Raise your hand if you love washing dishes. Anyone? At least with non-toxic dish soap, the dreaded task of cleaning last night’s stir-fry isn’t also causing damage to marine life, waterways, and your health.
Non-toxic dish soaps use formulas with biodegradable ingredients and minimal harmful compounds, like synthetic fragrances, preservatives, synthetic surfactants, phosphates and triclosan. We’ve included a range of safer dish soap liquids and soap bars that are just as effective as more traditional options (we’ve tested many of them!).
For this list, we’ve looked for safe ingredients (ideally with relevant safety certifications or ingredients that score low risk on EWG), sustainable packaging (ideally plastic-free), and more to suss out healthier dish soap brands.
You may start noticing “rated brands” on our various guides. Our Brand Rating System is an assessment approach that considers 22 different sustainability-related criteria including things like chemical use, customer safety, product performance, and brand transparency. Look out for the rated brands on the list below (they need to opt in to be rated) and find other rated brands here.
Related Guides: Non-toxic Dishwasher Detergent; Non-toxic Laundry Detergent
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
The Best Clean Ingredient Dish Soap Brands
Blueland has made our top list countless times for chemical-free dish soap formulas, multiple certifications, and innovative, refillable, waterless products. We tried their dish soap powder and found it super easy to use. Being a powder, it’s also really handy for camping trips and takes up very little room. Blueland has been comprehensively rated by us on their sustainability credentials – find the full rating here.
One scent-free dish soap bar from Non Tox Life replaces up to three bottles of regular dish soap and is made from high-quality, vegan ingredients. We found it to be non-drying, effective and it lasted for ages.
If you prefer a liquid dish soap, we can recommend etee’s Liquid Dish Soap Concentrate, which comes in a compostable beeswax pod. We found it easy to use and loved that we could throw the empty pod in our compost bin after decanting the concentrate.
Index: Safe Dish Soap Brands
- Blueland Jump to brand
- No Tox Life Jump to brand
- Meliora Jump to brand
- Greatfill Jump to brand
- Suds & Eco Jump to brand
- Common Good Jump to brand
- EcoLeaf Jump to brand
- Dr. Bronner’s Jump to brand
- etee Jump to brand
Blueland
BIPOC Owned
Brand is owned by Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color.
Carbon Neutral
Brand has been certified as Carbon Neutral.
Cruelty-free
Products are not test on animals at any stage in their production.
Ethical Sourcing
Raw materials have been sourced ethically with people and planet in mind.
Non-toxic
All products are made with ingredients or materials that are currently considered non-toxic
PFAS Free
Products have been tested and verified to be free of PFAS
Plastic-free
All products are entirely plastic-free
Refillable
Product packaging can be refilled with more product, either at a physical store or via a return program.
Thoughtful packaging
Product packaging has been designed and created with the end of life outcome in mind and can be easily recycled or composted.
Vegan
This brand does not use any animal products or by-products in their products
Woman Owned
This brand is owned by a woman or a group of women.
B Corp
Climate Neutral Certified
Cradle to Cradle
EPA Safer Choice
EWG Verified
Leaping Bunny
MADE SAFE®
USDA BioPreferred
We’ve tried Blueland’s dishwashing products and can confidently say they make some of the best non-toxic dish soap available. The Dish Soap Starter Set includes everything you need, a reusable silicone shaker and fragrance-free, powder dishwashing detergent.
All you have to do is pour the powder onto a sponge or dish and add a bit of water to create a thick, natural dish soap that easily fights dirty dishes. Their dish soap is non-toxic, made without parabens, phosphates, ammonia, VOCs, chlorine bleach, phthalates, or other toxic chemicals.
Blueland is a refillable cleaning products brand that makes every thing from laundry detergent powder to dish soap refills. All products are gluten-free, vegan, palm oil free, and cruelty-free, with every product on their site containing the Leaping Bunny seal of approval.
With certifications from B Corp, Climate Neutral, Cradle to Cradle, EPA Safer Choice, MADE SAFE, USDA BioPreferred, and the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Blueland puts conventional dish soaps to shame.
