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Sud Flood! What Happens When Dish Soap Invades Your Dishwasher

If you've ever accidentally poured liquid dish soap into the dishwasher instead of detergent, you've probably witnessed the bubble blizzard that ensues. Dish soap and dishwasher detergent may seem interchangeable, but they are formulated very differently. Using one instead of the other can wreak bubbly havoc on your appliance. Here's a deep dive into why dish soap doesn't belong in the dishwasher, signs your machine has been soapy slugged, and how to dig yourself out of this sudsy mess if bubbles start billowing.

The Science Behind Dishwasher Detergent vs. Liquid Dish Soap

Dishwasher detergents and liquid dish soaps have contrasting chemistries tailored to their distinct use cases. Detergents contain enzymes designed specifically to pulverize dried-on food particles in the confines of a dishwasher's spray jets. The formula minimizes suds so spray arms don't get clogged. Dish soap, on the flip side, relies on bubbly surfactants that lift grime away as you manually scrub each dish. Great for grease cutting with hands-on washing, but problematic inside a dishwasher.

can you use liquid dish soap in the dishwasher

Why Excess Suds Spell Trouble

When you swap soap for detergent, copious bubbles erupt, overflowing the dishwasher cavity. Besides making a foamy mess on your floor, this can clog spray arms, preventing them from spinning to blast dishes clean. All those suds also lower water surface tension. Instead of effective sheet flow hitting dishes, you get inefficient bubble flow. The result? Filmy, dirt-laden dishes requiring rewashing.

Why You Should Not Use Liquid Dish Soap in the Dishwasher

Clearly suds spell sloppy trouble, but lather isn't the only issue with using dish soap in your machine:

Save the Dawn for dirty pots in the sink. Stick to detergent made for the dishwasher's demanding stain-fighting job.

Signs You Have Soap Buildup in Your Dishwasher

Have you ever opened your dishwasher mid-cycle to a tide of trouble tumbling out? Or noticed glasses losing their sparkle despite completing a full wash program? These clues indicate excess soap in your system:

Suds Spewing From Every Nook and Cranny

See copious bubbles jetting out of spray arm vents, door cracks or the bottom vent opening? Stop the cycle immediately before bubbles engulf your floor! Next, wipe away any loose suds pooling inside before they solidify into scummy plaque.

Musty, Moldy Smells Lingering Inside

If every new batch of dishes takes on a funky, mildewy odor, soap film is likely trapping moisture where mold thrives. Give the inside a sniff test for any stale, swampy smells suggesting excess soap inside.

Dishes Never Get Truly Spotless

Do glasses and silverware feel oddly slippery, or emerge from the wash with a visible rainbow-like film? Are etched water spots accumulating despite using a heated dry cycle? These subtle signs indicate soap scum building up over time.

How to Clean Out Excess Soap From Your Dishwasher

Have a lather disaster in progress? Stop the cycle ASAP and hand wash any visible suds pooling inside the dishwasher. Protect floors from potential overflow as bubbles may continue emerging during subsequent test cycles. Next, try these tips to purge the excess soap and restore your appliance:

Vinegar Rinse Cycles

Distilled white vinegar dissolves alkaline detergent residue, helping purge soap scum clogging your machine. Pour 1 cup into the bottom rack before running an empty heated wash cycle. You may need to repeat this rinse process several times.

Baking Soda Scrub

For grimy glass doors andframes with visible film buildup, make a paste of 2 tablespoons baking soda, 1 tablespoon liquid dish soap and just enough water to form a spreadable paste. Gently scrub exterior surfaces, then wipe clean. Great for eliminating greasy buildup.

This professional-grade cleaner tablets dissolve away all soap scum, limescale, rust stains and mildew lurking internally. Pop 1 cleaner tab into the detergent compartment and run a high temperature wash cycle empty for a deeper clean.

When tackling a soap suds snafu, patience and persistence are key. You may need to repeat cleaning cycles or detergent purges to fully de-suds all dishwasher parts for sparkling dishes once again.