Did you know there are lots of other uses for dishwasher pods besides cleaning dishes? I recently figured this out when I goofed and ended up with a huge supply.
On my last Sam’s Club run, I decided to go ahead and try a different brand of dishwasher detergent because the off-brand was $5 cheaper. Here’s a tip: If you’re going to “try” a different brand, don’t do it in a club pack that is going to take you a year to go through.
One week in, I realized that I should have bought my regular brand because the cheaper one just wasn’t getting the job done. Did I want to suffer for another 3 months (it was a pack of 105!) or cut my losses and toss the ineffective brand in the garbage?
Being the cheapskate, I mean thrifty consumer, that I am, I chose option 3 – Find something else to use the pods for so I could justify buying the brand I should have gotten in the first place. BTW, this is what I should have bought:
Happily, I discovered SEVERAL uses for dishwasher tablets (or any dishwasher detergent) other than for washing dishes. So, if you happen to find yourself stuck with a bunch of dishwasher detergent that isn’t cutting it in the kitchen, or if you scored an amazing deal and stocked up with more than you can use in the foreseeable future, here are some ways to make good use of it.
Other Uses for Dishwasher Pods or Detergent
It doesn’t matter if you use powdered detergent, liquid detergent, or the tablets. In the instructions below, I reference the tablets because that’s what I was stuck with had on hand, but you can subsititute 1/4 cup detergent for the tablet in any of the solutions.
Remove Crayon, Pencil and Scuff Marks From Walls and Floors– Combine 1 dishwasher tablet with 1 gallon of hot water, use damp rag or sponge dipped in solution to genty wipe away.
Whiten Whites – Add 1 dishwasher tablet or 1/2 cup dishwasher detergent to washing machine.
Clean Jacuzzi Tub – Add 1 dishwasher tablet to a tub full of hot water and turn on the jets to clean the areas you can’t get to with your normal tub scrubbing.
Clean Toilets – Drop one tablet into the toilet bowl and allow to dissolve, then scrub clean.
Clean Garbage Bins – Add 1 tablet to the bottom of a garbage bin and fill with water. Let tablet dissolve and soak for 30 minutes, then rinse.
Wash Patio Furniture – Dissolve 1 tablet in a bucket of hot water and use solution to wipe away dirt, mildew, and pollen.
Remove Car Leak Stains from Driveway – make a thick paste of detergent and warm water and scrub into stain. Let it sit for 5 minutes and then rinse wih garden hose.
Have you used dishwasher detergent in an unusual way? Please let me know in the comments. Even after finding all these other uses for dishwasher pods, I still have over 50 of them.
Creative Uses for Other Household Items
If you liked the tips above, you might enjoy some of these ideas for using other household items in new and unusual ways.
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Corinne Schmitt
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Heather Johnson says
I wouldn’t put dishwasher detergent in a washing machine. The dishwasher formula can harm the machine.
Wondermom Wannabe says
Hi Heather, can you please share your source? I searched extensively and can find several sites that recommend using dishwasher detergent in the washing machine but none that discourage it. I have found many that urge individuals to avoid using liquid dish soap (the kind used for handwashing) since the over sudding can be disastrous, but haven’t found anything related to the soap you use in the dishwasher. Please let me know because if it is harmful, I want to remove the recommendation from my list.
Carrie says
You sure can and at 1/2 cup or even 1 full cup it does no harm at all ?
Dannyboy says
Actually, a dishwashing tablet is recommended by washing machine manufacturer to do monthly emptied wash to kill bacteria and clean limescale deposit because these tablets have bleach.
Susan says
Oh, good! Now that it’s spring, I need to clean my garbage pails. I’m going to try using dishwasher detergent. Thanks for the idea.
Wondermom Wannabe says
Sooo much easier than trying to get in there and scrub since they are so deep!
Winnie says
I can’t believe this!
Using dishwasher detergent to clean the toilet?
OK – I’m going to try this!
Wondermom Wannabe says
Yep! I read in a couple of places that sometimes the tablets don’t dissolve completely since the water in the toilet isn’t warm enough, but apparently that was one of the areas that my off-brand skimped on since the plastic coating dissolves quite easily in mine.
