In this phase, hot water is the key—but keep in mind the heat isn’t intended to truly sanitize your dishes. © 2020 Your Best Digs - All rights reserved. It’s fairly well known that oil (which attracts dirt) and water don’t mix. Washing by hand is kinder to your dishes and will significantly lengthen the life of stoneware, flatware, glassware, and cookware, especially fine non-stick finishes on pots and pans. Bryan is our cooking and kitchen expert, with more than 15 years of experience of cooking and testing kitchen products. There are many elements to consider when buying dishwashing liquid to ensure that you buy the best one for you. We originally made the hypothesis that there would be some that were thinner than others. The higher price tag is offset by the smaller amount needed to clean and its multiple household uses. The Puracy soap is so concentrated that each 16-oz bottle can wash at least 150 sinks full of dishes. Did you know you should wash your glassware first? Dishwashing soaps come in all varieties. Personal taste determines whether these traits are pleasing, as some prefer a clear soap with no fragrance and others prefer something more stimulating to the senses. Just Naturals is a top-performing concentrated, biodegradable dish soap that’s tough on grease but gentle on the hands. Use your preferred brand of detergent and pour vinegar into the "rinse aid" compartment of your dishwasher. Dishwashing soap suds will break down faster depending on the amount of food and grease introduced. In case you didn’t know, Dawn dishwashing soap is what they use to clean the oil from animals impacted by oil spills. These days, we all want to pinch a few pennies, so why pay more if you don’t have to? The concern is the apparent link between the chemical and cancer, and many scientists have confirmed that 1,4 dioxane can be carcinogenic. It contains Siberian fir oil which gives it its nice fragrance and only a B grade. We then filled a sink with two gallons of water at 110 °F. For the final test, we smeared a plate with a tablespoon of baked beans and baked it in the oven at 350 °F for 20 minutes, nearly burning the food onto the plate. One of their biggest triumphs is the refill pouch: nearly all of Method’s soaps and cleaners can be purchased in a bottle made from recycled materials or a large refill pouch that requires less plastic, less energy, and less water to produce than the bottles. Therefore, we did not score these features, but instead, noted them during our testing as additional information. There is increasing evidence that a little more exposure to germs can stimulate and benefit the immune system. Fortunately, there are a variety of online articles and blog posts about how to hand-wash dishes. We noticed Ajax uses what they refer to as a natural lemon fragrance, but we still aren’t sure about any added chemicals in that process as they aren’t listed. Olive oil is a fairly light oil that stays liquid at any temperature above 21 °F. While it foams up nicely, it still required a bit more scrubbing to get the dishes clean, but eventually got the job done. He thoroughly enjoys discovering the best, whether it’s ingredients or equipment, and finding products that can stand the rigors of daily use. The hydrophobic end repels water and attaches to the oil. With the best dishwashing soaps, the oil slid off as we pulled the dish out of the water and the plates came out nearly squeaky clean. According to Good Housekeeping, there are 13 kitchen items that shouldn’t ever be put in the dishwasher. List of Top 10 Best hand dish soap for hard water In Detailed Bestseller No. So, consumers should educate themselves to make sure they find the right balance of performance, pleasure, price and impact. Products labeled “fragrance-free” or that specify the fragrances added are more likely to be environmentally friendly, as a lot of chemicals can be hidden in the terms ‘fragrance’ and ‘colorant.’ The more natural the ingredients, the greener the product is. The Biokleen Natural Dish Soap comes in a well-sized 32-oz bottle. And, in the baked-on food test, the food completely dissolved, falling off the plate as it was pulled from the water. Blueland's Hand Soap Starter Set is a great option, as it comes with foaming soap tablets that you simply plop into the reusable bottle with water. Therefore, it is the best liquid dish soap for hard water. It does have a nice yellow color and lemon scent that are quite pleasing. Gel. First, your utility bills will be lower than using all but the most efficient dishwashing machine. This is called the “hygiene hypothesis” which speculates that the rise in childhood allergies may be the result of too little exposure to bacteria early in life. Dawn – Platinum Power Clean. One drop of dish soap was added to each and they were shaken. In fact, you can purchase your own glass or recycled plastic bottle to re-use and fill with Method’s refill pouches. A: Eco-friendly cleaning products are absolutely better for the environment, but if they don’t work effectively, then you’re adding chemicals to the environment pointlessly. 