I’m always looking for ways to reduce my plastic waste, and manufacturer’s always seem to be trying to find ways to trick me.
I normally get the Lidl dishwasher tablets as they are the only brand that appears to come plastic free, cardboard box, and tablets wrapped in a dissolvable cellulose film. However sometimes I can’t get there as its not always convenient.
Latest was CoOp that sold a cardboard box of tablets, but then each tablet was bloody wrapped in plastic, which is probably worse than just a plastic bag of the bastards.
Does anyone else know of brands that are safe to buy because they won’t try to trick you with hidden plastics?
I just use powder, it’s way cheaper and just as effective, also you can be more economical with it as you don’t need a full tablets worth of powder for most washes. The only thing I miss is the powder I have is designed for commercial use and is unscented - doesn’t affect the cleaning but the chemical smell isn’t the best when you open the dishwasher. But on the other hand you’re not paying for perfume you don’t actually need - also you avoid the environmental impact in perfume manufacturer too.
Use powder…
- tablets contain anywhere from 2x to 4x the detergent you need
- tablets only work in the main wash cycle and so you have no detergent for the first wash cycle
- powder is substantially less expensive
and powder can combine base and acidic ingredients (tablets can, too), unlike liquid, and can be had in cardboard containers instead of plastic jugs. It’s honestly the all around winner
And when you buy the liquid, you’re paying to have half the product replaced with water. And then there is the extra shipping cost for that water, and the packaging has to be more robust to prevent leaks.
Liquid detergent where the primary ingredient is water is a fucking scam.
Thank you for the advice.
Some videos about why that comment is spot on:
Without even clicking on these links I’m 100% certain as to where they’ll lead me
I love Angry Dishwasher Man
Angry Fairy Light Man too.
Ding ding ding, we have a pinball teardown.
You and me both.
I order mine from https://smol.com/uk. They come in a cardboard packet which fits through the letterbox. I was also fed up with the ridiculous and unnecessary amount of plastic in the supermarket equivalents.
I just get the powder from Sainsbury’s.
I find I get better results, as I can kinda dial in how much is needed. It means I can put some in the pre wash too.
Just remember that if you’re using powder, the salt/rinse aid need filling separately.Morrisons own brand tabs only have the cellulose wrapper, if that’s what your definitely after.
I’m in the south, so our water is 50/50 chalk anyway!
Are you dead set on tablets? If not you can just get the powder. It’s the same thing as what’s in the tablet.
Does it come with a pack of disposable cellulose spoons of some sort?
Not really set on it. I’ve already chatted to the partner about it switching it up for just powder, which we are in agreement with.
Thanks!
Checkout fill refill, who do powder in a big container. When it’s empty, you send the big tin back to them and they refill it send it back to you.
https://www.fillrefill.co/product/dishwash-powder-5kg-home-refill/
I like that, I like that a lot.
This would have answered my last question on here about refillables.
My local refillable requires capacity to be printed on the bottle. I have no odes why they can’t just weigh the container, fill it and weigh it again for an amount.
If these do, then it’ll help with that too.
If you haven’t already, try and find a zero waste shop near you, the kind of place where you take your own containers and fill it up with what you need.
Me and my partner made it a part of our routine to visit once a month, and we have successfully replaced a bunch of our household items with zero plastic options.
Aldi still have the cardboard box and cellular film tablets. As with Lidl, these do run out quite regularly. I’ve started getting a box whenever I see them, rather than when I run low, just in case. I’ve only rarely had to resort to the pouches.
Aldi is unfortunately quite far for me. I have at least 2 Lidls I would have to pass before I get there, I will bare that in mind though whenever I’m over that end of town.
Aldis ones are much the same as Lidl, cardboard box and the tablets are just inside
Do you have powdered detergent in the UK? Try that. I switched over entirely. You just need to experiment with dosage a little.
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Have you heard of dishwasher sheets? There’s a few companies making them now, these are the Australian brand I use sheets
I have seen the washing machine sheets, of basically dried soap.
Seems like an interesting idea for dishwashers.
These are meant to be even safe for septic tanks! They do dishwasher sheets too!
