The Best Dishsoap

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Adam Barker
Published on
February 9th, 2019

Expert BioExpert Bio

Adam has a passion for cleaning from his youth growing up in England, and he has carried it with him to the US. Adam’s formal training and certifications in cleaning include the Advanced System Cleaning specialist (For HVAC cleaning / ductwork), through NADCA (this is the highest certification that NADCA has), as well as several other certifications from the IICRC. Adam has either advised, consulted, or done research with dozens of cleaning and cleaning related business entities. Adam holds an undergraduate degree from Oxford, a Master’s degree from Oxford, and a Master’s degree from Harvard Business School.

The Cleaning Institute

Dish Soap is just what the name implies, soap that is specially formulated to wash your dishes, and get them clean, eliminating grease and grime. It’s to be used in your sink, not in a dishwasher.

There is a big variation in how people use dish soap. Some people use it before they put items in the dishwasher to get off food and grime, while others use dish soap for the entire cleaning process (instead of using a dishwasher). We tested many brands to find out which one really is the best to get your dishes, glasses and cutlery clean and sparkly. The results may surprise you because an all natural dish soap beat out the big brand names in this category. We recommend Puracy Natural Liquid Dish Soap Sulfate-Free Dishwashing Detergent as our top choice.
We gave honorable mention to Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap, and recommend Seventh Generation Dish Liquid Soap, Free & Clear as our green pick, the environmentally friendly option.

Testing Categories

Smell – Odor was definitely a big factor in researching the dish soap. Because it is being used on items that you eat and drink on, no one wanted a particularly strong smell. Generally a lighter unobtrusive smell was more desirable.

Power – All dish soaps were tested on how clean the dishes and cutlery became after being handwashed. Specifics included stain removal, brightness of glasses and amount of grease and grime that was removed.

Packaging – The type of package, method of dispenser and size of the bottle all were considered in the testing process.

Effect on Hands — Unlike many household cleaning products (like glass cleaner and laundry detergent) this cleaning product actually gets on your hands, so testers were very concerned about products that would cause their hands to be dry, or give them a rash, while trying to clean their dishes!

Price — In terms of price, we considered both price per ounce, and price per use. Some dish soaps required less product to be used, and so they were more efficient.

Top Pick

Puracy Natural Liquid Dish Soap
Sulfate-Free
Dishwashing Detergent

Testers looking for natural alternatives (and even those who didn’t know they were looking for natural alternatives!) loved this soap. Some testers were familiar with the Puracy brand from their shampoo and conditioner, and therefore the dish soap was a natural brand extension. It was very gentle on the skin, eyes and nose. It did not dry out our testers’ hands or cause them to break out in a rash, but actually made their hands nice and soft. Like hand lotion and dish soap, all in one highly effective product!

Price Check

They loved the original scents (green tea and lime!?) and that it cleaned so well that dishes were just beautiful and shiny. And rinsing the soap off was a breeze! They liked the small size of the bottle, and the squirt top made it easy to dispense and use. Most notable upsides: Testers were impressed by how well it cleaned the dishes, even though it is a natural product. They liked the smell, and thought that the scents were unique, yet subtle. Biggest downside: Some testers thought they had to use a lot of product to get the dishes clean, and the price was higher than some of the other soaps.

Most notable upside: Testers were impressed by how well it cleaned the dishes, even though it is a natural product. They liked the smell, and thought that the scents were unique, yet subtle.

Biggest downsides: Some testers thought they had to use a lot of product to get the dishes clean, and the price was higher than some of the other soaps.

5/5
Power
5/5
Smell
5/5
Packaging
4/5
Price

Honorable Mention

Dawn Ultra
Dishwashing Liquid
Dish Soap

Our testers found that Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap ranked high in our research, and it earned second place in the category.

Price Check

They knew (and loved) the brand Dawn for dish soap, and many testers remembered the detergent being used to get oil off of ducks after an oil spill. They liked that the formula was concentrated so that they could use less, and the bottle lasted longer. And they found the cleaning results were very impressive. The soap lathered well, got stains off of pots and pans and was fast cleaning. Testers differed in how they would use the soap. Some would pour the soap into their own container, while others would just leave the bottle at the sink. They liked the flip open top, for the most part, though some found that it leaked.

