We Asked Chefs to Name the Dish Soap They Use at Home — There Were Three Brand Favorites

Professional chefs are notoriously picky when it comes to sourcing the best of the best. From locally grown produce to high-end cookware, only the top-notch stuff will do. So, we got to wondering: How do chefs stock up on the basics when they’re off the clock? We were especially curious about which brands of dish soap chefs reach for when they need to suds up at home. After all, doing dishes is the most routine part of cooking. We asked several chefs from around the country which brands of soap they like to purchase for their own home kitchens — and three brands stood out.

“I regularly use Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Dish Soap. I prefer all-natural cleaning products without any dyes, and I really appreciate that it’s made with an earth-friendly formula that is biodegradable.” — Blair Miller, director of culinary operations at Tocaya

“When you really want to get things clean — you have to use the good stuff. My go-to is the classic lemon Palmolive, steel wool, and lots of elbow grease to scrub every pot and pan.” — Einat Admony, chef and owner of Balaboosta, Taim, and Kish-Kash

Read more: 10 Brilliant Dish-Washing Tips from People Who Are Tired of Doing Dishes

“I like Palmolive Pure + Clear because it doesn’t leave scented residue on my plates, which doesn’t interfere with the food I serve.”— Antimo DiMeo, chef and co-owner of Bardea

“We use Dawn original dishwashing soap at home. We have been using it for years, and it’s a tried-and-true detergent to cut grease. It doesn’t dry out my hands.”— Jay Espinal, chef and owner of Tasca

“I’m old-school in the way that I wash dishes at home, as I still use liquid soap in the sink and let them dry on the rack. My wife is a surgeon, so ensuring that the dishes are clean is really important to me and my family.”— James Wegner, chef and owner of Bodhi’s Bowl at Mother Road Market

“I have to admit I am a Dawn industrial-strength guy. I mean, I know it is basic, but truly it gets the job done. Did you know that mixing Dawn, baking soda, and white vinegar then letting it set for a few minutes can literally make all pans turn from black to silver?”— Adrian Davila, pitmaster and owner of Davila’s BBQ

Read more: My Favorite Dishwashing Soap Is a Classic for a Reason

Did your favorite brand of dish soap make this list? Tell us in the comments below.