These 6 Pantry Staples Can Be Used as Dishwasher Detergent in a Pinch

From baking soda to vinegar, these common household items can serve as a substitutes for dishwasher detergent.

Household cleaning hacks are incredibly popular right now, especially on #CleanTok. But not all cleaning hacks are effective, and some can even be dangerous or costly. You might have seen suggestions for natural or DIY dishwasher detergents wondered if they work—and, more importantly, if they're safe to use.

Ahead, you'll find six pantry and household staples that can be used as a substitute for dishwasher detergent. Bear in mind that these are "in a pinch" suggestions, as experts do not recommend using these as a regular substitute for dishwasher detergent to avoid damaging the appliance. "Too much detergent or the wrong kind of detergent or soap, like dishwashing soap such as Dawn, would cause over suds-ing, make a mess in your kitchen, and could cause harm to your dishwasher," says Victor Jacobia, product manager at LG.

Related: The 9 Best Dishwashers of 2024 to Cut Down on After-Dinner Cleanup

Pantry Staples That Work as Dishwasher Detergent

The following pantry staples can be used as dishwasher detergent if needed. Jacobia warns against using anything with a sudsing agent (like Dawn dishsoap), so resist the urge to mix any of these items with a soapy cleanser.

1. Distilled White Vinegar

Distilled white vinegar is a cleaning workhorse for a reason: Its acidity can break down food residue, including oil and grease, and when combined with the dishwasher's hot water and forceful spray, will leave dishes clean. To use it in place of traditional detergent, place a half cup of vinegar in the top rack of the dishwasher before running the regular wash cycle.

2. Lemon Juice

You can use lemons to clean dozens of household items. Lemon juice works similarly to distilled white vinegar as a dishwasher detergent substitute. The mild citric acid in lemon juice will work in conjunction with hot water to break down residue and film from foods.

Related: How to Clean a Dishwasher to Remove Buildup and Soap Scum

3. Citric Acid Powder, Including Citrus Drink Powder

Lemon drink powder and crystalized lemon flavoring can also serve as a substitute for dishwasher detergent—so if you've got powdered lemonade mix in the pantry, go ahead and fill the detergent cup with roughly the same amount of powder dishwashing detergent you'd normally use and run a regular dishwasher cycle. The powdered citric acid in the flavoring will break down grease and grime, and the hot water of the dishwasher cycle will clean away any lemony residue.

4. Baking Soda

Baking soda has a mild abrasive quality that allows it to gently scour food and cooking residue from dishes, silverware and other dishwasher safe items. Use it just like powdered dishwasher detergent by placing it in the dispenser cup and running a regular load.

Related: 14 Clever Ways to Clean Your Home with Baking Soda

5. Borax

Borax, another powdered cleanser, is another dishwasher detergent substitute—in part because it is a common ingredient in many dishwasher detergent formulas. The ionic compound dissolves in water has many household cleaning uses (including laundry detergent) and can be used in a pinch as a dishwasher detergent substitute.

6. Washing Soda

Washing soda is chemically different from baking soda, though the two white powdery compounds are often used for the same or similar cleaning jobs. You're probably most familiar with washing soda as an ingredient in homemade laundry detergents, but it can also sub as a dishwasher detergent in a pinch.

What Not to Put in Your Dishwasher

As Jacobia points out, household cleaners that have sudsing agents should never be used as a substitute for dishwasher detergent. Sudsing cleaners will cause the appliance to overflow, creating a big mess and potentially causing costly damage to your floors and to the dishwasher itself. Some of the common household cleaning agents you should never use in a dishwasher include:

• Dish soap

• Liquid hand soap

• Body wash

• Shampoo

• Liquid, powder or pod-style laundry detergent

• All-purpose cleaners designed for use on hard surfaces, including countertop sprays and mopping solutions
  

Related: 5 Dishwasher Mistakes That Could Be Preventing a Good Clean

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