Why Dish Soap in the Dishwasher Is a Recipe for a Water Damage Disaster in the Kitchen

9/5/2022 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth highlights the consequences of using dish soap in the dishwasher. The team also offers water damage restoration services to clean up the water damage disaster that results.

SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth explores the consequences of using standard dish soap in a dishwasher and offers tips on what to do if a water damage disaster occurs when dish soap finds its way into the dishwasher. On occasion, the dishes in the dishwasher need to be washed, but the supply of dishwasher detergent or soap tabs is depleted. With the best of intentions, the homeowner, in desperation, loads the soap compartment with standard dishwashing soap, closes the door to the dishwasher, and starts the cycle. However, the water damage consequences of using standard dish soap can be disastrous.

The experts at House Digest report: “The most important reason why you should never substitute dish soap for dishwasher detergent is that the amount of suds dish soap generates is far greater than that of a dishwasher detergent. In fact, a dishwasher detergent hardly produces any suds at all.”

What to Do If Dish Soap Finds Its Way into the Dishwasher

Not all dish soap disasters are intentional. After a long day of entertaining in the kitchen, it is all too easy to grab the bottle of dish soap without thinking and squirt a generous stream into the soap holder in the dishwasher, close and lock the door, turn the unit on, and head to the recliner, sofa, or backyard hammock to relax. If the appliance has been operating for only a couple of minutes when the mistake is realized, there are measures the homeowner can take to avoid a sudsy disaster. Below are some helpful steps to correct the problem and avoid the impending disaster.

Step #1: Turn off the appliance to halt the production of suds and stop the overflow. This action should prompt the unit to drain off any water and suds at the bottom of the appliance. If necessary, adjust the settings to complete this task.

Step #2: Mop up any overflow and place towels around the base of the appliance. Keep several towels in reserve to deal with the sudsy mess in the unit.

Step #3: Once the unit has pumped out the water and suds and has shut down, remove the dishes, glasses, utensils, and other items from the unit.

Step #4: Remove any trace of leftover dish soap inside the appliance. Use towels to absorb water and wipe suds from within the machine. Rinse the inside of the unit with tap water using a cup or the sink sprayer if the hose is long enough. Rinse, wipe, and repeat until suds and residue are eliminated.

Step #5: Run a rinse cycle to ensure all dish soap residue is eliminated.

Step #6: Rinse the items removed from the dishwasher to eliminate any residual, high suds dish soap. Reload the dishwasher and wash the dishes using a low-suds dishwasher detergent. Wait and watch for a few minutes to ensure that no problems arise.

Step #7: Relax in the recliner and breathe a sigh of relief!

How to Respond to a Dishwasher Water Damage Disaster

What if the dish soap misstep causes a water damage mishap? If caught in the early stages, much of the water and suds can be mopped up with towels. A fan or two can complete the drying process. Residual water and moisture may be trapped under the dishwasher. If access to the floor under the dishwasher is available, wipe up the area with dry cloths and position a fan to circulate air under the unit. The excess water may have spread to any cabinet space to the sides of the dishwasher. These areas will need immediate attention to prevent damage to the baseboards, cabinets, or flooring.

If the spill is unmanageable for the homeowner, a call to SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth can take care of the situation. A crew can be on the job in about an hour to begin the water removal and drying process. Highly-trained technicians equipped with the right equipment, advanced cleaning techniques, and EPA-approved cleaning and deodorizing products can take care of the water damage disaster with minimal disruption and limited inconvenience. The SERVPRO team can also handle the insurance claims process from end to end.

For more information about Haltom City, TX, water damage restoration, contact the SERVPRO of Northeast Fort Worth office at (817) 741-5737 or email office@SERVPROnortheastftworth.com