What Happens When Someone Puts Dish Soap in the Dishwasher?

There comes a time in every homeowner’s when they just don’t want to make that trip store. We’ve all been there, no shame. The issue may come when it’s time to start the dishwasher. Dish soap and dish detergent, they’re the same, right? Unfortunately, they perform the same task, but are very differently.  At Bell Brothers, we’re asked all the time what happens when someone puts dish soap in the dishwasher. Because of this, we’re diving deep to give you a full answer.

What’s the Difference Between Dish Soap and Dish Detergent?

When looked at side by side, it’s easy to see how one could confuse dish soap and dish detergent. Both are liquid, they do the same duty, and are found in the same area at the grocery store. If you’re asking what could be so different, the easy answer is bubbles.

When you hand wash dishes, what’s the first thing you see as you’re soaping the dishes? Chances are it’s foamy bubbles. The chemical compounds of dish soap make it so even the smallest amount of this liquid cleanser can create a sink full of bubbles.

On the flipside, dish detergent is engineered to make no bubbles. This means that when water mixes with liquid dish detergent, no bubbles are made. The tradeoff is that liquid dish detergent has a much higher soap concentrate than basic dish soap. This means that if you were to hand wash your dinnerware with dish detergent, this cleaning agent would probably leave a chemical residue on your seemingly clean dishes. Hand washing by itself is not strong enough to break down and release the full power of liquid dish detergent.

What Happens When You Put Liquid Dish Soap in the Dishwasher?

Remember the bubbles we mentioned above? Now imagine a sea of bubbles springing forth from your dishwasher to soak everything in your kitchen. This is exactly what would happen if you were to put dish soap in the dishwasher. While it may be a nice alternative way to wash your floors, it’s a disaster in every other way.

Is There Already Soap in Your Dishwasher?

We understand that mistakes are sometimes made. On different disaster levels, putting dish soap in your dishwasher isn’t too bad. You haven’t done irreparable harm to your dishwasher or home. However, here are a few steps you should take:

1. Turn off the Dishwasher – It doesn’t matter where you are in the cycle. Turn off the washer to prevent the spread of more bubbles and curb and water damage.
2. Gather All the Towels – When we say all the towels, we mean every single one you can find. You’ll want to make sure water can’t get trapped behind the dishwasher or cabinets. Water damage can be an expensive problem.
3. Remove Anything in the Dishwasher—Next you’ll want to remove anything that was in the dishwasher. Set it aside because you’re going to need to give everything a second wash.
4. Fetch a Bowl – Once everything is out of the dishwasher, you’ll need to get all the bubbles out. Use a bowl, or anything else, to scoop the bubbles out and dump them down the sink. Then make sure to thoroughly wash the soap compartment.
5. Clean up the Bottom of the Dishwasher – The final step of this process is to make sure the bottom of your dishwasher is bubble free. Next, run a rinse cycle for a few minutes to make sure everything is flushed out. Then you can rewash your dishes, just make sure to use detergent this time.

Ensure Your Home Plumbing is Shape with Bell Brothers

Your home’s plumbing is only as good as its last inspection. To check the condition of your pipes and water supply, contact the pros at Bell Brothers and schedule a plumbing safety inspection today. During a plumbing safety inspection, one of our plumbers will look at your pipes with a camera. Inspect the quality of your tap water and gauge your water pressure. Simply call the number at the top of the screen or click here to request an appointment online.