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Consumer Reports’ current editor’s choice is Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid, Original Scent. Its review of 12 popular hand-washing soaps—10 liquids and two bars—found that every product cleaned dishes well overall. The meaningful differences were scent, cost, ingredients and day-to-day handling, so Dawn is a strong default rather than a universal winner.
What the current testing actually found
Consumer Reports’ review, updated February 26, 2026, evaluated 12 popular dish soaps in laboratory and home use. The sample included 10 liquid soaps and two solid bars. Its indexed results name Dawn Ultra as the editor’s choice and say all evaluated products cleaned dishes really well. The available results do not establish a complete product ranking or exact scores.
That distinction matters: a top pick reflects the balance of cleaning, handling, cost, scent and ingredients—not proof that it is best for every kitchen, skin type or budget.
Best overall: Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid
Dawn Ultra is the clearest current choice when you want a widely available liquid soap with strong all-purpose performance. Consumer Reports separately noted thick suds, straightforward dispensing and evaluator observations about fragrance and hand feel. In that particular evaluation, rinsing traces from a kitchen sponge took an average of 2 minutes 12 seconds. That is a protocol-specific result, not a prediction of how long rinsing will take in your sink.
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- REMOVES GREASE ON CONTACT: Dawn Ultra packs a powerful punch of grease-fighting power for a deep, sparkling clean
- REFILL WITHOUT THE SPILL: Our new and improved jug features an easy-pour spout and comfortable handle to make refilling any Dawn dish soap bottle easier, faster, and less messy *vs. our previous jug.
- SAME CLEAN, BETTER VALUE: Save money* and save plastic when refilling with our dish soap refill jug (*when comparing $/oz within same sub-brand). You can fill multiple standard or EZ-Squeeze bottles with just one jug of Dawn.
- SAVES WILDLIFE: Dawn dish soap is the only brand trusted by rescue workers* to clean wildlife impacted by oil spills. (*International Bird Rescue uses Dawn Platinum)
- CLEANS BEYOND THE SINK: Use Dawn Platinum to pre-treat laundry stains, to clean greasy tools and car wheels, and to remove grease and grime from around the house.
Dawn’s ingredient page, published by Dawn/P&G, lists surfactants, solvents, preservatives, fragrances and other functional ingredients. The company also makes its own grease-cleaning and formulation claims; those statements are manufacturer disclosures, not independent test conclusions. Check the exact bottle because formulas and labels can differ by variant and change over time.
Who should choose it
- People who want a liquid, general-purpose hand dish soap.
- Households that prioritize dependable grease and soil cleaning over fragrance-free or certified-ingredient criteria.
- Users comfortable comparing the current shelf price and package size rather than assuming a fixed cost advantage.
Who may prefer another option
- Anyone sensitive to fragrance or particular ingredients.
- Shoppers seeking an EPA Safer Choice-certified product.
- People who prefer a solid dishwashing bar and the dispensing style that comes with it.
Notable alternatives from the evaluations
| Product | Format | What the available evidence says | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid, Original Scent | Liquid | Consumer Reports’ current editor’s choice; all products in that review cleaned well overall. | Best general-purpose default |
| Palmolive Ultra Dish Oxy Power | Liquid | A 2025 Consumer Reports roundup describes long-lasting suds and one evaluator’s report of dry hands. The hand-feel observation is personal, not a universal skin effect. | Those who value persistent suds |
| Nellie’s Dish Butter | Solid bar | Included as a bar-format option in Consumer Reports’ product coverage; the available material does not provide a verified score or full ranking. | People who prefer bar soap |
Prices, package sizes, current availability and retailer terms were not established in the available material. Compare cost per usable volume, and consider how much soap you dispense for a greasy pan rather than comparing bottle prices alone.
Rank #2
- 1. LESS SCRUBBING: Experience 50% less scrubbing with Dawn Ultra dish soap liquid compared to Dawn Non-Concentrated
- 2. WILDLIFE HELPER: Trusted by rescue workers, Dawn dish soap is used to clean wildlife impacted by oil spills
- 3. VERSATILE DISH SOAP: Dawn dishwashing liquid can be used beyond the kitchen sink, serving as a versatile liquid soap that can pre-treat laundry stains, clean greasy tools, car wheels, and fight grease and grime around the house
- 4. POWERFUL FORMULA: Dawn Ultra's powerful formula allows you to get through more dishes with less dishwashing liquid compared to Dawn Non-Concentrated
- 5. CLEANING: Dawn dish soap liquid ensures a thorough clean for your dishes, making it a perfect dish soap refill for your kitchen
How to choose the right dish soap for your sink
1. Match the soap to your soil
For greasy cookware and stuck-on food, look for convincing cleaning performance and a dispenser that lets you control the dose. Advertising language about grease is not independent test evidence. The current Consumer Reports excerpt supports the narrower conclusion that all 12 tested products cleaned well overall.
