The Best And Worst Dish Soaps, Ranked

The last thing anyone wants to do is worry about dirty dishes, especially after making a cheesy or greasy meal.

That's where dish soap comes in. To help you make the right decision regarding the suitable dish soaps to clean those stubborn stains, we've compiled a handy list of some of the best and worst dish soaps available. Keep reading to find out more!

Palmolive Antibacterial

GettyImages-910167072
Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The antibacterial version of Palmolive's classic soap formula kills 99.9% of bacteria.

The consistency of the soap itself is thick, and the ingredients, due to their bacteria-killing properties, are drying for sensitive skin.

Read More: Don't Waste Money On These Pointless Kitchen Appliances

ADVERTISEMENT

Dawn vs. Palmolive

ADVERTISEMENT
Collage Maker-04-Oct-2022-09.31-AM
Bloomberg / Contributor via Getty Images / Bloomberg / Contributor via Getty Images
Bloomberg / Contributor via Getty Images / Bloomberg / Contributor via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Dawn and Palmolive are two of the most recognizable soap brands.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dawn Platinum and Palmolive Ultra Strength both offer intense cleaning solutions to your toughest messes, so they rank as the top best dish soaps.

ADVERTISEMENT

J.R. Watkins Dish Soap

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Operations At The J.R. Watkins Production Facility
Ariana Lindquist/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Ariana Lindquist/Bloomberg via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

J.R. Watkins has been relatively transparent with the ingredients for this dish soap. The soap's bottles are made from partially recycled used consumer products.

ADVERTISEMENT

That being said, the ingredients are pretty harsh and may cause contact dermatitis.

ADVERTISEMENT

Method Dish Soap

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Hand soap and dish soap by Method in design-friendly containers, and a spatula designed by Michael Graves.
Glenn Asakawa/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Glenn Asakawa/The Denver Post via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Method Dish Soap relies on a plant-based formula to finish the cleaning job while also coming in various pleasing scents.

ADVERTISEMENT

If you're worried about dry hands, Method also helps keep your skin moisturized and safe from uncomfortable dryness.

Read More: Time For A Garage Sale: Collector's Items That Aren’t Worth Keeping

ADVERTISEMENT

Ajax Dish Liquid With Bleach Alternative

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Ajax dishwashing soap, made by Colgate-Palmolive Co., is dis
Tom Starkweather/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Tom Starkweather/Bloomberg via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Ajax Dish Liquid with Bleach Alternative comes in a refreshing grapefruit scent.

ADVERTISEMENT

The soap itself is not abrasive, but more must be used to eliminate tougher stains. The bottle design makes it easy to pour out too much soap, causing waste.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Untitled design
Dawn
Dawn
ADVERTISEMENT

Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray may not necessarily be dish soap, but it does have formidable cleaning power when removing grease stains.

ADVERTISEMENT

Rather than lathering with water, the spray works by spritzing, waiting, and wiping. It's also great on clothing stains.

ADVERTISEMENT

Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Liquid Soap

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Dr_Bronners_Soaps_ Flickr_-_ortolina
Wikimedia Commons
Wikimedia Commons
ADVERTISEMENT

This soap is perhaps one of the most well-known despite the lack of marketing as dish soap.

ADVERTISEMENT

With a base consisting of pure oils, it lathers up nicely after diluting to the right dishwashing consistency.

ADVERTISEMENT

9 Elements Liquid Dish Soap

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Untitled design (1)
Nine Elements
Nine Elements
ADVERTISEMENT

Another vegan dish soap, 9 Elements Liquid Dish Soap, is powered by vinegar and comes in either eucalyptus or lemon scent.

ADVERTISEMENT

True to its name, the soap only uses nine ingredients and takes all the guesswork out of figuring out how much vinegar and water you're supposed to use when cleaning.

ADVERTISEMENT

Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
simplegreen
Simple Green
Simple Green
ADVERTISEMENT

Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner is biodegradable and eco-friendly, with a concentrated formula that can easily be adjusted by adding water.

ADVERTISEMENT

It may not be traditional dish soap, but it is safe to use on dishes, especially on tougher messes such as barbecue tools.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleancult Liquid Dish Soap

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Collage Maker-04-Oct-2022-09.43-AM
Clean Cult
Clean Cult
ADVERTISEMENT

Cleancult Liquid Dish Soap is a sustainable cleaning soap that is cruelty-free, naturally derived, and comes in a paper-based milk carton.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ingredients include coconut, aloe vera, and glycerin, making it super hydrating for hands while cutting through grease.

ADVERTISEMENT

Joy Ultra Dish Soap

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-1209801618
]Scott Heins/Getty Images
]Scott Heins/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

For a soap with a gentle scent and non-drying ingredients, Joy Ultra Dish Soap gives the best result.

ADVERTISEMENT

It also gives an excellent lather to ensure your dishes are completely free of residual grease and grime.

ADVERTISEMENT

Babyganics Foaming Dish and Bottle Soap

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Babyganics Bottle Soap
Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

This dish soap is suitable for dishes and baby bottles because of its non-irritating and non-allergenic ingredients.

ADVERTISEMENT

After rinsing with this soap, there's no soap residue, and your skin is safe from harsher and drying ingredients.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Dish Soap

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Untitled design (3)
Mrs. Meyer's
Mrs. Meyer's
ADVERTISEMENT

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Dish Soap has an incredible scent, sure to make your dishes smell lovely for a long time.

ADVERTISEMENT

Unfortunately, for those who are prone to contract dermatitis, some of the ingredients in this soap are likely to irritate you.

ADVERTISEMENT

ECOS Hypoallergenic Dish Soap

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Environmental Media Association Hosts Its 26th Annual EMA Awards Presented By Toyota, Lexus And Calvert - Inside
Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Environmental Media Association
Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Environmental Media Association
ADVERTISEMENT

ECOS Hypoallergenic Dish Soap is free of ingredients that can aggravate sensitive skin.

ADVERTISEMENT

Thanks to these gentle ingredients, you don't even need to use gloves when washing the dishes anymore.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ivory Concentrated Dishwashing Liquid

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Procter & Gamble Products Ahead Of Earnings Figures
Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

Ivory's Concentrated Dishwashing Liquid is generally given good reviews due to its gentle ingredients.

ADVERTISEMENT

Without compromising cleanliness, it also gives a good bang for your buck, the cap allowing you to pour out just how much you need.

ADVERTISEMENT

Love Home & Planet Dish Liquid

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Untitled design (2)
Love Home And Planet
Love Home And Planet
ADVERTISEMENT

Love Home & Planet Dish Liquid is gentle for the hands, but this gentle formula is far too mild to cut down on grease.

ADVERTISEMENT

Despite this, it mainly has plant-sourced ingredients, so in this aspect, it lives up to its name.

ADVERTISEMENT

Seventh Generation Dish Liquid

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Unilever Faces Investor Hurdle As Shadow Of Mega Deals Looms
Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Tiffany Hagler-Geard/Bloomberg via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

This liquid dish soap contains ingredients that are preservatives known to cause reactions.

ADVERTISEMENT

Despite this, it is still powerful enough to remove tough stains.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gain Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Soap

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
GettyImages-1052445820
Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images
ADVERTISEMENT

The famous Gain laundry detergent scent is now available in dish soap, sure to make your dishes smell as heavenly as your clothes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Aside from the scent, just a little of the soap gets the job done, so you don't have to worry about wasting any!