In this brief guide, we will answer the query, “Can you use dish soap in a dishwasher?” We will also discuss the reason we should not use dish soap in a dishwasher, how to clean up the mess after using dish soap in the dishwasher, and the procedure for making dishwashing detergent at home.
Can you use dish soap in a dishwasher?
No, you cannot use dish soap in dishwater. You might be wondering if it is alright to use dish soap instead of dishwashing detergent in your dishwasher, but it is important to understand that dish soap and dish detergent serves a different purpose, and using dish soap can create more problems for you instead of being a solution.
Why you should not use dish soap in the dishwasher?
You should not use dish soap in the dishwasher because it is specially designed for handwashing purpose and using it in the dishwasher will result in the formation of lots of bubbles which will then overflow onto the floor causing a huge mess.
A little dab of dish soap is enough to make enough suds to hand-wash your dishes which is why it is most preferred while handwashing the dishes. The formation of suds does not create any problem in an open space like the sink, however, this is not the case for an enclosed space like a dishwasher.
If you make the mistake of using the same amount of dish soap in the dishwasher, it will result in an overflowing sudsy mess. Dishwashing detergent, on the other hand, does not produce suds or bubbles which makes it an ideal choice for dishwashers.
The chemical compounds that make up the ingredients used in liquid dish soap and dishwashing detergent differ and react differently to friction, water, and motion throughout the cleaning process. This is why dish detergent is suitable for dishwashers while dish soap is not.
I accidentally used dish soap in a dishwasher, now what?
If you accidentally used dish soap in a dishwasher, it is bound to create some mess but you can avoid the greater damage by clearing up any standing water, removing the dishes, rinsing the dishware, and running a rinse cycle. Acting quickly is the first thing you should do. Let us discuss these steps in detail:
- Use a wet mop or rug to clean up the standing water at the earliest. Remove all the water and soap bubbles from the floor, cupboards, countertops, and anywhere else the suds have fallen. The longer you delay to complete this step, the greater the chance of water damage or mold growth.
- Remove all dishware, glassware, and silverware when the dishwasher has completed its draining cycle. Move all of these to the sink or any other open space to thoroughly rinse them. Make sure you don’t spill the soap all over the floor while moving them.
- Turn off the dishwasher immediately without waiting for the cycle to finish. Press the ‘Cancel’ button on the dishwasher and allow it to drain the dish soap along with the soapy water.
- Thoroughly rinse and clean the inside of the dishwasher unit with a lot of water and a rag to remove as much soap as possible. This may take some time because more bubbles may emerge when water is applied, but it is critical to get the machine as clean as possible now so that it does not overflow the next time you run a cycle.
- Run a rinse cycle – Once you’ve made sure that all of the dish soap is removed, run an empty rinse cycle. Some suds during this process will cause no harm but continue to monitor in case too much soap is left in the dishwasher as this may cause it to overflow again.
How to make homemade dishwashing detergent?
You can easily make a dishwashing detergent with simple ingredients at home instead of using dish soap and messing up your kitchen.
Ingredients
- 1 cup of washing soda
- 1 cup baking soda
- ½ cup of kosher salt
Procedure
- Simply combine all of these ingredients.
- You can use a drop or two of orange or lemon essential oils for a pleasant aroma if you want.
- Store the mix in an airtight container.
- Use the homemade dish detergent the same way you would use the other commercial detergents.
You can buy some of the bestselling dishwashing detergents here.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we have answered the query, “Can you use dish soap in a dishwasher?” We have also discussed the reason we should not use dish soap in a dishwasher, how to clean up the mess after using dish soap in the dishwasher, and the procedure for making dishwashing detergent at home.
Citations
https://www.thespruce.com/regular-dish-soap-in-dishwasher-1907646
