Soap for hand washing dishes

[AAA]

This is definitely in the category of first world problems, but maybe you can help to resolve a domestic issue. For years, my wife had been using a plain, unscented bar of soap to do our dishes. I did not think that such a hand/body soap was appropriate for dish washing, because it wasn't designed to rinse off of the dishes well. I finally emailed the soap manufacturer, and they did not recommend using their bar soap to wash dishes. So I found a natural liquid dish soap that she was happy with - for a while - but now she wants to go back to using a bar soap, mainly as a matter of personal preference. Any clarification of this issue would be appreciated. Does anyone know of a bar soap that would be appropriate, or even specifically designed, for dishwashing? Thanks.

[PFInterest]

This is definitely in the category of first world problems, but maybe you can help to resolve a domestic issue. For years, my wife had been using a plain, unscented bar of soap to do our dishes. I did not think that such a hand/body soap was appropriate for dish washing, because it wasn't designed to rinse off of the dishes well. I finally emailed the soap manufacturer, and they did not recommend using their bar soap to wash dishes. So I found a natural liquid dish soap that she was happy with - for a while - but now she wants to go back to using a bar soap, mainly as a matter of personal preference. Any clarification of this issue would be appreciated. Does anyone know of a bar soap that would be appropriate, or even specifically designed, for dishwashing? Thanks.

yes i do. its the soap your wife wants to use since you are not washing the dishes.

[BUBear29]

Dr Bronner’s

https://www.drbronner.com

[GUtiger]

This is definitely in the category of first world problems, but maybe you can help to resolve a domestic issue. For years, my wife had been using a plain, unscented bar of soap to do our dishes. I did not think that such a hand/body soap was appropriate for dish washing, because it wasn't designed to rinse off of the dishes well. I finally emailed the soap manufacturer, and they did not recommend using their bar soap to wash dishes. So I found a natural liquid dish soap that she was happy with - for a while - but now she wants to go back to using a bar soap, mainly as a matter of personal preference. Any clarification of this issue would be appreciated. Does anyone know of a bar soap that would be appropriate, or even specifically designed, for dishwashing? Thanks.

yes i do. its the soap your wife wants to use since you are not washing the dishes.

+1.

If she prefers at some point to switch back to liquid we like this one: Puracy Natural Liquid Hand Soap Refill.

[NotWhoYouThink]

You don't use soap to wash dishes, you use detergent. It's not the same thing.

[AAA]

yes i do. its the soap your wife wants to use since you are not washing the dishes.

Bad assumption. I often do the dishes.

[Dottie57]

I use Dawn. Original formula. If it works for animals covered in oil from oil spills, it is fine for me.

[BanquetBeer]

Possible to use a brush or scrub pad if she wants something to hold? We use the dishwasher so whatever we use to rinse fat/food debris off doesn’t matter. I’d prefer to do more up front than clean dishwasher disposal or deal with rewash.

[jharkin]

I use Dawn. Original formula. If it works for animals covered in oil from oil spills, it is fine for me.

+1 Dawn has got to be the best soap ever invented. Also works wonders for cleaning prescription eyeglasses.

[Turbo29]

I use Dawn. Original formula. If it works for animals covered in oil from oil spills, it is fine for me.

+1 Dawn has got to be the best soap ever invented. Also works wonders for cleaning prescription eyeglasses.

I used to buy the cheapo liquid dish soap but over a year ago got a bottle of Dawn on sale. It is so concentrated that I still haven't gone through it. I would venture to say that the cost per use is actually less for Dawn than the "no-name" brands. Plus, the Dawn actually cleans.

[squirm]

i like Palmolive, soft on my hands and does the job...otherwise my skin cracks.

[ResearchMed]

I use Dawn. Original formula. If it works for animals covered in oil from oil spills, it is fine for me.

+1 Dawn has got to be the best soap ever invented. Also works wonders for cleaning prescription eyeglasses.

I used to buy the cheapo liquid dish soap but over a year ago got a bottle of Dawn on sale. It is so concentrated that I still haven't gone through it. I would venture to say that the cost per use is actually less for Dawn than the "no-name" brands. Plus, the Dawn actually cleans.

Another vote for Dawn.

It's not a fake about it being used for animals rescued from oil spills.

Also works on a short haired cat; gets 'em nice and fluffy/soft.

RM

[Rupert]

Detergent is far superior for cleaning dishes than soap. It leaves less residue on the dishes and on the inside of your pipes. But if your wife insists, I suggest she use Dr. Bronner's pure castile bar soap for the job. If I were you, I'd continue to use liquid detergent when I washed the dishes. (If you respect her preference, she should respect yours). Although I keep some Dawn around the house for random cleaning jobs (it really is a wonder substance), I prefer Seventh Generation natural dish liquid for hand-washing dishes. It doesn't dry my hands out as much as Dawn and other brands.

[squirm]

is liquid ivory the same as bar ivory? can she use that?

[pannkake]

I use Costco environmentally friendly dish soap, and, I dispense it with a foam pump that dilutes it about 10:1 with water. A pump or two is the right amount of detergent to clean things without using too much or dealing with a giant bottle. Plus this system is good to my hands and I don't have to wear gloves to do dishes anymore.

