Dish soaps are an item found in every kitchen. They are the solution for greasy dishes and the life saviors when it comes to loads of dirty dinnerware. Yet, a monumental question is what type of dish soap should we use? In case you didn’t know, there are different types of such products. Depending on their impact on the environment, there are two types: green dish soap and regular dish soap.
The ‘green’ characteristic refers to the fact that the product is eco-friendly. This means it causes little to no harm to the environment. Comparing this product to the regular dish soap, there are a few differences between them. It is essential to know them in order to understand which one is more beneficial for us. Let’s take a look at them.
Green dish soap vs Regular dish soap
Let’s start with the ingredients. Regular dish soaps can contain some substances which are not beneficial for the environment. We will take a few examples and explain the effects they have.
Phosphates can be found in different dish soaps. They play a great role in causing an imbalance in the ecosystem. When the water which goes down the drain reaches rivers and seas, these chemicals cause the algae to grow chaotically. This can lead to lowered oxygen levels, affecting the wildlife from those waters. Some countries have imposed strict rules, allowing only dish soaps with low-level-phosphates or no phosphates to be sold in stores.
1,4 Dioxane is another chemical we need to discuss. This is a petroleum-derived chemical, which has been found to be a carcinogen. Usually, it is listed on the package of the product as SLS and SLES. This is a chemical found in almost all dish soaps and detergents. If you are searching for 1,4 dioxane-free products, look for companies which have disclosed they are free of this chemical. You can also throw an eye on the ingredients list to be sure.
Preservatives are also commonly found in all dish soaps, even in the eco-friendly ones. What you can do is look for paraben-free preservatives which are a safer option. Methylisothiazolinone, benzilisothiazolinone and phenoxyethanol are a few examples you can go for. These have proven to not lead to cancer or to have developmental toxicity.
Two additional mentions are represented by parabens and petroleum-based products. Try and look for plant-based dish soaps which are paraben free.
Some of the ingredients and characteristics you need to look for and that can be found in green dish soaps are:
- plant-based products
- phosphate-free
- paraben-free
- petrochemical-free
- 1,4 dioxane-free
- no fragrances
- caustic-free
- phlathate-free
Benefits of using green dish soap
As we’ve seen earlier, there are quite a few differences between green dish soap and regular dishwashing products. What’s more, these aspects tell us about the benefits of using eco-friendly dish soap.
Protect the environment
This is one of the first benefits when speaking of green products. The green dish soap keeps your dishes and the environment clean and healthy. Because they contain non-harmful ingredients, these products do not harm nature, its wildlife or cause any disorder in the ecosystem balance.
Live in a clean safe home
A green dish soap protects not only the health of the environment, but yours as well. You may not need to worry about harsh chemicals or carcinogen substances. Green dish soaps are created with ingredients which do not cause strong allergies, irritations, respiratory problems or reproductive abnormalities.
No unusual smells
We know some products may leave behind an unusual smell. Several green dish soaps come with delicate fragrances. This can leave your dishes extremely clean and can make it a total pleasure to eat from them.
Green dish soap product recommendations
We understand that it can be hard to find the right product, so we prepared a few recommendations you can choose from.