If you are looking for a natural dishwashing liquid to brighten up your spring cleaning this year, Biokleen has a great non-toxic biodegradable dishwashing liquid in Lemon Thyme. I've been using it consistently for a couple of months now, and have been just as consistently pleased with its scent and cleaning ability. It contains plant surfactants and grapefruit seed extract for cleaning power, and aloe and vitamin E to moisturize the skin.

The fragrance is light and totally natural, stemming from a blend of lemon and thyme extract. It smells softly of lemon juice with a subtle backbone of herbaceous woodiness from the thyme, and fills the kitchen with a scent that is both soothing and refreshing once you get the soapy suds going in steaming hot water. It cleans as well as any other dishwashing liquid I've used, although as with many natural cleaning products, I sometimes feel the need to use a bit more than I would with a non-natural product. It effectively removes lingering food scents from tupperware and other plastic containers. The fragrance is perhaps not as interesting as some of the Seventh Generation cleaners I've reviewed in the past, but I don't need my dishwashing liquid to be all that interesting, just natural, pleasant and effective — and this one is.

Biokleen Lemon Thyme is the only dishwashing liquid I've ever purchased which claims it can be used as a bubble bath or pet shampoo. I couldn't quite bring myself to bathe in it, especially after using it for several months in the kitchen, but if anyone has tried, or intends to try, do let us know how it goes!

Biokleen Lemon Thyme Dishwash is available at drugstore.com, $5.99 for 32 oz.