It is not recommended to use regular Dawn dish soap in your dishwasher as a substitute for dishwasher detergent. Regular dish soap is formulated for hand washing dishes and can create excessive suds in the dishwasher, leading to potential leaks and overflow.
Dishwasher detergents are designed to be low-sudsing and have special enzymes and chemicals that help break down and remove food residues and grease effectively in the dishwasher. Using regular dish soap can result in poor cleaning performance and may leave a residue on your dishes.
If you run out of dishwasher detergent and need an alternative, you can use baking soda as a temporary solution. Baking soda is less likely to cause excessive suds, and while it may not provide the same cleaning power as dishwasher detergent, it can help with basic cleaning until you can get proper dishwasher detergent.
To use baking soda as a substitute, follow these steps:
- Remove any excess food debris from your dishes.
- Sprinkle 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda in the bottom of the dishwasher.
- Run the dishwasher as you normally would.
Again, I must emphasize that this is a temporary solution and should not be a regular practice. Always try to use a proper dishwasher detergent for optimal cleaning results and to protect your dishwasher from potential damage.