7 Dish Soaps With Better Ingredients
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Finding dish soaps with better ingredients can be surprisingly difficult. There are so many options out there, and the labels don’t always tell you much.
I wanted to find products where I could actually look at the ingredients, see what the company was claiming, and figure out what made each one worth considering. These are seven dish soaps with better ingredients that stood out to me.
For this list, “better ingredients” doesn’t mean every product is perfect or automatically safer for everyone. I looked at things like ingredient transparency, added fragrance, certifications, and what the brands disclose about their formulas.
1. Branch Basics Concentrate
Branch Basics is a little different from the other options here because you’re buying a concentrate rather than a traditional bottle of dish soap. You dilute it for different cleaning jobs, including dishes, so it’s a good choice if you’re trying to cut down on the number of products under your sink. The downside of this product is that although it is a concentrate and can be used for many different things, it is quite expensive.
The formula is fragrance-free and plant- and mineral-based, and the Concentrate is EWG Verified, MADE SAFE Certified, and Leaping Bunny Certified. If you haven’t come across those certifications before, I explain what they actually mean in my [5 Cleaning Product Certifications: Ultimate Guide].
- HUMAN-SAFE CLEANING CONCENTRATE: This kit includes our versatile Concentrate (33.8 fl oz), designed to replace every cle…
- EMPTY REFILLABLE SPRAY BOTTLES FOR EVERY TASK: The kit includes three clearly labeled empty refillable plastic bottles, …
- PLANT & MINERAL BASED, CLEAN FORMULA: Your health is our top priority. Our Concentrate and Oxygen Boost are made with ge…
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2. Puracy Dish Soap
Puracy is a pretty straightforward everyday option. The Unscented version is concentrated and uses plant- and mineral-derived ingredients, and the company is very open about what goes into the formula and what it leaves out.
It’s also PETA Certified Vegan & Cruelty-Free, Leaping Bunny certified, . I like that Puracy gives you enough information to actually evaluate the product instead of just handing you a bunch of vague “clean” claims.
If you’re getting more comfortable reading ingredient labels, [How to Read Ingredient Lists: Essential Tips] is a good place to start.
- Nourish Your Dishes and Hands – Puracy dish soap liquid offers you the harmony of mineral-based and plant-powered cleans…
- Gentle Suds, Sparkling Clean – With our kind dish detergent liquid, a little goes a long way. A small dab on a wet surfa…
- Effortless, Kind Cleaning – Our natural dishwashing liquid effortlessly slices through grease and oil while caressing yo…
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3. ATTITUDE Dishwashing Liquid, Unscented
ATTITUDE has several dish soaps, but the Unscented version is my favorite.
It’s EWG Verified and made with naturally derived ingredients. There’s also a larger refill option, which is worth considering if you’d rather not keep buying another little plastic bottle every time you run out.
I normally use this one at my house, and it works really great.
- EWG VERIFIED: This dishwashing liquid is EWG Verified, ensuring it’s made with clean ingredients according to the Enviro…
- HIGH PERFORMANCE: Made with 98% naturally derived ingredients, this dish soap liquid breaks down stubborn grease and foo…
- EFFECTIVE ON ALL COOKWARE: Achieve sparkling clean dishes with a small amount of this dishwashing soap. Effective on all…
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4. Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dish Liquid
This is probably my favorite overall option on this list.
I was already using a different dish soap when I started researching these, but after looking at everything Seventh Generation has going for it, I’m honestly thinking I should switch to this one.
The Free & Clear version is EPA Safer Choice certified, 95% USDA Certified Biobased, and Leaping Bunny certified. It’s also fragrance-free and dye-free, which checks a couple of boxes I personally look for in a dish soap.
It’s also easy to find and comes in a regular dish-soap format, so you’re not paying for some complicated specialty product just to get a better formula. For everything you’re getting here, I think it’s the strongest overall option on this list.