[heartwood]

yet another vote for Dawn. We used Palmolive for years and they seem to have changed the formula several years back and it no longer foamed or cleaned well. We tried Dawn and would never go back. A little harder to find but Dawn Platinum Foaming in a pump dispenser is amazing. A little dab seems to last for so many items. We use it at our condo. Unfortunately our home kitchen sink has an installed pump.

https://www.target.com/p/dawn-ultra-pla ... A-13044216

[Grasshopper]

+1 Dr Bronner’s I use the liquid that I dilute and use in a spray bottle.

[rooms222]

Relevant article about Dr. Bronner's bar soap for dishes. http://gdonna.com/living-like-the-past/ ... shes-1661/

[NotWhoYouThink]

Zest? It was developed for use in areas with hard water because soap film is especially bad with hard water. They don't really say it's not soap, but it's not. It's detergent.

[JaneyLH]

I'm just curious... how in the world would one go about washing dishes with a bar of soap? Does she rub the bar on the dishes? Or does she hold the bar under a stream of water to try to make a sink full of soapy water? I would like to know how she does it, because it might be handy sometime camping when I forget the dishwashing detergent!

[Toons]

Dawn

[Chip]

Although I keep some Dawn around the house for random cleaning jobs (it really is a wonder substance), I prefer Seventh Generation natural dish liquid for hand-washing dishes. It doesn't dry my hands out as much as Dawn and other brands.

I'm a Dawn fan as well. You might try one of the "hand renewal" versions of Dawn. They seem to clean just as well but don't strip the oils out of your skin. I actually use it to clean my hands after working on cars.

[Dottie57]

I use Dawn. Original formula. If it works for animals covered in oil from oil spills, it is fine for me.

+1 Dawn has got to be the best soap ever invented. Also works wonders for cleaning prescription eyeglasses.

Totally agree for glasses too.

[obgraham]

Joy..

[GoldenFinch]

Dawn.

*Too bad we can’t have a poll (lol).

[ResearchMed]

Dawn.

*Too bad we can’t have a poll (lol).

I think we are in the midst of one, and we have ... a winner

RM

[NotWhoYouThink]

Where do you buy Dawn bar soap? Because even though Dawn liquid is a great product, it isn't the answer to OP's question about a good bar soap to use for dishes.

[AAA]

I'm just curious... how in the world would one go about washing dishes with a bar of soap? Does she rub the bar on the dishes? Or does she hold the bar under a stream of water to try to make a sink full of soapy water? I would like to know how she does it, because it might be handy sometime camping when I forget the dishwashing detergent!

She wets a sponge, rubs it on the bar to soap it up then uses the sponge on the dishes.

[UpperNwGuy]

I prefer Seventh Generation natural dish liquid for hand-washing dishes. It doesn't dry my hands out as much as Dawn and other brands.

+1

[RickBoglehead]

I finally emailed the soap manufacturer, and they did not recommend using their bar soap to wash dishes.

This ^^^^. Should be end of discussion. Car soap is also not recommended.

[mouses]

I think there is probably room on the kitchen sink for the products each of you prefers. I assume no one has keeled over from eating off the dishes your wife washes.

[AAA]

I finally emailed the soap manufacturer, and they did not recommend using their bar soap to wash dishes.

This ^^^^. Should be end of discussion. Car soap is also not recommended.

Not quite. That was one particular soap manufacturer who commented on their soap.

[SanityCheck]

Use "Dawn Ultra"......much better than "Original" !!

[ResearchMed]

Use "Dawn Ultra"......much better than "Original" !!

Thanks.
We'll give it a try.
In general, once we find a product that "works great", we don't tend to keep trying others. Yup, that means we might not find "THE Ultimate <X>".
But it keeps us satisfied and happy.

RM

[SheltieFolk]

If she really wants to use bar soap, and can figure out how to do it, pick a non-deoderant, nonscented, castile soap, and go for it.

Plain Baby shampoo would probably work well too. I use it for hand washable clothing.

I use Walmart brand dish detergent, the blue liquid one. Used to use Dawn exclusively but am cutting costs since I retired and have found the Walmart version to be almost as good as Dawn.

[Irisheyes]

I think there is probably room on the kitchen sink for the products each of you prefers. I assume no one has keeled over from eating off the dishes your wife washes.

My thought exactly.

We keep two products on the sink. Dawn, for when there is greasy, tough to clean plates/pans. Mrs. Meyers Clean Day soap when we don't need something as strong going into the septic.

[AAA]

I assume no one has keeled over from eating off the dishes your wife washes.

A lot of things in our environment don't cause one to keel over in the short term but some people strive to optimize what they can, where possible and practical to do so. Using an appropriate item to clean one's dishes would fall into that category.

[shell921]

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Dish Soap, Lemon Verbena

Target used to carry it..you can buy it on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Meyers-Clean ... +dish+soap

[magazinewriter]

I use Dawn. Original formula. If it works for animals covered in oil from oil spills, it is fine for me.

Totally agree. Our local seabird rescue uses it and I think it works well for my dishes. Last year I got a bottle of “upscale” dish liquid made by Caldrea with a lovely scent. But I didn’t like the way it cleaned so I’m back to Dawn.

[AAA]

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Dish Soap, Lemon Verbena

Target used to carry it..you can buy it on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Mrs-Meyers-Clean ... +dish+soap

Thanks, but the reason for this thread was not to get recommendations for liquid dish soaps. And by the way, while I don't know about this particular item, another Mrs. Meyer's product that I had researched contained synthetic fragrance, if that's of any concern to you.

[jlawrence01]

Liquid Ivory for normal dishes. Dawn for greasy messes.

Tide also works very well for washing dishes and has been promoted as such in commercial kitchens.