Review | Vegan Dish Washing Block

In my constant quest to find products that are both eco-friendly, animal-friendly and plastic-free I am always excited when I see other people using new items on Instagram. When I saw a few posts on a vegan dish washing block I knew I had to give it a go because the washing up liquid was one of the last plastic-filled items on my kitchen worktop. I purchased the block back in September ’19 but wanted to be able to give you a good review of it over time rather than a rushed one over a couple of weeks or so.

 

Initial Thoughts

The dish washing block cost me £9.50 from Vida Natural which I did think was quite a bit of money… until it arrived. I was really surprised by the size of it and could see it would last months, in fact, the website states up to 6 months.

“VEGAN DISH WASHING BLOCK™ soap is a cleaning powerhouse with a rich, sudsy lather. Cuts stubborn grime and grease on dishes, pots and pans. With added aloe vera to be gentle on your hands. Completely unscented and fragrance-free”

Vida Natural Website

 

I loved the fact that it came with a wooden soap stand because I was a bit concerned about the mess it would cause next to the sink. I was also curious about how it would smell as it contains all-natural ingredients with no added fragrances and this is precisely why I knew I had to take my time in giving you all feedback.

 

 

Using the Dish Washing Block

At the start, I really liked the vegan dish washing block. It foamed up nicely, it cleaned my cups and dishes really well and was simple to use. However, over a few weeks, I realised that the smell of it was making me feel a bit queasy. Even though it wasn’t an overpowering fragrance, the dull scent just didn’t sit right with me. I worked through by trying not to let it get to me but it took a few months to adapt to it. I think it must be the aloe vera.

Over time I have had a chance to experiment with different marks, stains, food substances etc and I found that the sooner you did your washing up, the better. Tea stains needed a good scrub, oils on baking trays seemed to move around and take a long time to clean off and I had to use extra hot water to enable this. Once the water you use is drained, you are also left with soap scum around the sink which means you then have to clean this off after each use. I mean it’s not a hassle it is just a bit inconvenient.

 

Thoughts So Far

I was a bit disappointed with the need to work harder on washing up that may have been left a while because even though I am looking for eco alternatives I am also looking for products that can match what I am trying to replace. As a busy Mum of 2, I need products that will perform well and will make my life just as simple as before. This may sound like I am being pernickety but I want to be honest and I know a lot of people reading this will be in the exact same position as me. Being eco-friendly shouldn’t be difficult and I have said this in many a blog and social media post.

 

Months On

So, it is now 4 months on from first purchasing the vegan dish washing block and I can happily say that the smell no longer bothers me (it didn’t affect my husband so I think it’s just one of those things for certain people) and I do still use this product on certain items. I will opt for this block for most of my washing up but will reach for my old washing up liquid for greasy items and stubborn foodstuff. I am happy to carry on like this as it is reducing my need to buy more plastic and as a refill shop has opened up the road I am going to look into this as another option too.

In terms of how well it has lasted, I am really impressed…

This will definitely surpass the 6 month life expectancy it has but as I also use a dishwasher I did think that was to be expected.

Oh, I have also found it to work amazingly on stains on clothes. A quick application and rub onto the stained area it comes out in a flash! It worked wonders on Jake’s white school polo shirt. Even if you don’t purchase one for washing up, I would recommend it for other cleaning around the home.

 

Overall this has been a tricky product to weigh up. On the one hand, it does a good job on your everyday items as well as clothing stains but on the other, it just doesn’t meet washing up liquid standards which we are all so used to. I do think it is one of those eco products that you have to try for yourself and decide based on your own lifestyle and needs.

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