Every little thing we do on Earth impacts it in either a positive or a negative manner.  It is up to us to take full responsibility to make our impact more positive from the moment we wake up to the moment our heads touch the pillow.

Among one of the many activities that we can look into in order to minimize our carbon footprint is dishwashing.  Yes, as mundane as it is, you can do something to make it more eco-friendly starting with using the right kind of dishwashing detergent.

Harmful Ingredients

Although the store-bought dishwashing detergent is the least toxic home cleaning products in the market, it may contain harmful ingredients that, when accumulated in the sewage, poses an environmental threat.  Sure, these can clean your dishes, glasses, silverware, pots and pans but at what expense?

Let’s start with phosphate.  Although it is a naturally-occurring substance, when it clogs up waterways, it can encourage the growth of algal blooms.  Keep in mind that algal blooms deplete the oxygen levels in the water, thus, adversely affecting the aquatic flora and fauna around it.  And if an algal bloom develops into cyanobacteria, this can be toxic to humans when ingested.

Other ingredients that cause environmental harm include chorine and surfactants, fragrances and colors, stability and dispensing aids, mildness additives and preservatives as well as antibacterial agents.  The last ingredient, by the way, makes for more danger to human health.  So, what should you do? Well, try to purchase products that have lesser phosphate and chlorine content.

Bottle Choices

Then there is the matter of the bottle.  Instead of buying big bottles of detergent, you should opt for the smaller ones since these are usually more concentrated.  Thus, there is a lesser environmental impact - less packaging, less transport costs, less carbon footprint.  Of course, you must look at the “recyclability” factor of the bottle.  At the very least, you will know how to dispose of it properly.

Making Your Own

Better yet, you can make your own homemade dishwashing detergent.  You can save money on store-bought detergents, which are expensive by virtue of the many expenses that come with its manufacture and marketing, and you can save your environment as well.

Here’s what you should do:

* Add one tablespoon each of baking soda and borax to the dishwasher.  Wash the dishes as you would with a store-bought dishwashing detergent.

* To fight the water spots, just pour a sufficient amount of distilled white vinegar instead of the clear rinse gel.

Baking soda, borax and distilled white vinegar are known for their cleaning properties and, as such, are favorites with eco-friendly homeowners.

Dishwashing Tips

Alongside the dishwashing detergent, you also need to conserve on water.  Otherwise, you will still be harming the environment.  To conserve water and heating energy, too, you should use cold water to wash the dishes instead of the usual hot water.  Just pour dishwashing detergent sufficient to cover the water with a thin layer of suds on top.  And it does pay to squeeze every last drop of detergent out of your bottle!

With these tips on dishwashing, you can have clean dishes on which you can dine on while ensuring that the environment will not suffer for your enjoyment of good food.