My Chemical-Free House

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Seventh Generation vs Mrs. Myers Dish Soap, Detailed Firsthand Review

Published: May 3, 2024 |

I tested out both Seventh Generation and Mrs. Myers Dish Soap.

I will compare them on their ingredients, scents, uses, effectiveness, cost, eco-friendly specs, and more.

This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Table of contents

Comparison Overview:

  • Both dish soaps are based on the (controversial) plant-based surfactant SLS as the main cleansing agent, both also use additional plant-based surfactants.
  • Seventh Generation comes in unscented or scented with natural fragrances, while Mrs. Myers uses both plant-derived fragrance ingredients and synthetic fragrance ingredients in all options.
  • Both use isothiazolinone preservatives, concerns for those are outlined in the article.
  • Both are biodegradable, 7th Gen is 95% bio-based, Mrs. Myers is 88% bio-based.
  • Seventh Generation is more affordable at $0.16/fluid ounce versus Mrs. Myers at $0.21/fluid ounce (for refill sizes in both, based on prices online in 2024).
  • Overall I prefer Seventh Generation Dish Soap based on better ingredient safety according to EWG, lower price, and it was slightly more effective.

Comparison Table:

Seventh Generation
Dish Soap
Mrs. Myers
Cost$3.79 per 19 fl oz, and $8.19 for 50 fl oz at Target.
That’s $0.16/fluid ounce for the refill size at Target.
Same or similar price if you buy in bulk at Amazon.
$4.99 per 16 fl oz on their website and $10.99 for the 48 oz refill size.
That’s $0.21/fluid ounce for the refill size with the discount on their website.
Same or similar price if you buy it from Amazon.
Shipping-At Target you get free shipping on orders over $35
-Free shipping and free international shipping (to select countries) on Amazon Prime		Free shipping with Amazon Prime.
Bio-BasedUSDA Certified Biobased Product,
95% plant-based		USDA Certified Biobased Product,
88% plant-based
BiodegradableYesYes
EWG RatingsIn the unscented: 3 ingredients with a C rating, 1 with a B rating, 1 with a D rating.
In the naturally scented options, the fragrances have C ratings. 		7/12 of the ingredients in the main part (the soap) have a C or D rating.
All 12 of the fragrance ingredients (in Mint) have a C or D rating.
ScentFree & Clear is the unscented, it has a natural sweet smell,
Scented options fragranced with natural essential oils
and botanical ingredients (no synthetic fragrance).		They don’t have unscented dish soap, their scents are fragranced with a mix of natural and synthetic fragrances.
UsesDishes, countertops, and general cleaning. Dishes, countertops, and general cleaning.
Packaging Recyclable plastic bottle #1 plastic, came in a simple box. Recyclable plastic bottle #2 plastic, came in a simple box.
CertificationsEPA Safer Choice certified
Leaping Bunny certified
USDA Certified Biobased		Leaping Bunny certified
USDA Certified Biobased
a large refill jug of clear plastic of seventh generation clean with purpose dish soap in free and clear

Seventh Generation Dish Soap

In 2016, Unilever acquired Seventh Generation. The dish soap formula has undergone some changes over the years.

Controversial Ingredients:

1. SLS or Sodium lauryl sulfate – a plant-derived cleaning agent that is a skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant and toxic to aquatic organisms, according to the David Suzuki Institute and the WHO. Skin irritation is mitigated by regulating the maximum percentage that can be used in a product, which depends on how long the contact time will be, explains the University of Queensland.

2. Isothiazolinones – a class of preservatives that has a D rating on EWG due to toxicity to aquatic life and issues of skin sensitivity/allergies (EWG).

Ingredients in Unscented 7th Gen Dish Soap:

The Clementine Zest and Lemongrass scent is scented with the following:

  • Canarium luzonicum (elemi) gum non-volatiles (natural fragrance) – C rating on EWG
  • Citrus aurantium bergamia (bergamot) fruit oil (natural fragrance) – C rating on EWG
  • Citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil (natural fragrance) – C rating on EWG
  • Citrus nobilis (mandarin orange) peel oil (natural fragrance) – C rating on EWG
  • Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) leaf oil (natural fragrance) – C rating on EWG
  • Tangelo oil (natural fragrance) – C rating on EWG

Looking for an alternative without SLS or isothiazolione preservatives? Check out ECOS Dish Soap, Branch Basics, or Dr. Bronner’s. Ingredients for those brands are at the end of the article.

Sniff test:

Seventh Generation Free and Clear dish soap has an inherently sweet smell to my nose. To me it seemed like this is inherent to the ingredients and not cross-scented from other products.

I have used the scented versions as well, they are not overpowering and smell natural.

Chemical Sensitivities:

Chemically sensitive folks have mixed opinions on this dish soap. Some extremely sensitive folks like it and have used it for a long time, others react to it. Some believe they started reacting when they changed the formula a few years ago.

If this doesn’t work for you, sensitive folks may want to check out brands recommended by sensitive folks like ECOS Dish Soap, Branch Basics, or Dr. Bronner’s.

Where you can use it:

While this is a dish soap, I also use it to clean the countertops (use the unscented on natural stone), cabinets, my hands, and sometimes for general house cleaning like cleaning floors.

