Are Dishwasher Tablets Harming You – and the Environment?

And what are the greener alternatives?

Dishwasher tablets are wonderfully convenient: pop one in, shut the door, and forget about it. But behind the lemon-fresh scent and shiny plates is a cocktail of chemicals – and some uncomfortable environmental questions.

So, are they actually harming you or the planet? And if so, what can you do instead?

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What’s inside a typical dishwasher tablet?

Most mainstream dishwasher tablets contain a mix of:

🔹 Alkaline cleaners

• Sodium carbonate (washing soda)

• Sodium silicate
  These break down grease effectively, but are highly alkaline and energy-intensive to produce.

🔹 Enzymes

• Protease (for proteins)

• Amylase (for starches)
  Generally low-risk for consumers, but can be problematic for aquatic ecosystems once discharged.

🔹 Bleaching agents

• Sodium percarbonate (releases hydrogen peroxide)
  Improves whitening, but contributes to chemical load in wastewater.

🔹 Surfactants
Help water wet and lift dirt, but some are toxic to aquatic life and persist in the environment.

🔹 Fragrances & dyes
Added purely for marketing. These are frequent irritants and unnecessary pollutants.

🔹 Plastic film (PVA)
Marketed as “water-soluble”, but research increasingly shows PVA can pass through wastewater treatment and enter rivers and seas as microplastic pollution.

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Are they harming you?

For most people, occasional exposure is low risk. However:

• Residues can remain on dishes, especially in short or eco cycles

• Sensitive skin, asthma sufferers, and children may react to enzymes or fragrances

• Strong alkalinity can irritate skin when loading/unloading dishwashers

You’re unlikely to keel over from your cutlery – but “safe” doesn’t automatically mean “ideal”.

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Are they harming the environment?

This is where the concern grows:

• Wastewater impact: Chemicals enter rivers even after treatment

• Aquatic toxicity: Surfactants and enzymes affect fish and invertebrates

• Plastic pollution: PVA films are not as benign as once claimed

• Carbon footprint: Tablets are energy-intensive to manufacture and transport

In short: effective, yes. Environmentally gentle? Not really.

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Greener alternatives that actually work

✅ 1. Eco-certified dishwasher tablets

Look for:

• No fragrances or dyes

• Cardboard or paper packaging

• No PVA plastic film

• Clear ingredient disclosure

They clean slightly less aggressively – but your river will thank you.

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✅ 2. Dishwasher powder (often overlooked!)

Powder lets you:

• Use only what you need

• Avoid plastic wrapping entirely

• Reduce chemical overload

Paired with dishwasher salt and rinse aid, it’s surprisingly effective.

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✅ 3. DIY low-impact option (for the keen)

A simple mix many people use:

• Washing soda

• Sodium percarbonate

• Citric acid (separately, as rinse aid)

⚠️ Note: This won’t handle baked-on grease as well, but works for lightly soiled loads.

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✅ 4. Behaviour beats chemistry

Small changes make a big difference:

• Scrape, don’t rinse (saves water and energy)

• Use eco cycles (longer but cooler)

• Run full loads only

• Clean the filter regularly

The greenest detergent is the one you don’t overuse.

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So… should you stop using dishwasher tablets?

Not necessarily overnight.

But if you:

• switch to powder or eco tablets

• avoid plastic-wrapped pods

• cut fragrance and dye use

• use less, less often

You dramatically reduce both chemical exposure and environmental impact.

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The bottom line

Dishwasher tablets are a triumph of convenience – not sustainability.
A few small swaps can turn an everyday habit into a quieter act of environmental care.

Clean plates. Clear conscience.