Dawn is the best-selling dish soap in the United States, used by an estimated 1 in 3 American households. In the UK, Fairy holds the same dominance. But what's actually in them — and how do they compare to eco alternatives that claim to be just as effective?
We bought 7 dish soaps, tested them blind on the same set of greasy pans and dishes over 4 weeks, and cross-referenced their ingredient lists against the Environmental Working Group (EWG) database. Here's what we found.
What's Actually in Dawn?
Dawn Ultra contains: water, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) as primary surfactants, methylisothiazolinone (MIT) as a preservative, synthetic fragrances, and colourants. The EWG rates Dawn Ultra as a D (poor) for the following concerns:
- Methylisothiazolinone (MIT): The EU banned this preservative from rinse-off personal care products in 2016 due to skin sensitisation. In dish soap it remains in rinse water, where it has shown aquatic toxicity in multiple studies.
- Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES): Often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a probable carcinogen, depending on manufacturing process.
- Synthetic fragrance: A catch-all term that can include hundreds of undisclosed chemicals. In the EU, 26 allergens must be disclosed separately — not required in the US.
The Eco Alternatives We Tested
Branch Basics Dish Soap (US) — EWG Grade: A
Branch Basics is made with only 4 ingredient categories: water, coco-glucoside (coconut-derived surfactant), sodium cocoyl glutamate (amino acid-derived surfactant), and glycerin. It's one of the few dish soaps to receive an EWG A rating. In our grease test on a cast iron pan, ceramic plate, and wine glass, it matched Dawn on every surface. On glass, it actually performed better — no streaking.
Available: Amazon US, Grove Collaborative. Price: approximately $11 for a 9oz concentrate that makes 64oz of dish soap. Cost per wash: $0.09
Ecover Dish Soap (UK/EU/US) — EWG Grade: B
Ecover uses plant-based surfactants (sodium lauryl sulfate sourced from non-petroleum origins and glucose-derived surfactants), no MIT, and an EU Ecolabel certification. It matched Dawn and Fairy on grease removal in our tests, with slightly lower lather — which bothers some users but makes no difference to cleaning performance. Available in most UK supermarkets (Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Ocado) and on Amazon UK/US.
Cost per wash: £0.05 (UK) / $0.07 (US)
Method Dish Soap (US/UK) — EWG Grade: C
Method is better than Dawn but not as clean as Branch Basics or Ecover. It uses plant-derived surfactants but includes synthetic fragrance compounds and sodium methylparaben as a preservative. EWG grade C reflects low-to-moderate concern. Cleaning performance is excellent — Method tied with Dawn in our test. But the ingredient profile means it's a middle-ground option, not a top eco pick.
Seventh Generation Free & Clear (US/CA) — EWG Grade: B
Seventh Generation's fragrance-free dish soap earns a B from EWG. It uses plant-based surfactants and contains no synthetic fragrances, colourants, or MIT. Cleaning performance in our test was comparable to Ecover — effective on most surfaces, with slightly less power on very heavy grease. Available at Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, and Amazon US/CA.
Side-by-Side Grease Test Results
| Product | EWG Grade | Grease Removal | Plastic-Free Option | Cost/Wash (US) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn Ultra | D | ★★★★★ | No | $0.06 |
| Branch Basics | A | ★★★★★ | Concentrate (glass) | $0.09 |
| Ecover | B | ★★★★☆ | Refill pouch | $0.07 |
| Seventh Generation | B | ★★★★☆ | Refill pouch | $0.07 |
| Method | C | ★★★★★ | Refill pouch | $0.08 |
Our Verdict
Best overall eco dish soap (US): Branch Basics. Cleanest ingredient list, matches Dawn's grease removal, and the concentrate format means less plastic per wash than any bottled alternative.
Best eco dish soap (UK): Ecover. Available at every major UK supermarket, EU Ecolabel certified, and priced comparably to Fairy when bought in bulk refill packs.
Best budget eco option (US/CA): Seventh Generation Free & Clear. Available at Walmart and Target at competitive prices, EWG B rating, and no synthetic fragrance.
Looking for a complete eco kitchen cleaning upgrade? See our full guide: Eco kitchen cleaning guide 2026 — 7 non-toxic swaps that actually work
And if you're replacing your kitchen sponge at the same time, we tested 8 eco sponges too: Compostable kitchen sponge vs regular sponge — does it actually clean?
