Palmolive Ultra Strength Original

A high-performance dish soap featuring a blend of powerful surfactants designed to tackle tough grease and stubborn food residue with ease.

Performance Rating: 4.6

This formula is a high-performance blend utilizing Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which are powerful anionic surfactants known for exceptional grease-cutting capabilities. The inclusion of Lauramidopropylamine Oxide acts as a robust foam stabilizer, ensuring that the suds remain effective throughout the washing process. Furthermore, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate serves as an effective chelating agent, allowing the soap to maintain high efficiency even in hard water conditions.

Safety Rating: 2.7

The primary safety concern lies with the preservatives Methylisothiazolinone and Benzisothiazolinone, which are potent skin sensitizers and common triggers for contact dermatitis. While effective at preventing microbial growth, they are frequently flagged by environmental and health watchdogs. Additionally, the presence of Sodium Laureth Sulfate may cause skin irritation for users with sensitive skin, and the generic listing of Fragrance and Colorants makes it difficult to assess specific allergen risks.

Final Rating: 3.6

The product is a top-tier cleaner that will easily handle heavy grease and dried-on food, making it highly effective for dishwashing. However, its safety profile is dampened by the use of isothiazolinone preservatives and synthetic dyes. It is a reliable choice for performance-oriented users, but individuals with sensitive skin or those seeking eco-friendly ingredients should exercise caution.

Verdict

The provided ingredient list describes a potent, heavy-duty dish soap formulated primarily for maximum grease-cutting efficiency. At its core, the formula relies on a blend of strong anionic surfactants, specifically Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). These ingredients are industry standards for their ability to emulsify fats and lift stubborn oils from surfaces quickly. The addition of Sodium C10-16 Alketh Sulfate and Lauramidopropylamine Oxide further enhances the cleaning performance by boosting foam stability and ensuring the soap remains effective throughout a large load of dishes. This synergistic blend creates a rich, long-lasting lather that physically carries away food particles. One notable inclusion is Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, a modern, biodegradable chelating agent. This is a significant benefit for users in hard water regions, as it prevents calcium and magnesium ions from interfering with the surfactants, maintaining the soap’s effectiveness where other detergents might fail. The presence of Alcohol Denat. helps the formula maintain a consistent viscosity and can aid in a streak-free finish upon drying. However, the product’s strength comes with some trade-offs regarding skin safety and environmental profile. The use of Methylisothiazolinone and Benzisothiazolinone as preservatives is common in mass-market household cleaners, but these substances are known triggers for allergic contact dermatitis. For individuals with compromised skin barriers or known sensitivities to isothiazolinones, this product may cause redness, itching, or significant irritation. Additionally, the inclusion of synthetic fragrance and colorants serves an aesthetic purpose but does not contribute to cleaning power. In summary, this is an industrial-strength cleaning agent that will perform exceptionally well on grimy pots and pans. It is a reliable choice for households that prioritize cleaning speed and power over more delicate ingredient labels. Those with sensitive skin should consider wearing protective gloves while using this product to avoid the drying effects of the concentrated sulfates and potential irritation from the preservative system. While it is highly effective, it lacks the botanical gentleness found in niche eco-friendly brands.

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Ingredient Evaluation

📁 Solvents and Bases / 溶剂与基底

🧪 Water / Eau / 水

Purpose: Solvent and base liquid.

Concerns: None.

Notes: Provides the liquid base for the formula.

🧪 Alcohol Denat. / 变性乙醇

Purpose: Solvent and viscosity regulator.

Concerns: Can be drying to the skin.

Notes: Used to help dissolve ingredients and control the thickness of the soap.

📁 Surfactants and Cleaning Agents / 表面活性剂与清洁剂

🧪 Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate / 十二烷基苯磺酸钠

Purpose: Primary cleaning agent (anionic surfactant).

Concerns: Can cause skin irritation or dryness with prolonged contact.

Notes: A very common and powerful degreaser.

🧪 Sodium Laureth Sulfate / 月桂醇聚醚硫酸酯钠

Purpose: Surfactant and foaming agent.

Concerns: Potential skin and eye irritant.

Notes: Commonly known as SLES; provides rich suds.

🧪 Sodium C10-16 Alketh Sulfate / C10-16 醇聚醚硫酸酯钠

Purpose: Cleaning and foaming agent.

Concerns: Mild skin irritation.

Notes: Helps break down grease and oils.

🧪 Lauramidopropylamine Oxide / 月桂酰胺丙基氧化胺

Purpose: Foam booster and stabilizer.

Concerns: Low concern for most users.

Notes: Helps maintain the thickness and longevity of the bubbles.

🧪 C9-11 Alketh-8 / C9-11 醇聚醚-8

Purpose: Nonionic surfactant/emulsifier.

Concerns: Minimal; generally safe in cleaning products.

Notes: Helps remove oily soil by emulsifying it into the water.

🧪 Deceth-8 / 癸醇聚醚-8

Purpose: Nonionic surfactant/wetting agent.

Concerns: Low concern.

Notes: Helps the soap spread evenly over surfaces.

🧪 Poloxamer 124 / 聚氧乙烯聚氧丙烯嵌段共聚物

Purpose: Surfactant and solubilizer.

Concerns: Generally recognized as safe.

Notes: Assists in cleaning and ensures formula stability.

📁 Preservatives and Stabilizers / 防腐剂与稳定剂

🧪 Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate / 谷氨酸二乙酸四钠

Purpose: Chelating agent.

Concerns: None.

Notes: A plant-based, biodegradable alternative to EDTA that helps remove hard water minerals.

🧪 Methylisothiazolinone / 甲基异噻唑啉酮

Purpose: Preservative.

Concerns: Known skin allergen and irritant.

Notes: Also known as MIT; restricted in some leave-on products but used in rinse-off soap.

🧪 Benzisothiazolinone / 苯并异噻唑啉酮

Purpose: Preservative.

Concerns: Can cause skin sensitization/allergic reactions.

Notes: Also known as BIT; prevents microbial growth in the bottle.

📁 Aesthetic Additives / 感官添加剂

🧪 Fragrance / Parfum / 香精

Purpose: Provides scent.

Concerns: Can contain allergens that trigger sensitivities.

Notes: Used to mask chemical odors and provide a pleasant smell.

🧪 Colorants / 着色剂

Purpose: Provides visual appeal.

Concerns: Some synthetic dyes may cause sensitivity for highly reactive skin.

Notes: Purely for aesthetic purposes and product identification.