Gentle Surfactant Alternatives for Dish Soap

If you experience hand peeling from using SLS or SLES N70 in dishwashing liquid, it indicates sensitivity to these strong anionic surfactants. You can replace them with gentler surfactants or a blend of surfactants that are less irritating to the skin while still providing good cleaning and grease removal.

Here are some gentle surfactant options that can be used as alternatives or co-surfactants in a dishwashing liquid formula:

• Amino Acid-Based Surfactants: These are known for their excellent mildness and good lather. Examples include:
  • Sodium Lauroyl Glycinate
  • Potassium Myristoyl Glutamate
  • Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Taurate
  • Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate
    
    These can provide cleaning power while being significantly gentler than sulfates.
• Isethionate-Based Surfactants: Such as IseFoam™ (Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate), which is highly gentle and produces good foam.
• Amphoacetate Surfactants: Like Mild-Wash L™ (Sodium Lauroamphoacetate) and Mild-Wash C™ (Sodium Cocoamphoacetate). These are extra gentle, biodegradable, and compatible with other surfactants. They can help boost the mildness and foam of the formulation.
• Potassium Laureth Phosphate: Powderly Foam™ is a gentle, sulfate-free option that provides a soft feel, though it may need combining with other surfactants for optimal foam.
• Natural Surfactants: Sophorolipid is a natural, gentle option with cleaning efficiency and good bubbles, suitable for gentle formulations.

To create a dishwashing liquid that effectively removes grease but is gentle on hands, you can formulate using a combination of these gentle surfactants. For instance, blending an amino acid-based surfactant or Isethionate with an amphoacetate can provide a good balance of cleaning performance, foam, and mildness. While they might not have the exact same harsh degreasing power as SLS/SLES, a well-formulated blend can still clean effectively for typical dishwashing needs without causing skin irritation.