Most notable upside: Testers loved the packaging and the light, fresh scent.

Biggest downsides: Our testers found that Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap ranked high in our research, and it earned second place in the category. They knew (and loved) the brand Dawn for dish soap, and many testers remembered the detergent being used to get oil off of ducks after an oil spill. They liked that the formula was concentrated so that they could use less, and the bottle lasted longer. And they found the cleaning results were very impressive. The soap lathered well, got stains off of pots and pans and was fast cleaning. Testers differed in how they would use the soap. Some would pour the soap into their own container, while others would just leave the bottle at the sink. They liked the flip open top, for the most part, though some found that it leaked.

5/5
Power
4/5
Smell
4/5
Packaging
5/5
Price

Green Pick

Seventh Generation
Dish Liquid Soap
Free & Clear

Our testers thought that Seventh Generation Dish Liquid Soap, Free & Clear was the top environmentally friendly option for dish soap. It was tough on dirty dishes, rinsed easily, and a small amount of the soap went a long way. And, testers liked that it was fragrance free.

Price Check

Some felt that the cleaning power was not as strong, and found it drying to their hands.

Most notable upside: The combination of environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic.

Biggest downsides: There were conflicting reviews on the effectiveness of the detergent.

3/5
Power
4/5
Smell
5/5
Packaging
5/5
Price

All Our Picks

Top Pick

Puracy Natural Liquid Dish Soap
Sulfate-Free
Dishwashing Detergent

Testers looking for natural alternatives (and even those who didn’t know they were looking for natural alternatives!) loved this soap. Some testers were familiar with the Puracy brand from their shampoo and conditioner, and therefore the dish soap was a natural brand extension. It was very gentle on the skin, eyes and nose. It did not dry out our testers’ hands or cause them to break out in a rash, but actually made their hands nice and soft. Like hand lotion and dish soap, all in one highly effective product!

Price Check

Green Pick

Seventh Generation
Dish Liquid Soap
Free & Clear

Our testers thought that Seventh Generation Dish Liquid Soap, Free & Clear was the top environmentally friendly option for dish soap. It was tough on dirty dishes, rinsed easily, and a small amount of the soap went a long way. And, testers liked that it was fragrance free.

Price Check

FAQs about Dish Soap

Q. Can I put dish soap into my dishwasher?

A: No! While you may be tempted to put it in the dishwasher (especially if you run out of dishwasher detergent) do not make this mistake! Yes, both will clean dishes, but the formula of the products are VERY different. Liquid dish soap is very sudsy and it can damage the dishwasher, and you could end up with soap and bubbles pouring out of the machine, all over the kitchen floor!

Q: What is the best way to wash pots and pans that have burned-on stains?

A: Soaking pots and pans is a great first step to getting off stains that are burned on the items. Soaking allows the dish soap to break down the stains so that they are washed away more easily.

Q: Is it ok to use cold water to wash my dishes?

A: No, hot water is essential when you are hand washing dishes. Hot water gets rid of bacteria, cuts the grease and gets rid of the dirt, so that you don’t have to scrub as hard.

Q: What should I do to get the cleanest dishes?

A: You basically have two choices to wash your dishes.

Dilute is when you fill your sink with hot water and squirt the detergent in the water. This way is more economical because you use less detergent. Some pots and pans (like cast iron) cannot be immersed in water. You need to check the instructions on the pots and pans before immersing them in the sink.

Neat is when you put the detergent on the sponge and use that to wash your dirty dishes. This way is easier to get the dishes clean.

Tips for Cleaning

Here are some tips to make the dishwashing experience easier, faster, and more effective. Who wants to spend a lot of time doing dishes?!

Pre-Soak: This is a very important step. First you take off any leftover food with a paper towel, or scrape off into the garbage can. Don’t pour any grease down the drain, or you will clog your sink.

