The Difference Between Dish Soap, Dishwasher Detergent, and Laundry Detergent (and Why It Matters)
I recently wrote about some of the lesser known dishwasher tablet cleaners in the home. In the comments, someone asked, “What’s the difference between dissolving the pods in warm water and using it for cleaning instead of… you know, soapy water?”
This is the right question. What is the difference between the standard dishwashing detergent you use to wash dishes by hand and the liquid or powder added to your dishwasher’s detergent drawer? And can any of this be replaced with washing powder? (Quick answer: no. Read on to find out why.)
What are the similarities between dishwashing detergent and detergents
Essentially, all detergents are designed to break down oils so they can be rinsed off, and they do have similarities. Typically, all three products contain surfactants to reduce surface tension, allowing water to spread and wet the entire surface you are trying to clean; enzymes to break down food, stains and dirt; builders to protect against hard water minerals; dyes and flavors to give the product a characteristic look and smell; and preservatives to increase their shelf life. (In addition, solvents prevent liquid soap from separating, and some dishwashing detergents and detergents contain antibacterial and disinfectant ingredients .)
What is the difference between liquid dish soap and dish soap?
But there are key differences in the ingredients of dishwashing detergent, dishwasher detergent, and laundry liquid that make each best suited to its specific environment. According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison , “the main differences are in pH, the presence or absence of bleach, and the types of surfactants—long molecules that absorb water at one end and oil at the other.”
While dishwasher detergents are designed to dissolve food and oil with bursts of high pH and chlorine bleach, liquid dishwashing detergent is free of bleach and milder surfactants so as not to irritate our hands. Dishwasher detergent, according to Bob Veal , is also designed to clean without the thick foam of liquid dishwashing detergent, relying instead on enzymes that break down food protein chains and starches into small enough pieces to rinse off.
Dish soap contains “soft additives” such as oils and moisturizers because it is designed to be in constant contact with human skin. Also, as the name suggests, the soap is formulated to use thick bubble foam to dissolve food and oils (rather than enzymes).
As a reminder, dishwashing detergent contains bleach and enzymes that are not found in dishwashing detergent, which is more caustic and gentle on our hands. Do not put liquid dish soap in the dishwasher. (Unless you’re trying to recreate the “Jack vs. Tech” scene from ” Mr. Mom “.)
What about washing powder?
Laundry detergents fall somewhere between the general mildness of dishwashing detergent and the sizzle of bleach-based dishwashing detergent. According to HomeSteady , laundry liquids “include structurants that enhance surfactant cleaning performance by inactivating water hardness minerals; polymers (also known as anti-redeposit agents) that help capture and retain stains and dyes, sending them down the drain to avoid re-deposition on washed fabrics; oxygen bleach that preserves color and whiteness; softeners , which reduce fabric friction or static electricity; and corrosion inhibitors that protect washing machine parts from corrosion.”
Translation: While laundry detergent is better at removing stains from clothes, it is more harmful to your skin than hand dishwashing detergent (but less harmful than dishwasher detergent, the harshest of all).
Are any of them interchangeable?
What to do if you run out of laundry detergent – can you use dish detergent in the washing machine? According to SFGate , although dish soap and laundry detergent are similar, they contain different additives. “Dish soap usually contains additives that are designed to keep your hands soft while you wash dishes, and laundry detergent contains softeners to keep clothes from wrinkling and electrifying.”
Dishwashing detergent also creates much more lather. If you need to use dishwashing detergent in an emergency where you just need to wash your laundry, use only one to three teaspoons. And make sure it’s free of bleach and fragrance—unless you want to smell like a freshly washed plate.
Never add dishwashing detergent to your washing machine, and if you want to use its cleaning properties elsewhere in your home , protect your hands with rubber gloves.