Best Dish Soap

To help you find the best dish soap, we have tried out a multitude of top products, testing them for cleaning ability, looking for powerful active ingredients, a good price to features ratio, with a concentrated formula that allows for many uses out of one container, pleasing scents, or scent-free, and a manufacturing process using biodegradable ingredients, often sourced from plants. We also liked products that were not tested with animals, thus being certified as cruelty free. For more great accessories, visit our best kitchen products guide.

The best product we tried was easily Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap, which comes in a package containing two 56 ounce containers at one low price, with an extremely concentrated formula that is designed to easily eliminate grease and is manufactured using biodegradable surfactants. It is also manufactured without the use of phosphates and mixes nicely with distilled white vinegar, for an eco-friendly solution to washing dishes. Keep reading to learn more about Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap and the other products on this list.

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 #1  Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap – Top Pick

WHY WE LIKE IT: Manufactured using biodegradable ingredients, featuring an extremely concentrated formula which allows for plenty of dish cleaning with just a few drops and comes in two large 56 ounce containers for one low price. This is, pound for pound, the best dish soap on this list.

This Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap comes in two large 56 ounce containers for one low price, making it a fantastic value, manufactured using extremely concentrated cleaning agents that make the most out of just a few drops of the product. It is made using biodegradable surfactants, which is great, and can be mixed with distilled white vinegar to create an eco-friendly cleaning option.

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Though this product is completely free of phosphates, it does contain anionic surfactants, which should not come in contact with the eyes, as they may cause irritation. Additionally, it does have a scent, which may not suit the wants of every consumer. We found this scent, however, to be fairly innocuous. Your kitchen might also need the best spray bottle or the best coffee maker.

 #2  Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Dish Soap – Honorable Mention

WHY WE LIKE IT: Made from biodegradable ingredients, including essential oils, and is certified to not have been tested on animals, and comes in a three pack, totaling 48 ounces of product. This is a great eco-friendly choice for washing dishes.

This Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Dish Soap comes in a three pack which contains a total of 48 ounces of product, which may be less than our top pick but is still a fantastic deal, given the price. It is manufactured using biodegradable ingredients, including lemongrass oil and other essential oils, and truly shines with the elimination of grease. It is also certified to have not been tested on animals.

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This product does feature a lemon scent, which may be pleasing to some and may off put others. Additionally, it does contain anionic surfactants, like our top pick, and may cause eye irritation upon contact. Also, read about the best digital pocket scale.

 #3  BabyGanics Foaming Dish Soap – Best for Infants

WHY WE LIKE IT: Boasts a number of safety features perfect for infants, such as a safety certification for baby bottles, a product that is free of fragrances and a non-toxic manufacturing process that primarily uses plants and plant derivatives. This is a safe dish soap that is perfect for households with infants.

This BabyGanics Foaming Dish Soap is made from the ground up with infants in mind, being made primarily with plants and other non-toxic ingredients, making it safe to use with baby bottles. It has been given the go ahead by pediatricians and dermatologists and it does not contain sodium laureth sulfate, phosphates, phthalates, artificial fragrances or dyes. It is fragrance free, animal cruelty free and comes in a two pack, adding up to 66 ounces of product.

Though this combo pack does come with a lot of dish soap, it does not include a pump or dispenser, requiring an additional purchase. Also, it is not rated to be an antibacterial product. Perfect for cleaning the best knife brands.

 #4  Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Kitchen Basics Set – Best Combo Set

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WHY WE LIKE IT: Nice combo pack, featuring a bottle of dish soap, along with hand soap and multi-surface cleaner, with the dish soap being made from biodegradable materials and certified to have not been tested with animals. This is a great combination package to get your entire home clean.

This Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Kitchen Basics Set is a combination package that includes a 16-ounce container of dish soap, a 12.5 ounce of hand soap and a 16-ounce container of multi-surface cleaner. All of these products are derived from biodegradable ingredients and are certified to have not been tested with animals.

These come in a variety of limited edition scents, which is neat, but the price is on the higher end, and you may be able to source each of these items separately for slightly cheaper. Additionally, the dish soap does contain anionic surfactants, like our top pick, and may cause eye irritation upon contact. You might also like to read about the best electric wine opener.

