Dishwasher leaving you cloudy? Lemi-Shine Review

We have been hand washing dishes for ages. One fine day, last year, my husband bought us a dishwasher. It’s new and efficient and I thought it would make things so much easier. I was thrilled.

Well, a few washes and I was going nuts. I tried several detergents, top rated and non eco-friendly too (I’m awful, I know!).

No matter what I did, my dishes were cloudy and sometimes not even clean. I was cursing it all of the time because I would try a new combo, more detergent, less detergent, rinse aids, vinegar, washing my machine, you name it. I had to wash my dishes after they had been washed. It was infuriating.

I knew there just had to be a remedy. I got online and search, search searched. I found a couple of really happy people expressing their love for Lemi-Shine, but they were just a few random comments on questions that people had posted. I looked it up and found that it is all natural. It is phosphate free and composed of natural fruit oils and acids. I figured it was worth a shot.I headed to the store and picked up a bottle of Lemi-Shine. It was just a few dollars, though at that point I’m not sure I’d have cared what the price was.

I was a little apprehensive on my first try, but I loaded up the dishwasher (not pre-rinsing) and then put in my detergent tablet and in the same compartment, I added about 1/2 tablespoon of Lemi-Shine.

The clouds parted!

Seriously, it was AMAZING. My dishes were crystal clear. I couldn’t believe it. Before, my glasses were so cloudy. It was awful. My dishes now look better than they do when I hand wash them.

I’ve tried it with a few different detergents and it works great with any of them 🙂 I always run a full load too. No skimping!

I like tablets, so I stick my tablet in, put in about half a tablespoon or so of Lemi-Shine and then run it! That’s it. I don’t even use a rinse agent. If you really want something in there, toss some vinegar in the rinse aid compartment. I haven’t done that in months though.

Not only can you use this (and get amazing results) in your dishwasher, but it has other uses too. You can use it to clean your toilet bowl, coffee pot, shower door, garbage disposal, and more I’m sure!

I was so tempted to run a load without Lemi-Shine, but thankfully they had a user submitted photo that illustrates exactly how well it works without me having to hand wash a load of what should be clean dishes. I’m terrible, I know. The cloudy dish is exactly the problem I had with every detergent I tried. It was awful.

*If there is outrage that I didn’t feel like rewashing a load of dishes, I will take my own photo.* What’s funny is that the cloudy glass looks exactly like my glasses. Weird!

I love this stuff so much that I want everyone to try it. I *love* getting great green products out into your hands. I know that if you just try it, you’ll love it too.

—-Update! We have a winner!—-
The giveaway portion is over 🙂 Thank you to everyone that participated!

Congratulations to Wilma! Enjoy!

With that in mind, I contacted Lemi-Shine and asked that they help me do just that 😀 They were so sweet and helpful. They are offering up a great gift pack to one lucky reader and a whole lot of samples for me to pass out too! If you don’t win the gift pack, be on the lookout! I’ll randomly contact a bunch of you to send out samples 😀

Want to win it?! Here’s your chance!
Please leave a separate comment for each entry in order to have it counted.

This entry is mandatory! If you do not do this, your other entries will not count!
Visit the Lemi-Shine website and tell me something you learned, or why you would love to try this product. Include your email address and the words “Live Green” somewhere in your comment.

Want more entries?

*Follow us and tweet this giveaway! Please tweet, “Never have cloudy dishes again! Win @LemiShine from @EFFblog http://bit.ly/1jtGb1 #ecofriendly #eco #green” Leave a comment with a link to your status. Tweet daily for more entries!

*Follow Lemi-Shine on Twitter, leave a comment

*Follow our blog and post letting me know that you are 🙂 (right side bar)

*Become a member of our new Green Living Community, leave a comment letting me know.

*Join our new email newsletter (right sidebar) for notices on special events coming up for the blog.

*Put the EFF Blog Button on your blog sidebar or web page. Leave a link!

*Become a fan of the EFF blog on Facebook, leave a comment.

*Become a fan of Lemi-Shine on Facebook, leave a comment.

*Post about this giveaway on your blog or other social media. Leave a comment with a link.

and as always, Good Luck and Enjoy!

US Only. Giveaway ends February 24th. I’ll use random.org to pick a winner. I will email the winner. If I do not hear back within 48 hours a new winner will be picked.

