Quick answer
Choose a dish soap refill that is concentrated, plant-based, and sized to refill the bottle you already own more than once. For most kitchens, L'AVANT Collective's High Performing Dish Soap Refill is the strongest match: a 32 oz. pouch that refills a glass bottle twice and uses 61% less plastic than a standard plastic bottle. If you only need a travel-size option, the Mini Travel Dish Soap covers that separately.
High Performing Dish Soap
Start with concentration, not scent
The single biggest predictor of value in a dish soap refill is how concentrated the formula is. A concentrated dish soap lets you clean more dishes per ounce, which means the pouch lasts longer and you refill less often. L'AVANT Collective's High Performing Dish Soap Refill is described as offering concentrated cleaning power with plant-based ingredients, so a small amount goes to work on grease without needing a full sink of suds.
Scent is a legitimate tiebreaker, but it should not be the first filter. If two refills are both concentrated and plant-based, then choose the fragrance you actually enjoy at the sink. If one is diluted and one is concentrated, the scented one is still the worse buy for daily dishwashing.
Match the refill pouch to your bottle
Refill pouches are not universal. The High Performing Dish Soap Refill is a 32 oz. pouch designed to refill a glass bottle twice, which tells you the target bottle holds roughly 16 oz. If your current bottle is much larger or much smaller, you will either underfill it or need two pouches per refill. Measure your bottle's capacity before you commit to a pouch size.
This is also where refillable dish soap earns its keep. A reusable glass bottle plus a pouch system keeps the same dispenser on your counter for years, while the pouch is the only thing you replace. That is the opposite of buying a new plastic bottle every month.
Check the plastic math honestly
Plastic reduction claims are only useful when they are specific. The High Performing Dish Soap Refill uses 61% less plastic than a standard plastic bottle, according to the catalog. That is a meaningful reduction, but it is not zero plastic, and the pouch itself is not typically curbside recyclable in most areas. If your goal is zero waste, a refill pouch is a step down from a bottle, not a perfect solution.
For hand soap, the same logic applies. The High Performing Hand Soap Refill is a 32 oz. pouch that replenishes a 16 oz. glass bottle, so two refills per pouch. Pairing a refillable glass bottle with a refill pouch is the lowest-plastic routine available in this catalog, short of buying bar soap instead.
High Performing Hand Soap
Decide between a full-size refill and a travel mini
Full-size refills and travel minis solve different problems. A 32 oz. refill pouch is for your kitchen or bathroom sink at home. The Mini Travel Dish Soap is a 2 oz. on-the-go size meant for a camper, tent, vacation rental, or hotel room. Buying a large refill to decant into a tiny travel bottle works, but it is messier and you lose the convenience of a sealed mini.
If you travel often, keep both: a refill pouch at home and a mini in your bag. If you almost never travel with dishes, skip the mini and put that money toward a second refill pouch so you are never caught without soap.
Decision rules for buying a dish soap refill
- If your bottle holds about 16 oz.: A 32 oz. refill pouch gives you two full refills. Buy one pouch to test the formula, then buy two if you like it. Two refills per pouch is the baseline for good value.
- If you care most about plastic reduction: Choose a refill pouch over a new bottle, but accept that the pouch is still plastic and may not be curbside recyclable. 61% less plastic is a real improvement, not a zero-waste claim.
- If you wash dishes while traveling: Add a 2 oz. Mini Travel Dish Soap instead of decanting from your home refill. Travel minis and home refills are separate purchases for separate jobs.
- If you are choosing between dish and hand soap refills: Both use 32 oz. pouches and plant-based formulas, so pick based on which sink runs out first and whether you already own the matching glass bottle. Match the refill to the bottle you own, not the one you wish you owned.
Product facts that affect your decision
- High Performing Dish Soap Refill: High Performing Dish Soap Refill is a 32 oz. pouch that refills a glass bottle twice and uses 61% less plastic than a standard plastic bottle, with plant-based ingredients and concentrated cleaning power. Two refills per pouch means fewer reorders, and the plastic reduction is real but not zero, so it suits a low-waste kitchen rather than a zero-waste one.
- High Performing Hand Soap Refill: High Performing Hand Soap Refill is a 32 oz. pouch that replenishes a 16 oz. glass bottle, made with natural and plant-based ingredients and powerful cleaning agents. If you already own the matching glass hand soap bottle, this is the cheapest per-ounce way to keep it filled and avoid buying new plastic dispensers.
- Mini Travel Dish Soap: Mini Travel Dish Soap is a 2 oz. on-the-go size for keeping dishes and utensils clean in a camper, tent, vacation rental, or hotel room. A 2 oz. mini is not a substitute for a home refill; it is a separate purchase for travel, so budget for it only if you actually wash dishes away from home.
Who this refill is for
Best for
- Households that already own a roughly 16 oz. glass dish soap bottle and want to refill it twice per pouch
- Kitchens trying to cut plastic without giving up liquid dish soap
- Shoppers who prefer concentrated, plant-based formulas and want a scent choice
Not for
- Anyone expecting a zero-plastic or fully compostable refill, since the pouch is still plastic
- People who need a travel-size bottle for a camper or hotel room, who should choose the Mini Travel Dish Soap instead
- Shoppers with a very large or very small dispenser that does not match a 16 oz. bottle
