The Best Sustainable and Plant-Based Products to Clean Your Dishes

Many factors go into sustainable living. Oftentimes, we think about what goes on our plates and into our bodies. But, what about the products that wash our plates? Many dish liquids, dish soaps, and dishwasher cleaners come full of chemicals and packaged in non-recyclable plastic. Luckily, there are plenty of great options on the market for those who are looking to make one more chore sustainable.

1. Dropps

Dropps Dishwasher Detergent Pods offer a convenient and eco-friendly solution for cleaning dishes effectively. The product comes in a pack of 120 unscented pods designed to cut through grease and combat stubborn food residues, ensuring sparkling glassware and dishes. The low-waste packaging is recyclable, aligning with environmental sustainability. They cost $42.00.

JT said, “I like that no bad smell like most brands. It cleans well and does not leave a residue. I like that there is NO plastic.”

2. Tieralia

Tieralia Handcrafted Dish Bar Soap is a plant-based, zero-waste, and vegan dish soap with a tray, that features an unscented formula enriched with Vitamin E to moisturize the skin while effectively cleaning dishes. It costs $11.98. 

One reviewer said, “I cut my bar in half and it lasts longer and is easier to use with a scrubber or dish cleaning cloth. No waste! Very grateful to find another product that I can purchase without tons of plastic packaging.”

3. Seventh Generation

Seventh Generation Dishwasher Detergent Packs, available in a 72-count pack, are a fragrance-free and dye-free solution. As a USDA-certified biobased product, it offers a sustainable and effective option for dishwashing at $23.75.

Marsha said, “These dishwasher tablets are ideal for dishwashers. I’ve been using them for well over a year and am extremely pleased. They do the job and clean quite well. Meanwhile, they are not very expensive on Amazon.”

4. Mrs. Meyer’s

Mrs. Meyer’s Liquid Dish Soap, sold in a pack of 3 with a 16 fl oz biodegradable formula, provides a cruelty-free and plant-based option for effective dish cleaning. It costs $11.94.

One reviewer said, “I love Mrs. Meyers products and this dish soap is great. The honeysuckle scent is my favorite because it smells so fresh. I love the fact that it’s made with cruelty-free formulas. This dish soap cuts through grease while making the dishes clean and bright.”

5. Whiffkitch

Whiffkitch Bamboo Dishcloths, available in a 6-pack with large 9x9in dimensions, offer a versatile and eco-friendly solution for kitchen cleaning. These scrub-non-scratch, washable, and reusable dishcloths are super absorbent, hygienic, quick-drying, and come in plastic-free packaging, priced at $14.99.

Mary said, “These bamboo dishcloths are just what I was looking for. The size is great. They are absorbent, flexible, and dry quickly. I can wring them out and wipe down counters, faucets, and even my black refrigerator and range top without leaving streaks. I throw the used ones in the washer and wash them with whatever load is next. I started with the package of 6 and bought another pack so I could have plenty of clean ones on hand. I can be sure they are clean and sanitary and I’m using fewer paper towels. No more stinky old sponges!”

6. Seed and Tree

The Seed and Tree Plant-Based Dishwashing Soap Bar 4-Piece Bundle is a zero-waste and palm oil-free solution for eco-friendly dishwashing. Packaged without plastic, the biodegradable, natural, and coconut-scented soap bars provide an environmentally conscious option for sustainable cleaning practices. It costs $19.98.

While there are no customer reviews on this particular product, its ingredients are promising!

7. Ginger Lily Farms

Ginger Lily Farms Botanicals Plant-Based Liquid Dish Soap offers a concentrated formula with maximum grease cleaning power in a cruelty-free and fragrance-free 1-gallon size. Priced at $19.99, its refill option reduces plastic consumption, making it ideal for commercial use or refilling dish soap dispensers at home.

Laura said, “Excellent quality, and a whole gallon of it. Better than my other go-to (7th Generation). Good balance of suds, cleaning power, and rinseability. Free & clear, love it. Earth friendly!”

8. If You Care

If You Care Dishwasher Tablets, available in a 40-count pack, provide a powerful and concentrated plant-based solution for natural and biodegradable dish cleaning. They cost $9.02. 

Juniper said, “Super great performance. Squeaky clean dishes, and no plastic or weird goopy blue chemicals. Just a little tablet with a dissolving wrapper and it comes in a small, light, cardboard box, so much less waste than the traditional detergents. I keep testing it with more and more caked-on “difficult” dishes/pans and it always surprises and impresses me. Way better than the major brands. HIGHLY, highly, HIgHlY ReComMend! Love these things. And they come with so many tabs. It seems to last wayyyyyy longer than the liquid crap”

9. Ecolulu

The Ecolulu Natural Bamboo Dish Brush, offered in a 3-pack, has plant-based bristles and a bamboo scrub brush for eco-friendly dish cleaning. It costs $12.99. 

Lana said, “I like using this brush because it’s completely compostable and doesn’t have any plastic parts. It’s easy to hold, easy to store, I just place it on its bristles, so it dries up. Easy to create lots of foam, one soap pump is enough to wash a big pot. it’s very easy to clean, I’m very happy I don’t have to squeeze those sponges a thousand times to get rid of any soap. It is a good brush, works well, doesn’t look disgusting after a while, and I don’t feel bad about the environment when I throw it away.”

10. Bamboearth

Bamboearth Natural Non-Toxic Dish Washing Block Soap, priced at $15.97 for the 1-pack, offers a vegan and cruelty-free eco-friendly solution that is dye and fragrance-free. The package includes both a brush and a dishwashing soap bar.

One reviewer said, “This is a game changer for our house! No more plastic bottles from liquid dish soap and this bar does the job just fine! Very foaming cleans all suds away and seems to last a long time! Recommended!”

Whether you hand wash dishes or throw them into your dishwasher, there is no shortage of vegan, sustainable dishwashing products.

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• 15 Cruelty-Free and Natural Soap Bars!
• How to Make Your Own Natural Liquid Hand Soap

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
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