Washing dishes is one of those tasks that are done daily and isn’t really thought about very much.
Dish soap is just dish soap. Who cares, right?
Actually, dish soap can be loaded with chemicals that can be harmful to your health after long term exposure.
You wash your dishes and rinse them, but sometimes not all of it is rinsed off. Even afterwards, there’s a residue that sits on the dishes.
The residue chemicals from the dish soap are then transferred to your food/drink, which you then consume.
Doesn’t sound very appetizing… or safe for that matter.
Better to just avoid it!
Let’s talk about the top 5 safe non toxic dish soap brands that are a great comparable alternative, you’ll barely tell the difference! Why not switch?
Table of Contents
- Common liquid dish soap brands that are loaded with chemicals.
- What toxic chemicals to look for in liquid dish soap.
- What are non toxic liquid dish soap brands worth swapping for?
Common Liquid Dish Soap Brands That Are Toxic:
- Dawn
- Method
- Ajax
- Mrs. Meyer’s
- Kirkland Signature
- Palmolive
Be careful of greenwashing! These companies may claim that they are “non toxic”, however if you look at the ingredients, that is far from the truth!
What Toxic Chemicals to Look for in Liquid Dish Soap:
1. DEAs, MEAs, TEAs (Ethanolamine Compounds)
- Used in a wide range of personal care products and cleaning products
- Known carcinogens (causes cancer)
- Causes organ toxicity (liver, kidney and brain)
- Negatively affects male reproductive health
- Environmental toxin
Look for terms on the ingredients list such as:
- 1,4-dioxane
- Ethylene oxide
- Polyethylene glycol
- Triethanolamine
- Diethanolamine
- Any word that has “eth”
These chemicals are not just be toxic to humans, but definitely are toxic for our aquatic life.
2. Fragrance
- Sounds nice to add scent to the product, but it actually hides hundred of hidden chemicals that aren’t required to be disclosed.
- Often contains phthalates, which are endocrine (hormone) disrupters.
- To make a product have a scent, it doesn’t need to contain “fragrance”.
3. Surfactants
- Sodium laurel/laureth sulfate
- Makes a product foam when mixed with water
- Weakens and irritates the skin
4. Formaldehyde (DMDM Hydantoin)
- Used as a preservative
- Toxic to the respiratory system
- Known carcinogen that can be absorbed into the skin
Common names:
- Bronopol
- Diazolidinyl urea
- Disteardimonium hectoride
- Imidazolidinyl urea
- Methylene glycol
- Nitromethylidynetrimethanol
- Quaternium-15
5. Preservatives
- Such as: Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, and Benzisothiazolinone
- Potential neurotoxin (as seen in rats)
- Highly allergenic
- Poisonous to aquatic life
6. Dyes
- Added to give color to the product
- Dyes in dish soap often contain benzidine, which is a known carcinogen
- Linked to cause mood disorders, such as hyperactivity
Look for terms such as:
- FD&C Blue
- Yellow-5
- Blue 6
- Red 40
7. Phthalates
- Endocrine (hormone) disrupters
- Linked to developmental, reproductive, brain, immune issues
What Are the Top 5 Safe Liquid Dish Soap Brands?
Below are easy, affordable swaps for a healthy, safe non toxic dish soap for your home!
Switching to product that is non toxic like these is just as easy as purchasing the product to begin with.
It might be even easier if you purchase online through Amazon and buy in bulk!
No need to think too hard, it’s one product but can make a world of a difference.
ECOS
This is a great liquid dish soap thats affordable and does the job nicely. Click here for a pack of two!
TRADER JOES
Obviously, you can buy this straight from Trader Joes! If wanting to purchase online, click here.
9 ELEMENTS
Click here to buy this online! This is a great 3 pack bulk option for only $12.
PURACY
Super affordable 3 pack that does the job to full extent! Click here to view and purchase.
TOTAL HOME EARTH ESSENTIALS
This brand is commonly found at CVS or other pharmacies, which is very convenient! If wanting to view online, click here.
Follow The 80/20 Rule!
I’m a firm believer in the 80/20 rule when it comes to your health.
80% of the time, make healthy choices. 20% of the time, it’s okay to relax a bit.
Not everything has to be perfect! All you have to do is try your best and intentionally make choices that make sense for your life. Try to use the most safe and healthy products to your knowledge.
It’s never too late to make changes and try out something new!
I’m here to help and support you. Let’s create a healthy, less toxic community and take our power back!
References
Detox Your Home: 5 common toxins found in dish soaps. ECOS. https://www.ecos.com/newsroom/detox-your-home-5-common-toxins-found-in-dish-soaps/
Ethanolamine Compounds (MEA, DEA, TEA And Others). Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. https://www.safecosmetics.org/chemicals/ethanolamine-compounds/
(2021, September 12). Safest Non-Toxic Dish Soap Liquid & Bar Soaps 2021. Mamavation. https://www.mamavation.com/brands/brand-essentials/best-worst-dish-soap-non-toxic-ingredients.html
Nelson, M. (2022, January 24). Why Non-Toxic Dishwashing Is So Important. Branch Basics. https://branchbasics.com/blogs/cleaning/why-non-toxic-dishwashing-is-so-important?_pos=2&_sid=8f87470f8&_ss=r