FCC Disclaimer: I was not provided the product to review for the giveaway (I love this product, thank you Lemi-Shine for helping me spread the love!). No money or other perks were given. All reviews are my own and honest opinions. For more information about this blog please look here. For giveaway guidelines please look here.

148 Responses

  1. I visited their site and learned that from their hardwater map, I live in one of the hardest water areas. I also learned that it can help me get rid of the hard water ring stain on our toilets–they've been there since I moved in and I've tried everything to get them off.

    LIVE GREEN!!

    jilldaniel_wv@yahoo.com

  3. Wow, according to their map I also live in a hard water area! I had no idea! Must explain why all my dishes come out cloudy! I can't wait to get my hands on some of this stuff!
    Live Green!
    willyjean8 at hotmail dot com

  6. I have the EFF blog badge posted on my blog (click on my name and it will take you there!)

    willyjean8 at hotmail dot com

  8. I would enjoy lemi-shine because like you have cloudy dishes that I re-wash. I hate that. It wastes water! LIVING GREEN means not wasting water. =)

  9. I would enjoy lemi-shine because like you have cloudy dishes that I re-wash. I hate that. It wastes water! LIVING GREEN means not wasting water. =)

  16. OH my gosh are you for REAL? I seriously want this. Ever since moving to the PNW we've struggled with having the whole cloudy dish problem and have been having such trouble finding stuff that works to clear it! It's sick because all of our glasses have the scum on the bottom and I always feel embarrassed when we have people over. This would be GREAT for that! Vinegar helps a little bit but it's still there. Always. On their website I also learned that the package is completely recyclable so that's another way to ensure that we still LIVE GREEN 🙂

    thecrunchywife at gmail dot com

  28. This product really intrigues me, becuase my husband and I have the cloudy dish problem, but so do my parents. I might have to gift some Lemi-Shine to my mom. I also like all the other uses that they have on their website, particularly the coffee pot cleaner. My husband is a coffee fanatic, we would never be able to get rid of it at our house like you did. Anyways it would be nice to also use it for cleaning our overused coffee pot.

    Live Green!

    farmgirlmeetscityboy@gmail.com

  32. I learned that they recycle and care lots about the earth. I would love to try this product because it is green and good for the planet.
    Live Green!

  35. I learned that you can use it to clean a shower door! Ours has that film on it that just won't come off! Live Green!

  37. I checked out the site and was happy to find that the products are not tested on animals. I read about the Machine Clean and really want to try this on my dish and clothes washers and garbage disposal! I couldn't find where the other commenter found which areas were more likely to have hard water though. 🙁

    Live Green!
    aoh613@gmail.com

  38. I checked out the site and was happy to find that the products are not tested on animals. I read about the Machine Clean and really want to try this on my dish and clothes washers and garbage disposal! I couldn't find where the other commenter found which areas were more likely to have hard water though. 🙁

    Live Green!
    aoh613@gmail.com

  54. I subscribed to the newsletter!

    And I found the hard water map – its under the main product lemi-shine, for anyone else looking!

  62. I checked out the website and I really want to try the septic-pro product now. It was interesting to find out that I now live in an area only one step up on the hard water scale than Boston(where I used to live). I can feel the difference on my skin.

    Live Green!
    johannadc2b@gmail.com

  64. I went to the website and learned that when you initially soak the product in your dishwasher overnight, it removes years of build-up. Yuck! Live green.

  70. I would so love to get a sample of this product – I was just noting on my blog the other day the struggles with ecofriendly dish detergent and getting the dishes clean – I have yet to find something that really works well.

    Live Green!
    adg6283@gmail.com

  75. I have cloudy dishes too!
    I would love to LIVE GREENer and try this product.

    Brownie0516 @ hotmail.com

    Jessica W.

  78. I learned that they don't do any animal testing. I'd love to try this product. Live Green!
    strawberrytwirl at hotmail dot com

    1. Lemi Shine is indeed tested on animals, which is why I won’t use it.
      Look at the MSDS for Lemi Shine available on their website.
      The Toxicity section references LD50 values for rats and rabbits.
      LD50 is the amount that kills one-half of the test population.
      Those that survive are also killed after the test.
      Extreme animal cruelty for a cleaning product.
      It’s undeniable since it is in their own document on their own website.

      1. I correct my earlier comment. On further research, Lemi Shine claims that the LD50 results from historical industry testing on the ingredients and that Envirocon Technologies does not do any animal testing of their products.