It is safe to use on baby bottles according to the company.

The scented versions have a pH of 5, but when used to clean floors dish soap should be highly diluted which brings the pH closer to neutral (7).

It is septic-safe, RV-safe, and marine-safe.

Cost:

$0.16/fluid ounce for bulk size.

Effectiveness:

SLS is a very good surfactant so it’s no surprise that this works very well as a dish soap. This was voted best dish soap by the New York Times as it was most effective in cutting grease.

It has no problem cutting through grease and sudds up well, and in my opinion, it can compete with the biggest mainstream brands.

I also have no problem using it to wash my hands a few times a day, though my hands don’t get dry that easily.

two green bottles of mrs myers clean day mint scent dish soap

Mrs. Myers Dish Soap

Like Seventh Generation dish soap, this is also based on SLS, though Mrs. Myers also uses additional plant-based surfactants.

Seventh Generation is unscented or scented with natural essential oils, while Mrs. Myers uses both plant-derived fragrance ingredients and synthetic fragrance ingredients. (The fragrances are phthalate-free).

Both use isothiazolinone preservatives.

It comes in the following scents: Acorn Spice, Apple Cider, Basil, Bluebell, Compassion Flower, Daisy, Dandelion, Eucalyptus, Fall Leaves, Fresh Cut Grass, Geranium, Honeysuckle, Iowa Pine, Lavender, Lemon Verbena.

Controversial Ingredients:

1. SLS or Sodium lauryl sulfate – a plant-derived cleaning agent that is a skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant and toxic to aquatic organisms, according to the David Suzuki Institute and the WHO. Skin irritation is mitigated by regulating the maximum percentage that can be used in a product, which depends on how long the contact time will be, explains the University of Queensland.

2. 1,4-Dioxane contaminated ingredients – ingredients that can be contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane include Polysorbate 20. However, if there is no Proposition 65 warning (which my bottle did not contain) this means if there is 1,4-dioxane it is under 10 parts per million which is considered safe by Prop 65.

3. Isothiazolinones – a class of preservatives has a D rating on the EWG due to toxicity to aquatic life and issues of skin sensitivity/allergies (EWG).

4. Synthetic fragrance – Mrs. Myers uses different synthetic fragrance chemicals depending on which scent you select. The Mint scent contains tetrahydrolinalool (C rating on EWG), Ethylene Brassylate (C rating on EWG), Dihydromyrcenol (C rating on EWG), and Amyl Cinnamal (D rating on EWG) which have poor ratings on EWG due to skin allergies & irritation and developmental and reproductive toxicity.

Ingredients for Mrs. Myers Mint Scent Dish Soap*:

*ingredients based on the website, ingredients on the bottle can differ.

Sniff test:

I have used the Mint, Lilac, and Peony scents (I bought this three-pack is great if you want to try all three scents).

The scents are certainly strong compared to 7th Gen and other brands that use only essential oils. I can tell that Mrs. Myers has a synthetic fragrance in it since that changes the smell and gives it more of a bite.

If you like a fairly strong scented dish soap that is stronger than an all-natural version but doesn’t smell 100% synthetic (still has those hints of a natural scent) then you will like this.

If you are chemically sensitive it’s very unlikely you will like this.

Where you can use it:

I used it on dishes, stone countertops, tile backsplash, melamine cupboards and to wash my hands.

I did not like it as a hand soap because the scent was too strong for me, I don’t like to eat with scented hands.

Like most dish soaps you can also dilute it to use as general cleaning for floors, etc.

Cost:

$0.21/fluid ounce for the refill size with the discount.

Effectiveness:

Not quite as effective at removing oil and grease in a side-by-side test with Seventh Generation but still has really good cleaning power.

If you really like this brand because of the stronger scents or any other reason I don’t think this alone is reason to not buy it.

Looking for an Alternative?

The following alternatives are free of SLS, synthetic fragrance (or all fragrance), isothiazolinones and are uber eco-friendly:

1. ECOS Dishmate

ECOS Dishmate is a good alternative for those who want to avoid SLS or any potentially problematic preservatives and most sensitive people do well with this one. Phenoxyethanol is the preservative and they do have a scent-free version. I review it fully here.

Ingredients: Water, Sodium Coco-Sulfate (plant-derived surfactant), Cocamidopropylamine Oxide (plant-derived surfactant), Lauramine Oxide (plant-derived surfactant), Phenoxyethanol (preservative), Coco Betaine (plant-derived surfactant), Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate (plant-derived water softener), Ethylhexylglycerin (preservative), Citric Acid (plant-derived pH adjuster).

2. Branch Basics

Branch Basics is a very “pure” all-purpose cleaner. It’s truly all-purpose as you can use it everywhere in the house. Many extremely chemically sensitive folks like this brand. The camomile extract in this does not have a scent. I fully review it here.

Branch Basic Ingredients: Water, Coco Glucoside, Organic Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Citrate, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Phytate.

3. Dr. Bronner’s

Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap, another long-time favorite of sensitive folks, can be used as an all-purpose cleaner.

Ingredients: Water, Coconut Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Palm Kernel Oil, Olive Oil, Hemp Oil, Jojoba Oil, Citric Acid, Tocopherol.

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