The Minimal-Plastic Kitchen: Why Solid Dish Soap Is the Future

A solid dish soap bar replaces a plastic bottle of liquid dish soap with a concentrated bar. You wet a brush, swipe it across the bar and wash as usual. Here's why people switch, what's in ours, and how to make the change easy.

The Problem With Liquid Dish Soap

1. Plastic bottles: Most liquid dish soap comes in a plastic bottle that gets used up and thrown out.
2. Shipping water: Liquid soap is mostly water, which adds weight to every shipment.
3. Additives: Many liquid dish soaps contain synthetic detergents, fragrance and preservatives.
4. Paying for dilution: A lot of what's in the bottle is water.

The Solid Dish Soap Solution

Our XXL Solid Dish Soap Bar is 11.75 oz of concentrated soap, and it replaces several plastic bottles of liquid dish soap. It comes in minimal-plastic packaging.

How It Works

1. Wet your brush, sponge or dishcloth.
2. Swipe it across the bar to pick up soap.
3. Wash as usual.

The lather lifts grease well, and because the soap is concentrated, you use only what you need.

What's in It

Our standard formula contains:

• Coconut oil: Cleansing and a fuller lather
• Olive oil: A mild, conditioning base
• Castor oil: A stable, rich lather
• Stearic acid: A plant-based hardener so the bar lasts
• Water and sodium hydroxide: The basics of saponification
• Essential oils: Natural scent, or none in the unscented bar

We also make a coconut-free version with tallow, sunflower oil and castor oil. Neither one contains phosphates, parabens, sulfates or fragrance oils.

What Changes When You Switch

• Less plastic: One bar replaces multiple bottles.
• Less to ship: There's no water weight in a solid bar.
• Biodegradable: Soap breaks down in the drain.
• Small batches: We make each bar by hand in Florida.

Tips for Making the Switch

1. Keep it dry. Store the bar on a draining dish between uses so it lasts longer.
2. Apply directly for grease. Wet your brush and rub it right on the problem spot.
3. Give it a moment. Let the soap sit on a greasy pan for a minute before scrubbing.
4. Try different tools. Many people find a dish brush picks up solid soap better than a sponge.

Ready to Try It?

Small swaps add up, and a dish bar is one of the easiest to start with. Shop the XXL Solid Dish Soap Bar, or see our starter set if you want to try a smaller bar first.