Seven Common Household Items You Shouldn’t Wash With Soap
While there is no shortage of cleaning products at any grocery store, hardware store or big box store, in most cases a solution of warm water and a couple drops of mild dishwashing detergent is all you need to clean many common household items. Of course, there are a few clear exceptions to this rule, the most obvious being electronics. But beyond that, there are also certain dishes, furniture, and other products that can technically be washed or treated with soap, although this is not recommended. Here are some examples of household items that you shouldn’t wash with soap and what you should use instead.
While the following items (or at least parts of them) can be washed with dish soap, there are more effective ways to clean them:
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Carpets and rugs . While dish soap typically removes stains and dirt from a carpet or rug, it can also soak into the fibers, making the stain somewhat sticky even if you rinse it. From now on, this area of the carpet will become a magnet for dust, dirt, dander and other debris. Instead, use a special carpet cleaner or white distilled vinegar ( no baking soda ).
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Clothing (except for pre-treatment of food stains) . Ignore TikTok’s laundry hacks, which involve using dish soap in the washing machine to lighten clothes. Not only can this damage the appliance, which is not designed to handle high-suds soaps, but it can also shorten the life of your clothes and leave them filmy and feeling stiff. There is one exception: dish soap’s ability to remove grease makes it an excellent pre-treatment for food stains on clothing . But after that, put it away and use real laundry detergent.
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Leather furniture and other goods . Dish soap or other detergent-based all-purpose cleaners can dry out leather furniture, coats, bags and other items. Instead, use saddle soap or a special leather cleaner .
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Mirrors, glass shower doors and windows . You use dish soap to clean glasses in the sink, so why not use it to clean other glass and reflective surfaces inside your home? In short: because they are much more difficult to wash off completely. This often leaves a layer of soapy film on the window , shower door or mirror , which attracts dirt and dust and leaves behind streaks. After extensive testing of a variety of store-bought products and DIY solutions, Consumer Reports cleaning experts recommend using an ammonia-based window cleaner diluted with water.
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Treated water-repellent fabrics . Do not wash water-repellent items such as jackets and camping gear with dish soap or traditional laundry detergent, as they may destroy the protective coating. Buy a detergent specifically formulated for water-repellent materials from brands like Gear Aid and Nikwax to extend the life of your outerwear and gear.
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Wooden kitchen utensils . Wooden kitchen utensils should be washed by hand, as boiling or putting them in the dishwasher can cause them to split or crack. While using a small amount of dish soap to remove stuck-on food won’t cause any serious harm, it’s best to rinse them with water right away and then use a solution of one part water and one part distilled white vinegar to remove stains or dried-on food. And don’t forget to treat them with mineral, walnut, tung or linseed oil.
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Wooden floors and furniture . Using dish soap to clean solid wood floors or furniture (i.e. not vinyl or veneer) can remove natural oils and protective coatings, making them more susceptible to wear and tear. Luckily, there are plenty of items in your pantry right now, including mayonnaise and toothpaste , that you can use instead.