56 ($0.35/Ounce) Not only does it naturally kill germs, but it is also soothing to the senses with its uplifting 100% pure essential oils. But Dr. Bronner’s delivered in nearly every category. Great value, but with moderate cleaning performance that requires you use more soap to get the job done. They look at the ingredients to determine any chemicals known to cause skin irritations, asthma, cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity and harm to the environment. The scent comes from natural lemon extract, so it’s nice to know the great smell we liked is real. The minerals actually chemically interact with the surfactants in the soap, making it less effective. But there are actually some very sound reasons for washing dishes by hand. Better Life is another reportedly eco-friendly dish washing soap. We’ve researched and scoured the market and can help you choose the best dish soap for your kitchen. They may be available in large containers that can be decanted, instead of having to buy many small bottles over time. Next, we added a teaspoon of soap liquid and stirred it up with our hand to create bubbles. These work by solubilizing oils so that they can be rinsed away. Be sure to test both the hot and the cold water since hot water heaters can produce minerals that lead to harder water. Cleaning ability: Any detergent is going to cut oil and grease to a degree, but we wanted to make the test more difficult by looking at how well they cut both liquid and solid oils, as well as baked on food. A study published in the Journal of Pediatrics suggests that families who wash dishes by hand are less susceptible to allergies than those who use dishwashers. Since it’s that tough on crude oil, we knew it would have no trouble with food — and we were right. A Swedish research team surveyed over 1,000 families in Sweden with children ages seven to eight. In other words, the concentration of 1,4-dioxane in dish soap is far too low to be dangerous. Soft water is naturally occurring and rainwater is naturally soft. There are no colors added but they did add a fragrance. Remedy: Add ½ to 1 cup of vinegar to your rinse cycle. We whittled down the list to 14 finalists and pitted them against each other to find that Dr. Bronner’s – Sal Suds is the best dish soap available. We let it sit for three minutes without being scrubbed. Approximately 85% of households in the United States have what is known as “hard water.” Hard water is identified by the number of minerals in the water, specifically calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn). This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. You will love the creamy lather this soap foams in hard water. On tough grease, the soap actually breaks apart the oil at a molecular level: the soap molecule has a hydrophilic end and a hydrophobic end. of blue liquid detergent. The only unfortunate thing we could find is that your dishes will be done before you can read all the great and entertaining information on the label. Hard water really makes a mess of dishes and if you have particularly hard water you can end up with glassware that ends up looking more like china than glass due to insane levels of buildup. Finish Dishwasher Cleaner. Through all of this research, we were able to reduce a large group of dishwashing soaps down to a manageable 14. After soaking for 10 minutes, it was quite easy to wipe the rest away. Thanks to the pure coconut used in its making. It is supposed to smell like pink geranium. Consumers have also found that certain chemicals used in cleaning products are disruptive to their health, potentially causing asthma, skin reactions, reproductive issues and even cancer. Puracy Natural is a good choice for those with skin or lung sensitivities. 1. After soaking for five minutes, most of the larger pieces of food came off on their own. So, we removed that from our scoring. A good choice for the eco-conscious that's scent-free and delivers effecting cleaning power. Balancing cleaning capability against environmental safety is a difficult task: these top-performing recommendations manage it well. Other versions of Better Life however received A grades. Overall, it looks like a saint when compared to C grade products, which are often combinations of ingredients with even worse grades. They grade commonly used consumer products from A-F. We looked at both smell and feel to provide a helpful guide. Oil is attracted to the hydrophobic end and water to the hydrophilic end, splitting the moisture apart from the oil and making it easy to sweep and rinse away. We actually thought this would be quite the challenge, but most detergents handled it surprisingly well. Laundry: Hard water doesn’t rinse the soap off as well.. Free of parabens and phthalates, and cruelty-free, the formula is highly concentrated, so only a few drops are needed to render a sinkful of dishes sparkling. So, in order to determine the best regular soap and the best eco-friendly soap, we first compiled a list of all of the most