I recently learned that dishwasher detergent is one of the most toxic things in our homes – and that hot cloud of vapor that blasts into us as we open the dishwasher is in fact loaded with toxic chemicals like Benzene, chlorine and phosphates. Yikes!

If you aren’t an expert on chemistry (everyone who knows what Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons are raise your hand…. That’s what I thought) and I for sure am not you may be thinking Benzene so what? Well, Benzene (which is a Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon by the way) is a known bone-marrow poison and has been known to cause breast cancer and leukemia since the 1960’s and yet it is a main ingredient in dishwasher and laundry detergent. Not to mention that dishwasher detergent also has Chlorine which corrodes the skin – that slippery feeling you get when handling dishwasher detergent, that is your skin breaking down – how appealing is that image?

And yes that hot steamy cloud from the dishwasher while it may feel pretty good on a cold winter day is in fact – a killer. There should be a movie about it…. The killer Benzene cloud!

Have you tried Method Smarty Dish?

Luckily there are a few alternative eco and health friendly dishwasher detergents on the market. We actually had one at home waiting in reserve for when we used up the bad stuff but as soon as I learned about the toxicity of our usual detergent the old stuff ended up in the trash mighty fast.

We just tried our first load with Method Smarty Dish a non-toxic dishwasher detergent. Smarty Dish uses mineral cleaning salts and enzymes rather than the Benzene, Chlorine, and Phosphates. It uses biodegradable and non-toxic ingredients, which means no harmful residues or Benzene cloud blasted in your face…or down the drain for that matter so it is environmentally safe as well. They even won a Presidential Green Chemistry Award for it.

But the real question with any green product is “does Smarty Dish work” and I have to say after that first load I am hooked. Those dishes were so squeaky clean you could.. well eat off them… and the hot grapefruit scented blast of air was completely free of toxins – The killer Benzene cloud was vanquished at last.

If you'd like to give Method's Smarty Dish a try
you can find a few varieties for sale below

Default Featured items Bestselling Price: low to high Price: high to low Newest arrivals On sale

Method Smarty Dish Dishwashing Detergent Go Naked, 20-count Pouch (Pack of 6) List Price: $48.99 Sale Price: $26.75 You save: $22.24 (45%)   Eligible for free shipping!

Method Smarty Dish Detergent, Pink Grapefruit, 20 ct-2 pack

What types of natural non-toxic dishwasher detergents have you tried - and how do they work? Please comment...

This post on Smarty Dish dish washing detergent was shared on Fight Back Fridays at the Food Renegade blog.

Benzene Cloud Terrorizes Households Around the World is a post from: Earth Friendly Goodies