Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day | |
|---|---|
| Pod count/liquid ounces | 20 pods |
| Main ingredients | Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Silicate, Sodium Citrate, Lemon Peel Oil, Fir Leaf Oil, Fragrance |
| Free of | Phosphates and chlorine |
| Fragrance | Yes – Lemon Verbena |
| Size options | Pack of three, four, five, or six |
Derived from at least 97 percent natural ingredients, Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Automatic Dish Packs are our sixth best natural dishwasher detergent pick.
With its fresh lemon verbena scent, the Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Automatic Dish Packs leave your dishes clean after each wash. Also, these convenient pods require no special measuring and are easy to use.
Verdict
The Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Automatic Dish Packs are a great choice for people who don’t want phosphates and chlorine involved in their dishwashing process.
These cruelty-free tablets are perfect for the eco-friendly crowd as well as vegans who want to reduce to zero the animal-related products that they use for all types of activities.
5. Ecover Dishwasher Soap Powder
- Contains (8) 48 ounce boxes of dishwasher soap powder
- Plant based & mineral dishwasher powder.
- Removes stuck on food for sparkling dishes.
| Ecover Dishwasher | |
|---|---|
| Pod count/liquid ounces | 48 ounces |
| Main ingredients | Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Citrate, Amylase, Alcohol Ethoxylate, Fragrance |
| Free of | Phosphates |
| Fragrance | Yes – Citrus (fragrance-free option available as well) |
| Size options | Pack of eight |
The Ecover Dishwasher Soap Powder is another one of the best natural dishwasher detergent products out there.
Packaged in a recyclable cardboard box, this is one of the most eco-friendly choices available. We also love that the Ecover Dishwasher Soap Powder comes in an unscented version as well. It is a plant-based product with a phosphate-free formula.
Verdict
The Ecover Dishwasher Soap Powder comes packaged inside a recycled cardboard packet, which further states how much the company is involved in being earth-friendly.
Users love the fact that it eliminates even the stickiest of odors, such as when using dishes for serving spicy Indian food. On top of that, it’s also efficient against water hardness, so you can easily rank it among the best detergents for hard water.
4. Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Gel
- Seventh Generation Lemon Dishwasher Detergent Gel advanced cleaning technology cuts through grease leaving dishes streak free and sparkling clean
- A dishwasher detergent with a safe* and effective formula made with plant based ingredients
- This Dishwasher gel is free of synthetic fragrances, chlorine, phosphate, and dyes
| Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent | |
|---|---|
| Pod count/liquid ounces | 42 ounces |
| Main ingredients | Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Silicate, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Calcium Chloride |
| Free of | Synthetic fragrances, dyes, and bleach |
| Fragrance | Yes – Lemon (also comes in fresh citrus and free & clear) |
| Size options | Six pack of 42 ounces or single pack of 65 ounces |
Made with approximately 65 percent bio-based ingredients, the Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Gel is another popular dishwasher detergent to consider.
This is a liquid gel type that is much easier to apply than its powder counterparts. In addition, the Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Gel uses several natural cleaners and enzymes to help break up stuck food debris.
Verdict
The Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Gel has a safe and effective formula made from 100% plant-based ingredients.
It is USDA-Certified to meet government regulation standards on organic products. Not only that, but the lemon scent of this dish detergent is derived from 100 percent essential oils and botanical extract.
3. Best natural dishwasher detergent for value: Grab Green Natural Automatic Dishwashing Detergent Pods
- Contains 1 - 60 load pouch of Grab Green Natural Automatic Dishwashing Detergent Pods, Red Pear + Magnolia.
- CONVENIENT, EASY TO USE VELCRO CLOSURE: No more hassling with frustrating zip closures.
- SPOT-FREE, BRILLIANT SHINE: Powerful Dishwasher Detergent in one pre-measured powder pod that easily tackles your toughest loads, WITHOUT harsh chemicals.
| Grab Green Natural Automatic Dishwashing Detergent Pods | |
|---|---|
| Pod count/liquid ounces | 60 pods |
| Main ingredients | Sodium Citrate, Sodium Carbonate Peroxide, Sodium Sulfate, Sodium Silicate, Amylase Enzyme Blend, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Essential Oils |
| Free of | Chlorine, dyes, and phosphates |
| Fragrance | Yes – Red pair with magnolia (also available in thyme with fig leaf, tangerine with lemongrass, and fragrance-free) |
| Size options | 24 pods, 24 pods (pack of 2), 60 pods, and 132 pods |
The Grab Green Natural Automatic Dishwashing Detergent Pods is another highly popular natural dishwasher detergent you might want to consider.
