Can I Use Washing Machine Tablets in My Dishwasher and Vice Versa?

Have you joined the thousands of households who have switched to washing machine and dishwasher cleaner tablets yet? They’re so much easier to use, deliver amazing results, don’t leave any mess behind, and are gentler on the planet! 

Here at Clean People, we offer both washing machine cleaning tablets and dishwasher cleaning pods, and something we get asked frequently is whether it’s ok to use dishwasher tablets in washing machine, and vice versa. 

So, can I use washing machine tablets in my dishwasher? No – our dishwasher and washing machine tablets are designed with highly specific formulas, and we don’t recommend interchanging them. For best results, and to protect your appliances, buy both here at Clean People and use them separately. 

What are Washing Machine and Dishwasher Tablets?

Before we talk about whether you can use dishwasher tablets to clean washing machines, let’s take a step back. What are washing machine cleaner tablets, and what are dishwasher tablets? Here’s what you need to know. 

What are Washing Machine Tablets?

Washing machine tablets aren’t actually detergent tablets you can use for cleaning your clothes – they’re cleaner and descaler tablets that clean your washing machine itself. Rather than getting inside and scrubbing your machine’s components, washing machine tablets are an easy, quick solution. 

Do washing machine cleaner tablets work? Yes! The best washing machine cleaner tablets, like the ones you’ll find here at Clean People, contain powerful washing machine cleaner ingredients that penetrate deep into your washing machine’s components. 

If you notice that your clothes have a funky smell after you wash them, or your machine has some scale built up inside, tablets are a great solution to freshen things up. You can also try to make your own DIY washing machine cleaner tablets, but it’s a lot of work!

What are Dishwasher Tablets?

Dishwasher tablets are designed to clean your dishwasher. They’re usually solid tablets, not pods with liquid detergent inside, that dissolve during the wash cycle to clean and descale the interior of your dishwasher. 

Dishwasher cleaner tablets are designed to remove limescale, mineral buildup, grease, and odors. If you notice that your dishwasher doesn’t smell clean, or your dishes aren’t coming out clean, you can use dishwasher tablets to clean the interior of your dishwasher without having to scrub. 

Distinguishing Between Detergent Pods and Appliance Cleaning Pods

If you’re looking to buy these products online, it can be pretty confusing – there are so many different options out there! The main thing is to distinguish between “cleaner pods or tablets” vs “detergent pods or tablets.”

Cleaner pods or tablets are designed to clean the interior of your appliances. On the other hand, detergent pods or tablets are either laundry or dishwasher detergent, which is used to clean either your clothes or your dishes. 

Detergent pods or tablets contain detergents, enzymes, and other cleaning agents, and dissolve in water to clean clothes or dishes. Cleaner pods or tablets contain ingredients to remove limescale, soap scum, and other residues, and are designed to keep your appliances running smoothly.

Can I Use Washing Machine Tablets in My Dishwasher and Vice Versa?

It’s a common scenario: you run out of dishwasher tablets or washing machine tablets and wonder if you can use one for the other. So, can I use washing machine tablets in my dishwasher? And can I use dishwasher tablets in washing machines? Here’s what you need to know. 

The Importance of Regularly Cleaning Your Appliances

Regularly cleaning your washing machine and dishwasher is essential to maintain their efficiency and extend their lifespan. Over time, these appliances can accumulate dirt, soap scum, limescale, and food residues, which can affect their performance and cleanliness. 

Using the right cleaning products helps to clean your clothes or dishes more effectively, prevent any unpleasant smells inside your appliances (which can be transferred onto your clothes or dishes), and reduce the risk of mechanical issues caused by buildup.

Why You May Not Want to Use Washing Machine Tablet to Clean Your Dishwasher

So, can I use washing machine tablets in my dishwasher if I run out of dishwasher cleaning tablets? No – it’s not a good idea. The two types of cleaning tablets are designed to remove buildup and residues, but aren’t the same, and shouldn’t be used interchangeably. 

Washing machine cleaning tablets are specifically formulated to tackle detergent residues, limescale, and mold within a washing machine. These formulations may not be effective at breaking down food residues and grease found in dishwashers.

Washing machine cleaning tablets might also produce excessive foam, which can interfere with the dishwasher’s cleaning cycle and cause mechanical problems, or even overflow out of your dishwasher and onto your floors, causing flooding. 

But Can You Use Dishwasher Tablets to Clean Washing Machine?

Ok, so what about the other way around? Can I use dishwasher tablets in washing machines? Again, cleaning washing machine with dishwasher tablets is not a good idea. Dishwasher cleaning tablets contain chemicals specifically designed to dissolve food particles, grease, and limescale in dishwashers. 