Blueland has been rated by Sustainable Jungle. Find the full rating here.
My Personal Review of Blueland’s Dish Soap:
“Dishwasher powder, sure, but powdered dish soap for handwashing dishes? It was new to us, but after trying it, we’re converted. In our experience, this powder works really well with only a little bit required. We also love its light scent and the fact that you can sprinkle and go when washing just a few dishes or use it for filling your sink with soapy water to wash larger batches.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
No Tox Life
No Tox Life has not been rated.
No Tox Life’s Dish Block™ is available in six ounces bars, and if you’re worried about the size, know that it’s meant to replace up to three regular dish soap bottles or clean dishes for up to three months. We can confirm one block lasts ages—we actually found it lasted about five months with lighter use.
It’s high-quality, vegan-friendly, doesn’t contain any sulfates, phosphates, parabens, synthetic fragrance, or palm oil. It’s vegan, not tested on animals, and is 100% biodegradable. No Tox Life includes Aloe Vera in the recipe, so it won’t dry out your hands like conventional dish liquids might.
It contains no added fragrances or essential oils, so when we tested it, we found it smells a little more ‘soapy’ than other options on this list, but it’s perfect for those with fragrance sensitivities.
The women-run team handcrafts every batch of soap, shipping items in biodegradable paper envelopes and reused materials.
Meliora
Meliora has not been rated.
Meliora is the eco-minded cleaning supply brand behind one of the best natural dish soaps. Their Dish Soap Bar is available in lemon or unscented options and doesn’t contain any palm oil, dyes, or harsh preservatives. Instead, Meliora uses plant-based ingredients that are vegan-friendly, like organic glycerin, coconut oil, and sunflower oil. The result is a safe dish soap that’s hard on grease and leftover food.
Kate, the co-founder of Meliora, started the company after realizing most dish soaps contain harmful ingredients or don’t list them at all. Now, the Certified B Corp produces all kinds of cleaners made from plant-based recipes.
All products have the Leaping Bunny seal of approval, MADE SAFE certification, and are vegan, phthalate-free, and sulfate-free. The packaging is recyclable and plastic-free, but Meliora offers unboxed options for those living a zero-waste lifestyle.
All of Meliora’s catalog is created in a Chicago factory by employees with fair wages, working conditions, and treatment. Lastly, Meliora gives back through a partnership with 1% for the Planet.
My Personal Review of Meliora’s Dish Soap Block:
“While I have a dishwasher that I use occasionally, I mostly handwash dishes as I use them, which means I only need a quick rub of soap. For that, dish blocks like this one by Meliora are perfect, and I quite like this one’s lemony scent. Like any dish soap block I’ve tried, it gets really soft and soggy on the bottom if not stored properly, so keep it in a well-drained dish. If you do, you’ll find this massive block lasts ages. I’ve been using mine for close to a year now, and it’s still going strong.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Greatfill
Greatfill has not been rated.
Greatfill’s plant-based dishwashing formula is made in California with biodegradable ingredients and naturally scented using Grapefruit + Mandarin essential oils. Their dish soap is free of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), parabens, phosphates, phthalates, and triclosan.
The dish soap comes in a durable and stylish stainless steel bottle (lifetime warranty included), and refill pouches can be returned once empty—Greatfill provides a prepaid envelope for every five pouches collected. At the time of writing, customers rate the dish soap 4.85/5 stars with customers loving the high quality, gentle formulae – and they say it works really well.
Greatfill’s full range of cleaning products are Leaping Bunny certified, vegan, and cruelty-free. As a 1% for the Planet member, Greatfill gives 1% of their earnings to environmental charities.
Suds & Eco
Suds & Eco has not been rated.
We’ve tested and love the natural dish soap from Suds & Eco. Unlike conventional liquid dish soaps, Suds & Eco offers a bar soap concentrate that comes in a handy little aluminum jar. Alternatively, if you already have a container or soap dish you prefer, you can opt to omit the jar from your order.
Suds & Eco keeps their formula simple and straightforward with only the following natural ingredients: organic coconut oil, organic castor oil, water, lye, organic orange essential oil, organic lemongrass essential oil. The soap doesn’t contain any plastic or palm oil, either.
