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Quick answer: Palmolive does not have one EWG dish soap rating. EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning currently gives both Ultra Pure + Clear Fragrance Free and Ultra Strength Original a B grade, and neither is EWG VERIFIED®. We could not match the current Ultra Oxy product to a fresh exact EWG record, so an older "Ultra Oxy Plus" grade should not be pasted onto today's bottle.
That means the useful answer to "Is Palmolive dish soap safe?" is formula-specific. EWG grades describe hazard concerns in disclosed ingredients; they do not predict an individual reaction or turn a whole brand into a simple safe/unsafe choice.
Three current Palmolive formulas compared
| Exact formula | Current EWG status | What stands out |
|---|---|---|
| Ultra Pure + Clear Fragrance Free | B; updated May 29, 2026 | Five listed ingredients; EPA Safer Choice |
| Ultra Strength Original | B; updated May 29, 2026 | Longer surfactant list and colorants |
| Ultra Oxy Liquid Dish Soap | No current exact match found | Do not import an older Ultra Oxy Plus F grade |
EWG and Amazon records were checked September 20, 2026. Packaging and formulas can change.
Pure + Clear Fragrance Free: the clearest current match
EWG's exact Palmolive Ultra Pure + Clear Fragrance Free record is a B and lists five label ingredients: water, sodium laureth sulfate, lauramidopropyl betaine, lactic acid and poloxamer 124. EWG also identifies the product as EPA Safer Choice certified.
The B is a Guide to Healthy Cleaning rating, not EWG VERIFIED® certification. EWG flags some concern categories for the surfactants and possible manufacturing contaminants while describing ingredient disclosure as good. Someone avoiding added fragrance may still find this the simplest current Palmolive option, but "fragrance free" does not guarantee compatibility with sensitive skin.
Check the 32.5-ounce Pure + Clear Fragrance Free bottle on Amazon.
Ultra Strength Original: also B, but not the same formula
The current Ultra Strength Original record also earns a B. Its label list is longer, including sodium laureth sulfate, sodium C12-15 alketh sulfate, sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, lauramidopropyl betaine, additional processing ingredients and colorants.
A shared grade does not make the formulas interchangeable. Pure + Clear is the more straightforward choice if your priority is avoiding added fragrance and colorants. Original may be the familiar green formula, but familiarity is not a certification.
Check the 32.5-ounce Ultra Strength Original bottle on Amazon.
Ultra Oxy: why we are not assigning the legacy F
EWG's older dishwashing pages include Ultra Oxy Plus products with F grades. The current Palmolive catalog and Amazon listing use the name Ultra Oxy Liquid Dish Soap. We did not find a current exact EWG record with a matching product name and current formulation.
That is an evidence gap, not evidence of an A or B, and not permission to reuse the old F. If Ultra Oxy is already under your sink, compare its complete label to the dated EWG record before drawing a conclusion.
View the current 32.5-ounce Ultra Oxy listing on Amazon. We include it for exact-formula identification, not as a recommended EWG-rated pick.
How to read the grade without overstating it
EWG says its cleaner grades compare known and suspected ingredient hazards using a weight-of-evidence method. They do not account for every exposure level or individual susceptibility. A B does not mean "risk free," and an older poor grade does not automatically describe a reformulated product.
For alternatives with exact current records, use the broader EWG-rated dish soap guide. Our Dawn formula audit applies the same product-by-product rule to another brand.
A label check takes less than a minute
- Match the entire name, including Pure + Clear, Fragrance Free, Original or Oxy.
- Compare the ingredient panel, not bottle color alone.
- Note the EWG record's update date and whether it is a grade or VERIFIED mark.
- Wear gloves or stop use if the product bothers your skin; a database score cannot explain an individual reaction.
Frequently asked questions
Is Palmolive EWG VERIFIED®?
Not the three products compared here. Two have B ratings, which are different from EWG VERIFIED® certification.
Which formula has the shortest list?
Pure + Clear Fragrance Free has five ingredients in the current EWG record.
Should I use an old grade for a new bottle?
No. Match the name and full ingredient list because formulas change.
Ratings referenced here come from EWG's publicly available Guide to Healthy Cleaning database and apply only to the linked product records.
Affiliate Disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. NonToxicFinder (Solved Labs LLC) may earn commissions on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. We are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or partnered with the Environmental Working Group.
