ECOS vs Seventh Generation Dish Soap (Firsthand Detailed Review)

I tested out both Seventh Generation and ECOS 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.

Comparison Overview:

• Both dish soaps use plant-based surfactants and synthetic preservatives, though Seventh Generation uses the slightly more controversial SLS surfactant and isothiazolinone preservatives.
• Both come in unscented versions and naturally scented versions.
• Both are biodegradable
• 7th Gen is 95% bio-based, ECOS uses 6/8 plant-based ingredients.
• Both are very close to the same price.
• Seventh Generation was more effective on grease in my experiment.
• Overall I have a slight preference for ECOS if I am recommending it for the chemically sensitive, as it does not contain SLS or isothiazolinones. However since they both come in unscented, are biodegradable, mostly plant-based, and are about the same price, I actually prefer Seventh Generation for my own use since it’s much more effective.

Comparison Table:

	Seventh Generation Dish Soap	ECOS Dish Soap
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.	$3.99 for 25 fl oz ($0.16/fl oz) at Whole Foods. Same or similar price at Amazon Whole Foods.
Shipping	-At Target you get free shipping on orders over $35. -Free shipping and free international shipping (to select countries) on Amazon Prime.	$9.95 for shipping from Whole Foods Amazon.
Bio-Based	USDA Certified Bio-based Product, 95% plant-based.	They don’t say what percent of the product is bio-based or plant-based but 6/8 ingredients are listed as plant-based.
Biodegradable	Yes	Yes
EWG Ratings	In 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.	In the unscented: All 5 surfactants have a C rating, the preservatives have a B and C rating, last two ingredients have an A and C rating.
Scent	Free & Clear is the unscented, it has a natural sweet smell. Scented options fragranced with natural essential oils and botanical ingredients (no synthetic fragrance).	It comes in Free & Clean unscented. Scented options are fragranced with natural scents.
Uses	Dishes, countertops, and general cleaning.	Dishes, countertops, and general cleaning.
Packaging	Recyclable plastic bottle #1 plastic, came in a simple box.	Recyclable plastic bottle #1 plastic, came in a simple box.
Certifications	EPA Safer Choice certified Leaping Bunny certified USDA Certified Bio-based	EPA Safer Choice certified Leaping Bunny Certified

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). Out of both products reviewed here this is the only ingredient with a D rating.

Ingredients in Unscented 7th Gen Dish Soap:

• Water
• Sodium lauryl sulfate SLS (plant-derived cleaning agent) – C rating on EWG
• Lauramine oxide (plant-based surfactant) – C rating on EWG
• Glycerin (plant-derived foam stabilizer) – A rating on EWG
• Decyl glucoside (plant-derived surfactant) – B rating on EWG
• Magnesium chloride (mineral-based viscosity modifier) – A rating on EWG
• Citric acid (plant-derived pH adjuster) – A rating on EWG
• Benzisothiazolinone (synthetic preservative) – C rating on EWG
• Methylisothiazolinone (synthetic preservative) – D rating on EWG

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 any preservatives? Check out Branch Basics, or Dr. Bronners. 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. Bronners.

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 suds 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.

ECos Dish Soap

Controversial Ingredients:

None of the ingredients are particularly controversial here, though in the scented versions, the fragrance is listed simply as natural fragrance and proprietary. I would like to see full disclosure of fragrance ingredients like other brands provide.

All of the surfactants have a C rating on EWG.

Ingredients In ECOS Dish Soap Free & Clear:

• Water
• Sodium Coco-Sulfate (plant-derived surfactant) – C rating on EWG
• Cocamidopropylamine Oxide (plant-derived surfactant) – C rating on EWG
• Lauramine Oxide (plant-derived surfactant) – C rating on EWG
• Phenoxyethanol (preservative) – B rating on EWG
• Coco Betaine (plant-derived surfactant) – C rating on EWG
• Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate (plant-derived water softener) – C rating on EWG
• Ethylhexylglycerin (preservative) – C rating on EWG
• Citric Acid (plant-derived pH adjuster) – A rating on EWG

In the fragranced varieties, the fragrance is listed as “natural fragrance” and proprietary.

Sniff test:

The Almond version smells like natural almond oil, the scent is certainly natural smelling but it is fairly potent.

There isn’t much of a scent to the ECOS Free & Clear.

Chemical Sensitivities:

This is a popular brand amongst the chemically sensitive, and it might be even more popular than Seventh Generation (at least in recent years).

I used this dish soap in Almond when I was highly chemically sensitive and I did really well with it. Though of course most sensitive folks prefer unscented products, and they offer that as well.

Where you can use it:

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

I like it as a hand soap as well, though my hands do not get dry easily.

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

Cost:

$3.99 for 25 fl oz ($0.16/fl oz) is the best price I have seen at the time of writing. It does not come in a larger refill size.

Effectiveness:

I find this dish soap to be effective even though it’s a bit more of an “eco” brand. Though I need to use more of it than Seventh Generation.

When I tested effectiveness side by side of Molly Suds, ECOS, Seventh Gen, and Mrs. Myers, ECOS was somewhere in the middle.

It was more effective in my experiment than Molly Suds, less effective than Seventh Gen, and I would say it cleaned up almost as well as Mrs. Myers so I was happy about that, but it did not suds up quite as much and it didn’t leave the glass squeaky sounding.

Looking for an Alternative?

The following alternatives are free of SLS, all fragrance, and isothiazolinones:

1. 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 including on dishes. Many extremely chemically sensitive folks like this brand. The chamomile 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.

2. 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.