TIL Dawn dish soap is made from petroleum which makes it better at cleaning oil and grease, especially from animals affected by oil spills.
Yet others find the product to be hypocritical because Dawn is a petroleum-based soap. A writer for Treehugger.com wrote: “The sad irony of the whole thing is that Dawn is petroleum-based. Every bottle of Dawn used to clean a bird actually adds to our nation's demand for oil.
Modern detergent surfactants are made from a variety of petrochemicals (derived from petroleum) and/or oleochemicals (derived from fats and oils), as well as a number of other ingredients, such as antiredeposition agents, enzymes, and frangrances. They can be found in powdered form as well as liquid.
For over 40 years, Dawn dish soap has helped over 75,000 animals affected by oil pollution and given thousands of bottles of dish soap to wildlife rescue workers like The Marine Mammal Center.
A: We use Dawn dish soap. International Bird Rescue has conducted research on most of the commonly available cleaning agents and Dawn meets all the criteria we have established for appropriate cleaning agents.
Conventional dish soaps contain a mixture of toxic chemicals that contribute significantly to water pollution. These substances that don't break down can linger in water bodies for years, creating a continuous cycle of pollution that affects not just marine life but also the quality of water that reaches our homes.
The Environmental Working Group gave Dawn a 'D' grade because of it containing methylisothiazolinone, which is a "High Concern: acute aquatic toxicity; Some Concern: skin irritation/allergies/damage". Sounds delightful, right? Dawn also contains 1 4-dioxane which is considered a groundwater contaminant.
Food. Petroleum derived products are used across the food industry. Chewing gum contains petroleum wax, and many products such as crisps and snacks make use of colourings and other additives that contain petroleum products. Mineral oil can be used to help keep packaged baked goods fresher for longer periods.
ECOS Hypoallergenic Dish Soap
The ECOS brand prides itself on biodegradable ingredients and sustainable manufacturing processes, so it's no surprise this dishwashing detergent is U.S. EPA Safer Choice Certified.
It's the fact that the Platinum product is concentrated, and delivers more of the key grease-fighting, colorless ingredients called “surfactants."
Is there lye in Dawn dish soap? Yes - it's listed on the packaging as 'Sodium Hydroxide' - otherwise known as lye. However, it isn't used for saponification.
water, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, lauramine oxide, sodium chloride, phenoxyethanol, PEI-14 PEG-10/PPG-7 copolymer, methylisothiazolinone, fragrance, yellow 5.
Toxicity. If you choose liquid hand soap, make sure it is soap, rather than a gel. Cleansing gels are made from petroleum and contain numerous other synthetic chemical ingredients. Even true soaps contain many untested chemicals (or worse, known carcinogens and toxins).
Petroleum is a naturally occurring yellowish-black liquid mixture. It consists mainly of hydrocarbons, and is found in geological formations. The term petroleum refers both to naturally occurring unprocessed crude oil, as well as to petroleum products that consist of refined crude oil.
This blue Dawn dish soap is very similar to the original Dawn Ultra formulation, and it's easy to confuse the two when shopping. The big difference is that the Platinum formula contains a few more surfactants than the original, which did help Platinum outperform its predecessor in our scrub test this year.
Baking Soda: Baking soda is a versatile cleaning agent. It can help remove grease and grime from dishes. Mix it with water to form a paste or sprinkle it directly on dishes and scrub. White Vinegar: White vinegar has natural antibacterial properties and can help cut through grease.
Dawn is often more expensive but is justified by its strong performance and cleaning efficiency. Palmolive is generally more budget-friendly, with users appreciating its gentle formulas and environmental focus. Individual preferences and cleaning needs will help determine which brand provides better value for money.
Is Dawn non-toxic? No, Dawn contains SLS and synthetic fragrances, making it less safe compared to non-toxic alternatives.
Tough on grease and oil, gentle enough for wildlife: For nearly 50 years, Dawn has worked with wildlife rescue experts to protect and care for aquatic wildlife.
Ironically, petroleum is a key ingredient in the detergent.