Best Dish Soap
When you go shopping for dish soap, do you pick up the first brand you see? Or are you picky about the dish soap you buy? It’s a product most people use every day, so it makes sense to consider the options available and any features in some that might not be available in others.
Let’s find out about some of the most popular brands of dish soap available on the market today.
Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap
You know this manufacturer of course. They’re the ones who helped get little tiny ducklings clean when they unfortunately ended up in a massive oil spill. Now Dawn has developed their ‘Ultra’ brand, which cleans three times more grease per drop than their non-concentrated version, and paired it with a non-scratch sponge. The result is 50% less scrubbing, and you can do more dishes with less dishwashing soap.
This is the most popular dishwashing liquid on the market, based on sales. Its biodegradable surfactants break up grease, fast. And its original scent smells fantastic. In addition to leaving your dishes spotless, Dawn Ultra does a great job of cleaning grease off kitchen cabinets. It also cleans fingerprints and smudges from stainless steel appliances. And if you have accidentally poured something oily down your drain, it can help with unclogging.
You can use this product outside your kitchen too. Use it to remove stains and musty smells on clothing and delicate textiles, or to break up a greasy stain on your carpet. Try it on your driveway if you have any grease spots. And clean your car tires and rimes by combining a teaspoon of Dawn in hot water.
The sponge has a scrubber side that takes care of grease and baked on food. The other side is made of absorbent cellulose which gets your dishes sparkling with its gentle but mighty cleaning action. It has a unique patented wedge shape. This helps it to tackle tight corners to get at the grease that is hidden away. You can toss the sponge in the dishwasher or washing machine for cleaning.
This product consistently gets great reviews from users. They are definitely loyal to this brand. The only complaints seem to be related to occasional shipping damage, and not the dish soap itself.
Pros
- ‘Ultra’ brand – cleans three times more grease than their non-concentrated version
- 50% less scrubbing; does more dishes with less dish soap
- Biodegradable surfactants break up grease fast, and leave dishes spotless
- Also great for cleaning kitchen cabinets, stainless steel appliances
- Breaks up grease on carpet, clothing, car tires
- Comes with sponge with scrubber side for grease, and absorbent, gentle cleaning side
Cons
- Some containers have arrived damaged from shipping
Earth Friendly ECOS Dishmate Dish Liquid
If you’re looking for a dish soap manufacturer that makes an affordable product which keeps your health and planet Earth in mind, look no further. This dish soap is a natural grease buster that is free of many harmful chemicals such as parabens, chlorine, and phthalates. Plants make up 97% of this soap, and it uses bark extract to cut the grease. It works well, smells great, and is good for the environment.
This plant-powered soap is a good cleaner. Just a few drops of this soap can clean an entire sink of dirty dishes.
This soap gives off a fresh, fruity yet subtle scent while cleaning your dishes. You can choose from apricot, pear, lemon, or grapefruit scent. Or if you want something different, there are also lavender or almond scents, or ‘free & clear’ (unscented).
This dish soap is gentle on your hands. It is free of perfumes and dyes. It is also hypoallergenic, gluten-free, and vegan. All ingredients are thoughtfully sourced, sustainable, and never tested on animals. This soap is pH balanced and readily biodegradable. It is made in a facility that is carbon neutral and committed to protecting the resources of our precious planet.
One drawback is, although it cleans well, this dish soap doesn’t create a lot of suds. However, this is typical of soaps that are better for the environment.
Pros
- Affordable
- Natural grease buster made of 97% plant materials
- Just a few drops will clean an entire sink of dishes
- Gives a subtle scent – choose from apricot, pear, lemon, grapefruit, lavender, and others
- Gentle and free of perfumes and dyes
- Hypoallergenic, gluten-free, vegan, sustainable, never tested on animals
Cons
- Does not create a lot of suds, although this is common with environmentally-friendly soaps
Ecover Zero Dish Soap
This is another environmentally friendly brand that cuts the grease and leaves your dishes spotless. This manufacturer is committed to using recycled packaging, incorporating as many plant-based ingredients in their products as possible, reducing water usage, and decreasing waste. It aims to leave planet Earth a better place.
It contains more cleaning power than ever before, with improved grease cutting and sudsing action. Unlike most other environmentally friendly dish soaps, this one makes lots of suds. It produces sparkling clean dishes with no spots. One squeeze is enough to clean a sink of dirty dishes. This dish soap easily removes stuck-on food, yet is soft on your hands and our planet.
Because this dish soap is non-toxic, many people use it to wash non-porous fruits and vegetables.
It is made of renewable plant-based ingredients, with a non-toxic, biodegradable formula, and is never tested on animals. It contains no dyes or chlorine. Also, the bottle is made of recycled plastic and plant material.
This dish soap is available in three scents: lime zest, geranium, or fragrance-free.
One drawback is, some users have mentioned the price of this product has increased substantially over the past two years. Also, some have noticed this dish soap irritates their hands and makes them dry.
Pros
- Cuts the grease and leaves your dishes spotless
- Makes a lot of suds, unlike most other environmentally friendly brands
- Non-toxic – some people use it to wash their non-porous fruits and vegetables
- Made of renewable plant-based ingredients; contains no dyes or chlorine
- Never tested on animals
Cons
- Price has increased over the past two years
- Some users have found this soap irritates their hands
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Dish Soap
While many brands of dish soap may clean well, they may also irritate your skin and leave your hands itchy and cracked. This all-natural dish soap, on the other hand, cleans dishes well, without using harsh chemical ingredients. Say good-bye to dish pan hands. You won’t have to wear gloves anymore!