Soak: This works great for your dishes that have grease or baked on stains that you need to remove (make sure to check the instructions of the items you are cleaning to make sure they can be soaked). Fill the sink part way with hot water, and then add dish soap to the sink. Let them soak for about 15 to 30 minutes. Then drain the sink, and move onto the next step.

Wash: Make sure you have hot water running. Put detergent on a clean wet sponge. FIrst wash your lightly soiled items (glasses and silverware), then plates, serving dishes and then any pots and pans. Keep washing off the sponge and adding more soap, if necessary. Be careful washing delicate glasses and knives. Wash them one at a time.

Rinse: Run all items under water (either from the faucet or the sprayer in your sink). It is important to rinse the outside and inside of each item.

Dry: You can choose if you want to air dry or towel dry items. Air drying is much easier. Just spread items out, allowing for space in between items and place them in a drying rack or on a dish towel. Drying off with a clean towel is quicker, and can be more effective to avoid spotting on silverware or glasses. Paper towels should be used to dry off especially greasy pots and pans, as some grease may remain and could get on your dish towel.

Energy Saving and Environmental Tips for Washing Dishes

Make sure to use only the amount necessary to clean your dishes. Do not waste extra detergent.
Scrape off any food or grease before you wash the dishes.
Soak any items that have burned on stains to minimize how much detergent you use.
Do not run hot water for long amounts of time when washing dishes. Turn off the water while you are scrubbing.
Air dry your dishes instead of using cloth towels that have to be cleaned, or paper towels that get thrown away.
Recycle the empty container of dish soap.

You Won’t Believe What Else You Can Do with Dish Soap!

Dish soap is very versatile! Let’s just say that it’s not just for your dishes! Here are some alternative ways that you can use dish soap.

Use it as a dog shampoo. Some people say that Dawn dish detergent kills fleas and ticks!
It gets rid of ants. Mix some dish soap into a spray bottle with water and spray your windowsills and countertops with the soapy mixture.
Dish soap makes great bubbles for kids (6 parts water to one part soap!) and put the mixture in your child’s old bubble containers.
Mix a small amount of soap with water and wipe your stainless steel kitchen appliances.
Use dish soap to clean your patio furniture.

The Best Dishsoap

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Adam Barker

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Puracy Natural Liquid Dish Soap
Sulfate-Free
Dishwashing Detergent

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

Dawn Ultra
Dishwashing Liquid
Dish Soap

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

Seventh Generation
Dish Liquid Soap
Free & Clear

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

All Our Picks

Puracy Natural Liquid Dish Soap
Sulfate-Free
Dishwashing Detergent

Dawn Ultra
Dishwashing Liquid
Dish Soap

Seventh Generation
Dish Liquid Soap
Free & Clear

FAQs about Dish Soap

Tips for Cleaning

Energy Saving and Environmental Tips for Washing Dishes

You Won’t Believe What Else You Can Do with Dish Soap!

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

The Best Dishsoap

Your guide to this review today is by Cleaning expert Adam Barker

The Cleaning Institute

Testing Categories

Puracy Natural Liquid Dish Soap Sulfate-FreeDishwashing Detergent

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

Dawn Ultra Dishwashing LiquidDish Soap

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

Seventh GenerationDish Liquid Soap Free & Clear

Power

Smell

Packaging

Price

All Our Picks

Puracy Natural Liquid Dish Soap Sulfate-FreeDishwashing Detergent

Dawn Ultra Dishwashing LiquidDish Soap

Seventh GenerationDish Liquid Soap Free & Clear

FAQs about Dish Soap

Tips for Cleaning

Energy Saving and Environmental Tips for Washing Dishes

You Won’t Believe What Else You Can Do with Dish Soap!

Quick Links

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Puracy Natural Liquid Dish Soap
Sulfate-Free
Dishwashing Detergent

Dawn Ultra
Dishwashing Liquid
Dish Soap

Seventh Generation
Dish Liquid Soap
Free & Clear

Puracy Natural Liquid Dish Soap
Sulfate-Free
Dishwashing Detergent

Dawn Ultra
Dishwashing Liquid
Dish Soap

Seventh Generation
Dish Liquid Soap
Free & Clear