Greenwash: Palmolive eco+ Gel Dishwasher Detergent
March 25, 2008 by Peggy
You have to be careful.
Any manufacturer can paste the word “eco” on something. Palmolive’s new eco+ dishwashing detergent is the ultimate in greenwash. I’m a bit angry about it. I think my blood pressure may even be raised. Seriously.
The truth is that you have to read all the ingredients on a product, even when “eco” is plastered all over it. The problem with this detergent is that it doesn’t list the ingredients. (And those fragrances — naturally inspired doesn’t mean a thing. I’m guessing there’s nothing natural about their fragrance.)
If you look on the back of the bottle, near the bottom — in that boring font used for warnings — you’ll see that this “eco” product contains chlorine bleach.
How often do you read the warnings on your dishwasher detergent? These days it seems you really need to. Don’t let the word “eco” fool you.
Why is this detergent being marketed as eco? Well, it doesn’t have phosphates. Yeah, that’s good, but the word “eco” doesn’t belong on a product with chlorine bleach. That’s my take on it.
Chlorine is a known toxin. Chlorine bleach is dangerous to people with several health problems: heart problems, asthma and emphysema. And putting this stuff in your dishwasher could pollute the air in your home. You know what I’m talking about — all that steam that comes out of your dishwasher.
Why isn’t Palmolive coming right out and saying that the detergent contains chlorine bleach instead of hiding it on the back?
Please tell Target (that’s where I saw it) and any other retailer that you do not agree with dishwasher detergents that contain chlorine bleach. Plenty of alternatives exist. One is Seventh Generation’s dishwashing gel. It is phosphate free AND chlorine free. Also, you can check out Ecover dishwashing powder. See, it can be done. Shame on you Palmolive.
Please look for a review on Seventh Generation’s dishwasher powder in a few days.
I have read all of your comments and I can tell you that the “Sun Light” dishwasher detergent is the best I have ever used. It is a little cheaper at Walmart and does a fantastic job on my dishes.
Just read JoAnn’s post about Sun Light…do you know if this has chlorine? I have been using the Ecover with great success (for those unhappy with it, I do use JetDry in the rinse dispenser…perhaps that helps?). I tried BioKleen, but had the same white residue as was mentioned in another post. I would try Sun Light as it is probably easier to find than Ecover. I have to go to a special store for it as I’ve only found it in one place so far.
Just curious…thanks!
Sun Light – Contains Chlorine Bleach And Sodium Silicate per online information.
I do know of products that are truely ECO friendly, do you want more info?
Well, even if it does have chlorine bleach and sodium silicate in it, it rinses off in the hot water and my dishes sparkle and we have not been sick since using it and that has been for 8 years. I don’t have to use the Jet-Dry either. I really like it.
I experimented and using Palmolive Eco in the first cup, and vinegar in the second cup solved the problems with streaky, spotty glasses. Do NOT just pour in vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher with the Eco because it creates a toxic gas (I won’t do that again!).
I also tried the Ecover tablets and liked it. No need to use vinegar. But it sometimes it leaves food residue on some of the things like spatulas that I used for frying eggs.
I will try Seventh Generation gel next, and with vinegar in the second cup if necessary. I didn’t like their powder that I tried a couple of years ago.
My first experiment was using Eco in the first cup and a phosphate gel in the second cup. I figured I was at least using half of the phosphates as previously. But I plan to keep experimenting until I come up with the best non-phosphate solution.
OMG, Palmolive Eco is the worst ever! I never knew a detergent could actually make your dishes look worse than when you put them in the dishwasher!!!! All of my dishes, silverware and glasses were coated with a film that I could not get off even by handwashing. I went to Sears (where I bought my relatively new dishwasher) and almost scheduled a repairman to come out and fix it. A friend suggested maybe it was the Palmolive and judging but these posts I have to agree. Never had this problem with Cascade! Maybe it’s b/c I have hard water? No idea but NEVER again. I actually think some of my silverware and glasses are ruined as I can not get the film off no matter what I do.
Soy — Soak your dishes (this works especially well on glasses) in warm vinegar water. That helped get the film off our stuff. We have gone back to Cascade. I know it isn’t green – but I’m sick of having my dishes look worse coming out of the dishwasher than when they went in!
The soak, then within a couple runs back through with Cascade should have things back to normal.
Mama Taney, don’t give up on green dish soap. Palmolive isn’t a real eco product anyway. Give Method a try. I’ve been happy with it.
Costco has its “environmentally friendly” free of phosphates, dyes and perfumes Kirkland brand. Front of box says no phosphates or chlorine (has oxygen chlorine free bleach). I love it. Unfortunately haven’t been able to find it in the Twin Cities’ Costcos this last month.
I used the new palmalive dishwasher soap and I found a terrible film of some kind on all of the utensils They all had to be rinsed over again. Can some on help with this problem maybe I am putting to much in there. I went by the directions can someone help…
I have a suggestion: why not forego the use of dishes and utensils altogether? Just pile the food on the table and have at it! True, there is the pot or pan to clean but some rain water rinse and sunshine will take care of that in no time!