Zero / low-waste dish soap options?
January 11, 2020 8:37 AM Subscribe
What are the best ways to limit single-use plastic when buying and using dish soap?
We’ve started using Dropps for dishwasher/laundry, Blueland concentrate tabs for cleaning spray, and trying to limit single-use plastic in other ways too. I still haven’t figured out the best way to handle dish soap, though. We don’t have a refilling place in our area (Cleveland). It looks like our options are a dish block with a compostable brush or just using a diluted Castile soap like Dr. Bronners.
Some considerations:
> we have a good dishwasher so this would mostly be for pots and pans, wine glasses, etc.
> I’m not as interested in “green” cleaning products as I am in simply limiting the single-use plastic. For example, if I could just get Dawn refills in my own container I’d be happy.
> I live in Cleveland, where it doesn’t seem like we have a zero-waste store or refill spot.
We’ve started using Dropps for dishwasher/laundry, Blueland concentrate tabs for cleaning spray, and trying to limit single-use plastic in other ways too. I still haven’t figured out the best way to handle dish soap, though. We don’t have a refilling place in our area (Cleveland). It looks like our options are a dish block with a compostable brush or just using a diluted Castile soap like Dr. Bronners.
Some considerations:
> we have a good dishwasher so this would mostly be for pots and pans, wine glasses, etc.
> I’m not as interested in “green” cleaning products as I am in simply limiting the single-use plastic. For example, if I could just get Dawn refills in my own container I’d be happy.
> I live in Cleveland, where it doesn’t seem like we have a zero-waste store or refill spot.
have you considered just bar soap & a brush? Like this?
posted by speakeasy at 9:03 AM on January 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by speakeasy at 9:03 AM on January 11, 2020 [1 favorite]
I use olive oil bar soap (Savon de Marseille) with a brush. It works well!
posted by pinochiette at 9:03 AM on January 11, 2020
posted by pinochiette at 9:03 AM on January 11, 2020
We use Dr. Bronner’s (diluted) which we have several refill options for (Whole Foods and other earthy groceries). We bring it home in a big container and then dilute it into a glass pump bottle.
posted by amaire at 9:54 AM on January 11, 2020
posted by amaire at 9:54 AM on January 11, 2020
I use a foaming soap dispenser pump which I fill with about a 1-to-10 solution of dish soap (there's a line on the dispenser). I buy big refill bags of regular dish soap (NOT the foaming dish soap, which is just diluted) and the last one of those I used lasted about two years. The refill bag is not recyclable, but like I say I buy one every couple of years.
posted by mskyle at 10:04 AM on January 11, 2020
posted by mskyle at 10:04 AM on January 11, 2020
Our co-op sells bulk dish soap which you can fill in your own container.
posted by pintapicasso at 12:38 PM on January 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by pintapicasso at 12:38 PM on January 11, 2020 [2 favorites]
I use Cleancult and get dish soap and other things in cardboard containers. I will say I don't love their dish soap, but I've been happy with their other products.
posted by aetg at 12:44 PM on January 11, 2020
posted by aetg at 12:44 PM on January 11, 2020
If you buy a huge size, the ratio of plastic to product is better. I have a foaming dispenser and refill it, seems to conserve product. I have a bag of clean squirt and other containers that I think kids at aday care might enjoy. I reuse big laundry jugs as watering cans or water storage.
posted by theora55 at 3:12 PM on January 11, 2020
posted by theora55 at 3:12 PM on January 11, 2020
Is it possible to use the Blueland hand soap tablets for dish soap? A vinegar soap could help with the grease as well.
posted by aquamvidam at 9:22 PM on January 11, 2020
posted by aquamvidam at 9:22 PM on January 11, 2020
You can get 5gal pails of concentrated dish detergent: https://www.webstaurantstore.com/advantage-chemicals-5-gallon-liquid-dish-soap/146DISHSOP5G.html
There are lots of ways to re-use a 5gal pail around the house (not for food storage).
Unless you're willing to pay $200 up front for a solid chemical dispensing pump, in which case you can buy 5lb bricks of solid detergent. Those will probably be the absolute lowest plastic-per-sinkful ratio you can get.
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 9:03 PM on January 12, 2020
There are lots of ways to re-use a 5gal pail around the house (not for food storage).
Unless you're willing to pay $200 up front for a solid chemical dispensing pump, in which case you can buy 5lb bricks of solid detergent. Those will probably be the absolute lowest plastic-per-sinkful ratio you can get.
posted by meaty shoe puppet at 9:03 PM on January 12, 2020
There were a couple results on google for "Cleveland food co op", if that helps?
posted by eviemath at 7:02 AM on January 13, 2020
posted by eviemath at 7:02 AM on January 13, 2020
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Honestly, the way we do it at my workplace - admittedly more for efficiency and less chance of running out - is most big box stores (Home Depot, Target, etc.) sell 64 or 75 oz containers of common cleaning products like dish soap and Simple Green and liquid hand soap. So we just buy those big containers and refill the smaller "daily use" containers as needed.
posted by soundguy99 at 8:52 AM on January 11, 2020 [6 favorites]