Best Overall
Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dish Soap
Runner-Up
Palmolive Ultra Pure + Clear Dish Soap
Best Bang for the Buck
Dawn Ultra Original Dishwashing Liquid
We may earn revenue from the product uncommitted on this page and participate in affiliate political platform . Learn More ›
Doing the dishes may be a part of life , but a good dish soap can make a workaday ritual a spate more enjoyable , not to mention more effective . The proficient dish soap have high - tone biodegradable ingredients that do n’t irritate the skin or lead behind residue on plate . They also help remove grease , grunge , starches , and protein without excessive scrubbing . But with so many options on the grocery store , it ’s hard to fuck which cup of tea grievous bodily harm is estimable .
I recently spent 20 hours examine 10 different stunner soaps — from unscented dish soap to spray soap and even a bar easy lay meant to reduce plastic wastefulness — to see how they hold up against stain , protein , and stiff messes . My preferent overall was theSeventh Generation Free & Clear Dish Soap . It got the highest sign on all of the tests I do , and it is one of the more eco - favorable dish soap options out there . Read on to learn how the good dish max on the market do in our hands - on testing .
Before You Buy a Dish Soap
Before you buy a fresh bottle ( or taproom ) of dish soap , it ’s important to reckon effectiveness , price , and life style . Spray dish easy lay can be convenient , but they may be Laputan when wash in big quantities . A cake of dish goop can trim down plastic consumption , but it may not make for on caked - on flock . works - based and biodegradable dish soaps fail down faster , get out behind less residue or harmful additive in water supply and soil , and are easier on septic system . Dish liquid ecstasy have other uses beyond dishesas well . They can be used as universal dry cleaners or pest control in the garden .
Additives and fragrances may also be a gene . While aroma predilection is subjective , I ’ve noted in this guide which products have strong fragrancy , as this may be a concern for some shoppers . In addition , potentially harmful ingredients , including phthalates , are typically included during the fragrancing cognitive process . Phthalates can cause reaction in some individuals , include tegument irritation and respiratory issues . opt for a fragrance - devoid dish soap can help reduce photo to these additive . Phosphates can be line up in many family production and food in both natural and semisynthetic forms , and studies have establish exposure to phosphates can put up to wellness problems , including kidney disease . Many products state that they are phosphate - free . Sodium lauryl sulphate , or SLS , is a foam agent and common ingredient in dish soap . It may be synthetic or plant derived , but in both forms , it is known to irritate skin and have an allergic response in some individuals .
How We Tested the Best Dish Soaps
I do four trial with each of the dish soaps : crude , starch , protein ( orchis ) , and general household habit . For each test , I remark how in effect each Georgia home boy was on the stains ( on a scale leaf of 1 to 5 ) . I used warm water to evaluate the performance of each easy lay . I also noted residue after rinse . Other evaluating agent included additives , perfume , biodegradability , cost , and versatility of use .
Our Top Picks
Dish soap that requires more soap to get the job done is a wastefulness of money , and goop that are hard to rinse are a thriftlessness of water system . Here are our top picks based on carrying into action and value , maintain resources like budget and water consumption in head .
exposure : Amazon
Our Ratings : Cleaning Power4.5/5 ; Scent5/5 ; Value5/5
During examination , Seventh Generation Free & Clear performed better than every other dish soap on this list . In general household tests , a few drops got high suds in the sink and leave everything clean with no fragrance or residue behind . In addition , the company has been certified by the EPA as a Safer Choice product , which means it contain no harmful ingredients for humans or the satellite .
Get Seventh Generation Free & Clear dish soap atAmazon , Walmart , orTarget .
It was a close call between the Seventh Generation Free & Clear and Palmolive Ultra Pure + Clear looker scoop . The Palmolive dish antenna easy lay was effective on all stain and had a unclouded , pleasant fragrance ( though it is still technically fragrance - gratis ) . The packaging is reprocess charge card , and it offers many similarity to the Seventh Generation product . It is also Safer Choice certified . Two fragrancy version are also certified as Safer Choice . With such a close raceway , this production was edged out only by the fact that the Seventh Generation normal contains all plant - based fixings , which can biodegrade more effectively and cause less harm to aquatic plants and animals . Overall , it ’s a great pick and a secure alternative for devotee of the lustrous green Palmolive dish soap .
Get Palmolive dishful soap atAmazon , Walmart , orTarget .
Our Ratings : cleansing Power4.3/5 ; Scent3/5 ; Value4.5/5
While Dawn was a steady performer in all of the tests , it got our Best Bang for the Buck award because this product truly is a concentrate . A drop or two creates a lathery sinkful of water that stays sudsy after washables . For this reason , it reduces the amount of product call for and slows down overall consumption . Dawn does make nonconcentrate version , so be mindful when purchasing what the exact product is . In plus , Dawn does make a Free & Clear interlingual rendition , though I did not test it specifically .
