11 Things You Should Never Clean with Dish Soap
Updated: Feb. 02, 2023This humble, grease-fighting superstar is stronger than you think.
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Warning: Danger Ahead
It’s no wonder we use dish soap to clean more than just our dirty dishes. Relatively inexpensive and conveniently located on the kitchen counter, it’s easy to grab and glug onto a sponge or into a bucket. But while dish soap is a great multitasker, it’s not the best choice for everything in your home. That’s because dish soap isn’t actually a soap but a detergent.
What’s the difference? Soaps encapsulate dirt and oil so they can be washed away under running water. Detergents, on the other hand, actually break up the dirt so it can’t settle back onto what’s being cleaned, as it might in a washing machine when the water drains out. That difference means that detergents —including dish soap — are too strong for some materials.
Once you learn the dos and don’ts of using dish soap, learn the things you should never clean with vinegar.
Hardwood Floors
The wood floors in your home are meant to take a pounding, but improper cleaning can leave them scratched and dingy. To clean them the right way, start by sweeping or vacuuming to remove sand and grit that could leave microscopic scratches in the finish. Next, wet-mop the floors with a gentle cleanser made specifically for wood flooring.
“It’s important to choose the right cleaner for hardwood floors,” says Bruce Johnson, a DIY wood restoration expert with Minwax. “Your soapy dishwashing water won’t do it — and can leave behind a film.”
Opt for a product like PolyCare, which cleans all kinds of hardwood floors. Professionals and Amazon reviewers rave about it, saying it works better than more expensive options. Keep the shine going with these other tips for getting and keeping your hardwood floors clean.
Dishes … When They’re in the Dishwasher
Dish soap plus dishes should always equal success, right? Wrong. It turns out that the lather clouds that work so well in your sink are really bad for your dishwasher, which wasn’t built to handle all those bubbles.
“Bosch Home Appliances recommends using only detergent specifically designed for dishwashers, which is formulated to provide the best cleaning experience for your dishes and utensils,” says Richard Tarrant, director of dish care for Bosch, which makes dishwashers. “We also encourage users to not use hand-dishwashing products in the dishwasher in order to avoid damage to the dishwasher or dishware.”
While plenty of detergents will work well in your machine, Bosch specifically recommends the brand Finish. Bonus: Finish’s Powerball tablets make your job particularly easy, since using too much detergent is one of the ways you might be shortening the life of your dishwasher.
Leather
Your skin isn’t the only thing that needs to retain its natural oils. Strip away the natural emollients in leather and you might find your good leather couches, shoes, purses, and car seats cracking under the pressure.
“Dish soap is great for cleaning up a pair of dirty sneakers — I use it on my kids’ shoes all the time,” says David Mequita, a vice president with the Leather Spa in New York. “But not on fine leather. It could be too harsh.”
Instead, experts suggest wiping away dirt with a damp cloth, then applying a moisturizing product to keep leather supple. Formulated with seed oils, triple-filtered beeswax and naturally occurring lipids, this leather conditioner from Cobbler’s Choice Co. hydrates without creating an oily mess.
Your Dog
Wondering how to deal with the stinky, dirty, smelly mess that used to be your adorable pooch? Don’t reach for the dish soap. It’s not that it isn’t safe; marine rescue organizations use Dawn dish soap to remove environmental oil and tar from seals and sea birds. It’s why Dawn powerwash can even be used to degrease tools. But those oil-removing superpowers that make it so effective against industrial muck are too harsh for regular use and could dry out your dog’s skin and coat.
Grabbing your shampoo isn’t a good idea, either. Since it’s formulated for a human’s pH level, it could irritate your dog’s skin. “The average dog owner should stick to shampoo designed for dogs,” says Robin Illchuk, who shows, raises, and breeds Portuguese Water Dogs. “If your dog is super greasy, add a drop or two of Dawn, but be prepared to rinse for 10 minutes so you don’t leave residue in the dog’s coat.”
Instead, you want something like Pet Pleasant Dog Shampoo. It’s formulated with oatmeal, which can soothe flaky, irritated skin, as well as lavender, which smells great. It’s also cruelty-free, doesn’t contain parabens or sulfates, and has strong reviews online. Don’t miss these other pet products with nearly perfect reviews.
Your Plants
The Internet is rife with DIY formulas for insecticidal soaps, and for good reason — they’re inexpensive, safe for the environment and don’t leave residue on your plants. But according to gardening experts, many dish soaps are not only too harsh to use on plants, but often ineffective at warding off pests.