2. Evaluate suds and rinsing together
More foam is not automatically cleaner. Suds can make a sink feel productive, while easy rinsing reduces water and time. Consumer Reports’ Dawn rinse observation came from one evaluator protocol, so use it as context rather than a household benchmark.
Rank #3
- 1. LESS SCRUBBING: 50% Less* Scrubbing (*vs. Dawn Non-Concentrated) with Dawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap
- 2. VERSATILE DISH SOAP: Dawn dish soap liquid can be used beyond the kitchen sink. Use it as a dish soap or to fight grease and grime from tire rims and the outer shroud of a gas grill
- 3. POWERFUL FORMULA: Dawn Ultra's powerful formula helps you get through more dishes with less* dishwashing liquid (*vs. Dawn Non-Concentrated)
- 4. AMERICA'S CHOICE: #1 Dishwashing liquid brand* in North America (*Based on Sales).
- 5. EASY REFILL: This dish soap refill is easy to use, ensuring you always have enough to keep your dishes clean
3. Treat scent as a personal requirement
Check the exact variant for fragrance, dyes and fragrance-free labeling. “Original,” “free and clear” and similarly named versions can have different formulas. If scent triggers discomfort, read the current package and ingredient disclosure instead of relying on the brand family name.
4. Compare value by use, not bottle size
Dish-soap prices and package sizes change. Record the shelf price, net volume and how many sink loads the bottle handles in your routine. The current review identifies cost as a meaningful differentiator but does not supply a stable price or universal dose.
Rank #4
- NEW & IMPROVED FORMULA: New Dawn Platinum is now stronger* on tough grease, so you can spend less time washing dishes (*vs. previous formula)
- REMOVES TOUGH GREASE: Dawn Platinum removes 99% of Grease and Food Residue for a squeaky clean you can see and feel
- SCRUB LESS AND CLEAN FASTER*: Dawn Platinum dish soap attracts grease like a magnet so you can scrub less and clean faster* (*vs. previous formula)
- SAVES WILDLIFE: Dawn dish soap is the only brand trusted by rescue workers* to clean wildlife impacted by oil spills. (*International Bird Rescue uses Dawn Platinum)
- CLEANS BEYOND THE SINK: Use Dawn Platinum to pre-treat laundry stains, to clean greasy tools and car wheels, and to remove grease and grime from around the house.
5. Check how your hands feel
Frequent washing can leave some people feeling dry or irritated. Palmolive’s dry-hand observation was reported by one evaluator, and Dawn’s hand-feel comments were also evaluator observations. Neither establishes a general skin effect. Stop using a product that causes a reaction and consult a clinician for persistent symptoms.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the EPA Safer Choice label means
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Safer Choice program says every ingredient is reviewed against its human-health and environmental criteria. Certified products must also meet ingredient-disclosure requirements and high performance standards. EPA’s current standard page identifies the August 2024 version.
Best Value
- Our best dishwasher detergent for up to 100% Food Residue Removal
- Only Cascade Platinum Plus contains 2X* the Dawn grease fighting power and 2X* the scrubbing power to power through dried on food *Cleaning ingredients vs Cascade Complete ActionPacs
- Removes visible and invisible residues for virtually spotfree and shiny dishes
- 40% larger liquid top for even more* cleaning power that still fits in your dishwasher detergent dispenser *vs Cascade Platinum ActionPacs
- Running the dishwasher daily saves water* Save up to 20 gallons of water per dishwasher load *ENERGY STAR certified dishwashers use 4 gallons per cycle. Running the tap for 11 minutes handwashing uses up to 24 gallons of water.
As EPA’s Safer Choice FAQ puts it: “When consumers see the Safer Choice label on a product, they can be confident that the ingredients have been through a rigorous EPA review.” The label is a useful screening signal, not a personalized allergy assessment or a guarantee that every user will prefer the product.
Do not treat “natural” as a safety guarantee. EPA says safety depends on the ingredients and their potential effects, not that marketing word alone. Read the label, review the manufacturer’s ingredient page and consider any known sensitivities.
Hand dish soap is not dishwasher detergent
This article concerns soap used by hand in a sink. Automatic-dishwasher detergents are formulated for a different appliance, water volume and dispensing system. Substituting hand dish soap in a dishwasher can create excessive suds and is not an equivalent use.
Quick Recap
A practical buying checklist
- Confirm that the product is intended for hand dishwashing.
- Choose the exact scent or fragrance-free variant you can tolerate.
- Compare current price per volume and expected dose.
- Look for the EPA Safer Choice label if ingredient review and disclosure are priorities.
- Read the current ingredient list because formulas can change.
- Test hand feel over several washes, especially if you wash dishes frequently.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
