You have to be careful.
Any manufacturer can paste the word “eco” on something. Palmolive’s new eco+ dishwashing detergent is the ultimate in greenwash. I’m a bit angry about it. I think my blood pressure may even be raised. Seriously.
The truth is that you have to read all the ingredients on a product, even when “eco” is plastered all over it. The problem with this detergent is that it doesn’t list the ingredients. (And those fragrances — naturally inspired doesn’t mean a thing. I’m guessing there’s nothing natural about their fragrance.)
If you look on the back of the bottle, near the bottom — in that boring font used for warnings — you’ll see that this “eco” product contains chlorine bleach.
How often do you read the warnings on your dishwasher detergent? These days it seems you really need to. Don’t let the word “eco” fool you.
Why is this detergent being marketed as eco? Well, it doesn’t have phosphates. Yeah, that’s good, but the word “eco” doesn’t belong on a product with chlorine bleach. That’s my take on it.
Chlorine is a known toxin. Chlorine bleach is dangerous to people with several health problems: heart problems, asthma and emphysema. And putting this stuff in your dishwasher could pollute the air in your home. You know what I’m talking about — all that steam that comes out of your dishwasher.
Why isn’t Palmolive coming right out and saying that the detergent contains chlorine bleach instead of hiding it on the back?
Please tell Target (that’s where I saw it) and any other retailer that you do not agree with dishwasher detergents that contain chlorine bleach. Plenty of alternatives exist. One is Seventh Generation’s dishwashing gel. It is phosphate free AND chlorine free. Also, you can check out Ecover dishwashing powder. See, it can be done. Shame on you Palmolive.
Please look for a review on Seventh Generation’s dishwasher powder in a few days.
Phineas, the whole point of this blog is to address all those issues when possible. What bugged me is the deception in that product.
What’s the difference? You drive to the store, spewing toxins into the air, pack your sandwiches in baggies that will break down in, oh, 10 or 15,000 thousand years, heat your house with electricity that traces to a coal-fired plant somewhere, use computers that contain radioactive particles and other goodies that will break down in, oh, 100 or 150,000 thousand years, sit on furniture that contains finishes and stains, drink water with flourides and bleaches in it. I could go on forwever. And in order to feel good about yourselves you get bent out of shape about green dishwasing detergent? That’s a hoot.
OMG were can I find sunlight my walmart stoped stocking them and cant find it anywhere. I tried everything and film everywhere about to go to hand washing again ummmm maybe not lol anybody can help me?
I think Palmolive Eco ruined my glasses and maybe some silverware, too. I may even need a new dishwasher now as it may have ruined that, too. So, be careful!
[...] that doesn’t list its ingredients on the product label. If you do, you’re likely buying greenwash, not a truly eco [...]
I have a suggestion: why not forego the use of dishes and utensils altogether? Just pile the food on the table and have at it! True, there is the pot or pan to clean but some rain water rinse and sunshine will take care of that in no time!
I used the new palmalive dishwasher soap and I found a terrible film of some kind on all of the utensils They all had to be rinsed over again. Can some on help with this problem maybe I am putting to much in there. I went by the directions can someone help…
Costco has its “environmentally friendly” free of phosphates, dyes and perfumes Kirkland brand. Front of box says no phosphates or chlorine (has oxygen chlorine free bleach). I love it. Unfortunately haven’t been able to find it in the Twin Cities’ Costcos this last month.
Mama Taney, don’t give up on green dish soap. Palmolive isn’t a real eco product anyway. Give Method a try. I’ve been happy with it.
Soy — Soak your dishes (this works especially well on glasses) in warm vinegar water. That helped get the film off our stuff. We have gone back to Cascade. I know it isn’t green – but I’m sick of having my dishes look worse coming out of the dishwasher than when they went in!
The soak, then within a couple runs back through with Cascade should have things back to normal.
OMG, Palmolive Eco is the worst ever! I never knew a detergent could actually make your dishes look worse than when you put them in the dishwasher!!!! All of my dishes, silverware and glasses were coated with a film that I could not get off even by handwashing. I went to Sears (where I bought my relatively new dishwasher) and almost scheduled a repairman to come out and fix it. A friend suggested maybe it was the Palmolive and judging but these posts I have to agree. Never had this problem with Cascade! Maybe it’s b/c I have hard water? No idea but NEVER again. I actually think some of my silverware and glasses are ruined as I can not get the film off no matter what I do.