 #5  TriNova Organic Formula Natural Dish Soap – Most Additional Accessories

WHY WE LIKE IT: Multipack, totaling 48 ounces of product and comes with additional accessories, such as sponges and a scrub brush, with a formula derived from vegan and organic ingredients. This is a great all-in-one dish soap that comes with additional cleaning accessories.

This TriNova Organic Formula Natural Dish Soap is manufactured using vegan and organic ingredients and is certified hypoallergenic. It was not tested with animals, making it cruelty free, and comes with a nice satisfaction guarantee, as the company will offer a full refund to consumers that remain unsatisfied. The best dish soaps and cleaning products for sensitive skin enable you to get the job done without needing rubber gloves while still leaving you with soft hands, and with an aloe enriched formula, this dish soap does just that. The multipack comes with two bottles, totalling 48 ounces of soap, and related accessories, including a scrub brush and three sponges.

Though this product does feature a pleasing scent, smelling of lavender, and other ingredients, some consumers prefer their soaps to be completely scent-free. Additionally, we found that you need a bit more soap on the sponge to reach the same cleaning power of more concentrated products, such as our top pick. Speaking of kitchen necessities, check out the best water filters.

 #6  Method Dish Soap Pump Refill – Best Value

WHY WE LIKE IT: Boasts great price to features ratio, shipping with 72 ounces of product for one relatively low price, with a biodegradable soap derived from plant-based ingredients and shipping in a package made from recycled plastic. This is a great value proposition for those looking to buy a lot of dish soap at once.

This Method Dish Soap Pump Refill is a great value, as it comes with two containers totaling 72 ounces of product at a relatively low price point. The soap is biodegradable and can also be used as a product for washing hands, with ingredients derived from plant-based sources. Each of the two 36 ounce containers are also made from recycled plastic, which is nice, and we found this product excelled at the removal of grease.

Though this product does come with 72 ounces of soap, it is a pump refill, so requires an external pump or dispenser. Additionally, this is a scented soap, which may not suit everyone’s tastes. It will do a great job on the best non stick pan. You may also want to read about kitchen appliances.

How We Decided

To help you find the best dish soap, we tried out dozens of top products, testing them, first and foremost, for cleaning ability. Each of the above products excelled at removing grease and dirt from a variety of dishes, including silverware, pans and baking trays. We also tested for concentration, choosing items that offered plenty of cleaning power with just a small amount of liquid.

We also tended to favor products that were not tested using animals, thus being certified as cruelty free, and those that were biodegradable, often manufactured using natural ingredients sourced from plants. Additionally, we chose some items that were completely vegan, in case of accidental ingestion and ones that were organic and eco-friendly, coming in packaging made from recycled plastic and other minimally invasive ingredients.

As far as scents go, we made sure to populate the above list with a nice mix of scented and scent-free products, suiting a consumer’s individual tastes. We also liked soaps with additional features, such as those that feature essential oils and those that came packed in with sponges and scrub brushes, among other accessories. Check out more top kitchen gadgets.

Dish Soap Buying Guide

The Most Important Features to Consider

1. Cleaning Power
   These liquids are used, first and foremost, to clean dirt, grease and grime from your dishes. Dish soaps achieve cleaning excellence thanks to a mixture of surfactants (substances designed to break the tension between solids.) Most dish soaps can also be mixed with water and placed into a spray bottle, for an easy surface cleaning solution. Many of the products on the above list are also extremely concentrated, meaning that just a drop or two should be able to clean a sinkful of dishes.
2. Scent
   Many dish soaps feature mild and pleasing scents, such as lavender and lemon. If you are sensitive to aromas, however, you may want to opt for a product that is completely fragrance-free, like our number three pick. Some dish soaps with natural ingredients may also be unscented like the Seventh Generation Professional Dish Liquid. Additionally, some products come in rather outlandish aromas, like pumpkin and apple. Be sure to read the label before purchasing.
3. Eco-friendly Ingredients
   Some years ago, manufacturers began eliminating environmentally harmful ingredients from dish soaps, such as phosphates. In the years since, companies have gone steps further to ensure that many products are as eco-friendly as possible. Many of the above soaps are organic and sourced from plant derivatives, in addition to arriving in ecologically friendly containers.