Choosing the right dish soap is more than just picking a scent; it's a balance between effective grease-cutting and a formula safe for your family, your hands, and the environment.
We've consulted the latest consumer reports and expert reviews to bring you a definitive answer on which dish soaps truly perform—especially when it comes to tackling baked-on food and stubborn grease with a non-toxic edge.
1. What is the Best Dish Soap, According to Consumer Reports?
When the primary goal is raw, unadulterated cleaning power, a classic often rises to the top in performance tests:
The Consensus Grease-Cutting Champion: Dawn Ultra
Across multiple consumer and independent tests, Dawn Ultra is consistently rated as the best overall dish soap for its ability to create long-lasting, thick suds and cut through even the most stubborn, set-in bacon grease and dried-on food.
Why it's King: Its proprietary formula is highly effective, which is why it's famously used for cleaning wildlife after oil spills—a testament to its degreasing power.
The Trade-Off: While incredibly effective, it does not typically fall into the "non-toxic" category. Ratings from organizations like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) often give it a lower grade (like a 'D' in some formulas) due to ingredients like fragrance and certain surfactants, which can be skin irritants or lack ingredient transparency.
2. Which is the Best Non-Toxic Dish Soap That Removes Grease?
For the eco-conscious consumer, the challenge is finding a dish soap that doesn't compromise cleaning power for safety. The good news is that expert reviews highlight several plant-based, non-toxic brands that are excellent at dissolving grease.
Top Expert-Recommended Non-Toxic & Grease-Fighting Soaps
These brands have been tested and praised by experts for their cleaning efficacy while maintaining a clean, transparent ingredient list:
| Brand | Key Highlight | Grease-Fighting Power | Non-Toxic Certification |
| Dapple Bottle & Dish Soap | Best for Baby Items (specifically formulated to dissolve milk film, excellent on grease). | Strong. Reports indicate it powers through most substances. | Good EWG Rating. |
| ATTITUDE Dishwashing Liquid | EWG Verified and High-Performance (uses 97% naturally sourced ingredients). | Strong degreasing power, often noted for eliminating grease without excessive soaking. | EWG Verified™ |
| Puracy Natural Dish Soap | Doctor-Developed, Great Scent (uses coconut-based cleaners). | Excellent. Praised for its grease-cutting and squeaky-clean rinse on glassware. | EWG A Rating. |
| Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day | Best Scented (botanical-based ingredients and a variety of garden-inspired scents). | Very good. Often performs nearly identically to leading conventional brands in grease-removal tests. | Plant-derived, biodegradable formula. |
| AspenClean | Minimal, Clean Ingredients (fragrance-free option available). | Cuts through grease well, often recommended for being gentle yet effective. | EWG Verified™ |
Top Sustainable & Zero-Waste Picks
For those focused on minimizing plastic and chemicals, experts often recommend:
Blueland Dish Soap: A powdered, waterless formula that comes in compostable refill packaging, certified by EPA Safer Choice and Cradle to Cradle.
Meliora Dish Soap Block: A MADE SAFE® Certified plastic-free bar soap. It's highly concentrated, zero-waste, and an excellent sustainable option.
Branch Basics Concentrate: A multi-purpose concentrate made from plant and mineral-based ingredients that can be diluted to create an effective, non-toxic foaming dish soap.
3. Expert Safety Check: What Makes a Dish Soap "Non-Toxic"?
When experts assess a dish soap for safety, they look past the "natural" or "eco-friendly" labeling to the actual ingredients. A truly non-toxic and skin-safe formula should generally avoid the following common irritants and problematic chemicals:
| Chemical/Ingredient to Avoid | Why Experts Flag It |
| Synthetic Fragrances | Often a proprietary blend that can contain dozens of undisclosed chemicals, including phthalates (endocrine disruptors). |
| SLS/SLES (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate/Sodium Laureth Sulfate) | Powerful, petroleum-derived surfactants. While effective, they can be harsh on the skin and cause irritation. |
| Parabens and Isothiazolinones | Used as preservatives but are known skin allergens and irritants. |
| Dyes and Colorants | Unnecessary additives that can sometimes cause skin sensitivity and offer no cleaning benefit. |
| Phosphates | While they soften water and aid cleaning, they can be environmental pollutants that contribute to water ecosystem issues. |
The Expert Recommendation: Look for Certifications
The simplest way to ensure a product is truly "non-toxic" is to look for third-party certifications:
EWG Verified™: The Environmental Working Group has the strictest standards, ensuring full ingredient transparency and meeting their health and safety benchmarks.
MADE SAFE®: A rigorous certification that screens for over 6,500 toxic chemicals, guaranteeing a safe product.
EPA Safer Choice: This label means the formula contains only the safest chemical ingredients for human health and the environment.
Final Verdict: Balancing Power and Purity
For ultimate, professional-grade grease removal with no compromise, Dawn Ultra remains the benchmark, though it is not non-toxic.
For the best non-toxic dish soap that effectively removes grease, the expert panel strongly recommends choosing an EWG Verified™ brand like ATTITUDE or a high-performing plant-based formula like Puracy or Dapple. These options ensure your kitchen is clean and your family is safe from harsh chemical exposure.