These ingredients may not effectively remove the types of residues found in washing machines and could potentially damage the appliance or your clothes. Also, dishwasher cleaning tablets might not dissolve properly in a washing machine, leading to clogs or other mechanical issues.

The formulation of dishwasher cleaning tablets might leave unwanted residues on the interior of your washing machine, which could transfer to your laundry, causing potential skin irritation or allergic reactions.

So, cleaning washing machine with dishwasher tablets is definitely not a good idea if you or someone in your household has sensitive skin, or if you’ve had allergies to certain detergents in the past. Luckily, we have a solution – tailor-made cleaning tablets for your appliances!  

Don’t Worry – Clean People Has Specially Formulated Dishwasher and Washing Machine Cleaner Tablets!

So, can I use washing machine tablets in my dishwasher? It’s not recommended, nor is it a good idea to use dishwasher tablets in washing machines. Although they’re both designed for cleaning, they contain quite different ingredients and shouldn’t be used interchangeably. 

The good news is that here at Clean People, we have specially formulated dishwasher and washing machine cleaner tablets, so you can find everything you need to keep your appliances running smoothly in one place! 

Overview of Our Dishwasher Tablets

With Clean People’s dishwasher cleaner tablets, keeping your dishwasher clean has never been easier. All you need to do is pop a tablet into your machine from time to time – no scrubbing required! Plus, our tablets penetrate deep into your machine, cleaning those hard-to-reach areas.

We use clean, plant and mineral-based ingredients, because we don’t believe you need harsh chemicals to properly clean your appliances. Besides, who wants toxic ingredients near their cutlery and glassware?! 

Even though we never use dyes, parabens, phosphates, chlorine, phthalates, or harsh chemicals, our septic-safe tablets deliver sparkling results, each and every time. And, our dishwasher cleaning tablets are made right here in the USA! 

Overview of Our Washing Machine Tablets

You can’t use our dishwasher tablets in washing machines, but you can use our incredible washing machine cleaner tablets! Our tablets are specially formulated to remove stains and odors, extending the lifespan of your washer and saving on costly repairs. 

Designed to penetrate deep inside your machine’s components, our septic-safe washing machine tablets use plant and mineral-based ingredients (no harsh chemicals here!) to remove grime and buildup from inside your machine, leaving your clothes cleaner and fresher. 

Designed to work with top loaders, front loaders, and high-efficiency machines, these tablets are the best way to protect your washing machine and prevent nasty odors from being transferred to your clothes and linens. 

Proper Usage and Frequency

Both our dishwasher and washing machine cleaner tablets couldn’t be easier to use. In terms of how to use dishwasher pods, simply place a tablet inside the bottom of your dishwasher. We recommend cleaning your dishwasher monthly for best results. 

Another cool thing about these tablets is that you can run them in your dishwasher with or without dishes. If you don’t want to waste water on a separate cleaning cycle, you don’t have to! Just throw a tablet in next time you’re running a load of dishes. 

In terms of how to use washing machine cleaner tablets, place one tablet inside the drum of your empty washing machine. If your washing machine has a cleaning cycle, run that, otherwise run a hot water wash cycle. Clean your washing machine monthly to keep grime and mold at bay.

After the cleaning cycle is done, gently pull back the rubber door seal and wipe it down with a towel or sponge. We also recommend wiping down the drum and seal of your washing machine each time you run it – it goes a long way in preventing mold and mildew from developing!

At Clean People, we’ve become the pros in low-impact, clean laundry and kitchen products, and now you can too! Check out our blog to find answers to questions like what are dishwasher pods made of, what is laundry detergent made of, and is laundry detergent toxic. 

Also, make sure you check out our store to find the best laundry detergent sheets – a great alternative if you’re looking to cut those giant plastic bottles out of your routine. We have the best eco friendly laundry detergent and the best travel detergent – try our sheets for yourself! 

Final Thoughts on Using Dishwasher Tablets in Washing Machine and Vice Versa

So, you can’t use dishwasher tablets to clean washing machines – the two appliances have different cleaning requirements, and you could damage your washing machine if you try to clean it with dishwasher cleaning tablets. 

We don’t recommend cleaning washing machine with dishwasher tablets, but we do recommend cleaning both your washing machine and your dishwasher with the specifically designed cleaning tablets from Clean People! 

A monthly deep clean with our tablets won’t cost you any elbow grease, but it will extend the lifespan of your appliances. Your clothes will smell fresher, your dishes will be cleaner, and you won’t need to worry about expensive appliance repairs – it’s almost too easy! 

Protect your appliances the easy way – shop Clean People today!