Anyone got info on dishwasher detergents?  Green dishwasher detergents seem to be harder to find than those to wash by hand, and I wasn't really happy with the Seventh Generation gel.  (Read "wasn't really happy" as "left dishes visibly dirty.  Eew.")

I use Ecover dishwasher detergent.  One word of advice, though is that you have to use a rinse aid to get good results.  I searched around and found a "green" one at Whole Foods but don't have the product in front of me now to tell you which one it is.

I use Biokleen dish soap, dishwasher powder, and fruit/veggie wash.

They all work well for me, and seem to score very well in the 1,4 dioxin category. Ecover does work well, but I think it has dioxin (I'd have to go look again.. I suggest following the link in the article to check out the scores).

It may not be available everywhere, but there is a great product available to us in Minnesota called Restore, made right here in Minneapolis and I think their dish detergent is great (never leaves my hands dry) and works pretty well and smells great. Plus, it is refillable and they have other awesome cleaning products (like their oven cleaner and toilet bowl cleaner) that work extremely well. Not sure how it is on the dioxin front, but I know it is  made from real ingredients.

We use Ecos for our hand and sink soap. It works very well. It'll be nice when they get rid of the 1,4-dioxane, but I'm more disturbed by the fact that it comes from Belgium. Which, last I checked, is a long way away.

We use the Seventh Gen dishwasher powder and have been very happy with it. Jaclyn, are you sure your dishwasher is working okay? It's easy for the elements to get jammed, particularly for the older models.

Dr. Bronner, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

Ms. Wroth does mention Dr. Bronner's in the intro. I think I'll switch to it after I use up the Seventh Generation dish soap I bought. I like the 7G, but it does a pretty crap job cutting grease. It looks like I've cleaned my pans, but once they've dried, I can see a layer of grease remaining that I have to wash again.

PermieWriter -

I wondered about whether the dishwasher was still doing its job, but I picked up Palmolive's phosphate-free (it's a start) and it's working great.  I did use the Seventh Generation powder at one point, and I don't remember having problems with it.  Might give it a try again and/or Ecover. I can get both of them at one store in town.  I just recommend steering clear of the gel.  One problem in particular is what emgroff mentions: a layer of grease remains on some dishes.  

deserves a lot of credit, in general; but it is a pity their product line is so irregular.

I never heard of Ecover, but shall now tell my husband to look for it.  (He does the shopping.)

Biokleen might be a good deal too, since every now and then Little Dog needs a bath -- though usually we take her to the groomers', and do not bathe her ourselves.

As for "dish duty": Oh, it is not such a terrible cross to bear, I find, so long as I am left ALL ALONE, with NO interruptions from meddlesome interlopers.

But an issue of a different kind is: As counter-intuitive as it may seem, and spiritually unedifying, is it not better, green-wise, to put dirty dishes etc. in the dishwasher?  So I had been told.

We like Seventh Generation powder (we don't like the gel either).  It gets our dishes clean on the 'light wash' cycle.  I've read elsewhere that you can simply use white vinegar for a rinse aid.  It seems to work well.

It left too much food on the dishes. Too bad because my local food store carries it.

Think I'll try the Seventh Generation powder next time I'm near a Whole Foods.

Seventh Generation powder sucks, too.  As does the aforementioned gel.  Seriously, I don't want to buy green products that don't work and don't think anyone else should either.  That's just enableing.

I've been very happy with Trader Joe's Automatic Dishwasher Detergent (powder).  We have a high efficiency washer and have had no problems.  Lots of TJ's stuff is green and good, at least relatively.  I also love Dr. Bronner's soaps, but haven't tried it in a dishwasher.  Dr. Bronner walks the talk.

I really like Mrs. Meyer's dishwashing soap--the website says they're environmentally appropriate--anyone know if this is not so?
Re: Dr. Bronner's, I wash my kitchen floor/counters with peppermint to deter ants and it really really works!

I've tried just about everything on the market - I really love Melaleuca's products, but their Diamond Brite Gel falls short of my expectations for the dishwasher.

So far, Quixtar/Amway Global's Dish Drops (not tablets) for the Dishwasher is the most superior performer in my experience.  It's extreme concentration cuts the landfill waste and saves me several trips to the store (less gas consumed for repeat trips).

My Quixtar Rep is a very nice person.  if you register as her customer at quixtar.com, use her IBO# 5127985 and KEY: CRO as referring IBO then tell her GTO sent you!

I love the Doc Bronner idea, yummy peppermint-hemp dishes!
Has anyone experimented with water to soap ratios yet? Also, it looks like my washer needs a rinsing agent (using up my 7G liquid, leaves em' spotty). So I was thinking good old fashioned vinegar, does a great job on my windows.