True insecticidal soap is surprisingly kind to plants and deadly to insects. Try Garden Safe Insecticidal Soap, which can be used on edibles until the day of harvest. Here are more ways to take your garden from good to great.
Silk Clothing
Do you really need to buy a special detergent to clean delicate fabrics like silk? Unless you’re willing to risk damaging your best silk blouse, the answer is yes.
“Silk is a protein similar to the protein that makes up our hair, so you need to use a fabric-specific formula that treats this fabric with care,” say Gwen Whiting and Lindsey Boyd, cofounders of The Laundress. “Our delicate wash formula uses enzymes derived from plants to clean and preserve silk fabric, even those considered dry clean only.”
To wash your silks, swish them gently in the sink in the soapy solution for up to 30 minutes. Rinse, press out the excess water, then lay flat or hang to dry.
Alternatively, wash them on the gentle cycle in the washing machine in a mesh bag. Find out the other laundry mistakes you didn’t know you were making.
Your Cast-Iron Frying Pan
Cast-iron aficionados know that before using their new pans for the first time, they need to spend hours infusing them with oil to create a slick, remarkably non-stick surface. Over time, that finish, which is called seasoning, improves.
Since dish soap, which is made to remove grease, would remove that coating, experts recommend cleaning pans with just a scrubber (or coarse salt) and water. If you need an assist, it’s OK to treat your pan to an occasional soapy scrub. But stick to eco-friendly dish soaps, which are less effective at removing oil, and be sure to dry and re-oil your pan immediately.
Sulfate-free Puracy Natural Dish Soap uses coconut-based cleaners to remove tough, dried-on food. The lime and green tea scent will keep your kitchen smelling terrific, too. In the market for a new pan?
Mirrors
There’s a reason many professional window washers rely on dish soap to remove dirt that’s been caked onto windows for months. It works on windows like it does on wine glasses, bringing dirt and oil to the surface, where it can be rinsed down the drain.
But unless you’re willing to take a hose to your mirrors to rinse away the soap, it’s nearly impossible to wipe away the streaky, hazy mess it leaves behind. “Dish soap does have a way of leaving streaks if it isn’t rinsed,” says Jessica Ek of the American Cleaning Institute whether it be on your dishes or mirrors alike. “A product formulated to clean a particular surface or material is always the most effective option.”
Economical and widely available, Glass Plus will keep your mirrors streak-free. Plus, its ammonia-free formula is easier on the frames and walls that surround your mirrors than some of its popular competitors. By the way, a mirror is also one of the things you shouldn’t be cleaning with paper towels.
Your Car
Auto paint shrugs off everything from road ice and other chemicals to hail and those bushes you sideswiped. But wash it with dish soap and it won’t be long before you’ve permanently damaged the finish. Dish soap strips away the protective coating applied to the paint by the manufacturer, leaving it vulnerable to fading and oxidation. That turns the finish dull and chalky.
To properly wash your car, wait for a cool, cloudy day. Then lather up with a cleanser specifically developed for cars, such as Meguiar’s Gold Class, which conditions paint while it cleans. Rinse your car’s exterior, then dry it thoroughly with a soft cloth or chamois. Here are more things you should never do to your car.
Your Hair
Love the way dish soap gets even your greasiest casserole dishes squeaky clean? That’s exactly why you should never sub dish soap for shampoo.
“You end up completely stripping your hair of all its natural oils,” says Amelia Trammell, a colorist at Local Honey in Nashville. “That is especially terrible for anyone who uses hair color because healthy hair retains color better than damaged hair.”
Instead, treat your locks to a mild, sulfate-free shampoo (and conditioner) like this affordable L’Oréal Paris EverPure moisturizing duo, which will keep color from fading.
Your Face
You might think that dirt-busting dish soap is a great, low-cost way to remove a day’s worth of makeup, sweat, and oil. But according to skin professionals, using it on your face is a bad idea.
“Dish soap removes oil, which is what protects skin, especially in the wintertime,” says South Carolina-based dermatologist Dr. Greta Zimmerman. “Instead, go with a mild cleanser, and only use it where you need it. We overwash in America — hit the dirty spots, and don’t go overboard.”
Zimmerman says Cetaphil is a gentle, effective and safe cleanser for sensitive skin.