Margaret says
Im going to try it. Thanx for the idea
Andrea says
Super helpful list! I know I really need to clean my garbage bins (although, I may let hubby do it!). What a great list, thanks!
gayle rush says
i like safeway brand dishwasher soap,,,it works better for me than the brand name pods,
Wondermom Wannabe says
I wish we had a Safeway near us. Good tip to try the store brands or generic brands!
Tabitha says
Hello! My concern is with dishwasher pods, I recently moved into a house and as I was cleaning and vacuuming out cabinets I came acrossed powder pods in the corners. First I thought my cause this cubborad had a smell but than as I kept going around the house I was finding more. I’m just curious if anyone knows why someone would leave pods in corners of cupboards.
Wondermom Wannabe says
Hi Tabitha, perhaps the pods were laundry detergent? I know some people use powdered detergent to kill ants. Dawn dish soap is used in many homemade insect repellent recipes, but I don’t think powdered dish soap has the same effect.
DrLorna says
The pods were in corners of cabinets likely for the scent. I put bar soaps in my linen closet, and my mother puts them in her clothing drawers, to avoid a musty smell. I can see it being strong enough, when pods are new, to help deter some pests and make things smell clean.
Corinne Schmitt says
All great tips! Thanks for sharing!
D. Malone says
I put a dishwasher detergent tablet in my glass baking and roasting dishes when they have baked on cheese, potatoes, etc. I fill with hot water and leave overnight. The next morning all the baked on crud is loosened or dissolved and I simply wash (with a drop of dish washing detergent) , rinse and dry. They come out sparkling clean.
Wondermom Wannabe says
That’s an awesome tip! Thanks for sharing it.
Danielle W says
What about crock pot cleaning? Do you think I could full it up with water, turn it on high until it’s hot, drop in a pod and unplug? I’m wondering how long I would let it sit? ?
Corinne Schmitt says
Actually, I’ve found the easiest way to clean my crockpot is to fill it 3/4 full with water and add a little dish soap (not detergent), then turn it on low for an hour. If it’s got a really stubborn mess inside, I use vinegar and leave it one low for a few hours. Dump the water out and the inside wipes up easily!
Michelle says
I know this is a thrifty focused blog, but I can’t recommend the crock pot liners enough. Seriously, cleaning the crock pot is one of my least fave things to do. On the occasions I don’t have any liners, I do use liquid dish soap in the way you described. Works great. 🙂
oh, have a burnt on pan? Put some dish soap in it – enough to cover the bottom of the pan – add a bit of water. You want maybe 1/2 inch of liquid. Turn on burner and watch the dish soap do its magic. The burnt on stuff comes right off as the solution heats up and bubbles. 🙂 (DO NOT leave it and forget about it…you’ll have a still-burnt-on pan and you’ll have to do it again lol
Thanks for the great tips! I’m going to try the toilet thing. I wonder if boiling a cup or so of water to start the pod disolving would help? Then just pour the hot water and detergent in?
Have a good day!!
Corinne Schmitt says
Hi Michelle, thanks for your suggestions! I love the crock pot liners too, especially when we host parties when I use multiple crock pots. Thanks again for taking time to share your tips!
Dannyboy says
Warm water, vinegar, old baking soda from fridge, in half an hour your pots and pans shine like mirrors.
blahblah says
For toilets, only thing to worry about is mixing dishwasher tablets that have bleach with an ammonia-containing product like pinesol. It’ll create fumes.
I personally use liquid dish soap to do laundry, b/c it’s gentler on clothes. But, I get the old-school dawn dish soap that has grease-fighting detergents in it. It’s sold as dawn platinum. I used to get the normal dawn, and add bleach to the towel loads (b/c kitchen and bath towels are more prone to bacterial build-up). Never had a problem with that. Then I got ahold of the dawn platinum, and added bleach. I started to smell some fumes. But, didn’t think much of it. Then I put bleach in the toilet and put dawn platinum into the bowl to clean it. The fumes.. holy cow. I got scratchy throat, was coughing. Lesson learned. The “platinum” versions of dish soaps seem to have some kind of ammonia-like cleaning agent in them that doesn’t play nice with bleach.
So, like I said, the only problem to really worry about is mixing an ammonia w/ a bleach product. Gotta read those chemical labels on products before mixing. Or, better yet, don’t be an idiot like me and mix two products at once when cleaning. LOL!