Why You Shouldn’t Use Normal Detergent In A Dishwasher

If you regularly use a dishwasher in your kitchen and you run out of dishwasher liquid, tablets or powder, you’ve likely pondered if just normal detergent will work in the machine. Tempting though it may be, you’ll be better off washing your dishes by hand. Here’s why.

Detergent that you use to scrub your dirty dishes by in your sink is much, much more concentrated than the stuff you put in a dishwasher. It’s designed to be very frothy and bubbly — but that potency is exactly why you shouldn’t use it in your dishwasher. As the guys at This Old House demonstrate, putting normal detergent in your dishwasher can result in an overflowing, bubbly disaster that will leak out all over your kitchen floor.

If you only use a little bit of the detergent you might be fine, but it’s safer just to wait until you have proper dishwasher detergent or wash your dishes by hand.

Why Dishwasher Soap Matters [This Old House]