commonly-purchased dish soaps by looking at ratings and reviews on Amazon, Target and Walmart. We went through each dishwashing soap and calculated the cost per ounce for the best price found at either Amazon, Target or Walmart. A soft water not only cleans your dishes in the dishwasher but also uses less detergent and energy to help you save money. True to its reputation, it was a terrific grease cutter. The three-level racking system offers up to 16 place settings.Providing additional space for flat culinary items, the full 3rd rack can also be removed to accommodate lower levels.The upper rack is … Using more detergent helps prevent mineral deposits from heavy tap water. Top 10 Best Dishwasher Detergent for Hard Water. It’s impossible to choose a product without any chemicals and expect it to clean dishes well, so you’re looking for a balance between the necessary chemicals and skipping the rest—resulting in fast, effective dish soap that’s healthy for your family and the environment. We must be onto something since EWG gave it a D grade for fragrance, saying it contains a certain chemical that are known allergens. Advertisement. For those with very sensitive skin or who need to wash a lot of dishes and prefer not to wear gloves, these substances can cause irritation, rashes, dryness, and itching. In addition, more of the water you use goes directly to cleaning and less is wasted. The best remedy for hard water is simple household white vinegar. We were able to find it for $.05 per ounce. Scientists, however, have specified that to be carcinogenic, a person must be near to a concentrated form of the chemical and breathing it in for lengthy periods of time—such as working in a factory where it’s produced without wearing protective gear. We really liked its light and natural-smelling fragrance and there are no colors added, meaning one less thing to harm the environment or trigger sensitivities. Join our newsletter to get notified of the best products available for your home. Dawn contains surfactants to help power through grease but uses only biodegradable surfactants that will break down before entering the environment in the groundwater stream. A score of one meant no suds, a score of three meant full sink coverage, but suds only a couple of inches deep. The American Society of Agricultural Engineers and the Water Quality Association has a degree of hardness standard that will help you determine if and how you should treat your water. How to choose? Cost per use: Lastly, all things being relatively equal, it comes down to price. Ecover – Naturally Derived Liquid Dish Soap, Tea Consumption & Industry Statistics in 2020. We documented the color and fragrance of each dish soap. We wanted to make sure we were washing dishes correctly, so we turned to howtocleanstuff.net for advice. We have included these grades in our scoring. However, if your white clothes start to look gray after a few washes or you notice spots on glasses that you’ve air-dried, you probably have harder water. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. And the same garden-inspired scents can be found in liquid dish soap, hand soap, and all-purpose cleaner for a complete kitchen aromatherapy experience. One of the best varieties is called a castile soap , a mild formula with a high concentration of coconut or other oils. Although Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds wins for best natural dishwashing soap, we wanted to award an honorable mention to Puracy’s natural dish soap. This dish soap by Better Life boasts 100% plant-derived cleaning agents and scents and is, therefore, one of the best all-natural dish soaps available. The best way to do this is to read the ingredient list. We looked at how effective and efficient the different brands are, along with their price and appeal. Owing to such ingredients like coconut oil, other natural essential oils, and Himalayan pink sea salt, this soap is very gentle on skin and yet … But, don’t put your hand inside the glass as it could break. Note that Dawn does contain some fragrance and colorant. Though it doesn’t make a lot of suds, it sent grease sliding off the plate and cut stuck-on food with ease. It has a fresh pine scent, likely due to the Siberian fir needle oil and spruce leaf oil. To wash dishes by hand, use 1 cup of vinegar in the rinse water. If you love clean and fresh scents, then you will like Kirk’s Original Coco Castile Bar Soap Soothing Aloe Vera. Pure water that is actually soft water is always best for everything like your dishwasher but keep in mind that too much soft water is dangerous for your dishwasher. Your Best Digs saves you time and money with reviews of the products you need. Dishwashing can take some time so we checked the lifespan of the suds to ensure they all lasted at least 20 minutes. True to its commitment to the environment, refill pouches using less plastic are available once you’ve run through your first 3-pack of bottles. About the photo: These bottles have the same 14 grain hard water in them. Washing dishes by hand