Best Eco Washing Up Liquid UK (2026): Fragrance-Free Picks Compared

What makes a washing up liquid "eco" and lower exposure?

Washing up liquid touches your hands every day and leaves a trace on dishes if not rinsed, so the formula matters more than the bottle colour. The evidence supports three priorities: no fragrance (perfumes are a leading cause of contact dermatitis, per the NHS), a preservative that is not a known strong allergen, and refills to cut plastic. "Eco" on the front of the bottle is not regulated, so we judge by the ingredient list.

Our picks at a glance

How we chose

We reviewed fragrance-free and eco washing up liquids sold in the UK and kept those with no added fragrance or essential oils and a published ingredient list. Many popular eco brands only sell scented versions (lemon, grapefruit, rhubarb), so they did not make the list. Allergy UK accreditation earned a "strong" grade; brand-only claims earned "moderate". We flagged preservatives with a known allergy record. Prices checked October 2026.

The best eco washing up liquids in the UK

Ecover Zero Washing Up Liquid: best overall

Fragrance-free and dye-free, dermatologically tested on sensitive skin, and included on Allergy UK's endorsed Ecover Zero list. At around £2.50 in Ocado, Waitrose, Tesco and Boots, it is the easiest swap to make, and there is a 5L refill. Caveat: its main surfactant is sodium lauryl sulfate, which dries hands with long contact, so gloves still help.

Bio-D Fragrance Free Washing Up Liquid: best budget

Accredited as Allergy Friendly by Allergy UK, and about 3p a use with 5L and 20L refills. Caveat: at pH 11.5 it is noticeably alkaline, so wear gloves if your hands are sensitive. It showed out of stock on Bio-D's shop when we checked, but it is stocked by eco retailers.

Nonscents Organic Washing Up Liquid: best premium

Greenscents' fragrance-free version uses decyl glucoside with soap nut and shikakai extracts, contains no SLS or SLES, and is Soil Association certified organic with plastic-free refills. Caveat: it costs three times as much as the supermarket picks, and glucoside formulas foam less, which tempts people to overdose.

Surcare Washing Up Liquid: supermarket alternative

Declared 0% fragrance, enzymes, acids and dyes, preserved with sodium benzoate. Caveat: no named third-party endorsement and no refill option.

Bio-D Dishwash Bar: best plastic-free

A solid bar in cardboard with no fragrance on its ingredient list, used with a brush or sponge. Caveat: Bio-D says "no synthetic fragrances" rather than "fragrance-free", and the bar is not in its Allergy UK accredited range. It was out of stock on Bio-D's shop when we checked.

Koh Dishwashing Liquid: also consider, with a warning

Fragrance-free with protease, amylase and lipase enzymes that help break down food soils. Caveat: it is preserved with methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (MCIT/MIT). Regulators banned MIT from leave-on cosmetics after scientists found no adequately demonstrated safe level for contact allergy (Regulation 2016/1198). Washing up is rinse-off, but if you already react to MIT, skip this one.

How much washing up liquid do you actually need?

Far less than most people use. Concentrated liquids are designed for a small squirt (around 5ml, or a teaspoon) in a full bowl of hot water. Squirting directly onto a sponge under a running tap uses several times more, which means more surfactant on your hands, more down the drain and more residue on dishes. Two easy habits help: fill a bowl rather than washing under the tap, and add a pump dispenser so each press gives a measured dose. Glucoside-based formulas such as Nonscents make fewer bubbles, but bubbles are not a measure of cleaning power, so resist adding more until the foam looks familiar.

Are refills and bars worth it?

For plastic, yes. A 5L refill replaces around ten 450 to 500ml bottles, and Ecover, Bio-D and Greenscents all sell them; Greenscents also takes its containers back for cleaning and refilling. Refills are usually cheaper per wash as well. Solid dishwash bars go further by removing liquid packaging entirely, though they suit a brush-and-rinse style of washing more than a full sink. Whatever you choose, the formula matters more for exposure than the packaging: a fragrance-free liquid in plastic is a lower-exposure choice for your hands than a scented bar in cardboard.

Is SLS in washing up liquid a problem?

Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a cheap, effective grease-cutter used in most washing up liquids, including several eco ones. It is a known skin irritant at high concentrations and with long contact, which is why hands get dry after a big wash-up. It is not an allergen in the way fragrance or MIT can be. If your hands crack, the most effective fix is gloves; an SLS-free formula such as the Greenscents liquid is a second option.

Which preservatives should you watch for?

Water-based liquids need a preservative to stop bacteria and mould. UK detergent rules require preservatives to be named on the label (Detergents Regulation, Annex VII). Sodium benzoate, benzyl alcohol and dehydroacetic acid are common in our picks. The one to watch is the isothiazolinone family (methylisothiazolinone, methylchloroisothiazolinone, benzisothiazolinone), which is linked to contact allergy. The NHS lists preservatives among the common causes of allergic contact dermatitis (NHS).

Do you need to rinse dishes after washing up?

Rinsing removes detergent residue, and a 2023 lab study found that dishwasher rinse aid residues damaged human gut cells in the lab (Ogulur et al., 2023). That study looked at dishwasher rinse aid rather than hand washing up liquid, so it does not show harm from sink washing. A quick rinse under the tap is still a sensible, free habit, especially for glasses and baby bottles.

What to avoid

• Scented "eco" washing up liquids if anyone at home has eczema or fragrance sensitivity; essential oils such as lemon contain limonene, a labelled allergen.
• Antibacterial washing up liquids; plain detergent and hot water are enough for dishes.
• Isothiazolinone preservatives if you have a known reaction.

For dishwasher users, see our non-toxic dishwasher tablets guide, and for the rest of the house, the non-toxic cleaning products hub.

Bottom line

Choose fragrance-free, check the preservative, and buy refills. Ecover Zero is the best all-rounder at a supermarket price, with Allergy UK endorsement. Bio-D Fragrance Free is the cheapest per use, and Nonscents is the pick if you want an SLS-free certified organic formula.