Seventh Generation Dishwasher Powder Review
March 28, 2008 by Peggy
As promised in my rant about Palmolive eco+ Dishwasher Gel, I’m reviewing Seventh Generation’s dishwasher detergent. I could not find the gel at my local grocery store, so I went with the powder. I paid around $4 for the 45 oz. box. I snagged the photo below from Seventh Generation’s site. Even though I like the company, I was a bit skeptical before trying Seventh Generation’s Free & Clear Automatic Dishwasher Powder. I had read a few reviews concerning a filmy residue left on dishes.
I loaded my dishes as normal, put the phosphate and chlorine-free detergent in the regular wash cycle compartment, and left the pre-rinse compartment empty. According to Seventh Generation, using too much detergent for the hardness of your water may cause a harmless film on clean dishes.
After waiting an impatient hour or so for the cycle to finish, I opened my dishwasher to a load full of very clean and fresh dishes. No film, no food left on dishes. No complaints.
Well, I have to find something to complain about, don’t I?
It’s great that this detergent is chlorine and phosphate free. And the packaging is made from 100% recycled paper (minimum 40% post-consumer). Plus, the product isn’t tested on animals. And my favorite — they disclose ALL ingredients. However, it isn’t completely biodegradable.
Why not? Here’s the explanation from Seventh Generation’s FAQs:
Why have you taken the words Natural and Biodegradable off the Automatic Dish Powder package?
There were two ingredients in our Auto Dish Powder that we discovered were not natural. One was a petroleum-based surfactant; and the other a non-toxic polymer. After we printed new packaging stating that this product was natural and biodegradable, we learned that the non-toxic polymer had not been replaced by a natural ingredient. We also learned that this non-toxic polymer is not readily biodegradable. Therefore, we choose to remove these claims, since they were not authentic to our product.
Once we have replaced the polymer in question with totally natural, biodegradable qualities that meet our performance standards, as well as our health and environmental standards, we will readjust our claims on the packaging.
We apologize for the confusion.
Well, at least they’re honest about it. And they’re trying to fix it.
I must add that I love the free and clear (of perfumes and dyes) option. I enjoyed having no scent wafting out of the dishwasher when I opened it up. There are just too many scented products out there: shampoo, shaving lotion, hand soap, deodorant, lotion — pretty much anything! My nose can’t take it all.
What would I change about this product? Besides making it completely biodegradable, not much. Frankly though, I’m not a fan of powders. Next time I will try the gel. I tend to spill powder too easily, but the packaging does have a handy metal spout on the side. Overall, I am very happy with this product and will use it again. But I do hope to find the gel next time. You can go here to see Where To Buy.
If you’d like to try this product, go to Seventh Generation to download a coupon. If you’ve already tried it, please tell us what you thought.
UPDATE: Please visit my updated post on this product. I’m addressing a few issues I ran into after using this product several more times.
I am really happy to hear that they use a cardboard box for this product. I’m making more of an effort to buy things that come in boxes rather than plastic bottles. Unfortunately, I don’t have a dishwasher, so I am stuck buying dish soap in plastic containers . . . unless anyone knows of an alternative?
Good review. It works for me too. I like that they have that issue, that they’re working on, but actually tell us. They’re not all shifty.
Rebecca, you could go with a plastic bottle that uses 100% post-consumer recycled content. Like Bronner’s – you can hand wash dishes with it (I used to). It’s organic, fair trade and since the bottle is recycled, and then you recycle it again, it’s a better choice than some other plastics.
http://www.drbronner.com/
Thanks Jennifer. Yip, they tell you right on the box to go to their website to learn why they took the words “natural” and biodegradable” off the box.
Rebecca, I’m using Method go naked dish soap. It’s an easily recycled plastic — #1.
Neither the gel or powder work for me. The tea cups are still stained – so much that I had to soak them in a vinegar/water solution. It seemed like the dishwasher cycle made them worst than before I put them in. Even with a rinse aid, we have bits of “stuff” on the sides of the glasses.
Jill, are those tea stains coming from mugs that you use for hot tea? I’m having that same problem, but it didn’t happen with the first few loads. I don’t have to rinse mine with vinegar. It just wipes off with a cloth. Still, it’s annoying.
I emailed 7G to ask if there is anything they recommend to solve the problems.
Just checking in to let you know that I have an updated post about this product publishing today at Tree Hugging Family. (See link at bottom of this post.)
Hi am using the seventh gen. gel dishwasher soap and am about ready to give up. The dishes are stained and have a rough feel to them. I am having to pre or post clean coffee cups. Total disaster. Won’t buy this again.
Thanks for asking
Lois, don’t give up on green dishwasher cleaners. 7G can be picky depending on the type of water you have. I recommend Ecover or Method.
I use the powder on the advice of my dishwasher repair person, he said the gels can cause problems with your dishwasher. I also drink lots of black tea and have white mugs. I have never had any dishwasher take these stains off, regardless of the detergent I was using. A bit of baking soda on a wet sponge takes the stains off effortlessly. I also use this on my sinks and bathtubs.