is not going to be completely replaced by the machine anytime soon. It received a great score from the EWG in those areas. In case you didn’t ... J. R. Watkins. This dish soap is dermatologist-tested to be hypoallergenic and free of dyes, phosphates, and triclosan, and the bottle states the benefits of the chemicals it does include—glycerin, for example, is part of the formulation because it is soothing to the skin and also stabilizes the foamy suds produced by the soap. The Method soap comes in a pack of six, so it will last you a while. BobVila.com and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. It didn’t foam as high as some of the other dish soaps but had enough foam to convince us it could do the job. If you aren’t sure whether you have hard or soft water, you can easily test it yourself using water test strips. Budget is a consideration for many shoppers, but when purchasing dish soap, a lower price doesn’t necessarily mean less expensive overall. As it filters through the soil and drains, it picks up the minerals that make it hard, and so must be treated to strip it of all minerals except for sodium, before it can be delivered to public water systems as soft water. It has essential Oils Lemon, Bergamot, Lavender and Orange, Aloe Vera Vitamin E, and Macadamia Nut Oil. Frankly, given it’s referred to as a biodegradable soap, we had our doubts about its potency. For a more cost-efficient approach that’s still eco-friendly, Puracy – Natural Dish Soap is effective and scent-free. The dish soap is not tested on animals and the packaging is made from recycled materials. Finally, we donned our rubber gloves and went to work individually testing each one. Be careful when making your selection. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. But before getting into the rankings, here are our top three choices: Lemi Shine Dishwashing Detergent. Remedies: If you have hard water, there are a couple ways you’ll see the effects. Surprisingly, there was quite a difference between the different soap varieties. Another tip that I read on this site is to mix liquid hand dishwashing detergent with baking soda and make a paste. We do extensive research and hands-on testing, so you can trust the products we recommend. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find our version in the EWG database, so we gave it the points from a C grade. Think carefully about what you want to contribute to groundwater with your dish soap choice. Best Dish Soap for Soft Hands: Dawn Hand Renewal ... can wash before the suds "break" or flatten out — or when the water gets too dirty to do any more cleaning. The soap breaks up particles and makes them slippery and easier to remove. The EWG loves Dr. Bronner’s – Biodegradable Sal Suds and we do too. It’s made with plant-based powergreen technology combined with a biodegradable ultra grease-fighting formula, that’s kind to your hands and the environment. Puracy Dish Soap Natural Liquid Detergent, 9 Ways You’re Loading the Dishwasher Wrong, 12 Inventive Ideas for a Budget Backsplash, 9 Design Pros Share Their Favorite Shade of White Paint. Seventh Generation is a name that is synonymous with high-quality cleaning products that work well and use no fragrances, dyes, or unnecessary chemicals. It moisturizes the hands leaving them smooth and soft. However, we found that the worst dish soaps did nothing to dissolve it, leaving it on the plate nearly the same as when it went into the water. Wash in order of least soiled and rinse each item separately with hot water. Adding color and fragrance generally means adding more chemicals. Did you know you should wash your glassware first? We spent nearly 60 hours between research and testing in search of the best dishwashing soap. Like Dawn, we also really liked J. R. Watkins for its ability to cut through grease. Glisten Dishwasher Magic Cleaner and Disinfectant. The vinegar will remove any deposits from your dishes during the … In warm water (110 °F) with a teaspoon of liquid, we expect that oil and grease should dissolve and leave the dish squeaky clean. The manufacturer has donated more than 100,000 bottles to wildlife relief organizations. Overall, this dish soap is effective while being gentle and non-irritating. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. Like Puracy, it was a terrific degreaser and did fine on stuck-on food. It is packaged in a bottle containing 250ml (8.45 oz.) We found the range to be anywhere from $.05 to $.61 per ounce, so it really depends on the value of the features to the user. The natural elements in the Puracy soap work together to break up grease and food particles, while the plant-based skin and water softeners go to work on your water, making it easier to create suds and condition your hands. One quick way to tell if you have hard or soft water is to see how sudsy your water gets when dish soap is added: if suds develop quickly when just a small amount is added, your water is most likely soft. Washing dishes by hand using dish soap has a variety of benefits. Ecover. We might as