Toxins in Dishwasher Detergent & Rinse Aids
- Alayne
- Jul 28
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Toxic residues from conventional dishwasher detergents remain on dishes, silverware, drinkware, cookware, etc. even after the rinse cycle and may then be ingested. Rinse aids can help remove these residues, but they, themselves, also leave behind their own toxins.
Dishwasher Detergent Toxins
Alcohol Ethoxylates: Damages the epithelial barrier of the gut, even if ingested in small amounts... problematic since residue on dishes, glassware, and silverware is ingested. Found in rinse aids.
Benzisothiazolinone: Same family as Methylisothiazolinone (MI), highly toxic. Skin/eye/respiratory irritant.
Benzotriazole: A hormone disruptor
Ethoxylated Ingredients (e.g., Alcohol Ethoxylates, SLES, Laureth-7, Ceteareth, C12-14 Pareth-11): The ethoxylation process creates 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, known human carcinogens. Ethoxylated ingredients can contain trace amounts of these harmful byproducts.
Formaldehyde: A known carcinogen
Sodium Hypochlorite: The highly caustic active ingredient in bleach. Residue left behind on dishes, silverware, cookware, and drinkware can contaminate food and drinks. Ingested residue, even in small amounts, can cause damage to tissues.
Additional bad actors in dishwasher detergents:
Phthalates, 1,4-dioxane (see ethoxylated ingredients above), PEGs, 'fragrances', dyes, quaternium-15, bronopol, DEA, MEA, TEA, and diazolidinyl urea. This list is not fully inclusive. It does, however, demonstrate that you may be ingesting more than intended.
Worth Noting:
Pods are not great for your plumbing and worse yet, they are harmful to the environment. The PVA film is intended to dissolve in water, but rather than biodegrading, studies have shown it breaks down into microplastics.
Dirty Labs Is USDA Bio-Based Certified
Awarded the 2021 EPA Safer Choice Partner of the Year
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* Dirty Labs allergen-free fragrances include natural and synthetic ingredients selected from the IFRA Transparency List. It's a bit of a letdown that synthetic ingredients are used to create their fragrances, but overall, Dirty Labs has significantly less toxins than conventional dishwasher detergents and does offer a fragrance-free option.