The Florida-based company is women-owned, vegan, plastic-free, and cruelty-free. As a member of 1% for the Planet, Suds & Eco donates a portion of their profits to support various non-profit organizations and social causes.
Common Good
Common Good has not been rated.
Common Good works for the common good by crafting refillable cleaning supplies that use over 80% less plastic than conventional products. Their Everyday Dish Set includes a toxin-free dish soap made with a biodegradable recipe free from synthetic fragrances, brighteners, dyes, chlorine bleach, ammonia, and phthalates.
The set also includes a wooden brush and a refillable plastic bottle. The dish liquid is available in lavender, bergamot, and unscented options.
Common Good was founded by Sacha Dunn, a mother who saw how much plastic and toxic chemicals she and her family were using each day. Now, Common Good carries refillable eco cleaning supplies available by mail or in select refill stations across the United States.
All their products are free of animal byproducts and have the Leaping Bunny cruelty-free certification. Common Good utilizes non-toxic ingredients, like coconut surfactants, essential oils, and non-GMO plant products.
My Personal Review of Common Good’s Dish Soap:
“A little goes a long way with this formula, cutting through grease and grime effortlessly (okay, as close to effortless as doing dishes really gets) while leaving my dishes squeaky clean. This means their refill pouch lasts a long time. I started it months ago and have only just gotten to refilling my pump bottle a second time.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
EcoLeaf
EcoLeaf has not been rated.
Ecoleaf’s dishwasher detergent doesn’t contain any microbeads, parabens, phthalates, phosphates, SLS, triclosan, or synthetic fragrances, making it one of the cleanest dish soap available in the UK. Everything is made from raw ingredients, meaning they are completely biodegradable and won’t negatively impact aquatic life or septic systems.
They offer many different kinds of washing up liquid dish soap options for different needs. If you find you like one, we recommend buying the bulk dishwashing liquid refill sizes to reduce plastic bottle consumption.
Ecoleaf’s entire product range is derived from botanical extracts and can be easily broken down by nature, posing no threat to the environment, unlike the toxic chemicals commonly found in traditional products. EcoLeaf also offers bulk options, allowing you to refill containers and support various bulk stores across the United Kingdom.
Additionally, any plastic bottles used are made from PCR (post-consumer recycled) HDPE plastic, which can be reused multiple times.
Dr. Bronner’s
Dr. Bronner’s has not been rated.
Bulk liquid Castile soap can be an extremely affordable way to wash dishes, and Dr. Bronner’s is one of the best natural dish soap brands. They offer both a Castile soap bar and liquid dish soap ranging from two ounces to one-gallon sizes. Castile soap is meant to be diluted, so you can stretch your dishwasher soap for quite some time. A one gallon jug, for example, has lasted us almost an entire year in the past!
Dr. Bronner’s formula is organic, biodegradable, and Fair Trade, with natural essential oils creating a whole range of unique scents (we’re partial to the hemp citrus for dishwashing ourselves).
The best part is how versatile Dr. Bronner’s soaps are (with 18 different uses, according to the company). If you’re looking to minimize your cleaning cabinet, this is the brand to help you do so.
Dr. Bronner’s has certifications from USDA Organic, OTCO, Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC), Fair for Life, NSF, Leaping Bunny, Vegan Action, Non-GMO, and OL Kosher. Dr. Bronner does a lot for the environment, like using 100% post-consumer recycled plastic packaging and carbon offset initiatives, like solar panels and recycled water.
They call themselves the “fighting soap company,” as they’re committed to social causes like regenerative agriculture, fair trade, animal advocacy, industrial hemp, drug policy reform, and living wages.
etee
etee has not been rated.
etee offers two all-natural dish soap alternatives. Their Liquid Dish Soap Concentrate is made with a biodegradable, plant-based formula that comes contained in a compostable beeswax pod.
Their Dish Soap Bar doesn’t contain any palm oil and is 100% vegan. It’s made with various plant-based ingredients, each USDA Organic Certified, besides the lemon oil.
