Cottage Q&A
QUESTION
My parents would like recommendations on environmentally friendly dishwasher soap for use at the cottage. Any
suggestions for one that is phosphate-free?
ANSWER
We've often been asked to recommend environmentally friendly dishwasher products, and have always reported that the big-name brands all contained phosphorus (in the form of phosphates) - they just didn't get dishes clean without it. However, companies that specialize in environmentally friendly cleaning supplies have been working on the problem. We found two Canadian-manufactured phosphate- and chlorine-free dishwasher products, and there may be lots more.
Nature Clean, made by Frank T. Ross & Sons in Toronto, is the only automatic dishwasher powder to carry the EcoLogo, part of Canada's Environmental Choice program, which identifies products that are less harmful to the environment. They are available through stores such as Loblaws, No Frills, Zehrs, and Home Hardware. When we asked co-owner Bernie Ross what gives a phosphate-free, chlorine-free dishwasher product its oomph, he told us sodium citrate (the salt of citric acid) is part of the power. Another product, EcoEthic Automatic Dishwasher Powder from Sunderland, Ont.-based EcoEthic Inc., comes recommended by Brenda Coons, a Water Protectors Program advisor with Peterborough Green-Up. "It works," says Coons. "I use it in my own dishwasher, and it gets things clean and doesn't leave a residue." EcoEthic owner Rob Davis says his formula also gets much of its potency from being citrus-based. Call EcoEthic at (888) 436-3996 to have it shipped.
* Published in the July/August 2004 issue of Cottage Life
Related Links:
Cottage Life's Tips for Green Dishwashing
Products & Services Directory - Environmental Products
& Services category
