Best Dishwashing Liquids

The right dishwashing liquid can help you make light work of cleaning your crockery and cookware. Navigating the labels of different dishwashing soaps can be confusing, but with a few pointers under your belt, you're bound to find the right cleaner for you, your kitchen, and your dishes.

What to look for in a dishwashing liquid

Ingredients

While there are dishwashing liquids that are more natural and plant and mineral-based, you might be hard-pressed to find one that’s 100% eco-friendly. You can however avoid ingredients that are known to be environmentally destructive, such as phosphates - which remain in wastewater and cause algae bloom - and other hazardous chemicals.

While you should always wear gloves when washing the dishes, there are dishwashing liquids that are advertised as ‘pH balanced’, which usually means they’re gentler on your hands - this is particularly important for people who experience skin sensitivity.

Smell

Dishwashing liquids are often citrus or fruit-scented, however you can find other scents, such as vanilla or green tea. Synthetic dyes and fragrances can be irritating for those with sensitive skin, so looking for an unscented liquid if this applies to you may be the safest bet.

Environmental friendliness

Dishwashing liquids usually come in plastic bottles or containers, however sometimes this packaging is recycled or recyclable - factoring in the packaging of your product can help you minimise your carbon footprint if that’s important to you.

If you want to recycle your water after you’ve washed up, you should keep an eye out for dishwashing liquids that are grey water and septic tank safe.

Price

Dishwashing liquids range from 10c to 83c per 100mL. You should generally expect to be paying at the higher end of this scale for dishwashing detergents with more natural, eco-friendly ingredients.