If You’re Out of Detergent, Use this Easy Substitute

If you are in a pinch and need dishwashing detergent but don’t have the energy to wash every dish by hand, use this substitute.

adding soap to dishwasher
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Dishwashing Detergent Substitute

We’ve all done it. We’ve painstakingly created an efficient and organized shopping list. Crossing off every item, we’ve proudly scoured every aisle in the grocery store. Exhausted, we’ve driven our supplies home to our family. It’s about halfway home that we realized we forgot the most essential item on our list. We forgot the “one” reason that sparked the whole shopping extravaganza. Oh…Come ON! 

This time, it was dishwashing detergent. After that crazy shopping trip, there was no way I was turning my car around to correct the mistake. Nope—it’s not happening; luckily, I’ve looked up a substitute for dishwashing detergent before, and with only two ingredients, we’ll have clean dishes again.

If you like handy-dandy helpful kitchen tips, try some of my other ideas, like:

If you are in the same pickle that I found myself in…Here’s what you need to do.

Ingredients for Dishwashing Detergent Substitutes

  • Liquid Dish soap – Whatever you have on hand
  • Baking Soda – The baking soda keeps the bubbles from going too crazy.

How to Use this Dishwashing Detergent Substitute

Just fill the soap cavity with a couple of drops of liquid dish soap.

adding soap to dishwasher

Add a tablespoon or more of baking soda, and Voila’, you are back in action.

adding baking soda to dishwasher

Disregard the wording on the dishwasher lid that says – Automatic Dishwasher Detergent Only. Ignore that. But don’t forget the baking soda and only a few tiny drops of soap.

dishwashing detergent substitute

Quick Tip

One little tip. Be sure to get back to the store relatively soon for more dishwashing detergent. If you use the liquid soap method repeatedly, then you’ll get soap film on your beautiful shiny glasses.

If that happens, pick up some Lemi Shine and pour some of it in with your detergent. It works like a charm.

More Kitchen Tips You’ll Love

~Melissa – Kidfriendlythingstodo.com – recipes, fun foods, kid-friendly crafts, party ideas, and fun things to do with the whole family!

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This Post Has One Comment

  1. Alex Decker

    I stopped using detergent! According to the University of Washington, 99% of laundry detergents release cancer-causing chemicals that are legally hazardous and toxic by the EPA.

    Instead, I use this: http://www.bestquicktips.com/wash-with-no-detergent. It gets our clothes cleaner than ever. My husband drives a dump truck and gets dirty and stinky. Lo and behold, no dirt and NO STINK!! Plus, we save and water since I don’t need to use the rinse cycle.