I Tried Nellie’s Dish Butter for the First Time, and It Surprised Me

My dishwashing routine has remained pretty consistent: I run the dishwasher every other night, and hand-wash any hand-wash-only or delicate items using a liquid dish soap, sponge, and sometimes a dishwand or scrubber. I rarely change things up — but when I learned about a product from the eco-cleaning brand Nellie’s called “dish butter,” I was instantly intrigued. I mean, what even is dish butter? As it turns out, it’s a sustainable alternative to liquid dish soap. Here’s what happened when I gave it a try.

Nellie’s dish butter is a semi-solid dishwashing soap that’s a zero-waste, sustainable alternative to traditional liquid dish soap (which often comes in a plastic bottle). The dish butter comes in a reusable ceramic container that looks nearly identical to a butter keeper (hence the name!) and is available in three colors: white, blue, and green. They all have a light lemongrass scent, and when you’re finished with the “stick of dish butter,” you can order refills to replace it.

To use the dish butter, simply wet a brush, dishcloth, or sponge, and gently dab the soap (a little goes a long way!). When you’re done washing dishes, tip and drain any excess liquid that accumulates in the container before letting it dry out uncovered. 

I loved the overall look of the ceramic container on my countertop compared to the refillable dish soap dispenser I currently have. Using a semi-solid dishwashing soap in place of a liquid dish soap took some getting used to for me, but it ended up being better than I expected. I loved lathering up the “butter” (it was very satisfying!) and it really got my dishes clean. It even tackled greasy pans and stuck-on messes — especially when combined with a dish scrubber instead of a standard sponge. 

One thing to know is that it’s really important that you empty out any liquids in the container after you’re done using it, so that it can dry thoroughly and prevent any gross messes from accumulating inside.

This zero-waste dish butter might just replace my traditional liquid dish soap — or at least enhance my dishwashing routine overall. 

Buy: Nellie’s Dish Soap, $13.49