The direct answer is: You cannot and should not use standard dish soap in your dishwasher.
Using dish soap in your dishwasher is not recommended and can lead to significant problems. Standard dish soap, designed for washing dishes by hand, creates a large amount of suds. Dishwashers, on the other hand, are specifically engineered to operate with detergents that produce minimal to no suds.
Why You Should Not Use Dish Soap
Based on the reference provided, the key reason is the fundamental difference in how the cleaning products are formulated:
- Suds Production: Hand dish soap creates abundant suds to help lift grease and food particles in a sink full of water.
- Dishwasher Detergent: Dishwasher detergent is designed specifically for your dishwasher to clean dishes without the use of suds or bubbles.
When you put suds-producing dish soap into a machine designed for low-sudsing detergent, the result can be a massive amount of foam.
What Happens If You Use Dish Soap?
Even a small amount of dish soap can cause an over-sudsing issue. Here's what can occur:
- Overflow: Excessive suds can build up and potentially overflow from the dishwasher door, creating a soapy mess on your kitchen floor.
- Poor Cleaning Performance: The abundance of suds can prevent water jets from effectively reaching and cleaning the dishes.
- Machine Damage: The suds can interfere with the dishwasher's mechanics, potentially damaging pumps or other components.
- Soap Residue: Dishes may end up with a sticky residue of soap.
Dish Soap vs. Dishwasher Detergent
Understanding the difference is crucial for proper appliance care and effective cleaning.
| Feature | Dish Soap (Handwashing) | Dishwasher Detergent (Machine) |
|---|---|---|
| Suds | High sudsing | Low or non-sudsing |
| Cleaning Action | Lifts grease/food through friction and suds | Chemical action, enzymes, low sudsing |
| Formulation | Designed for manual washing in a sink | Designed for automated washing cycles/jets |
| Purpose | Handwashing dishes | Cleaning dishes in a dishwasher |
In summary: you should only use dishwasher detergent in your dishwasher as it is designed specifically for your dishwasher to clean dishes without the use of suds or bubbles.
What to Do If You Accidentally Used Dish Soap
If you've mistakenly added dish soap to your dishwasher, stop the cycle immediately.
- Carefully open the door (be prepared for suds!).
- Scoop out as much soap and suds as possible.
- Run several rinse cycles (or a short wash cycle without detergent) to clear out the remaining soap. You might need to do this multiple times.
- Dry the inside of the dishwasher thoroughly once the suds are gone.
Using the correct dishwasher detergent ensures optimal cleaning performance and protects your appliance from damage.
