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Home and Garden > Cleaning > Dishes on March 15, 2005

Dishwasher Soap For Hand Washing

Although, I don't have a dishwasher, I do buy a liquid dishwasher detergent for handwashing dishes. I put a squirt (between the size of a dime & nickel) of dishwasher detergent in my hot dishwater & swish it around before adding my regular liquid dish soap. Since I got this tip from my mom, my dishes are easier to wash & don't have to soak as long with baked on messes. I'll never go back to just using regular dish soap alone, anymore!

By Terri H.

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By
07/15/2010

I believe dishwasher soap is coating your dishes with some type of chemical toxins..which is why baked on food's are easier to get rid of. That image alone is not healthy for me. I would think like this? is that soap staying behind on my dishes and I'm eating my food off of some type of chemical coating? or better yet, if there is an unknown residue or unseen residue what is it doing to you internally? I could go on and on here.. of course, I analyze everything. lol. I'd use gloves if that's your method of cleaning your dishes. It's hard to stop doing something that works so well for you, especially when it's a hand me down from a beloved Mom!

By
01/27/2010

Ooooo, ouch! I agree that dishwasher soap is WAY too strong for hands. Gloves are a must and be careful not to splash the water onto your clothes or skin!

By
11/19/2007

If you want a superb, gentle, softening washing and soaking additive, try adding Pink Solution (heavy mix). The web site is www.Pinksolution.ca. It feels like satin and makes your dishes glow and drip dry to a brilliant, glowing shine. Just wash your dishes in one sink and rinse them in the other sink (or basin) with hot rinse water and then set the dishes to drip dry. (I use a large bath mat on my cupboard reserved just for draining dishes). Leave them in the rinse water for a few minutes to make sure that they are good and hot first. (Sanitary regulation is 10 minutes, however Im sure a few minutes for the home is acceptable) You will need very little wiping or none.
I add Pink Solution to my dishwashers soap dispensers. I prefer liquid dishwasher soap to powder. I think powder scratches the glasses. The trick to using liquid or powder is to make sure that your water is hot enough to dissolve the soap. I run my tap (into the sink for my hand washables) until it comes out hot then I know that the water going into the dishwasher is hot as well. The float should never gum up. (Sorry, another thread) You are possibly also using too much dishwasher soap. With Pink Solution it does not require as much. You will honestly think that you hired a cleaning lady to hand polish your dishes!
I also think dishwasher soap should be reserved only for the dishwasher because they are power rinsed with very hot water to make sure all of the harsh chemical is rinsed off. Good luck to clean, safe, glowing dishes that you will feel proud to use.

By
01/13/2006

I wouldn't think soap for the dishwasher is meant to be used for handwashing dishes. That stuff is STRONG! Perhaps Terri H wears rubber gloves?

I have a recommendation for hand washing dishes, use the new Dawn Direct Foam. You get 250 pumps from a bottle. The pump is very convenient as you do not have to even pick up the bottle. You just pump right into the sink or into item you're washing. I like the foam, the way it smells and really cleans the dishes well. I usually use a dishwasher but there are always a few things I hand wash.

By Jerry from Louisiana. (Guest Post) 11/27/2005

We are desperate, tried to kill fire ants with dishwashing liquid, bleach, vinigar and the usual "fire ant pesticides".
No luck, they just keep coming back strong as ever. As for the pesticides you buy at the mall. It merely annoys them and they move over six feet and start a new colony. Help!

By
10/06/2005

Dishwasher soap is much more caustic and not made to be used for hand washing. It is made so a little (a few tablespoons) can wash a whole load of dishes. It does work well for getting hard stains out. Make sure to use rubber gloves if you use it for handwashing. A little goes a long way.

Susan from ThriftyFun

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