Dish Liquid Lemon Thyme
Lower concern. Liquid dish soap unlikely to contain PFAS.
Biokleen Dish Liquid is a plant-based detergent with no known PFAS-prone coating or treatment. No public PFAS claims or testing available, but formulation category poses minimal risk.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
aqueous surfactant blend, plant-derived
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Dish Liquid Lemon Thyme is made of, ingredients and materials
Biokleen Dish Liquid is formulated around plant-derived surfactants (coconut and citrus-based) rather than petroleum-derived ones, suspended in water with botanical extracts like lemon thyme. Plant surfactants are inherently biodegradable and break down more readily in aquatic environments than some synthetic alternatives. The aqueous base means no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released during normal use or storage, unlike some concentrated detergents or aerosol cleaners. No intentional harsh solvents, phosphates, or heavy-duty chemical boosters appear in the published formulation.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Skin and eye irritation from direct contact
Surfactants in any dish soap can irritate skin or eyes if undiluted product contacts mucous membranes. Plant-derived surfactants are not inherently gentler; irritation depends on concentration and individual sensitivity. Standard use (diluted in water) presents minimal risk, but contact with concentrated product warrants rinsing.
Allergic reaction to botanical fragrance components
Lemon thyme extract and essential oils can trigger contact dermatitis or respiratory sensitivity in individuals with plant-product allergies or asthma. This is not unique to Biokleen but is a known risk of botanical fragrance systems. Incidence is low but higher than unscented soaps.
Microbial growth in stored product
Plant-derived surfactant formulations with minimal synthetic preservatives may support bacterial or fungal colonization during storage, especially in warm or humid environments. This does not pose direct toxicity but could reduce product efficacy or cause odor changes. Standard home storage conditions (cool, sealed container) minimize this risk.
Ingestion hazard if swallowed by children or pets
Dish soaps are common accidental ingestion exposures in young children and pets. Biokleen is plant-derived but remains a cleansing product and can cause gastrointestinal upset, nausea, or vomiting if swallowed. Keep out of reach of children and pets; contact poison control if ingested.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Heavy metals
No recalls or reports of lead, cadmium, or other heavy metal contamination in Biokleen Dish Liquid or its ingredient suppliers are on record. Plant-derived products can theoretically accumulate metals from soil, but Biokleen's EPA Safer Choice status implies ingredient vetting.
Source, FDA ↗How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Biokleen publishes full ingredient lists on product labels and maintains EPA Safer Choice recognition for several formulations, indicating third-party review of ingredient safety and environmental impact. The brand does not prominently market a PFAS-avoidance stance, but the plant-derived surfactant strategy inherently sidesteps the fluorinated chemistry where PFAS typically appear. No established recalls or safety controversies linked to this specific product are on public record. The company emphasizes biodegradability and has a long track record in the plant-derived cleaning-products segment.
How it compares in its category
Most mainstream dish soaps (Dawn, Palmolive) use synthetic petrochemical surfactants and are not inherently hazardous when used as directed, but plant-derived alternatives like Biokleen reduce fossil-fuel dependency and typically generate fewer environmental persistence concerns. Unlike some concentrated eco-soaps, Biokleen Dish Liquid is ready-to-use, eliminating user-error risk in dilution. The botanical fragrance approach (lemon thyme) avoids synthetic fragrance allergen profiles that some consumers report skin sensitivity to. Price is typically higher than mainstream brands but comparable to other plant-derived dish soaps.
If you buy it
Use as directed on the label; do not ingest or apply undiluted to skin. Store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to preserve surfactant efficacy and prevent separation over time. The product poses no heat-stability concern for typical warm-water dishwashing. Once opened, use within 12-24 months; plant-derived surfactants can lose cleaning power over extended storage due to microbial activity, though no preservative safety data suggests concern with routine home use. No special disposal precautions are needed; rinse residue down the drain with ample water.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 78% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Biokleen has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Dish Liquid Lemon Thyme?
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- plant-based surfactants, tablet form
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Skin and eye irritation from surfactants
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- concentrated surfactant blend, plant-derived ingredients
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Surfactant acute toxicity (ingestion/skin contact)
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More dish soap grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.