With multiple size options to choose from, you can easily purchase the right amount of detergent to fit your unique needs. On top of that, the Grab Green Natural Automatic Dishwashing Detergent Pods offers some of the largest fragrance selections currently available. The detergent is cruelty-free and has not been tested on animals.
Verdict
The Grab Green Natural Automatic Dishwashing Detergent Pods gets high praise from many users because it offers top-notch dishwashing quality at a decent price.
Unlike other brands, this particular natural dishwasher detergent has also received praise because it didn’t break during shipping. It shows how resistant the packaging is and that you can rely on it to arrive intact and do its job properly. And above all, it can also rank as one of the best non-toxic dishwasher detergents.
2. Best dishwasher detergent for fragrance: Method Smarty Dish Plus Dishwasher Detergent Packs
- Contains (1) resealable pouch with 45 individual packs of dishwasher soap inside
- Naturally derived dishwasher detergent packs
- Each detergent power pack dissolves fast, unleashing triple action cleaning power
| Method Smarty Dish Plus Dishwasher Detergent | |
|---|---|
| Pod count/liquid ounces | 45 pods |
| Main ingredients | Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Citrate, Fragrance, Tartaric Acid, Amylase, Protease, and Enzyme-Based Cleaners |
| Free of | Phosphates and chlorine bleach |
| Fragrance | Yes – Lemon Mint (also comes in pink grapefruit and fragrance-free) |
| Size options | 20 count, 20 count (pack of 6), 45 count |
The Method Smarty Dish Plus Dishwasher Detergent is one of the most popular natural dishwasher detergents currently available.
With three different scent options to choose from, this is a very versatile product that does a great job removing stuck on food debris. Also, the Method Smarty Dish Plus Dishwasher Detergent Packs comes in multiple package size options. The product dissolves fast, and it provides triple action cleaning power.
Verdict
The Method Smarty Dish Plus Dishwasher Detergent Packs can clean dishes without leaving residue or film.
We like the fact that you can select different sized versions and that the company also puts other fragrance variants out there for people to choose from.
1. Overall best natural dishwasher detergent: Dapple Naturally Clean Auto Dishwasher Pods
- DISHWASHER PODS: Each pack contains 25 automatic dishwasher pods for cleaner dishes
- HIGHLY EFFECTIVE: Our unique fragrance-free formula blasts away milk odor and residue from dishes, baby bottles and other kitchenware
- PLANT-BASED: Made with natural ingredients and without the things moms worry about! This product is hypoallergenic, pediatrician and dermatologist tested, and never tested on animals
| Dapple Naturally Clean Auto Dishwasher Pods | |
|---|---|
| Pod count/liquid ounces | 25 pods |
| Main ingredients | Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Coco Sulfate, Sodium Citrate, Lauramine Oxide, Protease, Amylase, Fragrance |
| Free of | Artificial dyes, fragrances, parabens, and phosphates |
| Fragrance | No – Fragrance-free only |
| Size options | Single package size only |
For families with small children, the Dapple Naturally Clean Auto Dishwasher Pod is an excellent product to consider.
Designed to remove difficult items like stuck on formula, this is a very effective natural dishwasher detergent. It’s also formulated to be free of harmful dyes and irritating fragrances. With the majority of its cleaners being plant-based, the Dapple Naturally Clean Auto Dishwasher Pod is the best natural dishwasher detergent on our list. Above all, since its properties allow it to clean so quickly, it also qualifies as one of the best automatic dishwasher detergents out there.
Verdict
The Dapple Naturally Clean Auto Dishwasher Pods are an excellent natural dishwasher detergent option.
If you truly want to make your dishwashing experience as seamless as possible, you can’t go wrong with this product. We recommend using it even on dishwashers below $500 since it is so effective.
Do you really need natural dishwasher detergent?
Yes, simply because the chemicals regularly found in normal dishwasher detergents can be dangerous to children and even to adults.
For example, if the detergent contains sulphuric acid, it can cause serious burns and it can blind you if you accidentally get it in your eyes.
Natural detergents have no such risks. Of course, we still wouldn’t recommend consuming them, especially not in large quantities, but you can at least rest assured that if some of the detergent gets in your skin and eyes, it won’t inflict any serious damage.
Final Thoughts
If you have been searching for the best natural dishwasher detergent, you should really consider one of the six products we reviewed.
They come in a wide range of formula types, and many of them have multiple fragrance choices as well. What they all have in common is their mission to be the top natural dishwasher detergent on the market.
And most importantly, if you truly want to get all the benefits of these products, we recommend looking at some of our top-rated dishwashers.
6 Best Bosch Dishwashers (Reviews and Buying Guide 2020)