When we wash our dishes, one wouldn't think that the soap we are using to wash them could harm us, right? Unfortunately that is not the case, as oftentimes dish soaps leave a residue on our dishes, and then we can ingest that residue when we eat off of/from those dishes or utensils. Not only can those toxic ingredients in soaps be ingested, but they can be absorbed through our skin when we hand wash our dishes and enter our bloodstream. Some of the biggest culprits in dish soaps that can harm us are:

• SLS/SLES

  • Sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are surfactants that make it easier for water and oil to bind together and cause products, like soaps, to foam up. These ingredients can cause skin and eye irritation, contact dermatitis, eczema, etc. due to them stripping the skin of its natural oils.

• Fragrances

  • Synthetic fragrances are known endocrine disrupters, and brands don't have to disclose what exactly their fragrances are made of, so they'll throw the word 'fragrance' on their labels as a blanket term and hide what they are actually using.

• Dyes

  • FD&C Blue No.1 can cause skin irritation, immunotoxicity, inhibit nerve cell development and mitochondrial respiration in vitro, and may play a role in inflammatory diseases like Crohn's or colitis (source).

  • Yellow No. 5 may be cancerous, as it has be studied to damage cell DNA, which can cause future mutations and become cancerous. (source).

• Propylene Glycol

  • Used as a skin conditioning solvent, propylene glycol may cause skin irritation, contact dermatitis, and contact urticaria

• Polysorbate-20

  • This is an ethoxylated substance formed from polysorbate and ethylene oxide. The addition of ethylene oxide may create 1,4 dioxane, which is a known carcinogen.

• Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, and Benzisothiazolinone

  • These 3 ingredients are preservatives added to kill fungi, bacteria, and yeasts, but they can cause contact allergic reactions, lung toxicity, and there may be a link to neurotoxicity as well.

• Triclosan

  • Another antimicrobial like the previously mentioned, triclosan has been shown to increase antibiotic resistance, and impact reproductive and thyroid hormones (source).

It's safe to say there are a lot of products out there, including dish soap, that don't have our health in mind. But luckily, there are a few brands out there that do and aim to keep both ourselves and our dishes free from harmful chemicals! Here's some of my top brands you should try out next time you purchase dish soap!

Here's the 9 Best Non Toxic Dish Soaps:

Attitude

Attitude is a brand that I mention often throughout this blog. They're non-toxic, EWG-verified, and budget friendly! This dish soap by Attitude is made from naturally sourced plant and mineral-based ingredients, and is vegan and cruelty-free. It cuts through the grease and cleans dishes effectively, and the scents are amazing, but if you don't like scented products, they have an unscented version as well. To be even more cost effective, you can buy gallon-sized refills!

Price: $5.10 for 23-oz

Scents: Citrus Zest, Coriander & Olive, Grapefruit, Green Apple & Basil, Unscented, Wildflowers

Branch Basics

Branch Basics is another one of my favorites in the non toxic household product department (that's a mouthful). While they don't have an official dish soap, they have a concentrate that you can dilute to different concentrations depending on the need, like all-purpose sprays, bathroom, etc. Fill up the sink with hot water and add a teaspoon and you're good to go! Or if you've already made your own spray from the concentrate, you can spray that directly on your dishes. Their starter kits are a great deal, as they come with a few empty bottles that are labeled for different household needs, an oxygen boost for laundry, and the infamous concentrate. If you already have empty bottles, give the concentrate a try on your own!

Price: $55 for 33.8 oz

Scents: Unscented

Fuwa3e

Based out of Vietnam, Fuwa3e uses discarded pineapple peels to make their dish soap, since pineapple contains natural bromelain enzymes that help break down oil and grease stuck on dishes. It doesn't contain SLS/SLES, parabens, phosphates, dyes, or triclosan, so it's a super safe option for your body and your dishes.

Price: $ 5.99

Scents: Tropical Pineapple, Earthy Cinnamon

Molly's Suds

Molly's Suds uses plant-based ingredients in their dish soap to help dissolve stuck-on grime, and it's great for every type of dishware. It's safe from lots of harmful chemicals, but they do use 'natural fragrance' in their scented options; because of that I would steer clear since you never know what companies add to their fragrances. They have an unscented version, though, and if you want scent without synthetics fragrances, add essential oils to it and make it your own!

Price: $18 for 2 16-oz bottles

Scents: Lavender, Lemon Burst, Unscented

Public Goods

It may be a rather plain looking bottle, but Public Goods dish soap is everything but plain. It's highly concentrated so it cuts through tough grime on your dishes, but it's also gentle on your hands and won't strip away any moisture. It's free from parabens, sulfates, dyes, and artificial fragrances; it uses only essential oils for their fragrance. The con to this product is that it only comes in one scent, but I do enjoy it. They also have a bulk refill option to help reduce plastic waste and save you money.

Price: $12.95 for 16-oz; $20 for 34-oz refill

Scents: Mandarin Basil

Rowe Casa Organics

Another top non toxic brand I love is Rowe Casa Organics. Their dish soap contains an easy-to-read label with no toxic chemicals or fragrances; just essential oils and other plant-based ingredients. The pump makes it easy to dispense, too, and it won't harm your hands!

Price: $16 for 16-oz

Scent: One scent made up of lemon, bergamot, grapefruit, lemongrass, orange, and lime essential oils

Sonett

Sonett is a brand based out of Germany, and their dish soap is the real deal. It's organic, hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, uses coconut-based surfactants, and essential oils for their fragrances. Their soap is also biodegradable, so it's safe to the water and environment, as well. And it's dirt cheap for the amount you get, so it's great on the wallet!

Price: $12.59 for 34-oz

Scents: Lemon, Calendula

TriNova

TriNova dish soap is organic and uses plant-based, natural ingredients that will cut through grease and grime, AND won't dry out your hands; the addition of aloe helps prevent the dryness. It's got a lovely scent coming from bergamot, agave, jasmine, and lavender essential oils. They don't use parabens or sulfates either in their formula, which is a win! When you order your bottles (comes in a 2-pack), you'll also get a scrub brush and sponges to go along with it, which is a neat perk. A little of this stuff goes a long way, too, so you'll be getting your money's worth with TriNova.

Price: $24.97 for 2 24-oz bottles

Scents: One scent made up of agave, bergamot, jasmine, and lavender essential oils

Yaya Maria's

Last but not least on this list is Yaya Maria's dish soap. Their formula is pretty transparent, as there are only 5 ingredients listed (6 if they are scented): distilled water, vegetable glycerin, coconut oil. potash, castor oil, and essential oil for scent. Because of these non toxic ingredients, it is also EWG-verified! The scents are super fresh and I like that they aren't endocrine disruptors like synthetic fragrances are. Give it try here!

Price: $32 for 3 16-oz bottles

Scents: Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemongrass, Spearmint, Unscented

*Disclosure: Some of the links in the article above are affiliate links, so if you are inclined to make a purchase based on the recommendations, the author will make a small commission. Thank you for your support if you so choose.*