Dawn Ultra Original Scent Liquid Dish Soap
Lower concern liquid soap; no known PFAS formulation issues.
Dish soaps like Dawn typically contain surfactants, colorants, and water without intentional PFAS additives. Dawn makes no PFAS claims, but the product category carries minimal PFAS risk compared to treated textiles or coated cookware.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
aqueous surfactant solution
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Dawn Ultra Original Scent Liquid Dish Soap is made of, ingredients and materials
Dawn Ultra Original is an aqueous solution of anionic surfactants (primarily sodium lauryl sulfate or similar alkyl sulfates), water, and fragrance compounds. The surfactant chemistry is designed to break down grease and oils on contact, and the aqueous base means no volatile solvents or reactive resins are present. This material class carries minimal concern for leaching or off-gassing under normal use conditions, since the product remains diluted in water during dishwashing and is rinsed away completely.
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.
Fragrance allergens and sensitizers
Dawn Ultra Original contains synthetic fragrance compounds identified as 'Original Scent,' which typically include limonene and other terpenes known to trigger contact dermatitis or respiratory sensitivity in a small subset of users. No specific allergen disclosure or fragrance component breakdown is published by the brand.
Skin and eye irritation from surfactants
Anionic surfactants at high concentration can cause dermatitis or ocular irritation; the product carries standard warning labels. Risk is minimal during normal diluted use and rinsing, but concentrate contact should be avoided.
Container leaching into stored product
Prolonged storage of aqueous surfactant solutions in plastic bottles can result in slow leaching of plasticizers or degradation products, particularly if exposed to heat. Risk is low for typical home storage but increases with time and temperature over years.
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 independent testing or recalls document heavy metal contamination (lead, cadmium, arsenic) in Dawn Ultra Original or comparable mass-market liquid soaps. Fragrance suppliers are not regulated for metal content by the FDA, but reported incidents in this product category are rare.
Source, FDA ↗1,4-dioxane as fragrance carrier contaminant
1,4-dioxane is a potential trace contaminant in some synthetic fragrances and surfactant ethoxylates. No product-specific testing is publicly available; the FDA does not mandate disclosure of residual 1,4-dioxane in finished cosmetics or cleaning products unless detected above trace thresholds.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Procter & Gamble (Dawn's parent company) has not publicly disclosed detailed ingredient sourcing or third-party certification for PFAS content in this product, though P&G has committed to PFAS phase-out in cleaning products by 2025 in certain markets. No product-specific recalls, safety warnings, or health investigations related to Dawn Ultra Original are on record with the FDA or CPSC. The brand does not pursue eco-label certifications (e.g., EPA Safer Choice) for this formulation, positioning it as a conventional mass-market product.
How it compares in its category
Liquid dish soaps are among the lowest-hazard consumer products; most differ only in surfactant type, fragrance intensity, and manufacturing standards. Dawn Ultra Original ranks as mainstream in this very safe category, with no documented advantage or disadvantage versus store-brand equivalents in terms of chemical hazards. Certified plant-based or EPA Safer Choice dish soaps may appeal if you seek formal assurance of PFAS avoidance or reduced synthetic fragrance, but the baseline hazard gap is narrow.
If you buy it
Use as directed, dilute in warm water for dishwashing and rinse thoroughly. The product is not formulated for hand washing without dilution and may cause skin irritation if applied concentrated. Store in a cool place away from direct sunlight to preserve fragrance stability and prevent container degradation over time. No special maintenance or replacement triggers apply beyond normal consumption; discard if separated, discolored, or after manufacturer's shelf life (typically 2-3 years).
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 72% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Dawn has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Dawn Ultra Original Scent Liquid Dish Soap?
- plant-derived surfactants, water, botanical extracts
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Fragrance allergens (botanical origin)
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- plant-based surfactants, water, plant derivatives
- A third party reports verifying it as PFAS-free
- Aquatic toxicity from surfactants
- Plant-based surfactants, water, essential oil
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Fragrance allergens (essential oil)
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
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