Can you use baking soda in the dishwasher?

Many housewives use baking soda, adding it to laundry and dishwashing, as well as to clean various surfaces of dirt and limescale. It's a truly versatile product with a wide range of uses. With the advent of the dishwasher, many people have wondered whether it's possible to use baking soda instead of detergent. Let's find out.

Using baking soda in a dishwasher

Baking soda is the common name for the chemical compound sodium bicarbonate. Baking soda is an alkaline substance, and most dishwasher powders, tablets, and gels contain alkaline substances. Alkalis help break down dried-on dirt and grease in pots, pans, and other cookware.

So, when answering the question of whether baking soda can be used in a dishwasher, we'll say yes. You just need to know how to do it properly, as baking soda alone won't produce effective dishwashing results. Washing soda or baking soda cannot completely replace special dishwasher detergents, including powders or tablets.

Please note! Washing soda is stronger than baking soda, so use it carefully when washing dishes, rinsing thoroughly.

Although baking soda is an ingredient in many detergents, some service center technicians do not recommend using it in its pure form in dishwashers. This is because baking soda does not dissolve completely when mixed with water, forming a precipitate. This can be easily verified by dissolving a small amount of baking soda in a glass of water.

The resulting suspension doesn't immediately clog the circulation pump, causing the machine to malfunction. Therefore, consider for yourself whether it's worth replacing specialized powders entirely with improvised means. Repairs will be more expensive. It might be possible to alternate homemade baking soda-based products with specialized ones, as well as clean the dishwasher regularly, then nothing terrible will happen.

Ways to use baking soda

You can use baking soda in your dishwasher either as an ingredient in homemade dishwashing powder or as a dishwasher cleaner. The latter is the most popular. Here are a few recipes for using baking soda.

1. You can use a soda solution to wipe and wash the walls of the dishwasher chamber, as well as to wash filters and dish baskets.
2. Vinegar combined with baking soda will help get rid of the unpleasant odor that has appeared inside the car. To do this, first run the dishwasher on a long cycle without any dishes, adding a cup of vinegar to one of the racks. Then, run a short cycle, adding half a cup of baking soda (not washing soda) to the machine.
3. For the following recipe, take one cup of baking soda, add 10 drops of any essential oil, and 1.5 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide. After mixing all the ingredients, let the mixture dry, and then pour it into the washing machine. Add half a cup of vinegar to the top rack, then run the wash cycle. This will completely remove any stains from your machine.
4. To clean kitchen utensils and dishes, you can make your own dishwasher powder. Use a phosphate- and fragrance-free baby laundry detergent as the base. Mix the powder with baking soda and use it like regular dishwasher detergent, using 25 g per wash.
5. Another recipe involves using washing soda. Mix a small amount of washing soda with laundry detergent, and the solution is ready. While you don't want to use this detergent in the dishwasher, it's at least excellent for soaking pots and pans, as it tackles tough stains.

Important! When using baking soda and washing soda-based detergents, rinse dishes thoroughly and use dishwasher rinse aid and salt.

Making pills

Among all dishwasher detergents, tablets are in great demand. To avoid overpaying for store-bought pills, you can make them yourself. They are convenient to use, and they are not expensive, since one of their components is baking soda, which is quite cheap and available.

To prepare these homemade tablets, you will need:

• 250 g of magnesia (also known as magnesium sulfate);
• 100 g borax;
• 75 g of regular baking soda;
• diluted citric acid or squeezed lemon juice.

Mix the dry ingredients thoroughly, then add lemon juice. Once the baking soda and lemon juice react, accompanied by a fizzing sound, the wet mixture can be poured into small molds. Dry the molds, and the tablets are ready. They should be used in combination with special dishwasher salt and rinse aid for maximum effect.

Note: If you dissolve the tablet in a small amount of water, you'll get a liquid detergent that can also be used for washing dishes.

What dishwasher manufacturers say

Dishwasher instructions outline the basic rules for how and what to wash dishes with. Most manufacturers recommend using commercial salt, detergent, and rinse aid. Some, however, emphasize that regular salt should not be substituted for special salt. The same applies to detergents.

Also, remember that if the machine breaks down as a result of non-compliance with operating instructions, the warranty becomes void. Therefore, if you decide to wash dishes with soda or other improvised means, be prepared to pay for repairs at your own expense.

You can also wash dishes with combination tablets or capsules; they're easy to use. However, before purchasing these tablets, check whether your dishwasher recognizes 3-in-1 detergents. If it doesn't, there's no point in using them, and they may not provide maximum results.

In conclusion, we'd like to point out that washing dishes with baking soda is fine, but it's not recommended for regular use in the dishwasher. As a last resort, you can alternate baking soda-based products with specialized detergents. In our opinion, baking soda is better for cleaning the dishwasher and removing odors, as well as for soaking dishes with burnt-on food. User reviews may help, but you shouldn't rely on them 100%. Good luck!

   

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