The 11 Best Dish Soaps of 2023

Best Overall

ECOS Hypoallergenic Dish Soap

4.6

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Thrive Market

For great cleaning power, ingredients that won’t irritate your skin, and pleasant scents, the ECOS hypoallergenic dish soap is a top buy. It doesn’t contain any dyes, parabens, or phthalates. The formula also leaves out 1,4-dioxane, which can cause irritation of the eyes and nose as well as more serious health problems over time. ECOS uses plant-derived cleaning and foaming agents, as well as plant-based chemicals to ensure it is pH balanced. Even still, it cuts through grease and baked on food on your dirty dishes. Just don’t be surprised if it doesn’t suds up as dramatically as some other options.

There are multiple scents as well as a free and clear option available. While they are all pleasant, the natural almond should get special attention because it is one of the mildest. If you want just a hint of scent that isn’t overpowering, the ECOS natural almond is one of our favorites from any brand.

This is also an eco-friendly dish soap. Not only does it use plant-based ingredients, but also the manufacturing processes and plastic bottle are environmentally-friendly. The bottle is made of recycled materials and the factory uses 100% renewable energy. It is certified by the EPA as a Safer Choice.

Price at time of publish: $5 for 2-pack

_{Type: Liquid | Amount: 25 fl.oz. | Scent: Natural almond, grapefruit, apricot, natural pear, free and clear}

Best Budget

Ajax Ultra Liquid Dish Soap 90oz

View On Amazon View On Home Depot View On Walmart

This ultra-concentrated dish soap is budget-friendly and a little bit goes a long way. It also comes in a large quantity so you won’t need to worry about buying dish soap for quite some time. Plus, it's antibacterial and eliminates contaminants on your hands, as well as grease and food on your dishes. If you do a lot of cleaning, you may want to wear gloves because the formula is strong.

It has a citrus scent that is nice for the kitchen, but can be overpowering for those with sensitivities. It also comes in lemon, lime, and grapefruit that has a bleach alternative agent. Because the formula suds up well, you can also use this dishwashing liquid for everything from cleaning sports gear to trying out fun bubble-based science experiments.

Price at time of publish: $6

_{Type: Liquid | Amount: 90 fl.oz. | Scent: Citrus}

Best Eco-Friendly

Seventh Generation Free & Clear Liquid Dish Soap

4.9

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target

Like the name suggests, Seventh Generation products are meant to protect the earth for the numerous generations to follow. The dish soap is free of fragrances, dyes, phosphates, and triclosan, an antibacterial agent that may have negative impacts on health and the environment. It is certified by the EPA as a Safer Choice. As a company, Seventh Generation is a Certified B Corps. This means that they take additional steps to ensure the welfare of their workers and communities.

You can get refills, which reduces the plastic packaging used. Seventh Generation also sells their dish soap in packs of four smaller containers, ideal for keeping in multiple places. It is a bit pricier than some other dish soaps but still a great value when you consider the extra steps that the company takes to protect the environment and the great cleaning power of the dish soap itself.

Price at time of publish: $21 for 6-pack

_{Type: Liquid | Amount: 19 fl. oz. | Scent: Free and clear}

Best for Grease

Dawn Platinum Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target

There’s a reason that Dawn is a household name when it comes to cleaning greasy messes, from stuck-on food on pots and pans to greasy car parts and stains on clothing. This concentrated formula has four times the cleaning power of other soaps and is especially powerful on dissolving grease. It is also surprisingly gentle on your hands, although you may want to wear gloves if you are tackling a large mess.

The scent can be strong for people with sensitivities, but it is still pleasant and fresh. All of the ingredients are listed on the back of the bottle, along with their purpose in the formula. If you know that you are sensitive to chemicals  or experience irritation with stronger products, you may want to look through the list to make sure there aren’t any ingredients that will cause issues.

Price at time of publish: $18/3-pack + 2 sponges

_{Type: Liquid | Amount: 24 fl.oz. | Scent: Refreshing rain}

Best for Hands

Palmolive Ultra Soft Touch Liquid Dish Soap

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target

Palmolive Soft Hands includes ingredients that keep your hands soft instead of irritated, even if you are washing a lot of dishes. The Ultra formula is also very strong and can handle grease, burnt-on food, and even dishes that have been left for 24 hours. Plus, it won’t leave any residue or film on your dishes, a noticeable benefit compared to some other formulas meant to leave your hands extra soft. We think the aloe and citrus scent is nice, but there also several other scents to choose from.

