Today I’m sharing about non-toxic dish soaps and what I like and don’t like about some of the brands.
For better or for worse, washing dishes is a part of life. We can get bombarded by pollution going into a city or inadvertently consume foods with GMOs when eating out, but it’s the products and the chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis that we need to evaluate.
*Affiliate Disclosure: I do have affiliate links in this blog post. If you purchase something from my link, I will receive a small commission from the sale. This comes at no cost to you, but is paid by the company. I do not take becoming an affiliate with any company lightly. If I am, it’s because I believe in the company and their product.
*Suzi(Gurl Gone Green) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Best Non Toxic Dish Soap Brand
Branch Basics wins out the best non toxic dish soap. If you aren’t familiar with Branch Basics, you can make all of your cleaning products from their one concentrate – making it so convenient. And while up front the concentrate may seem more expensive, when you see how little of it you need to use it is actually quite affordable. Not to mention it is super effective!
Use code gurlgonegreen to save 15% off all Starter Kits (excludes the Trial Kit)
Are Dish Soaps Really Toxic?
Unfortunately, dish soap is one more way that chemicals can sneak in and disrupt our hormones and cause skin irritation and allergies.
Here are some of the ingredients that you don’t want to find in your dish soap:
- DMDM Hydantoin and quaternium-15 are formaldehyde releasing preservatives. They also are respiratory irritants. Formaldehyde is a potent allergen and is classified as a carcinogen by the Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization.(source) (source)
- Isothiazolinone preservatives such as Benzisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Octylisothiazolinone inhibit bacterial growth. Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone are also skin irritants and Octylisothiazolinone can cause allergic contact dermatitis. If you are sensitive to methylisothiazolinone or methylchloroisothiazolinone then you are likely going to be more sensitive to benzisothiazolinone (source)
- Ethoxylated Ingredients are non-ionic surfactants that can generate the toxic chemical 1,4-dioxane and PEG’s as part of the manufacturing process. According to the Toxic Free Foundation database, they can be identified by the prefix “PEG”, “polyethylene”, “polyethylene glycol”, “polyoxyethylene”, “-eth-“, or “-oxynol-” (source)
- Triclosan is an endocrine disruptor, skin irritant, and can promote allergies. It also can impair reproductive health in both men and women. (source)
- Fragrances can be a chemical soup. They can contain phthalates and parabens which are known endocrine disrupters. (source)
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a surfactant that can become contaminated with toxic impurities like 1,4-dioxane which is a known carcinogen. Sodium laureth sulfate can also cause skin and eye irritation. (source)
- Colorants or dyes such as FD&C Blue or Yellow-5 are derived from petroleum and contain irritating compounds such as benzidine, a known carcinogen. (source)
Related Content: Best Non Toxic Dishwasher Detergents
Is Getting A Nontoxic Dish Soap Really Necessary?
With potential ingredients like those listed above, the simple answer is yes! But, let’s dive into a really well known conventional dish soap – Dawn.
The Environmental Working Group gave Dawn Ultra Concentrated Dishwashing Liquid, Original, a D for its ingredients. Just because you’re rinsing the soap off your dishes, doesn’t mean it’s not being absorbed through your hands. With so many non-toxic and more natural options on the market today, there’s no need to increase our exposure to toxic chemicals.
Some of the worst offenders are:
- Ethoxylated Ingredients are non-ionic surfactants that can generate the toxic chemical 1,4-dioxane.
- Methylisothiazolinone – a preservative associated with allergic reactions. Lab studies on the brain cells of mammals also suggest that methylisothiazolinone may be neurotoxic.
- FD&C Blue NO. 1 OR D&C Blue NO. 4 – synthetic dye from petroleum that can potentially cause cancer.
- FD&C Yellow NO. 5 – synthetic dye from petroleum that can cause allergies and immunotoxicity.
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate – contaminated in the manufacturing process with 1,4-dioxane.
- Fragrance – this usually indicates a mixed bag of chemicals that contains phthalates and parabens which are known endocrine disruptors.
Best Non Toxic Dish Soap Brands
**Note prices were accurate at the time of publishing and are subject to change**
Ecover Liquid Dish Soap
Ecover liquid dish soap is made with plant-based and mineral ingredients and is biodegradable.
