Original Dish Soap (21.6 oz)

Name: Original Dish Soap (21.6 oz)
Brand: Dawn

PFR Grade

Fair — some plastic content or limited transparency

Contains synthetic fragrance (undisclosed phthalates), methylisothiazolinone (skin sensitizer), and synthetic dyes. Dawn is the most popular dish soap in the US but has a poor chemical safety profile.

PFR Caution

Original dish soap. Dawn is the most popular dish soap in the US, known for its grease-cutting power.

Score Breakdown

How scores are calculated

Materials (40%): How plastic-free the product is — raw materials, construction, and coatings.

Packaging (20%): Is the product packaged in plastic? Is it recyclable?

Transparency (20%): Does the brand disclose ingredients, sourcing, and manufacturing?

Durability (20%): How long does it last? Longer-lasting products reduce plastic waste over time.

Materials

Packaging

Transparency

Durability

$6See Safer Alternatives in Cleaning

This is a rating of this specific product only — not the company. Other products from this brand may score differently.

Last updated: April 6, 2026

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High Exposure Risk — Why This Product Category Matters

Conventional cleaning products contain a cocktail of synthetic chemicals — surfactants, solvents, fragrances, preservatives, and antimicrobials — that are absorbed through skin, inhaled as vapors, and ingested as residues on surfaces. Many are classified as endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, or respiratory sensitizers. The EPA has found indoor air quality is often 2-5x worse than outdoor air, largely due to cleaning products.

Synthetic Plastic Content

30%

synthetic plastic by weight

Why We Rated It This Way

Dawn's synthetic fragrance hides undisclosed phthalates, and methylisothiazolinone (MI) is a known skin sensitizer that has been restricted in leave-on products in Europe. For a product used daily on dishes that contact food, the chemical profile is concerning.

Chemical & Health Analysis

Each chemical of concern is broken down below — what it is, where it comes from in this product, what it does to the body, and who is most at risk.

Contains:Plastic bottle

phthalates

Source

Synthetic fragrance in conventional dish soap

Health Risk

Endocrine disruption

Who Is Most At RiskAdults washing dishes daily

Peer-Reviewed Sources

All health claims are based on published, peer-reviewed research from the NIH, WHO, IARC, and peer-reviewed journals. This information is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice.