No matter how many times I read about sustainable dish soap and cleaners, I still get confused. There are so many varieties out there that it can be hard to know which one is best for you. That’s why I thought it would be helpful to put together a comprehensive guide on what to look for when shopping for sustainable dish soap.
Whether you’re interested in plastic-free options or anything else, this guide should give you all the information you need to find an eco-friendly soap that’s right for your kitchen!
Things to Consider For Your Sustainable Dish Soap
Go for concentrated, plastic-free, and biodegradable soap
When it comes to dish soap, there are a few things that you should consider. These considerations are important when looking for a sustainable dish soap:
- Use less water: First and foremost, choose a concentrated product rather than one that requires you to use more water than necessary. You could also make your own concentrated liquid dish soap by mixing 1 part castile soap with 9 parts water and storing it in an old plastic container or spray bottle. If you have time on your hands, check out our recipe for DIY liquid Castile dishwashing detergent here!
- Use less soap: Choose a biodegradable option whenever possible as they do not pollute the environment with chemicals like phosphates or chlorine which can harm aquatic life if present in large quantities.
Use a dish brush and a hand-washing dish basin
Instead of using a sponge or scrubber and your hands to wash dishes, try using a brush and a hand-washing dish basin. This will help prevent the spread of germs. This will help reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills and oceans, which can harm animals who get caught in it or mistake it for food. Check out eco-friendly and sustainable dish brush recommendations here.
Use drops of soap instead of whole pumps on your brush
When you use a pump of soap, you’re essentially wasting more than half of the product. Instead, try using just a few drops of soap on your dish brush and then rinse it off in the sink. This will help reduce plastic waste that ends up in landfills and oceans.
Clean as you cook
One of the best ways to make sure you’re doing your part for sustainable dish soap is to clean up as you cook. That way, no food particles will be left in your sink or on countertops that can then be washed down the drain. To do this efficiently and effectively, try using a sponge or scrubber with your water-based soap solution. If something spills while cooking or baking, use these tools to wipe it up before it has time to soak into the surface of your countertops or stovetop.
Pick a soap that’s made with plant-based ingredients
Now that you know the basics of what makes dish soap sustainable, let’s get into some specifics.
You should look for dish soap that contains plant-based ingredients. This is because these soaps are biodegradable and safe for animals (including fish) and the environment. They’re also safe for people to use. They’re even better than traditional soaps because they don’t contain any harsh chemicals or petroleum products like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). SLS has been linked to skin irritation and other serious health problems in some people who work around it regularly; it can also be used as a solvent in manufacturing processes like drilling oil wells!
Look for cruelty-free dish soap
Consider cruelty-free dish soap. By choosing a cruelty-free dish soap, you can avoid supporting the cruel practices of some animals in testing and the extraction of animal ingredients from the environment.
9 Sustainable Dish Soap For Your Dishes
ATTITUDE Liquid Dish Soap
ATTITUDE Liquid Dish Soap is a biodegradable, cruelty-free, plant-based dish soap that leaves your dishes sparkling. This natural formula is free of sulfates and phosphates and also uses no artificial fragrances or dyes.
ATTITUDE Liquid Dish Soap’s all-natural formula contains coconut oil and glycerin to gently clean dishes while leaving them shiny and streak-free. It’s also made with sunflower seed oil to help remove stains on pots and pans, which makes it great for use in the kitchen as well as in the sink!
Biokleen Free & Clear Dish Liquid
Biokleen Free & Clear Dish Liquid. This dish soap is made with plant-based ingredients and has no synthetic fragrances or dyes, so it’s great for people with sensitive skin or allergies. It’s also free of petroleum, sulfates, and phosphates, as well as animal testing—all things we love to see in a product!
Biokleen Free & Clear Dish Liquid is biodegradable and environmentally safe for your family’s health. You can feel good about using this product on your dishes because it won’t harm the planet either!
ECOS® Hypoallergenic Dish Soap
ECOS® Hypoallergenic Dish Soap is a plant-based, biodegradable dish soap that’s free of phosphates, chlorine, and petroleum-based ingredients. It’s also safe for septic systems and greywater.
This means it won’t produce the suds you might expect from a conventional detergent, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing: traditional dish soaps sometimes contain foaming agents (that’s where those bubbles come from!). Foam is unnecessary when cleaning dishes; what matters is getting them clean—and this clean-rinsing formula does just that.
Mamaforest Natural Soap Dish Bar
Mamaforest Natural Soap Dish Bar is a palm oil-free, eco-friendly dish soap with a variety of scents to choose from. The fruit-scented bar contains coconut oil and other natural ingredients like olive oil and shea butter. It’s not only biodegradable and non-toxic but it’s also made in the USA!
Not only does this dish soap have an appealing scent, but it can tackle even your toughest dishes with ease. And if you’re looking for a hand soap option that smells just as good as the one on this list, Mamaforest has you covered there too—their hand soaps come in several different scents including lavender vanilla bean, and lemon verbena basil.
Mrs. Meyer’s Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap
Mrs. Meyer‘s dish soap is biodegradable and free of artificial fragrances, colours, and dyes. It’s also phosphate-free. You can rest assured that you’re using a sustainable product when you wash your dishes with this one!
Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap is biodegradable and free of artificial fragrances, colours, and dyes. It’s also phosphate-free. You can rest assured that you’re using a sustainable product when you wash your dishes with this one!
No Tox Life Dish Washing Block Soap
The No Tox Life Dish Washing Block Soap is made from coconut oil and castile soap, so it’s a good choice if you’re looking for natural dish soap. It has no toxins, artificial fragrances, or dyes—and it’s safe for septic systems. The company does not recommend using this in a dishwasher since it doesn’t dissolve as well as other products.
Seventh Generation Dish Liquid Soap
Seventh Generation Dish Liquid Soap is the best dish soap for those looking for an environmentally-friendly option. It’s made with plant-based ingredients, so it’s safe for septic systems and not tested on animals. Additionally, there are no synthetic fragrances or dyes in Seventh Generation Dish Liquid Soap—it’s colourless and fragrance-free! This soap is also free of synthetic preservatives and phosphate compounds that can attract algae in lakes and rivers, which can be harmful to wildlife.
TOBE Natural Dish Soap
If you’re looking for a dish soap that’s both easy on your budget and the environment, TOBE Natural Dish Soap is a good choice. Made from coconut and palm oil, this dish soap cleans dishes without leaving any residue. It also has a fresh scent that will leave your kitchen smelling good.
With its plant-based ingredients and minimal packaging design, TOBE Natural Dish Soap makes an ideal addition to any eco-friendly household.
Zero Waste MVMT Solid Dish Soap Bar
The Zero Waste MVMT Solid Dish Soap Bar is a great choice if you’re looking for a sustainable dish soap that’s chemical-free and won’t dry out your hands. It’s easy to use—just wet the bar and rub it over the dirty dishes. This product lasts up to 60 washes, and one bar can replace 20 bottles of liquid hand soap.
The Zero Waste MVMT Solid Dish Soap Bar is also free of phosphates, petroleum-based ingredients, animal products, palm oil derivatives (which means there are no extra chemicals added during production), chlorine bleaches, or dyes. Plus it’s made with plant-derived ingredients like coconut oil so it smells good too!
Conclusion
We hope this list has helped you find the dish soap for you! Remember that if you want your dishes to be squeaky clean, all you need are water, a sponge or brush, and one of these nine sustainable dish soaps. You can also use these eco-friendly dish scrubbers to clean your plates too!
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