well look for ways to make it more enjoyable. As you can clearly see, the one on the right has made much more … Those buyers should look specifically for sensitive-skin formulations or choices without dyes, fragrances, or sulfates, which are likely to cause additional skin irritation. It cuts the grease without harming the skin. Be mindful that prices vary constantly and that this is just a general guide. Products labeled as eco-friendly will include fewer or no chemicals that may be damaging to plant and animal life. If the water gets too dirty, don’t be afraid to change it. We also read the reviews on the EWG site. It had a pleasant fragrance and is quite cost-effective. Avoid chemicals such as sodium lauryl sulfate, chlorine, phosphates, and triclosan, which have been determined to be potentially harmful. When washing dishes, you should fill a sink with water as warm as you can tolerate, but not any hotter. The hydrophilic end attracts water. Lemi Shine Booster Natural Lemon Dishwasher Detergent Additive Hard Water Stain Remover for Dishes and Glassware 24oz - 2 Pack Bundle 4.8 out of 5 stars 638 $16.56 $ 16 . Reviewers on Amazon give it a 4.1 rating out of 5, so it shows many Ajax users are quite happy. The chemical is not dangerous to you at this level; however, some may choose to avoid products containing this chemical out of concern for those who are regularly exposed to it during production. As we suspected, there were a few detergents that required a little more scrubbing with our Scotch-Brite sponge to get the plate clean. Lemi Shine Complete Dishwasher 4 Piece Bundle. However, it only scored a C grade with EWG as it is said to contain chemicals that may impact those with skin or respiratory allergies, as well as ingredients known to be toxic to aquatic animals. Right away, we noticed that the “feel” or consistency across all of the dish soaps was nearly the same. A: There has recently been some controversy surrounding the safety of 1,4 dioxane and its inclusion in dish detergent products. True to its reputation, it was a terrific grease cutter. To start off our list, we have the Finish Dishwasher Cleaner. We gathered up our equipment for the testing. So what is in Puracy? Better Life. Some dish soaps also include antibacterial agents to kill any leftover bacteria and may include a rinse agent to prevent buildup on the dishes. The natural and nonirritating soap softens hand softening and soothes them. The cleaning aisle is full of brightly-colored potions, each designed to catch your eye and convince you it will be the answer to making your cleaning routine easier, faster, and your home healthier. Generally, that means either sodium lauryl ethyl sulfate (SLES) or sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). In addition, some bargain products compensate for gentler, more expensive chemicals by using harsh detergents that cost less to manufacture—your hands, dishes, and the environment will pay for those. While this may turn out to be a personal preference, we did assign a score to each one. It still cleans well but keeps your hands from drying. The best natural dish soaps for baby bottles, pots and pans, and travel, including fragrance-free soap, dye-free soap, sulfate-free soap, and preservative-free soap. It was an excellent degreaser, cutting the olive oil easily. Shiny bathroom surfaces: Hard water leaves soap scum (ring around the tub). Even better than portable hand sanitizer. Detergents, like dishwashing soap, may have chemicals such as 1,4 dioxane and phosphates that are harmful to our water sources as well as our health. While it does contain some sulfates, they’re chosen carefully for effectiveness and selected specifically because they will not affect waterways, plants, or animals after being diluted. All dish soaps we tested were clear aside from Ajax (yellow), Palmolive (green) and Dawn Ultra (blue). Finish Dishwasher Cleaner. This included white ceramic plates, Scotch-Brite sponges (although we would have enjoyed the top pick in our kitchen sponge review) a thermometer for testing the water and all of the bottles of dishwashing soap. This works great to scrub bathtubs, sinks, etc. By reading a lot of reviews, we found out what people liked or disliked, such as whether it was economical or sudsy enough or efficient or how it smells. This formula is ultra-concentrated, so only a few drops are necessary to clean a sinkful of dishes—which cuts down on how much you need to use and how often you have to replace the bottle. Since the minerals tend to fall out of the water as it is heated and dried, hard water can leave cloudy droplets on glassware. To determine which type of water you have, simple test kits are available at home improvement and hardware stores. Puracy’s Dish Soap Natural Liquid Detergent is one of the closest to all-natural options you’ll find on the market: it’s free of sulfates, triclosan, parabens, petrochemicals, animal by-products, toxins, perfumes, and harsh ingredients that dry the skin. We all know it’s the best. Though hard water can safely be