Can you recommend a dish soap that is not in packaged in plastic?

December 12, 2022 6:50 PM

I'm growing increasingly vigilant about eliminating single-use plastics in my house. I already have a liquid soap dispenser (that I honestly really like) and am on the hunt for refills that have, ideally, zero plastic packaging. There are a lot of seemingly eco-friendly dish soap brands out there, so I am looking for personal experiences, please. I don't think I'm interested in a bar soap, but I could be convinced....
posted by Charity Garfein to Shopping (15 answers total)

You could look into a concentrate which you dilute with tap water. Most likely there would still be some packaging, but much less than usual.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 6:57 PM on December 12, 2022

Depending on where you live, there may be a store where you can take your preferred soap storage vessel and fill it.

If you happen to be near Pasadena, check out My Zero Waste Store.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 7:08 PM on December 12, 2022

I like Grove's dish soap, which comes in aluminum refills (available at Target, and directly from Grove)
posted by pinochiette at 7:08 PM on December 12, 2022

I like etee liquid dish soap! It comes concentrated in in beeswax tubes, which are compostable.
posted by BrashTech at 7:24 PM on December 12, 2022

My local coop has liquid soap in the bulk department so you can just bring and fill you own container
posted by Jacqueline at 7:46 PM on December 12, 2022

A bar dish soap option?
posted by erattacorrige at 7:51 PM on December 12, 2022

(to be clear, I'm looking for specific brand recommendations based on personal experience, ty ty)
posted by Charity Garfein at 9:07 PM on December 12, 2022

I use & like Dropps.
posted by augustimagination at 9:12 PM on December 12, 2022

I use and like Sunlight soap - it is a bar, but with a disher swisher (no idea what the thing's really called - a little cage on a handle) it's no more trouble than a bottle. It doesn't foam up in the sink, which new users sometimes find alarming, but it cleans just fine.
It's biodegradable, doesn't have SLS or petrochemicals, comes wrapped in ordinary cardboard, and you can also use it for cleaning laundry and floors (and yourself, though it's not my first choice for that).
posted by ngaiotonga at 10:47 PM on December 12, 2022

I recommend the Seventh Generation Dish Soap refill!

Edit: Oh crap, I missed the 'NOT packaged in plastic' part of your ask, sorry OP!
posted by yueliang at 12:04 AM on December 13, 2022

I use this solid dish soap: https://www.lusaorganics.com/zero-waste-dish-soap-p/soap-dsb-p.htm

I get it shipped (it actually comes by a local courier where I am) but you might be able to find it at a crunchy local shop.
posted by juliapangolin at 6:07 AM on December 13, 2022

We use Grove, having switched from the Method refillables when they because scarce, and Grove holds up really, really well in comparison. Would recommend.
posted by General Malaise at 6:29 AM on December 13, 2022

I use Blueland. If you already have a dispenser, you can just get the powder. Their other products are good too, such as hand soap tablets that dissolve in water.
posted by gloturtle at 10:27 AM on December 13, 2022

Unscented Dr. Bronner's makes a fine dish soap if you dilute it 1:1 with water. Many health food stores sell it bulk-- you pour it into your own container and either pay by weight or volume depending on how they do it. The scented versions also work but leave a smell on the dishes.
posted by blnkfrnk at 11:23 AM on December 13, 2022

Another vote for Grove, which comes in recyclable aluminum. I love that I can get the scent-fee soap. FWIW, I use all their refills for counter spray, glass spray, shower spray, etc. and like them all. (and in case it's not clear, Grove is both a distributer of goods, but also make their own specific line of cleaners and refills)
posted by LKWorking at 1:01 PM on December 13, 2022