Dawn Original Dish Soap, Clean Scent

This is a heavy-duty conventional dish soap formulated with high-potency surfactants and solvent boosters to cut through stubborn grease and baked-on food residues.

Performance Rating: 9.5

This formula features a robust surfactant system engineered for superior grease-cutting power and long-lasting foam stability. The primary active, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, works synergistically with C10-16 Alkyldimethylamine Oxide to rapidly dissolve stubborn fats and heavy food soils. Complementing this, non-ionic surfactants like Deceth-8 and C9-11 Pareth-8 provide outstanding emulsification, allowing greasy residues to rinse away cleanly without streaking. Furthermore, the addition of Alcohol Denat. boosts solvency against baked-on food, while PEI-14 PEG-24/PPG-16 Copolymer effectively prevents soil redeposition. Together, these concentrated cleansing agents deliver exceptionally high dishwashing efficiency under various water conditions.

Safety Rating: 6.2

The safety profile reflects notable considerations regarding skin irritation and allergenic sensitization. The primary surfactant, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, is an aggressive degreaser that can strip natural lipid barriers, causing dryness and irritation during frequent, unprotected hand washing. More significantly, the preservative system contains Methylisothiazolinone, a well-documented contact allergen associated with allergic contact dermatitis. Additionally, the formula includes synthetic fragrances, Alcohol Denat., and the artificial dye Acid Blue 9, which may trigger sensitivities or exacerbate irritation in sensitive individuals. While standard rinse-off usage mitigates severe toxicity, the ingredients warrant caution for frequent skin contact.

Final Rating: 8.0

The overall assessment balances exceptional cleaning capabilities against a moderate dermatological safety profile. The detergent excels at breaking down tough food residues and heavy grease, largely due to its potent blend of anionic, nonionic, and amphoteric surfactants reinforced by specialized cleaning polymers. However, this heavy-duty cleaning power comes at the cost of mild-to-moderate skin risks, driven by harsh cleansing agents and recognized preservative allergens like Methylisothiazolinone. Consequently, the product stands as a highly dependable and effective dishwashing detergent for demanding chores, best suited for users who do not experience extreme skin sensitivities or who wear protective gloves.

Verdict

This dish soap is engineered for exceptional grease-cutting performance, featuring a potent surfactant blend of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Lauramine Oxide alongside non-ionic cleaning agents like Deceth-8 and C9-11 Pareth-8. Together with Alcohol Denat., this formulation rapidly breaks surface tension, dissolves solidified fats, and suspends heavy cooking oils in wash water. Advanced cleaning polymers, specifically PEI-14 PEG-24/PPG-16 Copolymer, actively prevent loosened grime from redepositing onto clean plates, making light work of heavily soiled cookware, greasy sheet pans, and stubborn food residues.

In terms of everyday usability, the product delivers a rich, long-lasting foam and thick viscosity thanks to the addition of Sodium Chloride and secondary foam stabilizers. A tiny amount produces enough dense suds to wash an entire sink of dishes, ensuring excellent cost-efficiency and high yield per wash. The inclusion of PPG-26 aids in smooth rinsing, preventing cloudy soap film from clinging to glassware or ceramic surfaces. Users prioritizing rapid results and minimal scrubbing time will find this formula remarkably effective across both soft and hard water conditions.

Despite its undeniable cleaning efficacy, the formula relies on several ingredients that may trigger skin dryness and irritation. The concentration of Sodium Lauryl Sulfate combined with Alcohol Denat. thoroughly strips the natural lipid barrier from human skin during prolonged exposure, potentially causing tightness or chapping without protective dishwashing gloves. Furthermore, the inclusion of Methylisothiazolinone (MIT), a well-documented contact allergen, alongside synthetic Fragrances and Acid Blue 9, warrants caution for individuals with pre-existing skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or sensitive skin barriers.

Overall, this formula represents a benchmark in commercial-grade degreasing performance for mainstream consumer dish detergents. It trades gentle, plant-based minimalism for uncompromising cleaning strength and rapid grease emulsification. While it is not recommended for un-gloved dishwashing on highly reactive skin or for households seeking fragrance-free, eco-certified alternatives, it is an outstanding, heavy-duty workhorse for tackling heavily soiled pots, greasy pans, and high-volume family meal cleanup with minimal effort.