None of these options contain any synthetic fragrances, foaming compounds, food colors, unnatural preservatives, phthalates, sulfates, parabens, and formaldehyde.
The Toronto-based brand oversees its entire supply chain, ensuring every product is plastic-free and employees are treated fairly. Their factory utilizes renewable energy, and etee has saved more than 100 million pieces of single-use plastic since its launch.
My Personal Review of etee’s Dish Soap:
“Etee’s beeswax refill pods are genius! The concept is super simple and eco-friendly. You just rip open the pod, pour the thick concentrate into the dispenser, add water, and compost the pod (I like to rip it up into smaller bits first). The soap works wonders on grease and grime, but one thing to note is that if you don’t shake it up every so often, the concentrate tends to settle at the bottom or even crystalize in colder weather. Once that happens, it’s watery and not as strong, so keep shaking to keep it working its magic!”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Why Buy Non Toxic Dish Soap?
You might wonder, “Will switching to non-toxic dish soap really make a difference?” Unfortunately, the array of colorful, fragrant kitchen supplies we’ve become accustomed to can contain toxic ingredients that can significantly impact your health and the environment.
Where dish soaps are concerned, this means grease-destroying enzymes, bleaching agents, surfactants, preservatives, and other harsh chemicals. These compounds enter our waterways and affect human health, with some linked to allergic reactions, skin irritation, or even cancer.
More concerning still is that dishwashing detergents and other cleaning products in the United States are not required by federal law to list the ingredients.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) inspected over 300 products, giving each cleaning solution a hazard rating from A to F. Nearly 60% of the products got a D or an F, meaning they’re likely to be harmful to human health and the environment.
Here are some of the common harsh chemicals in dish soap and dishwashing liquid to avoid:
- Phosphates: Phosphates get into waterways, leading to mineral poisoning and harming aquatic ecosystems and marine life.
- Polyacrylates: This chemical is toxic to marine animals and can cause critical burns and eye damage to humans.
- Benzisothiazolinone: This is a pollutant to marine life and can cause lung, skin, and eye irritation and bronchitis in individuals.
- Methylisothiazolinone: Many individuals are allergic to this compound, causing allergic reactions and, in some cases, neurotoxicity.
- Synthetic Fragrances: The nice scents of traditional dish soaps have countless undisclosed compounds, leading to allergic reactions, rashes, and harm to the environment.
- Dyes: Dyes don’t serve a purpose and may cause rashes and allergic reactions. Many dyes used in dish liquid have been linked as endocrine disruptors and carcinogens.
- Bleach: Bleach damages the eyes and skin. It can also lead to gastric issues, throat damage, and fluid build-up in the lungs.
- Surfactants: Surfactants are typically sourced from palm oil, petroleum, or animals in regular liquid soap.
Is Dawn Soap Non-Toxic?
Dish soap brands like Dawn, Cascade, and Ajax are readily available at nearly all grocery stores. The bright colors, pleasing scents, affordability, and marketing materials make it easy to grab a bottle off the shelf without much thought. There’s a baby duck on the dish soap bottle; how can it be harmful?
Unfortunately, there are many harmful ingredients in Dawn dish soap, depending on the product you purchase. Out of the 17 Dawn products reviewed by EWG, only three scored above a B, and only one received an A rating. Over 50% of the products received a D, and around 30% received a C rating.
The lowest-rated products contain methylisothiazolinone, harmful dyes, synthetic fragrances, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), and other toxic compounds.
These ingredients may cause damage to the nervous system, respiratory system, and organs, leading to skin irritation, allergies, or even cancer. If they don’t harm humans, the ingredients are likely to damage waterways, aquatic ecosystems, and marine animals.
So is dish soap toxic? Yes, many conventional dish soaps can contain countless harmful ingredients that damage waterways, marine ecosystems, and human health. Although conventional dish soaps are accessible, convenient, and affordable, the best natural dish soaps are safer for you, your loved ones, and the environment.
Even though we think we’re getting our dirty dishes clean with dish soap, non-toxic ingredients are the only way to ensure they actually are.
