Has anyone ever tried this or ever hear of it?

**Mckeekitty** · 11-07-2009, 08:16 PM

When I was little my elderly neighbor would have me over for dinner. I remember her washing the dishes with a powder she kept under the sink. It appeared to be TIDE laundry detergent! Anyway, she was definitely a frugal woman, having been through the depression. I remember her putting about a handful into the sink, adding the water, and washing.

Anyone here ever hear of such a thing? Is laundry detergent safe? If it is, I would NEVER use Tide...something more along the lines of Arm & Hammer detergent.

**frugalwarrior** · 11-07-2009, 08:23 PM

I would be afraid of whether it is food safe or not. What if there was residue left on the dishes.
My cousins mom used to wash my cousins hair w/ dish soap to cut the grease. I thought this prob. damaged her hair and stung terribly if it got in her eyes.
Be careful some old time solutions are NOT better. Make sure Frugal is safe. KWIM.??

**Judi Dial** · 11-07-2009, 08:26 PM

Laundry detergent USED to be just soap. As such, it was just powdered soap and you could use it for dishes too. Depending on the soap, I would think you could still do this. Anything with bleach or whiteners or enzymes, I wouldn't do it.

I use liquid soap, but Grainlady uses Charlie's Soap, yoiu might ask her?

Judi

**Imarachne** · 11-07-2009, 08:27 PM

Confession !! I used it when I ran out of my regular dish soap--but I only used a little. I don't really think its a good idea as a rule tho'.

**monkeywrangler71** · 11-07-2009, 08:28 PM

I've done it. I don't think there's anything here that I haven't washed with Tide at some point.

**NikoSan999** · 11-07-2009, 08:31 PM

No one here has died yet...just rinse well as you normally would.

**mauimagic** · 11-07-2009, 08:52 PM

Detergents used to be different - back in the days when toothpaste was in powder form. times change, ingredients change. Wouldn't use it now myself....but if you do, as NikoSan said - rinse very very well.

**MaryCarney** · 11-07-2009, 09:09 PM

If you are eating off of dishes that are porous- you have more serious problems than Tide!!
Non-porous dishes could be washed in arsenic, and if you rinse them, they are fine.
My grandma used powdered dish soap. Soap is soap.

**NikoSan999** · 11-07-2009, 09:51 PM

Ok, got me here, how do you know if a dish is porous? I know I used to have dishes that I would bleach a couple times a year. They were then washed and rinsed really well. Still no one ever got sick. But how do you know if porous.

**Nishu** · 11-07-2009, 10:06 PM

I've never ever encountered any dishes that were porous, Niko. It's porous if it has pores and you can soak a liquid up into, basically. Something that changes color and remains moist when you get it wet is porous, like wood. The surface will also be rougher than dishes typically are.

**KatieInLa2** · 11-07-2009, 10:09 PM

I remember my mom using tide when she ran out of dish liquid, but she only used a couple Tbs. Its hard on your hands so use gloves.

**NikoSan999** · 11-07-2009, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by Nishu

I've never ever encountered any dishes that were porous, Niko. It's porous if it has pores and you can soak a liquid up into, basically. Something that changes color and remains moist when you get it wet is porous, like wood. The surface will also be rougher than dishes typically are.

Thanks Nishu, duh, that makes sense, like a wooden cutting board. I know my mother and grandmother used to use powdered detergent when they ran out. I've bleached stains out of dishes. Just know to rinse really well and never a problem. Thanks for helping with a duh moment. Your daughters are adorable by the way.

**Mckeekitty** · 11-07-2009, 11:27 PM

Thanks for all the responses! I have such a strong childhood memory of our neighbor, Mrs. Mills, always washing her dishes this way, and last I heard she's over 100 years old in a nursing home in NJ. Don't think it harmed her.

But I'm sure detergents have changed over the past 35 years, and probably not for the better. But if it is a valid dish washing method, I think it would be very economical. Just a few tablespoons versus going through a bottle of dish soap every week (and that is watered down!).

**quilting2day2** · 11-08-2009, 01:36 AM

WE grew up using laundry soap when we ran out of dish soap and couldn't afford it. I use it now when I am unable to find dish soap that isn't fragranced. Me and mine are still alive.