Cost: $10.81 (Amazon)
What I like: It’s fragrance free, so great for those who are sensitive to scents. It works really well at getting dishes clean. It seemed stronger than some other dish soaps. Very impressed! Had good suds too.
What I don’t like: The only thing is the price. Again, it’s $10 for a bottle of dish soap- wish it was a little cheaper.
Sky Organics Plant Based Dish Soap
After Stephen and Sarah Jade the founders of Sky Organics became parents they wanted to embrace a clean, holistic lifestyle but found many of the “natural” claims on personal products to be misleading or plain false. This is when they decided to create products that were minimally processed with few ingredients and most importantly, certified organic.
Their dish soap is USDA Certified Bio-Based, non-toxic and doesn’t contain phosphates, chlorine, fragrances, or dyes and is cruelty-free.
Cost: $7.19 (Amazon)
What I like: Super simple ingredients that anyone could easily understand and that it’s unscented.
What I don’t like: The formula didn’t work that great. I had to use a lot to see any cleaning action happen and it didn’t suds very well either. Felt like there was a film on things even after I washed them. Wouldn’t buy it again.
Trinova Natural Dish Soap
TriNova creates specialized products that are crafted to suit whatever surface you’re trying to clean. Their dish soap is made from natural and plant-based ingredients that are professional strength yet safe enough for baby bottles or children’s utensils. It’s also enriched with aloe to keep skin soft.
Cost: $22.47 for pack of 2 (Amazon)
What I like: Super clean ingredients.
What I don’t like: The price. You do get two bottles when you buy them on Amazon, but they still come to over $11 per bottle- which is a lot for dish soap. It also wasn’t as effective as the other dish soaps. Even my sister tried a bottle as well and wasn’t impressed. Needed a lot of product to really get the dishes clean.
Sonett Dishwashing Liquid
Sonnet is Germany’s most trusted household cleaning brand and has been creating natural cleaning products since 1977. Their dishwashing liquid is highly concentrated and economical.
It is 100% vegan, non-GMO, never tested on animals, has no enzymes, petrochemical raw materials or nanotechnology and is 100% biodegradable.
Cost: starts at $9.79 – price varies based on scent and size of product (Amazon)
What I like: This is such a clean formula that works so well. A little goes a long way with this dish soap. I like that it comes in a pump, even though it’s plastic, it just makes it a little easier to monitor how much I’m using. The lemongrass scent is light too and refreshing.
What I don’t like: You guessed it, the price! However, you do get a lot more in the large bottle, so the price evens out a little.
Simplut Zero Waste Dish Soap
Simplut aims to provide the best eco-friendly daily essentials. Their Zero Waste Dish Soap is a bar soap and as the name implies leaves behind zero waste.
The bar soap contains vegan ingredients and is cruelty-free, sulfate-free, paraben-free and as you may have guessed plastic-free and biodegradable. Because of its clean ingredients, you can as a fruit and veggie wash!
Cost: 3 pack for 20.68 (Amazon)
What I like: I love that it comes in no plastic at all, it’s not wrapped in plastic at all. It works great at cleaning the dishes. They really get clean using this. I used a natural scour pad and rubbed it on the bar soap then added a little water and scrubbed the dishes like that. It smells light and refreshing too, with hints of lemon.
What I don’t like: It’s a little messier overall, compared to liquid soap. You need a soap dish and it can not look as nice.
Branch Basics
Branch Basics was started by three women who wanted to help people toss the toxins and create healthy homes by getting rid of toxic cleaning products. The concentrate is a non-toxic, non-GMO, fragrance-free, all-purpose cleaner that contains plant and mineral-based ingredients that are effective at tackling dirt and grime.
Cost: The Concentrate – $55
What I like: I love that this is more of a budget friendly option and can easily be made from one concentrate. Instead of having to buy a separate dish soap I can just use this and make dish soap from the concentrate. Such a great option. It cleans the dishes well and doesn’t have a scent, so great for those with sensitive skin.
What I don’t like: There isn’t anything that I don’t like, it really hits all the marks!
Use code gurlgonegreen to save 15% off all Starter Kits (excludes the Trial Kit)
Related Content: Branch Basics (Tested + Reviewed)
Molly’s Suds Dish Soap
Molly’s Suds was born from tragedy after the still birth of the founder’s newborn (Molly). This sparked a mission to educate about harmful chemicals. With a commitment to radical transparency and safe, simple ingredients, Molly’s Suds offers cleaning products that prioritize health and the environment. Their dish soap is made with plant-derived ingredients that clean while being gentle on hands and the environment.
