Can You Wash Clothes With Dish Soap? Experts Say No

Realizing you’re running out of detergent right after filling a load can be an “oh no” moment. It’s tempting to consider trying other soapy detergents as a quick and easy alternative to detergent.

But while some In a pinch, household items can be used as laundry detergents, but there’s one detergent you should never put in your washing machine: dish soap.

Here is what experts have to say on the matter.

Can you wash clothes with dish soap?

“Add dish soap[to your washing machine] “It’s not a good idea,” said Jade Piper, CEO of Milwaukee-based cleaning company BetterCleans. “The bubbles may seem like they make cleaning easier, but they can spill out of the washer and make a big mess.”

Never use dishwashing liquid in a washing machine, nor on delicate fabrics or clothes worn by people with sensitive skin.

This is because dishwashing liquid is designed to remove food and grease from hard pots and pans, so it may not be good for your clothes.

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Three Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Use Dish Soap in Your Washing Machine

Despite what you might see on TikTok, dish soap should be kept away from the washing machine. Using it can damage both the machine and your clothes.

Dishwashing liquid can damage your washing machine.

Washing machines are designed for low-sudsing detergents, and dish soap is not low-sudsing. Dish soap can create too much suds for the washing machine to handle. It will leave soap residue on the drum and other parts, reducing cleaning ability and causing odors over time.

Dishwashing liquid can also create too much suds, causing soapy water to leak out of the washing machine if the water doesn’t drain quickly enough.

Dishwashing liquid can ruin your clothes.

Dishwashing liquid is designed to scrub away stubborn food stains on hard-surface pots and pans, not sweat stains on silk dresses.

“From our experience using dish soap at our store, soap can damage delicate fabrics like silk because it doesn’t contain ingredients that protect the garment,” says Ocean Van, owner of Coco Laundry in Long Beach, CA.

Dish soap is too harsh for washing and can leave stains or discoloration. Plus, your washing machine may have trouble rinsing completely, leaving clothes brittle and stiff.

Dishwashing liquid is not effective.

Dishwashing liquid is not only bad for your clothes and your washing machine, it is also quite ineffective. It will make your wash cycle longer than usual as your washing machine struggles to rinse away all the excess soap suds, and the chemicals and fragrances in dishwashing liquid can cause serious skin irritation for those with sensitive skin.

Van added that frequent use of dish soap can also leave a layer of soapy suds on clothes, causing the fabric to break down more quickly.

Four alternatives to laundry detergent

If you run out of laundry detergent, don’t panic. There are a number of other household items you can use as emergency detergent substitutes, but remember that this isn’t a long-term solution—detergent is almost always best.

• Your empty bottle: Before trying alternative detergents, check to see if your laundry detergent bottle has enough soap for the job. Just add 1/4 cup of water, stir, and pour into the washing machine.
• Powdered oxygen bleach: Powdered oxygen bleach can act as a detergent when needed. Pour half a cup into the machine, then add the clothes and wash as usual.
• Bar soap and borax: For this alternative, grate an entire bar of soap into the machine, then add 1/2 cup of borax.
• Clear shampoo or vinegar: “We also found that clear shampoo or vinegar can be effective alternative cleaners,” says Van. “Both options help naturally deodorize and disinfect clothes.” However, Van warns against using too much shampoo, as it can create too much suds.
• Dish soap: While you should never use it in the washing machine, you can use a few drops to hand wash some non-delicate clothes—just remember that less is more.