The 8 Best Dish Soaps of 2021

Best Overall: Seventh Generation Free & Clear Liquid Dish Soap

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We consider Seventh Generation’s Free & Clear to be the hardest working dish soap you can find. Not only is this plant-based formula EPA Safer Choice certified, but it also proves that “green” can clean. The formula is hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and never tested on animals, and the packaging is made from post-consumer recycled plastic—even the cap is biodegradable.

With a reasonable amount of soap, Seventh Generation can cut through grease easily and leaves behind zero residue. It’s reasonably priced and it’s easily found in most conventional supermarket chains as well as online. In our opinion, this soap is a winner across the board.

Best Budget: Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Soap

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It’s easy to judge bargain products based on price, but to determine the best budget dish soap, we found that it really comes down to quality as well. Cheaper options can require up to 2.5 times more product per wash, so you wind up spending more because you use more. There’s a reason Dawn is so popular, and that’s because their products work so undeniably well.

We like Dawn Ultra because although the 38 oz. bottle might cost a dollar or two more up front than its competitors, it actually comes out to less in the long run because a little bit of product can go such a long way. Dawn Ultra prides itself on this aspect of their product and claims it cleans 3x more grease per drop, so you get more cleaning done with less soap and less elbow grease. Plus, it’s gentle on your skin, which is important if you do a lot of dish washing.

Best Natural: ECOS Dishmate Dish Soap Free & Clear

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Unfortunately, the FDA does not require cleaning products to list their ingredients, which leaves most consumers in the dark on what chemicals they’re regularly exposing themselves (and their family) to. Using an environmentally-friendly alternative would sound like a good solution, but natural cleaners often have a reputation of being less effective. Well, we’re here to tell you natural products have come a long way since the days of simple water and baking soda solutions.

Ecos Dishmate Dish Soap Free & Clear cuts grimes using coconut-based surfactants, which comply with the EPA Safer Choice standards, which ensures a product is safe for our use as well as our pets, workspaces, and the environment. ECOS’ formula is also fragrance-free, vegan, and hypoallergenic, so it’s an excellent choice for anyone with allergies or sensitivities. Although this concentrated formula doesn’t foam up as much as other dish soaps, it is tough on grease and grime, so dishes come out clean and clear every time.

Best Bar: Dr. Bronners Pure Castile Bar Soap

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Want a little known fact (that also happens to be a game-changer)? Bar soap made with olive-oil can be used as an alternative to liquid dish soap. In fact, with the right scrub brush, bar soap can last you twice as long as liquid soap. Not only is this bar soap more economical, it’s also a nearly zero-waste product packaged in a 100 percent post-consumer recycled wrapper rather than a plastic bottle.

We love Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Bar Soap because it has a rich lather that works great on dishes. While it's not as powerful against tough messes, it can get the job done during everyday use, especially for products that aren't dishwasher friendly. It’s all-natural, made with vegan ingredients and organic oils, with no dyes or synthetic fragrances, so it’s a great multi-purpose cleaner. It’s also safe for use on your face, body, and hair and leaves skin feeling soft and moisturized. It's a great option for travel and camping because it’s environmentally friendly, saves room, and serves so many uses.

Best for Grease: Dawn Platinum Power Wash Dish Spray

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For heavy duty grease, we suggest Dawn Platinum Power Wash Dish Spray. Dawn claims their formula contains “micro-scrubbing enzymes” that can deliver as much cleaning power as an overnight soak in just 5 minutes, and we would definitely agree! Thanks to Dawn's powerful formula, a little goes a long way—you really can definitely get your money’s worth. What’s really different about this version compared to other dish soaps on the market is that this formula comes housed in a spray bottle. Dawn claims this “spray-activated” feature works on contact to break down and lift away dirt without water.

While we wouldn’t say the spray feature makes it that much more effective than the original formula in the squeeze bottle, we found it to be just as impressive, easy to use, and convenient to spray down big pots that needed a little extra elbow grease. Dawn Platinum does contain synthetic fragrance and dye, which can be irritants for some, but the brand does pride itself on being the only soap used by the International Bird Rescue Research Center to clean birds after oil spills, lending further proof that while it's tough on grease, it’s also gentle on the skin.

Best for Hard Water: Mrs. Meyers Lemon Verbena No-Rinse Cleaner

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Hard water is water that’s flowed through layers of rocks and has picked up minerals like calcium and magnesium. The presence of these minerals can make it healthier to drink than soft water, but it often leaves dishes with a white residue that makes them appear dirty even after you’ve washed them. The best soaps for hard water are those that are natural and contain water softeners to counteract the effects of hard water.

We like Mrs. Meyers No-Rinse Cleaner because instead of harmful chemicals, this cruelty-free formula uses essential oils and is specifically formulated to tackle hard-water stains the first time around, regardless of how much grease is on the surface. Because this formula uses essential oils instead of chemicals, it’s gentle on hands and leaves them feeling soft and moisturized.

Best for Hands: Palmolive Soft Touch Concentrated Dish Washing Liquid

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Typically, dish soap is harsher than hand soap. If you’ve ever washed a sink full of dishes at once, then you’ve probably experienced dry, irritated, or even chapped skin, especially if you are prone to eczema. Palmolive’s Soft Touch Concentrated Dish Washing Liquid is a great alternative for those with sensitive skin.

The brand is already known for its hand soaps, so it’s no surprise they infuse their soaps with moisturizing ingredients like coconut butter and aloe so hands stay soft, even when you've got a lot of dishes to tackle. Palmolive’s Soft Touch soap may be gentle on hands but that’s not to say it’s ineffective on grease. This formula leaves dishes impressively clean without any need for a round two of washing. This rich lather fights grime just as well as many other options so you don’t have to risk dry skin for clean dishes.