What's so smart about Smarty Dish, anyway?

Here at Method there’s a bunch of stuff we like: happy hours, pretty colors and smells, innovative ideas … the list goes on. And as you know, there’s also stuff we don’t like.  Phosphates and chlorine bleach are two of those things. They are also two ingredients – especially phosphates – that a lot of other companies include in their dishwasher detergents.

When we introduced you to Lil’ Bowl Blu, our toilet bowl cleaner, back in February, we told you a little bit about phosphates.  Phosphates in our water supply contribute to algal blooms, which deprive fish and other water dwellers of needed oxygen. That’s dirty. Two counties in Washington banned the use of phosphates this year, with the rest to follow in 2010, and many other states are looking into the issue as well.

So to answer our own question, Smarty Dish is smart – no, brilliant! – because it gets the job done in your dishwasher without anything nasty you don’t want dirtying up our water supply.  It comes in pre-measured tablet doses that fit neatly in your dishwasher’s detergent compartment, so no more worrying about the dreaded “overpour.”

And speaking of smart, Smarty Dish passed quite a few tests before we decided that it made the grade: A third party confirmed for us that it cleans as effectively as, and sometimes even better than – the leading brands for many tough-to-crack stains. It’s also been approved by the EPA’s Design for the Environment program, which we told you about here. The container is made of 25% recycled content and is 100% recyclable. One test it didn’t pass, we have to admit, is animal testing.  But that’s because we just don’t think that’s nice.

And just in case you still don’t believe us, here’s what a couple of other people have said about Smarty Dish:

From Sustainable Is Good: http://www.sustainableisgood.com/products/2008/06/smartydish.html

From the Atlanta Journal & Constitution (scroll to the bottom of the article): http://www.ajc.com/search/content/living/personaltech/stories/2008/07/19/grabbag.html

Look for Smarty Dish at your local retailer (and available mid-September on methodhome.com), and let us know what you think!

Comments

[Cheryl Sisson]

I'm liking what I hear! Thanks Method, for another great product!!

Cheryl Sisson

[victoria]

Excellent news! I was wondering when you guys would come up with a dishwasher soap. Pink grapefruit too! yay!

[Mary Zoellner]

This sounds great. I will give it a try--love your bathroom cleaners and dryer sheets. However, the laudry soap left my clothes a little dull looking. Also, I am having a hard time finding your cleaning and laudry products at my local Target store (Ft. Worth, Texas)like I used to. I wish Tom Thumb (Safeway) stores would stock more cleaning and laundry products. Can only find hand soaps. I have asked them--but they haven't yet.

[Ryan]

Why the animal testing?

[Carolyn]

looks great! too bad I don't have a dishwasher...other than my own two hands of course :)

[mimi]

that is great! now, how do i buy this?? it's not on your website yet =P

[Sarah Royse]

I am so glad you brought back an improved version of dishwasher tabs. I loved the old tabs, so I can't wait to try these out!

[Kelly K]

Uh, Ryan? They DIDN'T pass the animal test... as in, they didn't perform animal testing. They were trying to be funny... that is the only test they didn't pass because they don't do animal testing. Ok? Ok.

[Angela]

Ryan, I think they meant they didn't do animal testing.
Here's a question- Is this product safe for septic systems? I was told not to use powder dishwashing detergents because they did not completely disolve. I can only assume this is a pressed powder tablet.

[Marion]

wonderful but where can we buy it on the Isle of Wight ??

[MMac]

Pure delight! I got the news today, and am ordering this product immediately.

I am so excited! I have new Fisher-Paykel dish drawers installed. Yippee! A product worthy of partnership with my dishwashers.

Welcome to my kitchen. Method(tm) all the way!

Besides ordering this today, I will replenish my supply of Ylang Ylang shower spray. It's an emergency.

(If I open my kitchen cabinets, maybe you can hear my dishes applauding and spreading the word among themselves.)

[Yvonne]

I can't wait to buy/use smarty....
thank you

[Jon Moss]

Looks great guys! Hopefully available in the UK too?!

[Cary]

Great - but its not on your website or target. so where can you buy this? I loved the old dishwashing packets which are now gone. so whats up and why is it not on your website?

[Karen Simon]

I know HSN launched these exclusively to them last month. But I read somewhere they are in Target stores. I'm also noticing that Method products are beginning to dwindle at my Target. The next time I need dishwashing detergent I'm DEFINITELY buying them from HSN, if they aren't in stores by then!! LOVE your products--I use almost everything.

[REBECCA CUNNINGHAM]

.....BUT IS IT KOSHER?

[Kimberly Bomba]

Will this be available in liquid form? My F&P dish drawer does not recommend I use tabs or powder detergent.

[AmyLynn]

I squealed with delight when I read the news! Then I looked around and everyone in the office was staring!

I agree with Angela. My glassware prefers liquid or gel detergent, but the other phosphate-free brands don't get the job done.

I can't wait to try SmartyDish!

[Denice]

Yippee! Will it be available in Canada soon as well?

[Michelle]

To Mary Z: The detergent may be reacting with your water. Some detergents work well with some water systems, and others don't. You may also be using too much detergent. If you have especially soft water, you may need to use much less detergent. Fabric softener may also increase the chances of this happening, especially if fabric softener is used with every load.

[Katie]

I would kill for the dishwasher soap (or anything else method for that matter!) in bulk like the giant thing of hand soap I got at costco.

[Netta]

I purchased the smarty dish from hsn.com because I could not find it at Target or on the method website. I tried it out in a bowl first and it disolved very well, not a trace of the tablet was left. I then used in my dishwasher and my dishes were not only clean but they sparkled. The grapefruit scent was not overwhelming either. It was very light and calming. I would recommend this to anyone.

[Netta]

I purchased the grapefruit smarty dish combo from hsn, here is the link:
http://www.hsn.com/method_c-hw_a-5567_xc.aspx?view=all&cm_re=billboard*Method*background

Before trying it on my dishes I tried it in a bowl and the tablet dissolves completely, not a trace was left. When I tried it in the dishwasher, my dishes were not only clean but they sparkled and the scent coming from the dishwasher was very light and calming. It was not overwhelming in any way.

[Lisa]

I'm so excited to see new dishwasher stuff available! Time to hit up Target to see if they've got them, if not, I'll have to order them from HSN!

[sarah homeijer]

hey there, everybody, it's sarah from method. quick answer on the septic system question... the smarty dish cubes are absolutely safe to use, as they were thoroughly tested to ensure that they will dissolve completely during the wash cycle, and the formulation is naturally derived, non-toxic and biodegradable. shoot me any other questions over at info@methodhome.com. happy to answer them!