I’m four loads shy of having used a whole box (25 count) of Ecover Automatic Dishwasher Tablets. In addition to easy measuring, using tablets has the benefit of helping you keep up with how many loads of dishes you’re doing in a given time period. I don’t know if that’s important or not, but I do like the easy measuring.
However, with conveniences comes some extra packaging. Each tablet is individually wrapped in plastic. It’s a #5 recyclable, but some recycling centers don’t accept #5. The cardboard box is a plus though — very easy to recycle. And it’s already made …read more

In conjunction with our popular green sins poll in the sidebar, we’ve been discussing your green sins this month, and this particular green sin actually causes a green mess! However, only 4% of voters say they still use detergent with phosphate. Round of applause.
Makers of laundry detergent in the United States, Japan, Canada and some European countries no longer include phosphate as an ingredient. I know many people with clean clothes, so phosphate-free laundry detergent must be working.
Including phosphates in dishwasher detergent is still popular in the US and other countries. That doesn’t make sense to me. The practice was …read more

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 …read more