Our New & Improved Dishwasher Tablets
By Marilee Nelson |
When we first launched our Dishwasher Tablets back in January 2022, we were hopeful but quickly learned that they didn’t quite meet our high standard (or yours!). Many of our loyal BB fans shared feedback about issues like cloudy dishes and less-than-sparkling results. We knew we could do better.
What we didn’t realize was just how challenging it would be to create a dishwasher tablet that is not only safe but also truly effective. Finding the right, healthy ingredients that work well across different machines and water types was no small feat. But after over two years of research, countless tests, and plenty of tweaking, we’re incredibly proud to share our improved Dishwasher Tablets with you today!
At Branch Basics, our mission is to give you the safest, most effective products possible, so you can clean your home without worrying about harmful chemicals. And these new Dishwasher Tablets are no exception.
If you tried the original version and weren’t impressed, we encourage you to give this updated formula a chance. We’re confident you’ll love the results but if not, always feel free to reach out to us and give feedback. Try our updated and better-than-ever Dishwasher Tablets for yourself!
New & Improved Tablets
What you’ll notice about the new tab:
- It’s bigger – we upped the dosage to up the performance.
- Not as white in color – the off-white color is due to added enzymes, which boost cleaning power on dishes with food residue (amylase and protease help clean up and digest food residues on dishes).
- Better for hard water – we added more water softeners and rinse aids to deliver better results, especially for those with hard water.
As always, our number one priority is human-safe ingredients.
Our Dishwasher Tablets are:
- Plant and mineral based
- Non-GMO
- Dye free
- Ethoxylate free (no 1,4-dioxane)
- Phosphate free
- Completely fragrance-free - with no VOC emissions when the dishwasher is running OR when opening the hot dishwasher
- Not irritating - cause no irritation to the eyes, skin or lungs when used as directed
- Packed with ingredients rated 1-2 on EWG Skin Deep
Breaking It Down
Below is a breakdown of our ingredients with their EWG ratings:
Ingredient List:
-
Sodium Carbonate: Mineral-based water softener
- EWG Skin Deep rating: 1
-
Sodium Percarbonate: Mineral-based brightener and deodorizer - lifts stains
- EWG Skin Deep rating: 1 - 2
- *Citric Acid: Plant-based rinse aid, de-scaler, water softener and disinfectant (due to pH)
- EWG Skin Deep rating: 1-2
- Sodium Citrate: Simple sodium salt of citric acid
- EWG Skin Deep rating: 1
- Poly(itaconic acid-co-AMPS) Sodium Salt: Gentle and stabilizing dissolvable salt
- EWG Skin Deep rating: 1
- Sodium Gluconate: Anti-redeposition agent
- EWG Skin Deep rating: 1
- Protease: Enzyme cleanser
- EWG Skin Deep rating: 1
- **Amylase: Enzyme cleanser
- EWG Healthy Cleaning rating:** B
- Sodium Metasilicate: Improves cleaning efficiency of surfactants
- EWG Skin Deep rating: 2-3
- Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate: Surfactant
- EWG Skin Deep rating: 1
- Potassium Caprylate: Biofilm remover
- EWG Skin Deep rating: 1
*A note on Citric Acid: If you are familiar with our vetting process for products used in the home, you know that we recommend only those with all ingredients rated a 1-2 on EWG Skin Deep.
Though Citric Acid is rated a 1-2 on EWG Skin Deep, it is not an ingredient we recommend in foods. When used in household products, there are special caveats that should be considered. See our article, What is Citric Acid & Is It Harmful to Your Health?
The safety of a product with Citric Acid depends on usage, as it can be a skin, eye and lung irritant. With Dishwasher Tablets, there is no contact with the skin or eyes, no chance to inhale an aerosolized product and they are not edible!
However, as a precaution, if someone has a known sensitivity to Citric Acid, we recommend having someone else put our Dishwasher Tablets in the dishwasher versus doing it themselves.
**EWG Healthy Cleaning: If an ingredient is not listed in EWG Skin Deep, then we recommend looking up the ingredient on EWG Healthy Cleaning for the rating.
Our Ingredients = Our Mission
Our hope is that in sharing this background, we can shed light on the dedication, thought and love that was poured into finding our ingredients - ones that are effective but also safe for you, your little ones, pets and the planet.
In light of the current industry-wide shortage of raw materials, as we continue to create new products and ensure the continued effectiveness, we will always circle back to our main values when deciding on ingredients.
This means that while we remain open to improving and reformulating to bring you the best in the market, we will also continue to maintain transparency and hold human health as our driving motivator.
At Branch Basics, we don’t just believe in making high-quality cleaning products. Our products are the vehicle for our mission to help people experience the power of pure by tossing the toxins and creating a healthy home.
Marilee Nelson
Marilee Nelson is an Environmental Toxins expert who has spent nearly 30 years advocating for the chemically-sensitive and chronically-ill. She is a Board Certified Nutritionist, Certified Bau-Biologist and Bau-Biology Inspector and specializes in Food As Medicine. She has helped thousands of families and individuals identify, heal and recover from toxic exposures and is on a mission to revolutionize the way American families view their health.