In spite of the fact that doing the dishes is a vital aspect of everyday life, it shouldn’t include exposure to several rather common and dangerous chemicals. When was the last time you looked at the ingredients in your dish soap? Would it surprise you to learn that the dish soap you use may be bad for the health of your family? Unfortunately, the majority of widely used dish washes that are bought in stores include hazardous components that might contaminate the food you are eating. If you haven’t already read through my list of hazardous ingredients to avoid you can do that here. However, below you will see a list of safe swaps you can utilize instead of the store-bought chemical filled brands that we have been using.
Attitude
Upon reading reviews, I wanted to give this a try. However, Attitude is a brand that is sort of hit or miss with its products when it comes to ingredients. They have SOME clean products, but I do not recommend ALL off their products. For example, this is a great dish soap and does a great job as a grease fighter and I totally recommend this soap. I used to use Dawn Dishsoap and this is a great alternative to that. HOWEVER, I can only safely recommend the “unscented” one. The reason I say this is because when looking at the ingredients label online they all looked great, so I ordered the citrus scent and when it arrived the label did not match what was online. The label had sodium benzoate and citric acid which if you’ve read my ingredient lists that these two ingredients on their own are pretty harmless but together, they create benzene which is a carcinogen. The label also listed “fragrance” which it didn’t list online. So, I returned the citrus scent and ordered the unscented and that label matched the online label which is good. Besides the label discrepancies I don’t have any complaints on this soap. I have contacted Attitude about their fragrances, and they tell me that they are derived from all natural ingredients, but I personally still try to steer clear since they are not completely transparent about ALL of the ingredients, but this of course is up to you and your comfort level of using the other scented products. Even with that, they are better options than what is found in stores.
Branch Basics
Branch Basics is a concentrated soap. The one bottle of concentrate can basically be used for anything! It is gentle enough to be used on your skin and still tough enough to be used as your kitchen and bathroom cleaner as well as on your laundry. It is a multi-purpose, eco-friendly cleaning solution that is used for any cleaning job once you dilute it properly with water. You can also use the oxygen boost to help tackle stains and to clean grout. See below for the descriptions of the bottles and their cleaning purposes. There is also an option of buying glass bottles if you prefer that over the plastic. Lastly, I would like to add that if you purchase through my link above you will get $10 off your order!
- All-Purpose Bottle (24 fl oz)Everyday cleaning including countertops, dishes and stains.
- Bathroom Bottle (24 fl oz)Tackles tiles, toilets, grout, sinks and showers.
- Streak-Free Bottle (24 fl oz)Leaves mirrors, windows and glass sparkling.
- Foaming Wash Bottle (10 fl oz)For handwashing, dishes, pets and bubble bath.
- Laundry Bottle (32 fl oz)Works for standard and HE washing machines.
Truly Free
Truly Free is a subscription service. You can get laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, dishwashing detergent, hand and dish soap, air freshener, dry angel, which is their version of the dryer sheet, and more. You can basically replace everything you have as far as home needs and it is all non-toxic products. Your first order you will get the jug for laundry and the spray bottles for the cleaners that you will keep once they are empty and then just continue to order the refill packs for the future orders.
I almost forgot to mention that you do get free items in each box you order and get discounts with the more items you order which I have found to be a pretty great deal.
Molly’s Sud’s
Molly’s Sud’s is a natural dish soap that easily cuts through grease and hard water to leave your dishes sparkling. It is septic safe and eco-friendly that is so safe and gentle you can even use it on baby bottles and pacifiers. You can also use it in homes with those who struggle with skin and fragrance sensitivities. It’s gentle and moisturizing for your skin. It comes in Lavender and Unscented.
Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap
This is a castile soap so it is concentrated and you will need to dilute it. So you will need to buy soap dispensers to be able to use this soap but a little goes a long way so this may be a more cost-effective option. Since it is a castile soap it is a very safe soap to use. This one has quite a few different scents to choose from as well so that may also play a role in your decision.
Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap comes in these scents: Lavender, BabyUnscented, Peppermint, TeaTree, Almond, Rose, Eucalyptus, and Citrus.
Earthley’s Dish Soap Bar
Earthley’s dish soap bar provides a pure, low-waste clean for dishes. Using the most natural and effective ingredients, this soap can be used to effectively hand-wash dirty dishes. Most dish soaps are liquid so using a bar is a little different if you prefer to give this a try. It comes in Lemon-Thyme, Eucalyptus-Spearmint, Grapefruit, and unscented for scents.
Meliora
Meliora dish soap is a bar. To use it you simply wet your sponge or brush, then rub it on the top of the dish soap to wash your dishes. To soak pots and pans, simply hold the soap under running water as you fill for soaking. It’s also septic-safe and great for use around kids and pets. As a cruelty-free company by Leaping Bunny, none of the ingredients they use are tested on animals. It comes in lemon scent and unscented.
Rosey by Thrive Market
Rosey dish soap if from Thrive Market. If you are not a member of Thrive Market yet, they have a bunch of products and foods that are clean and healthy options. I became a member and so far, I have found that it is totally worth it. If you would like to become a member then here is a coupon for $60 off your first order. This dish soap comes in Lavender, Fresh Lemon, and Unscented.
Better Life
Better Life is hypoallergenic dish soap that is great on grease without sulfates, keeping your hands happy. No need to wear gloves or other accessories. It has vitamin E and aloe that will soothe and moisturize your hands. Discover how pure plant power equals easy rinsing without residue.
Common Good
This seems to be a newer item on the market, but the ingredients are clean so it made the list. It is a bit pricier than some. The reviews that there were to read stated that they loved the lavender scent.
This one is yet another clean option. There are a lot of good reviews that state this is a great option but a little drying on hands. However, the reviews also state that the scents are pleasant and not overpowering. It comes in four different scents that are Lavender Tea Trea, Lemon Verbena, Mandarin, and Vanilla Pear.
Please keep in mind that even one change is an improvement over where we were yesterday. With the information we have, we are all doing the best that we can. I am hoping that by letting you know what is in your dish soap, you will feel informed and in control of your purchasing decisions and be able to invest your money in products you know will be safe for you and your family. Knowing how overwhelming this information may be, I’m hoping that by offering these recommendations I have relieved some of the burden on you so that you don’t have to go out and study up on all the ingredients yourself.
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