PSA: Don't Put Dish Soap in the Dishwasher

By Geoffrey Sperring

January 29, 2026

You're drifting off to sleep when you hear strange noises coming from the dishwasher downstairs. When you investigate, you're shocked to see the kitchen floor covered in foam. Uh oh. Someone has slipped up and put dish soap in the dishwasher.

This May Also Interest You: How to Clean a Dishwasher

Using a high-foam soap intended for washing dishes by hand can cause chaos in the kitchen and may harm the dishwasher. Find out what to do in this situation and how to make a DIY dishwasher soap to use in an emergency.

What Happens If You Put Dish Soap in the Dishwasher?

Using dishwashing liquid in a dishwasher is a bad idea. Handwashing detergent foams easily, and in a dishwasher, the soap converts into thick suds. Instead of water, you end up with bubbles in the dishwasher. This foam fills the appliance and leaks out of the dishwasher door onto the floor.

Why Does This Happen?

Although dishwasher gel and dishwashing soap appear similar, their formulations are different. Dish soap creates foamy suds that lift grease from the dishes. Dishwasher detergent uses enzymes and surfactants to break up grease and food residues without creating foam. Dishwashers use a small amount of hot water, while hand washing uses a larger volume of warm water. Because of different chemistries, they aren't interchangeable.

Can High-Suds Soap Cause Damage?

Yes, hand soap in the dishwasher converts the water into foam. High suds in a dishwasher may:

Cause leaks. The foam leaks out of the dishwasher onto the floor and, as the bubbles disperse, the soapy water may damage the flooring.
Clog the dishwasher filter. The foam blocks the internal filter, preventing water circulation.
Render the spray arms inoperative. The spray arms fill with foam and don't spray.
Cause airlocks. The foam fills the internal piping of the dishwasher, resulting in airlocks.
Overheat the water heater. The internal water heater may overheat if there's no water flowing.
Damage the dishwasher pump. The powerful water circulation pump cavitates and runs hot. This may irreparably harm the pump seals and plastic casing.
Cause electrical damage. Foam may leak through the seals and corrode the control buttons on the dishwasher door, causing a short circuit.

What Soaps Can You Use in the Dishwasher?

Only use detergents that are specifically labeled for dishwasher use. These include:

Dishwasher powder. Granular dishwasher powder that you measure out into the soap dish. This is best for hard water and hot washes.
Dishwasher liquid gels. Conventional liquid detergent that works best in soft water.
Dishwasher pods. Dissolvable pods filled with liquid detergent. They work best on hot cycles.
Dishwasher tablets. Solid tablet that dissolves during the cycle.

Emergency Dishwasher Soap Alternatives

We've all been there: If you've run out of dishwasher detergent, there are a few dishwasher detergent substitutes you can use to get your dishes clean. A word of caution: These aren’t approved by dishwasher manufacturers and don't work as well as normal dishwasher detergents. That said, they're not going to cause as much havoc as a squeeze of regular dish soap.

Baking soda. This mild abrasive removes light soils and odors. Add a small amount to the bottom of the dishwasher.
A teaspoon of borax. Add a teaspoon into the detergent dispenser.
Wash without soap. Provided your rinse aid dispenser is filled, this can work for lightly soiled plates and glasses.
Vinegar. This mild acid helps remove grease and food odors. Pour it into the rinse aid dispenser.
DIY dishwasher soap. In an emergency, mix a cup of washing soda (soda ash), a cup of baking soda and half a cup of powdered citric acid. Add a little salt if your water is hard.

What to Do If You Accidentally Put the Wrong Soap in the Dishwasher

If you, or someone in the family, uses dish soap in the dishwasher, here's what you should do.

Stop Washing Immediately

Press the stop button on the dishwasher until it cancels the cycle. Open the dishwasher door. Warning: Suds will leak out, so have towels handy.

Remove All the Dishes, Silverware and Glasses

Remove the contents of the dishwasher. If possible, withdraw the trays. They may be very heavy and you may need to take out some items. Rinse the dishes to remove the suds.

Clean Up the Suds

Soak up leaked suds with a towel to prevent damage to the floors. Use a bowl or scoop to remove the suds in the dishwasher. Spray some water to help dissolve the suds. Alternatively, try using a wet and dry vacuum cleaner.

Run the Rinse Cycle

Once you have cleaned out all visible suds, drain the machine. Run the rinse cycle. Repeat rinsing until all the suds have dissolved.

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Cleaning Up: How to Get Dish Soap Out of Your Dishwasher

Before using the dishwasher, you need to be certain that all suds and scum are gone, and there are no airlocks.

Clean the filter. Remove the filter from the dishwasher tub and rinse it thoroughly.
Remove the spray arms. Take the spray arms off and wash them to remove residual foam and scum.
Add some cooking oil. Add half a cup of vegetable oil and run a warm washing cycle. The oil breaks down any suds left inside the machine and clears airlocks.
Rinse thoroughly. Rinse the machine using the rinse cycle or a warm wash.

When to Call In a Professional

Unfortunately, regular dish soap can cause permanent damage to your dishwasher. If your machine displays an error code or won't start properly after taking the above steps, it's time to call in a professional. The technician will disassemble the machine and clean the internal piping. Also, they will check for and replace damaged electronic components.

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