Cost: Two 16 oz bottles for $18 (Amazon)
What I like: Simple and clean ingredients- not a long crazy list. The fragrance is derived from essential oils (lavender, lemon burst, peppermint, and unscented options). I also like the price point. You can get two bottles of dish soap for under $18. A lot of dish soap can add up!
What I don’t like: It doesn’t clean that well, which is kind of the purpose of dish soap! 🙂 It takes a lot of dish soap to get things feeling clean or get off grease. I especially noticed with grease it just didn’t come off as easy. It wouldn’t be a dish soap that I would purchase again.
Attitude Dishwashing Liquid
Attitude was founded in 2006 to create healthier products for families. Committed to quality and transparency, they develop clean, effective beauty and home items with naturally sourced ingredients and low-waste packaging. Their formulas meet high standards, including EWG VERIFIED™ and cruelty-free certifications.
Cost: 23.7 oz bottle for $5
What I like: I liked how it cleaned my dishes. It felt powerful enough to remove grease and leave my dishes feeling clean. It also was very budget friendly overall. You can get a bottle- which is 23 ounces for around $5! Such a deal for a more natural dish soap. I like that I can easily find it on Amazon too.
What I don’t like: It does have natural fragrances on the ingredient list and there is nowhere on their site where they verify if these are from essential oils, or from actual synthetic fragrances. That is the one thing I hope they clarify. We have emailed them and are waiting for a response. As soon as we hear back we will update it here.
Conclusion: What Is The Best Natural Dishwashing Liquid?
Branch Basics is the best, because it can easily be made into a dishwashing liquid, but be used for so many other uses and it’s a budget friendly pick. Plus, it’s scent free too!
What’s your favorite non toxic dishwashing liquid? Share below!
If you liked this post, check out these past posts:
- Best Natural And Non Toxic Laundry Detergents
- Alternatives to Dryer Sheets
- Force of Nature Cleaner Review
How do you use Branch Basics concentrate to make dish soap? Curious about the ratio of water to concentrate. Thanks!
Hi Kris,
Here’s a tutorial on their website: https://branchbasics.com/blogs/cleaning/hand-washing-sink-cleaning-dishwashing-with-branch-basics
How is Branch Basics budget friendly at $55?? Not sure whose budget that would be.
Hi J.R.,
It’s a concentrate so you can make so many things from that one concentrate. You use a little concentrate and then add water- so it stretches. 🙂
How do you make dish soap from the branch basics concentrate?
They have a tutorial here.https://branchbasics.com/blogs/cleaning/hand-washing-sink-cleaning-dishwashing-with-branch-basics
It’s so sad that ecover and better life were bought out by big corporations. Who knows if their formulas are the same 😩
We just removed Better Life from the post because it was brought to our attention that the ingredients did change.
Hi Suzi,
What do you think of ECOS dish soap?
Hi Erika,
It’s not great in my opinion as far as ingredients. It has several highly allergic ingredients that can cause irritation and allergies. Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate and Lauramine Oxide. It also has ethoxylated ingredients in it which can contain 1,4 dioxane a known carcinogen.
Thank you. I appreciate your reply and information.
I understand these are toxic free dish soaps but I’m just curious if these products disinfect.
These dish soaps do not disinfect.
Hi Suzi, is Puracy dish soap really bad? I use a lot of their products. Is it at least “better”? Thanks!
Hi Abbi- A quick glance at the ingredients in Puracy dish soap shows natural fragrance (Per their website: “Natural Fragrance is a combination of naturally derived essential oils, floral extract, and plant-based aroma-producing ingredients”). Also noted were tetrasodium glutamate diacetate and Benzisothiazolinone. So while, yes this is probably a ‘better’ option, it is not a ‘best’ option. Definitely check out one of Suzi’s picks in the blog post for a clean dish soap option!
Hi Suzi, have you looked into Biokleen dish soap…what are your thoughts on those ingredients?
On a quick glance there is phenoxyethanol which can be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane (known carcinogen) but there are also clean sources so that would need to be investigated. Also noted is sodium lauryl sulfate which has been found to be a skin irritant. So while it’s not the worst, there are definitely better options out there.