Solid Dish Soap Bar: Saving you Time, Money, and Space with Eliminating Plastic Waste

The sink is full, the counters are dirty, and the dinner is boiled over on the stovetop.

What do you reach for the clean it up? Typically, I would expect the answer to involve a multitude of things from a sponge, a bottle of dish soap, dishwashing tablets, stainless steel cleaner, paper towels, surface cleaning spray, and maybe some gloves. That is a lot! It's a lot to keep track of, a lot to purchase, a lot of plastic waste, and a lot of work. What if I told you I had one waste-free, chemical-free alternative that could replace all those cleaners?

Let me introduce our solid dish soap, which is rapidly gaining popularity as a more sustainable and effective choice compared to regular liquid dish soap. In this article, we'll explore what solid dish soap is and why it outranks traditional liquid soap any day. By the end, you'll understand why making the switch to solid dish soap is a small but mighty step towards a more minimal and sustainable lifestyle.

What is Solid Dish Soap?

Solid dish soap, also known as a dish soap bar, is a concentrated form of liquid dish soap meaning they pack more punch for their size, and they are plastic-packaging free! While the name implies it is solely for dishes, this is not the case - more on that later. It is formulated with natural ingredients and is free from harmful chemicals commonly found in conventional liquid dish soaps. Our bar is actually made with primarily organic ingredients & vegan.

Citrus Dish Soap Bar

Citrus Dish Soap

Dish Soap Bubbles

Ingredients Matter

One of the most significant advantages of solid dish soap is its ingredient list. Our bars are made from natural ingredients that are gentle on your skin and the environment. Actually not only is it safe for use on your hands but it is designed specifically not to dry out your hands like many other dish soaps do. When reading our ingredient list you'll be able to notice immediately that is readable because of the absence of harsh chemicals like phosphates, parabens, and sulfates. We also do not have any dyes, fragrances, or harmful preservatives. Another benefit is that when you are buying this product, you are not paying for water as a primary ingredient. Water is used during the soap-making process but evaporates. You are paying for a concentrated form of soap that is undiluted by water. These reasons make solid dish soap a clearly safer choice for your home and marine life too!

Reducing Plastic Waste: A Game-Changer

Possibly the biggest environmental benefit of using our dish soap is the absence of any plastic packaging. Conventional liquid dish soaps often come in plastic bottles contributing to the ever-growing plastic pollution crisis. Some are made from recycled plastic but plastic is not infinitely recyclable and very rarely (only about 6-9% of the time) recycled anyway so this is not the solution. It is a band-aid. Our dish soap, on the other hand, is packaged in 100% recycled paper, making it a sustainable option. The paper label can be recycled or composted at the end of use.

Moreover, bars last longer than liquid alternatives. Since they are concentrated, you use less product with each wash, reducing the frequency of purchases and further decreasing plastic waste. With less frequent purchases you are also saving trips to the store or carbon emissions from shipments. Not only are you saving time and money, but you are saving space. They take up far less space than a bottle whether it's on your counter or in your cleaning storage supplies.

Speaking of your cleaning supply storage... we can tidy that up too! While we call it dish soap as that's its primary purpose, its capacity to clean doesn't stop there. We mentioned before but it can be used to clean your hands too! This means you no longer need to different soaps by the sink. Not only can we eliminate a bottle of soap, but we can eliminate bottles of cleaners. This soap has been tested and proven to be a great aid for general clean-up and stubborn deep cleanings too. I've used it to clean my counters with a sponge or rag as well as the inside of my microwave, fridge, and even my steel stovetop! If you'd like to see this cleaning power in action click here.

How do you use it?

A common misconception is that you have to change your habits to make this swap. Whatever toll you like to use to scrub with is suitable! I have tested our soap with rags, sponges, and brushes! My personal favorite tool is this plastic-free brush, but you can use whatever you feel works best for you. To get started all you need is something to clean, a toll to scrub, and bar of Citrus Dish Soap, and some warm water. The water could be cold but warmer water works better to help lift grease and debris off surfaces. Wet your brush/sponge/rag and rub it on the bar. That's it! The longer you rub it the more bubbles you will see. Reapply as needed.

How Different Tools Work

We offer a few helpful tools to help you get those dishes back to sparkly clean again. Each one works a bit different so we will go over the ones we offer and the ones we don't so you can make the best decision for you and your home.

• Sponges

  These will work with our solid dish soap! I am personally not a sponge user but I know many folks are so lets talk about the different types. There are the traditional yellow and green style and there are some typically in neutral colors like white, cream, beige, brown. You MUST read the packaging fully as the color alone does not indicate what it made from but wood cellulose and walnut fibers for instance are typically seen on natural sponge packaging. If you opt for a sponge then natural is the best way to ensure you are not leaving microplastics going down the drain each time you use it.

• Pot & Pan Scrub Brush

  This brush is very coarse and best used on very stubborn food particles, pots, and pans. Examples being that casserole dish you reheated in the over 3x and forgot to soak overnight, or the char marks from that steak you cooked on an old pan. Personally I use this brush maybe 5% of the time reserving it for those dishes I wish didn't end up in my sink to begin with, ha! When I do have to break it out however I find it to really help get the job done! One question frequently asked about this brush is will it scratch? The answer honestly depends on your cookware/surface. I have used it on cast iron, stainless steel, and ceramic coated pans without issues but with a very vigorous scrub it could scratch very slightly.

• Everyday Dish Scrub Brush

  This brush is like the name implies my everyday go to for washing the dishes. It is much gentler than is partner the pot and ban scrub brush. This everyday dish brush is also plastic free as well. I use it to wash glasses, plates, silverware, the stove top and so forth. This one I don't think could scratch any hard surface no matter how hard you try. It is also much longer lasting that most sponges and more antibacterial than sponges as well.

• Rags

  Absolutely hold some bubbling power with our solid dish soap. I usually wet the rag and rub it over the dish soap for some lather and clean my counters. I save the brushes for the dishes but have tested and can confirm it will work on dishes too but may produce less lather and less scrubbing/abrasive power.

• Other Scrub Brushes

  Often made from plastic, again, meaning micro plastics are going down the drain EVERY time you wash with it. These typically last around the same length of time as our natural plastic free dish scrubbing brushed for use but DO NOT decompose back to the earth like natural materials would.

Why Should You Make the Switch?

1. Sustainability: Using solid dish soap aligns with a sustainable and eco-friendly lifestyle. By opting for natural ingredients and reducing plastic waste, you actively contribute to the preservation of our planet.

2. Economical: Solid dish soap bars are cost-effective in the long run. They last longer and require less frequent replacements, saving you money over time.

3. Effective Cleaning: Don't be fooled by their compact size – our bars are just as effective at cleaning your dishes as liquid soap. They easily cut through grease and leave your dishes spotless even the glasses.

4. Versatility: Our Citrus Dish Soap can be used for multiple cleaning purposes, including washing dishes, cleaning countertops, and even kitchen appliances like stovetops.

Solid dish soap is a shining example of how small changes in our daily routines can have a big impact on the environment and our day-to-day lives. By choosing natural ingredients and reducing plastic waste, you not only keep your dishes sparkling clean but also contribute to a greener, more sustainable planet. Making the switch to solid dish soap is a simple yet powerful choice that benefits both your home and the Earth we all share. So, next time you reach for that plastic bottle of liquid soap, consider giving our Citrus Dish Soap a try – your dishes and the environment will thank you.