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 the Environmental Working Group.

If you've looked up your dish soap on EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning, the grade depends heavily on which specific bottle you own. Dawn, the best-selling dish soap in the U.S., ranges from an F for the Original formula to a B for Ultra Platinum, with several formulas landing in between. Here's exactly what EWG flags, six alternatives that score EWG VERIFIED® or Grade A/B, and a practical plan for switching without tossing what's still under your sink.

What EWG Flags About Dawn

EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning (ewg.org/cleaners) rates dish soaps on ingredient hazard and disclosure, not on grease-cutting performance. Dawn's grades span a wide range by formula: Dawn Ultra Original scores F, largely over undisclosed fragrance and synthetic dyes that EWG cannot evaluate for hazard. Dawn Ultra Free & Gentle scores D-F despite its "free" name, since EWG's grade also reflects ingredient disclosure gaps beyond just fragrance and dye. Dawn Powerwash Free & Clear and the Citrus Powerwash variant both score C, and Dawn Ultra Platinum is the brand's best performer at B. No Dawn product carries EWG VERIFIED® status. See our full formula-by-formula breakdown at Is Dawn Dish Soap Safe? EWG Grades for Every Dawn Product.

The Swap: EWG VERIFIED® and Grade A/B Dish Soaps

The alternative isn't a "gentler" version of the same formula family. It's moving to dish soaps that either carry the EWG VERIFIED® mark (every ingredient meets EWG's strictest health criteria for the category) or score Grade A or B in the Guide to Healthy Cleaning for fuller ingredient disclosure and lower-hazard formulation.

6 Verified Picks

1. Branch Basics Concentrate Refill 2-Pack: EWG VERIFIED®

A fragrance-free, dye-free concentrate that dilutes into dish soap (and laundry detergent and all-purpose spray) at Branch Basics' own dilution ratios. One of the most extensively disclosed formulas on the market and free of every ingredient on EWG's Unacceptable list.

Branch Basics Concentrate Refill on Amazon →

2. ATTITUDE Dishwashing Liquid: EWG VERIFIED®

A plant-derived dishwashing liquid with fragrance-free and naturally scented options, phosphate-free and paraben-free. Part of ATTITUDE's broadly EWG VERIFIED® cleaning line.

ATTITUDE Dishwashing Liquid on Amazon →

3. Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dish Soap: EWG Guide Grade A

A widely available plant-based dish soap, fragrance-free and dye-free, formulated without petroleum-based ingredients. The 6-pack format offers strong per-ounce value for households going through dish soap quickly.

Seventh Generation Free & Clear Dish Soap on Amazon →

4. Better Life Dish It Out Liquid Dish Soap: EWG Guide Grade A

A coconut-derived dish soap free of sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances, available in naturally scented and unscented options.

Better Life Dish It Out Dish Soap on Amazon →

5. ECOS Dishmate Dish Soap, Free & Clear: EWG Guide Grade A

A fragrance-free, phosphate-free plant-derived formula from a solar-powered manufacturer that discloses ingredients transparently.

ECOS Dishmate Dish Soap on Amazon →

6. Puracy Natural Liquid Dish Soap: EWG Guide Grade B

A concentrated plant-derived surfactant blend free of synthetic fragrance, SLS, and petroleum-based ingredients. A smaller amount per wash goes further than conventional dish soaps.

Puracy Natural Liquid Dish Soap on Amazon →

How to Make the Switch

  • Use up what you have first. There's no benefit to pouring out a half-full bottle of Dawn. Finish it, then switch on your next purchase.
  • Start with a concentrate if you want to try before committing to a full bottle. Branch Basics' refill format lets you dilute into multiple uses from one concentrate, keeping upfront cost and shelf space lower than a full-size bottle.
  • Fragrance-free is the safer default for baby bottles and sippy cups. Bottle brushes can embed soap residue in seams and nipples that rinsing may not fully remove, so a fragrance-free, low-hazard formula is the more conservative choice for those items.
  • Recheck grades before you buy. EWG updates its Guide to Healthy Cleaning as formulas change. Confirm the current grade for your exact product at ewg.org/cleaners before purchasing.

For the full field of EWG-rated dish soaps beyond these six picks, see our EWG dish soap guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is every Dawn product graded the same?
No. EWG's Guide lists individual Dawn records ranging from F (Original) to B (Ultra Platinum) depending on the specific formula. Check the exact product at ewg.org/cleaners rather than assuming one grade applies to your bottle. See our full Dawn formula-by-formula breakdown.

Is Dawn Free & Gentle safer than regular Dawn?
Not by much according to EWG: Free & Gentle scores D-F, close to Original's F. The name refers to the absence of added dye and fragrance, but EWG's grade also reflects disclosure gaps in the rest of the formula.

What does EWG VERIFIED® mean for a dish soap?
It means every ingredient in the formula meets EWG's strictest health-based criteria for the category, a higher bar than a passing Guide to Healthy Cleaning letter grade. EWG VERIFIED® is a mark from the Environmental Working Group, an independent nonprofit; we are not affiliated with EWG and do not issue this designation ourselves.

Will an EWG-rated dish soap cut grease as well as Dawn?
For everyday household grease levels, yes: plant-derived surfactants in the picks above clean effectively under normal kitchen conditions. EWG's grades reflect ingredient hazard and disclosure, not grease-cutting performance, so it's worth testing a smaller size first if performance is your main concern.

Do I need to switch everything at once?
No. Many households switch laundry detergent first since it's a frequent purchase, then dish soap, then personal care products as those run out. See our laundry detergent swap guide if you haven't started there yet.

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.