The 8 Best Dish Soap Brands to Keep on Hand at All Times
We tend to take household essentials for granted because they seem like such common products that we buy so frequently. We all use dish soap every day but don’t realize how important it is for our post-dinner clean up because it’s such a second-nature product.
What makes a good dish soap?
The best dish soaps will get rid of any grime and grease off your dishes without an overwhelming scent, left over residue and they’ll last a long time. Before you buy a dish soap, take into consideration your living circumstances. For example, do you need a child-friendly soap, a six-pack because you have a large family with a lot of dishes, a plant-based formula or any other environmental-specific requirements? Taking a look at the ingredients and other qualities of the dish soaps will help you find your go-to for grocery trips to come.
The Best Dish Soap, Winners at a Glance
Best Overall: Meyer’s Clean Day Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap
Best Pack: Seventh Generation Dish Soap Liquid Free and Clear (Pack of Six)
Most Convenient: Dawn Dish Soap Platinum Dishwashing Liquid
Best Scented: Method Dish Soap
Best Value: Gain Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap
Most Eco-Friendly: Caldrea Dish Soap
Best Vegan: 9 Elements Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap
Best for Children: Babyganics Foaming Dish & Bottle Soap
Here, the best dish soap you can find for whatever your top priority may be.
RELATED: The 13 Best Pillows on Amazon for a Glorious Night’s Sleep
1. Mrs. Myer’s Clean Day Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap
Best Overall
This dish soap has a soft, lavender scent that isn’t overwhelming and is cruelty-free. Squeeze the bottle for a few drops of soap on your dishes to degrease anything without a residue left behind. The soap has a neutral pH level and is biodegradable making it great for your hands, dishes and the environment.
2. Seventh Generation Dish Soap Liquid Free and Clear (Pack of Six)
Best for Sensitive Skin
Fragrance-free dish soaps are a safe bet especially if you’re sensitive to added scents. It’s also a hypoallergenic formula and dermatologist tested for skin that is easily reactive. These 19-ounce bottles come in a pack of six so they’re great if your family goes through dish soap quickly.
3. Dawn Dish Soap Platinum Dishwashing Liquid
Most Convenient
This one will remove food and grime that’s been stuck onto dishes for up to 48 hours. It’s a fast and effective dish soap that lasts a long time because a little goes a long way. This set of three comes with two non-scratch sponges to get any and all residue off of your dishes quickly.
4. Method Dish Soap
Best Scented
The simple and refreshing scents available in this dish soap are perfect if you like a delightfully subtle smell while you’re doing the dishes. It’s made with plant-based grease-cutting power to eliminate grease and food from your dishes quickly without any harsh chemicals. The pump instead of squeeze bottle makes washing easier and less messy.
5. Gain Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap
Best Value
Grab this soap if you like something that has a low cost and a lot of product. The bottle holds 22 ounces of soap and is great for multipurpose cleaning because it fights odor-causing residue. It has the original Gain brand scent which is known and loved by so many customers because it’s fresh during use and doesn’t linger heavily.
6. Caldrea Dish Soap
Most Eco-Friendly
Another biodegradable soap, and this one has a richer, earthy scent that will stick around while you’re washing and after. It has a blend of essential oils, soap bark and aloe vera that moisturizes and gets rid of grime quickly. You’ll only need a squirt or two to clean a whole sink of dirty dishes thanks to the strong and effective grease-fighting formula.
7. 9 Elements Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap
Best Vegan
This plant-based dish soap is powered by vinegar to get the grease and gunk off of all your dishes. The light eucalyptus scent is lovely and won’t leave any vinegar smell behind. It’s an EPA choice so it’s safe for pets, people and the environment.
8. Babyganics Foaming Dish & Bottle Soap
Best for Children
Have some kids running around the house? This dish soap will safely and effectively clean their toys, plates, bottles and even your breast pump accessories to make sure they’re spotless with no harsh chemicals used. The two-pack bottles are 32 ounces each and are fragrance free to avoid any reactionary scents and additives.
Does dish soap kill bacteria?
In short, no. By itself, dish soap can be used to lift dirt, grease and other debris off of surfaces to clean but not disinfect. To kill the bacteria while you wash be sure to use hot water to clear the germs and bacteria because cold water won’t do the trick.
What else can you clean with dish soap?
Since dish soap is formulated to remove grease and oil, you might try using a couple of drops on an oil stain on your carpet, couch or clothing with some warm water to lift the stain. You can also use a few squirts of the liquid in a clogged toilet and follow with some hot water to fight through a backup. Oh, and you can dilute a few drops of soap with some warm water in a spray bottle and use as a gentle household cleaner, too.
RELATED: The 16 Best Flannel Sheets Reviewers Snuggled Into and Loved in 2021
PureWow may receive a portion of sales from products purchased from this article, which was created independently from PureWow's editorial and sales departments.