consumed and used for washing, it can cause other issues. The Dawn dish soap contains no phosphates—in fact, Dawn is so gentle that it is the cleaner of choice to bathe wildlife that has been coated in oil spills and hazmat situations. Our test theory was that dishwashing soaps should bind with the oil and remove it without any need for scrubbing. This proved not to be true. Use vinegar in the rinse water when doing dishes, it helps neutralize the alkaline detergent/soap for the cleanest possible rinse and prevents hard water spots by breaking down mineral deposits. Hand washing dishes is a necessity from time to time and it can be difficult to select a dish soap that will clean your dishes without poisoning the environment and drying out your hands. Cleaning dirty dishes is where it really shined. More on that later. Low cost was about the only honor we could give it, however. Ajax – Super Degreaser took top honors for the cheapest dishwashing soap we tested. None of our reviews are sponsored. The 36-oz Method Dish Soap Refill is lightly scented with delightful options including sea minerals, clementine, lime and sea salt, or lemon mint. Citrus extracts and grapefruit seed oil help Biokleen cut through grease and tough baked-on food, while aloe and vitamins gently condition your hands as you wash—there are no harsh chemicals here to damage your hands or your dishes. All this gentleness, however, doesn’t mean that the Seventh Generation Dish Soap is weak: it powers through grease and food particles, leaving your dishes sparkling clean. More specifically, surfactants like SLES and SLE break up the oil into smaller drops that become water soluble. The satisfaction you get for its human safety and its low impact on the environment is well worth the extra cost. The Seventh Generation Dish Soap is made mostly from sustainable plant materials and was awarded certification from the EPA as a Safer Choice product, containing 95 percent biologically-based ingredients. Use hot water and dish soap to remove food and grease The first step to an effective (and efficient) hand-washing regimen is removing leftover food or grease from your dishes. These are the best dish soaps from Mrs. Meyers, Seventh Generation, Dawn, Babyganics, and more. Other finalists we tested. Lemi Shine Booster Natural Lemon Dishwasher Detergent Additive Hard Water Stain Remover for Dishes and Glassware 24oz - 2 Pack Bundle 4.8 out of 5 stars 1,576 Kirk's Natural Castile Soap Original - 4 oz Each, 3 ct 4.6 out of 5 stars 792 To get your dishes completely clean, you may have to switch to one of the best detergents for hard water. It handled both oil and food stains like a champ. Keep an eye on packaging: the bottles are ideally made of recycled material or can be recycled themselves. We really liked Dawn – Platinum Power Clean. In case of hard water … The dishwasher can cause damage, not clean the item thoroughly or could harm the dishwasher itself. So it was a bit of a surprise that any dishwashing soap would struggle to remove the olive oil. It can also be used as laundry soap, an all-purpose spray cleaner, window washing spray and a vegetable wash. Because it is biodegradable, it is also the best multi-purpose soap to take camping or backpacking. Apparently, washing dishes is not the only thing Dr. Bronner’s – Sal Suds is good for. They found that only 23% of children whose parents used hand dishwashing had a history of asthma and eczema, compared to 38% of families who used dishwashers. The fresh natural citrus scent of the Biokleen dish soap is uplifting and the formulation cleans well but is gentle enough for use as a hand soap, bubble bath, or pet shampoo as well as dish soap. Our test theory suggested that the burned-on food would require some scrubbing effort, requiring us to measure the amount of effort needed to thoroughly clean the plate. These highly-rated soaps are the key to sparkling clean dishes thanks to their powerful stain-fighting abilities and gentle formulas. The EWG (Environmental Working Group) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization working to help people live healthier lives in a healthier environment. So, manufacturers use what is known as surfactants to break up non-solubles, like oil and grease. Remedy: Wipe surfaces dry, and clean once or … A multi-purpose cleaner, Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds cuts grease and stuck-on food with ease. All dish soaps include surfactants and anti-grease agents. We noted the amount of foam created. With the dishes stacked to the side, you should wash the items that have touched your mouth first, starting with glasses. ... that comes with hand washing with soap and water. Luckily, the best dishwasher detergents for hard water contain water softeners that help counteract this issue. We found that some of these Amazon soaps require purchase through Pantry or require minimum purchases for them to even sell it to you, whereas you can get away with paying a shipping fee at Target or Walmart and buy smaller quantities at sometimes better prices.