The Real Talk About Eco-Friendly Dishwashing
- Craig Vanderplank
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
If you've ever stood in the cleaning aisle trying to find dishwashing products without a laundry list of questionable chemicals that actually work, you know the struggle is real. Spoiler alert: it's nearly impossible.
Walk into any supermarket and you'll find rows of brightly coloured dishwashing tablets, liquids, and powders. They're convenient of course, but that convenience often comes at a cost. Most conventional dishwashing products are loaded with synthetic fragrances that trigger allergies, plastic coatings on tablets that don't fully break down, phosphates and harsh chemicals, plus single-use plastic packaging that heads straight to landfill.
Those little dishwashing tablets might seem like the easy option, but beyond the chemical concerns, you're stuck with a one-size-fits-all dose whether you're washing three wine glasses or a full load of pots and pans. Not exactly efficient!
Why We Chose Big Bubble
Finding truly "perfect" dishwashing products is genuinely hard. We've searched high and low for options that tick all the boxes: effective cleaning power, minimal environmental impact, sustainable packaging AND reasonably priced. So we had to make a choice about what mattered most.
We carry Big Bubble's unscented dishwashing powder, liquid, and rinse aid from their Midvale location. Here's what makes them our pick:
Biodegradable formulations that break down naturally
Phosphate-free or low-phosphate (much better for waterways)
No added fragrances, which means no synthetic perfumes triggering allergies
Cruelty-free with approval from the Animal Liberation Society
However, the biggest tick of approval from us is Big Bubble's completely zero waste supply system that's been running since 1981. We return our empty tubs directly to Big Bubble in Midvale, they refill them, then we refill your containers. It's a true circular system with no single-use plastic and no waste heading to landfill.
This is the best option we've found, and we are happy that we have access to a system like this here in Perth.
Powder vs. Tablets
Dishwashing powder just makes more sense, because you’re in control. If you’ve only got a few items that need a rinse, use a teaspoon. If you’re hoping that lasagna dish will come out squeaky clean, use a little bit more. With tablets, you're forced to use the same dose every time, which means you're often using (and paying for) way more than you need. The powder dissolves completely as well. No gunky residue, no half-dissolved tablets stuck in the dispenser, no mystery film on your glasses.
Our tip: don't skip the rinse aid! If you're not using rinse aid, you're missing out. It helps water sheet off your dishes instead of forming droplets, which means streak-free glasses, zero water spots, and everything dries faster. Your dishwasher works better with it! We stock Big Bubble's unperfumed rinse aid at our refill station.
How to Get Started
Pop into the shop, bring your own container (or take one of ours from the Refill Station) and ask us for assistance! Scoop what you need of the unperfumed dishwashing powder, pour the dishwashing liquid and rinse aid into a jar, and you’re good to go.
We are always going to be transparent with our customers - we might not have all the answers, and we will always tell you exactly what we stock and why we stock it. We'd rather be honest with you about the trade-offs than greenwash our products or pretend everything is 100% perfect. We are making the best choices we can with what’s available to us, and we’re hoping you can do the same too!
One last tip!
If you're finding your glass is getting a little cloudy in the dishwasher, this is likely due to our hard water in Perth that leaves mineral deposits... The same thing that happens to your shower door!
A simple solution is to add 1/2 cup of Citric Acid into your dishwasher, load up all the glasses in the cupboard and run a quick cycle. The acid will break down any deposits and leave your glasses crystal clear!
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