  98. Hmm, I have hard water too according to the web site! Of course, I never rewash my dishes, I just leave them cloudy! Living green means not rewashing!

  99. I try to live green but haven't found a good dishwashing detergent yet, and would be excited to try this. i learned that you can use it for many things too, like disinfecting the disposal, which we could use! (kkopchok [at] gmail)

  100. I try to live green but haven't found a good dishwashing detergent yet, and would be excited to try this. i learned that you can use it for many things too, like disinfecting the disposal, which we could use! (kkopchok [at] gmail)

  107. Live Green! I love my dishwasher, but I have had it up to…here… with the crappy water quality in this area. blech. I'd love to try something "green" that would help keep my FiestaWare pretty!!

    **Also, I use the phosphate free Palmolive liquid dish detergent. It works well. (except for the hard water…) if this stuff you're talking about works, I could stop softening my water!! Which would make me SOOO HAPPY!!! YEAH!!

    Thanks!

    **Here's hoping I can get my hands on a sample. 🙂

  111. I couldn't live without LemiShine because my dishes always come out frosted white. I totally recommend the powder but we didn't have as much success with the liquid. I love to "live green"!

    avinsmomma at gmail dot com

  114. I am following your blog (Amanda Prim) now I can learn more about how to Live Green

    avinsmomma at gmail dot com

  119. I would love to win some LemiShine because our dishwasher turns all our dishes frosted white!
    Live green!

    mirpkered at gmail dot com

  126. Live Green! I'd like to try this because I'm not a big fan of regular rinse agent and this looks like a good product to use!

  137. Question: I picked this up over the weekend to try but when looking on the website it says that not to use with painted mugs. Every mug we own has a design on it. Did you notice a problem with this?

  138. I have used it on all of my dishes. It (or my detergent) may be causing a problem w/ my non-stick pans, but really, I want to replace those with cast iron, so I'm not concerned. Though I've read that those should be hand-washed anyhow.

    As for my mugs, they all look great. No issues there.

    If they are special to you, I'd try a couple that aren't first and see. Your water may make a difference, and also the amount you use.

    I use about 1/2 a tablespoon or so per load right along side my detergent.

    Use your judgment as well. I have lots of reusable water bottles that are labeled dishwasher safe, but I don't put them in the dishwasher. Along with a few other items. Not because of the lemi-shine, but because of the harshness of the detergents.

    Hope that helps!

  139. I have used it on all of my dishes. It (or my detergent) may be causing a problem w/ my non-stick pans, but really, I want to replace those with cast iron, so I'm not concerned. Though I've read that those should be hand-washed anyhow.

    As for my mugs, they all look great. No issues there.

    If they are special to you, I'd try a couple that aren't first and see. Your water may make a difference, and also the amount you use.

    I use about 1/2 a tablespoon or so per load right along side my detergent.

    Use your judgment as well. I have lots of reusable water bottles that are labeled dishwasher safe, but I don't put them in the dishwasher. Along with a few other items. Not because of the lemi-shine, but because of the harshness of the detergents.

    Hope that helps!

  140. I just found your blog and have been reading through all of your posts. I love it! Thanks for sharing all of your tips! We have really bad hard water and my dishes come out with the white film… I am so excited to go out and try this product!

  141. I just found your blog and have been reading through all of your posts. I love it! Thanks for sharing all of your tips! We have really bad hard water and my dishes come out with the white film… I am so excited to go out and try this product!

  142. Just bought some of this stuff (my dishwasher is running right now for the first time!) When I googled for reviews of this product your blog popped up. I feel better knowing I didn’t just buy something stupid. I hope it works as well for me and if it does I will definitely be reading more of your reviews!

    1. Thanks so much for stopping by. I have been using it for years now and still refuse to run my machine without it because I know it’ll end in cloudiness and frustration. I hope that you love it as much as I do 🙂

      Another tip is to add vinegar to your rinse compartment (where Jet Dry or something similar would usually go). It works just as well, though honestly I don’t even need that when using the Lemi-Shine.

  143. Hi there! Quick question that’s totally off topic.

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  144. Just confirming that Lemishine products are not tested on animals? I certainly hope not because it is the only thing that keeps my dishes presentable.

    1. That is correct, Envirocon (Lemi Shine’s company) does not do any animal testing. According to a statement, “Lemi Shine has not at any point tested on animals. Our MSDS has LD50 on it based on historical data collected from industry trade ingredients.”