Price at time of publish: $3

_{Type: Liquid | Amount: 20 fl.oz. | Scent: Aloe and citrus}

Best for Sensitive Skin

Safely Dish Soap, Calm Scent, 16 fl oz

View On Walmart View On Target

This plant-based formula from Safely is gentle on your skin as well as your plumbing and the earth. It is biodegradable and has Vitamin E and aloe to nourish your skin as you wash. It uses mineral salts and plant-based cleaning agents to get at tough messes and grease. 

It's scented, but it's mild and pleasant. There are multiple fragrance options, although they are named for the emotion that they try to evoke. Calm and Rise are both popular, but you’ll have to try it out for yourself to see which you like the best. This formula is also less sudsy than some other options. But it is still concentrated, so don’t be tempted to add soap just because you don’t see a lot of bubbles.

Price at time of publish: $5

_{Type: Liquid | Amount: 16 fl.oz. | Scent: Calm}

Best for Baby Bottles

Dapple Baby Bottle & Dish Soap

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target

Babies have very sensitive systems, which is why most parents try to find a mild soap that is safe to use on baby bottles. The Dapple dish soap is made for babies and free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, mineral oil, synthetic dyes and fragrances. It is tested by pediatricians and dermatologists, who recommend the soap for both formula and milk bottles. You can also use it to clean your baby’s plastic toys and teethers.

Just know it is a bit pricey, which is why most parents stop using specialty dish soap as a baby gets older. If you want to keep thing budget-conscious, you can keep a bottle of Dapple for baby items and use a less expensive dish soap for your other household dishes.

Price at time of publish: $6

_{Type: Liquid | Amount: 16.9 fl.oz. | Scent: Unscented} 

Best Smelling

Mrs. Meyer’s Liquid Dish Soap Lavender

View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Target

This dish soap smells heavenly, with fragrances often based on botanical ingredients or seasonal scents. Mrs. Meyer’s also has a line of cleaning products with complementary scents so that you can choose a signature scent for your home. The formula is also effective at fighting grease and stuck-on food, leaving your dishes sparkling clean.

Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning products tend to be on the expensive side. You can get a larger refill container, which can save money and create less plastic waste. Signing up for a subscription service that automatically sends new shipments periodically can also result in special savings.

Price at time of publish: $15 for 3-pack

_{Type: Liquid | Amount: 16 fl.oz. | Scent: Lavender}

Best Antibacterial

Palmolive Antibacterial

View On Walmart View On Target

Palmolive is known for its great cleaning power. The Ultra antibacterial formula takes care of food messes as well as most bacteria. It kills 99.9% of bacteria, including staph, salmonella, and E.coli. You can use it on your kitchen counters, although you may need a separate spray bottle and water to dilute the concentrated formula to make it easier to use.

Because it is so strong, it may be harsh on your skin. Wearing gloves can be an easy fix to protect your skin as you clean. This dish soap is also very affordable, making the extra gloves purchase easier to fit into your budget.

Price at time of publish: $4

_{Type: Liquid | Amount: 32.5 fl. oz. | Scent: Orange} 

Best Refillable

Method Gel Dish Soap Refill

View On Amazon View On 123office.com View On Home Depot

Method is a great cleaner with pleasant scents and numerous complimentary cleaning products in their line. They are also some of the easiest to refill, which cuts down on plastic waste and can save you money and time on replacements. It has a pour spout that fits into the neck of the dish soap bottle. After you refill the bottle, just screw the cap back on. Method is also available at a variety of retailers, making is even easier to find a refill when you need one.

Method is a bit pricey compared to more budget-friendly options. But it has great cleaning power and uses a plant-based formula that is biodegradable and easy on your skin. It's also free of parabens and phthalates.

Price at time of publish: $42 for 6-pack

_{Type: Liquid | Amount: 36 fl.oz. | Scent: Sea minerals}