This is a biodegradable soap that easily cuts through grease and keeps your dishes, pots, and pans clean and bright. Its plant-based ingredients are tops at cleaning and making grease disappear. It is made without parabens, animal ingredients, and phthalates. The soap is cruelty-free, never tested on animals.
The suds bubble up quickly and clean well. While other brands may be hard to rinse clean, this one rinses quickly and does not leave a residue. It also cleans more dishes than some other brands do. You can even use this dish soap in your bathroom dispenser as a hand soap, or wash your delicate clothing with it.
The garden fresh lemon scent smells like summertime, and this soap also comes in basil and honeysuckle fragrances. It provides soothing aroma therapy while you are doing dishes!
One drawback is, although the vast majority of users have reported this dish soap to be gentle on their hands, a few have said it caused cracking skin. Others have mentioned the scent is overpowering. This dish soap is also a bit more expensive than other brands.
Pros
- Biodegradable
- Cleans dishes well without using harsh chemicals
- Cuts easily through grease and keeps dishes sparkling and bright
- Made without parabens, animal ingredients, and phthalates
- Suds bubble up quickly and rinse off easily without leaving a residue
- Garden lemon scent smells like summertime
Cons
- Expensive
- Some users find this soap is hard on their hands
- The scent may be overpowering for some
No Tox Life Dish Washing Block Soap
This brand is a bit different from the others in that it is a bar of soap for your dishes. It makes lots of rich, sudsy lather, and cleans grease really well from pots and pans. It also washes your glassware and china gently. It even has some added aloe vera to keep your hands soft and smooth.
One bar of this handmade soap lasts a long time, about the equivalent of one or more plastic bottles of soap. Use it with a soft sponge or cloth so it will last longer.
This dish soap is ethically hand made in small batches by a mother-daughter team.
In addition to cleaning your dishes, you can use it to remove stains from laundry and carpet. It is also handy for cleaning walls, stove tops, and counter tops. It cleans stainless, porcelain, and glass sinks safely.
This unscented dish soap is free of dyes and fragrance. It is plastic-free, which results in zero waste for your trash bin. It is vegan, palm oil-free, paraben-free, phosphate-free, sulfate-free, cruelty-free, and is never tested on animals. It is also biodegradable.
One drawback is, because this soap is handmade, it may have fissures and roughness on the edges of the bar. Some users have also mentioned it can leave a white residue and streaks on your dishes. Despite the added aloe, some users have noticed it makes their skin dry.
Pros
- Bar soap instead of liquid in a bottle
- Cleans grease really well and makes lots of suds
- Ethically hand made in small batches by a mother-daughter team
- Unscented version is free of dyes and fragrances
- Vegan, palm oil-free, plastic-free, phosphate-free, sulfate-free, and biodegradable
- Cruelty-free and never tested on animals
Cons
- Can leave a white residue and streaks on dishes
- Some users find it makes their hands dry, despite the added aloe
Seventh Generation Dish Liquid Soap
This affordable, natural dish soap powers through grease and residue and will make your dishes sparkle and shine. It can take care of all kinds of messes, including fussy egg stains. This is a long lasting detergent, with suds that stay bubbly for a considerable time. It also rinses off well.
It is made with 95% plant-based ingredients, with no dyes, phosphates, or triclosan. It is certified as a safer choice by the Environmental Protection Agency. This dish soap does not contain any animal ingredients, and it is never tested on animals. This product comes in 100% recycled packaging.
It contains natural fragrance from essential oils, rather than synthetic fragrance, and the soap is clinically proven to be hypoallergenic. This dish soap comes in a variety of scents, including lemongrass, lavender, mint, and clementine. It leaves a soft, lingering scent.
The only concerns appear to be occasional damage from shipping.
Pros
- Affordable
- Natural, made with 95% plant-based ingredients
- Powers through grease and will make your dishes sparkle
- Certified as a safer choice by Environmental Protection Agency
- Suds stay bubbly for a long time and rinse off well
- Contains natural fragrance from essential oils, in a variety of soft scents
Cons
- None mentioned, other than occasional damage from shipping
What to look for in a dish soap
Now that you have seen some of the most popular brands of dish soap on the market today, let’s take a look at what features to look for when choosing this essential kitchen item.
Cleaning ability
The most important thing to consider is how well the dish soap will clean your dishes, of course. The goals are to clean any remaining food on your dishes, remove any stains, and sanitize them. The ability to remove grease is very important, as water alone cannot break down grease on pots and pans.
Non-toxic
You also want to choose a dish soap that does not contain toxic chemicals. Luckily, there is very little chance of ingesting anything toxic, as the soap is usually diluted with a lot of water. Still, it’s best to choose a brand that is less hazardous, just in case.
Easy on your hands
While you are not likely to ingest anything harmful from washing your dishes, some dish soaps do contain ingredients that can be irritating to your skin. These include phosphates, dyes, and fragrances. Try to find a brand that minimizes the use of these ingredients.
Safe for the environment
Some ingredients found in dish soap can be harmful to the environment. Overall though, any unnatural ingredients in soap are quickly broken down and removed by water treatment facilities. If you want to be totally careful about protecting aquatic life when you are camping, consider washing your dishes with hot water only, or use a biodegradable soap and wash your dishes in an area that is far away from any lakes or streams.
Now that you know the main features to look for when choosing a dish soap, it will be easy to find a brand that suits your needs and those of your family and your environment. The options are endless, and you are sure to find one that cuts grease, is gentle on your hands, and safe for the environment.