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Ingredient Evaluation

📁 Surfactants / 表面活性剂

🧪 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate / 月桂基硫酸钠

Purpose: Primary anionic surfactant that provides rich foaming and strong degreasing action.

Concerns: Can cause skin dryness or irritation with frequent, unprotected contact.

Notes: Highly effective at breaking down fats and oils; commonly derived from coconut oil, palm kernel oil, or petroleum sources.

🧪 C10-16 Alkyldimethylamine Oxide / C10-16 烷基二甲基氧化胺

Purpose: Amphoteric surfactant that boosts foam stability and enhances grease-cutting performance.

Concerns: May cause mild skin or eye irritation in concentrated amounts.

Notes: Acts synergistically with anionic surfactants like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate to improve lather volume and longevity.

🧪 Deceth-8 / 癸醇聚醚-8

Purpose: Non-ionic surfactant and wetting agent that helps dissolve oily soils and facilitates clean rinsing.

Concerns: May contain trace ethoxylation by-products such as 1,4-dioxane if not thoroughly purified.

Notes: An ethoxylated fatty alcohol that lowers the surface tension of water to speed up soil penetration.

🧪 C9-11 Pareth-8 / C9-11 链烷醇聚醚-8

Purpose: Non-ionic surfactant and emulsifier used to lift grease and maintain formula clarity.

Concerns: As an ethoxylated ingredient, it carries potential concerns regarding trace 1,4-dioxane manufacturing impurities.

Notes: A fast-acting degreaser with good aquatic biodegradability.

🧪 PEI-14 PEG-24/PPG-16 Copolymer / PEI-14 PEG-24/PPG-16 共聚物

Purpose: Specialized cleaning polymer and anti-redeposition agent that keeps suspended grease from settling back onto dishes.

Notes: A high-performance branched polyalkylene oxide copolymer tailored to boost grease removal in liquid detergents.

📁 Solvents / 溶剂

🧪 Water / 水

Purpose: Primary liquid carrier and solvent that dissolves active ingredients and provides proper product consistency.

Notes: Typically deionized or softened to prevent mineral ions from interfering with surfactant efficiency.

🧪 Alcohol Denat. / 变性乙醇

Purpose: Solvent and viscosity regulator that helps maintain formula clarity and prevents ingredient separation.

Concerns: Can contribute to skin dryness in high concentrations, though minimal in diluted wash water.

Notes: Denatured ethanol treated with bitterants to make it unsuitable for beverage consumption.

🧪 Sodium Chloride / 氯化钠

Purpose: Viscosity builder that thickens the dish soap to an easy-to-dispense gel-like liquid.

Notes: Common table salt that modifies the ionic strength of the surfactant mixture to increase micelle density and viscosity.

🧪 PPG-26 / 聚丙二醇-26

Purpose: Solvent and processing aid that aids in viscosity control and formulation stability.

Notes: A synthetic polyether glycol with low volatility that helps solubilize fragrance and other non-aqueous components.

📁 Preservatives / 防腐剂

🧪 Fragrances / 香精

Purpose: Imparts a clean scent to mask raw ingredient odors and enhance the washing experience.

Concerns: May contain fragrance allergens that can trigger contact sensitivities in susceptible individuals.

Notes: A proprietary blend of synthetic or natural aroma compounds.

🧪 Phenoxyethanol / 苯氧乙醇

Purpose: Broad-spectrum preservative that prevents the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and molds.

Concerns: Low risk of mild contact irritation for individuals with hypersensitive skin.

Notes: A widely used paraben alternative with excellent chemical stability across a broad pH range.

🧪 Methylisothiazolinone / 甲基异噻唑啉酮

Purpose: Potent antimicrobial preservative that prevents bacterial contamination during product shelf life.

Concerns: Known contact allergen and skin sensitizer with repeated or prolonged direct contact.

Notes: Permitted in rinse-off household formulations at strictly controlled low concentrations.

🧪 Acid Blue 9 / 酸性蓝 9

Purpose: Synthetic dye added to give the dish soap an appealing blue color.

Notes: Also known as Brilliant Blue FCF (CI 42090), a water-soluble colorant widely approved for food, cosmetics, and household detergents.