If you’re curious about what those certifications actually mean, I break them down in [5 Cleaning Product Certifications: Ultimate Guide].
- Plant-based formula liquid soap fights grease and powers through tough, dried-on food
- Dermatologist tested dishwashing soap formula made for sensitive skin
- Fragrance free dish soap
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5. ECOS Free & Clear Dish Soap
ECOS Free & Clear is another option I’d look at if you’re specifically trying to avoid added fragrance.
It’s EPA Safer Choice certified, and the brand provides information about the formula rather than leaving you to guess what’s behind the marketing. It also skips things like added fragrance, dyes, and phthalates.
I like this one because it’s a pretty normal and accessible dish soap. It has several meaningful certifications, it’s fragrance-free, and it’s easy to find without having to order from a specialty brand. I also like that it gives you a lot of information to work with without making the product feel complicated.
- Unscented Dish Soap Cleaning Bundle: Contains 1 Sisal Bristle and Bamboo Dish Scrub Brush & 2 Unscented Clear Liquid Dis…
- Sisal Dish Scrub Brush: The bundle includes 1 Unscented Sisal Dish Scrub Brush, with a bamboo handle and sisal bristles,…
- Unscented Dish Soap Bundle: The unscented hypoalergenic bundle is crafted for effective cleaning and has been thoughtful…
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6. Molly’s Suds Liquid Dish Soap
Molly’s Suds is worth a look if you tend to read the ingredient information before buying something.
The Unscented version doesn’t use synthetic fragrance or dyes, and the company is pretty specific about the ingredients it chooses to leave out.
I talk more about checking product claims instead of taking them at face value in [Beyond the Label: How to Evaluate Product Claims].
- POWERFUL AND EFFECTIVE: Our new and improved Liquid Dish Soap easily cuts through grease and grime to leave your dishes …
- SAFER INGREDIENTS FOR PEOPLE & PLANET: We adhere to strict ingredient integrity, so you’ll never find harsh chemicals in…
- GENTLE ON DISHES, HANDS: Can use on baby bottles and pacifiers, as well in homes with those who struggle with skin and f…
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7. AspenClean Unscented Dish Soap
The formula is plant- and mineral-based, and the company offers a concentrated version along with refill options. It’s also EWG Verified and ECOCERT certified, and the brand cites Leaping Bunny certification for its dish products.
- POWERFUL GREASE-CUTTING DISH SOAP: Plant-based liquid dish soap designed to easily cut through grease, oil, and food res…
- FRAGRANCE-FREE FORMULA: This baby-safe, pet-friendly, and hypoallergenic dish soap is specially formulated for people wi…
- GENTLE ON HANDS & SAFE FOR SENSITIVE SKIN: Formulated with cosmetic-grade ingredients including organic glycerin and asp…
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Final Thoughts
There are plenty of dish soaps out there, and I don’t think choosing one needs to become a research project.
Look at the things you actually care about, check the label, and go from there. For me, ingredient transparency and fragrance are usually going to matter more than whether the bottle looks good.
And if you’re already happy with the dish soap you’re using, you don’t have to replace it just because you found a new option. Knowing what you’re buying is the useful part.
Commonly Asked Questions About Dish Soap
What should I look for in a dish soap?
I’d start with the ingredient list, then look at fragrance, product claims, and certifications if those things matter to you. I also like when a company makes the formula easy to find instead of making you dig through the website.
Is fragrance-free dish soap better?
Not necessarily. But if you’re trying to reduce added fragrance in your home, fragrance-free is a simple thing to look for. I wouldn’t assume “unscented” always means the same thing, though.
Are plant-based dish soaps better?
Not automatically. “Plant-based” tells you something about where certain ingredients come from, but it doesn’t tell you everything about the finished formula. The rest of the ingredient list still matters.
Do dish soaps need to be certified?
No. Certifications can give you useful information, but they’re only one part of evaluating a product. If a dish soap has one, I’d look at what it actually covers rather than assuming the logo tells you everything.