Photo: Amber Guetebier for Bob Vila
Get Dawn Ultra dish goop atAmazon(3 - pack),Walmart , orTarget .
Best Spray
Seventh Generation Foaming Dish Spray
Our military rating : cleanup Power4.3/5 ; Scent5/5 ; Value4.5/5
Foaming spray dish soap are a pop new alternative to traditional liquid soap and claim to help foreshorten body of water consumption . In my test of the Seventh Generation sparkle dish spray , I regain that , in a side - by - side compare to the brand ’s liquid sweetheart soap , it held up well against crude and starch but was slightly less in force on the protein . While the toll may be a deterrent to some , less Cartesian product may be used in the longsighted political campaign because it is dispensed in a controlled fashion , rather than free - form squirting of limpid soap . I opt to try on the Beijing dialect orangeness olfactory property and did not happen it overpowering ; however , alternate scents include Free & Clear ( fragrance - costless ) or Honeycrisp Apple .
This production may not be the reply for those looking to reduce their plastic phthisis . Though it comes with two refills and one spray nursing bottle , and consumer are encouraged to reprocess the sprayer tip , the bottleful itself is not made from recycled plastic . The caller states that both the bottle and the sprayer are recyclable .
Photo: Amber Guetebier for Bob Vila
Get Seventh Generation foaming dish max atAmazon(3 - pack),Walmart , orTarget(in Honeycrisp Apple olfactory property ) .
Best Eco-Friendly
Ecos Hypoallergenic Plant Powered Dish Soap
Our Ratings : cleanup Power4.3/5 ; Scent4/5 ; Value4/5
During all of the psychometric test , the Ecos ravisher soap efficiently bring up amylum and soil and did a comme il faut job on the protein hatful . It has a very mild perfume and is a nontoxic dish soap . As a bonus , my hands feel less teetotal after using this in a sinkhole full of dishes than with other brands . Overall , I was pleasantly surprised with how well this dish soap work . I appreciated that it is a little society with a substantial dedication to environmental stewardship , despite the nonrecycled charge card used for promotion .
Get Ecos dishful soapatAmazon .
Best Bar
Simplut Zero Waste Natural Solid Dish Soap Bar
For those concerned about charge plate economic consumption , a rising alternative to dishwashing liquid state is the firm dishwashing measure . accord to the loge — which is made of theme — each prevention can replace up to 2 to 3 bottles of fluid ravisher soap , though no specific apothecaries' ounce of liquid are determine . My corner hold three bars , all of which search and palpate just like a bar of easy lay . The lemon yellow scent was very modest and pleasant .
To use , wet a sponger and fray it on the side of the bar of soap . I also used a dampened scrubbing brush to make a flake more lather , but each time , the liquid ecstasy rinse blank , leaving behind no balance .
When it came to the starch and protein , I lathered the sponge and pinch the soap from the sponge into the water to presoak it . Not astonishingly , this did not make an abundance of suds . However , despite have to rethink how I used the soap , it performed well and even outperformed some traditional fluent dish goop on the examination list . It does form a little movie on the outside after use , which the manufacturing business states is due to the cold - processing proficiency they use to make the soap — one which is opine to help preserve the active natural ingredients . All in all , this easy lay surprised me with its effectiveness .
Photo: Amazon
Get Simplut dish soap atAmazonorSimplut .
Best Heavy-Duty
Ajax Ultra Triple Action Orange Dish Soap
Our Ratings : Cleaning Power4.5/5 ; Scent2/5 ; Value4/5
Ajax has a reputation for cutting through grease , and it certainly performed against oil and starch during my tests . It was fairly effective on the caked - on protein , though less so than others that are rank higher on our list . A little Ajax does go a long fashion , anecod it can be used to scavenge up grease on grills , clothing , floor , and counter , as well as beauty . This Cartesian product got downcast fall guy from me because the fragrance was strong — for some , it may even be considered overpowering . It also issue forth in other smell beyond orange . Though the recording label states this product is phosphate - free , it is not dye - free , and the combination of the dye and the fragrance may be off - putting to some .
Get Ajax dish scoop atWalmartorTarget .
Photo: Amazon
Honorable Mention
Dawn Apple Scent Platinum Plus Powerwash Dish Spray
Our Ratings : Cleaning Power3.8/5 ; Scent2/5 ; Value3.5/5
Although the atomiser chemical mechanism is slightly dissimilar from that of the Seventh Generation spray soap , the principle is the same : Using a spray or two of this soap will serve you use less product and , in possibility , less water . I found the Dawn Platinum Plus Powerwash beauty nebulizer to be effective on fossil oil on dishes and handy for clean up countertops and other surfaces . However , it could have been more effective during the starch and protein test , especially compare to the Dawn liquid state goop I tested .
Though this product is contrive to be sprayed directly onto knockout , I sprayed some into a cesspit , bring water , and agitated it , and was able to get it fair sudsy . All in all , this intersection works better when sprayed straightaway onto dishes . It also has a hard fragrance and dyes , which may not appeal to some . However , Dawn does make a Free & Clear version .
Photo: Amazon
Get Dawn Platinum Plus Powerwash dish soap atAmazon , Walmart , orTarget .
Also Consider
Method Dish Soap
Our rating : Cleaning Power3.8/5 ; Scent3/5 ; Value4/5
While the Method dishful soap was very effective on grease and fossil oil , it was less so on starch and protein , specially in the side - by - side comparison with other dish liquid ecstasy . It did create soapsuds , but even these were less intense compared to the top players on this list . The soap is generally low-cost and pay off the job done , but the scent and dye may be unappealing to some . The pump design makes it heavy to lot soap at a direct target .
Get Method dish max atAmazon , Target(Lime + Sea Salt odor ) , orMethod .
Photo: Amazon
Also Tested
ThoughMrs . Meyers Clean Day Liquid Dish Soapdid a decent caper on grease and was moderately effective on protein , it did not bring up amylum as well as any of the others on this tilt . While the ingredient are plant - based , the fragrance is warm and may not appeal to some . It also create the least amount of suds of all the soaps on this tilt .
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing a Dish Soap
Before you pick out the dear dish Georgia home boy for the job , consider the watch over cardinal factor : ingredient inclination , concentration degree , scent , and packaging . Do n’t obscure liquid dishwashing detergent with dish soap meant for washing dishes by manus . The soaps on this listshould not be used in a dish washer . Dishwashing detergent and liquid dishwashing soap do n’t have the same formulation , and using dish soap in a dishwasher can result in a foamy passel all over the kitchen .
Ingredients
Most dishwashing soaps are biodegradable , but to what extent is up for debate . Biodegradable dish easy lay signify that the dish soap breaks down without leaving behind ghost chemicals or other ingredients that could be harmful to angle and other wildlife . Plant - based dish detergent fracture down easier than celluloid , and the label will state if the ware is flora - base . Other ingredients to be aware of on label are phthalates , phosphates , parabens , and SLS . SLS is known as a surfactant , and it is the sudsing agent in grievous bodily harm . It is very mutual , but it can cause pelt botheration .
Concentration
Some dish soaps derive in concentrated forms that may require only a few drops per sinkful , while spray dish soaps are word to be used directly on dishes or cooking utensil without diluting .
Scent
From essential oil colour to fragrance - complimentary , the good dish soaps offer consumers options . Because perfume predilection is personal , those who are sensitive to other fragrances or perfumes will require to look for sweetness - free options , often market with price like “ free and clear . ”
Packaging
Most dish liquid ecstasy do in shaping bottles of vary size . large bottles can be used to filldish soap dispensers , which may look more attractive on the counter and take up less physical space . fictile bottles can be made from recycled plastic and will put forward as much on the label . Cartesian product like dish grievous bodily harm bars are provide in plastic - spare publicity .
FAQs
Dish soap is a coarse household staple , but that does n’t intend there are n’t questions about it . Here are some of the most oftentimes asked .
Tomake your own ravisher soap at habitation , gain the follow ingredient : unbleached Georgia home boy , Borax , and all-important oils of your choosing . you may add together washing soda pop to create suds , but this is optional . You will also take a tall mallow grater and saucepan . fret the bar soap and combine it with the Borax . Boil water and tardily mix in ingredients , adding all important vegetable oil last . mention that Borax is essentially sodium lauryl sulfate , so exercise caution when using it as it can irritate cutis .
Liquid max is a generic term that can be used for liquid hand soap , dishwasher liquid detergent , or dishwashing liquid . There are alsodishwashing rinse aidsthat are typically liquidity and come in squeeze bottle similar to dish soap . All of these terminal figure should be distinct fromdishwasher cleaner , which is an entirely different Cartesian product designed to clean the political machine itself , not your dishes .
Photo: Amazon
EDTA , which stands for ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid , is used in dishwashing liquids as a stabilizer .
Meet the Tester
Amber Guetebier is a independent author and editor program and also the mother of one dynamic son and four pets , all of whom track in dirt , make messes , wasteweir things , and more often than not require cleaning up after .
This Is the Year for a Kitchen Renovation
Whether you ’re selling or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . Learn why we count this renovation the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to stick on budget .
Photo: Amazon
Photo: Amazon
Photo: Amazon
