Both are detergents, but they are built for different jobs. Washing up liquid is designed to foam well and lift grease from dishes by hand. Laundry detergent is low-foaming so it can work inside a washing machine, and it usually contains extra ingredients that help remove stains from fabric and stop dirt settling back on. Do not use washing up liquid in a washing machine: it can flood the drum with suds and does a poor job on clothes. It is still handy for pre-treating small grease marks by hand.
Running out of laundry detergent and reaching for the bottle by the sink is a common temptation. Knowing how the two products differ explains why that shortcut causes more trouble than it saves. This guide is part of our wider advice on fresh, clean laundry in the UK.
How the Two Products Compare
| Washing up liquid | Laundry detergent | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Lifting grease and food from dishes, pans and cutlery | Removing soil, stains and odours from fabric |
| Foam | High, by design | Low, so the drum can tumble and rinse properly |
| Typical ingredients | Surfactants, fragrance and preservatives | Surfactants plus water softeners, often enzymes, optical brighteners and anti-redeposition agents |
| Where it is used | In the sink, by hand | In the washing machine, or for hand washing clothes |
| Rinsing | Rinsed off hard surfaces easily | Formulated to rinse out of fibres in a machine cycle |
The enzymes in biological detergents are a big part of why laundry products shift food, sweat and grass stains. Our guide to bio vs non-bio detergent explains what they do and who might prefer to avoid them.
Why Washing Up Liquid Does Not Belong in a Washing Machine
Three Problems in One Load
Suds: a washing machine agitates water far harder than you do at the sink, so a high-foaming liquid can fill the drum with lather that cushions the clothes and may spill out of the drawer or door seal.
Poor results: in testing by Which?, washing up liquid made almost no impact on stains.
Skin irritation: a dermatologist speaking to Which? warned that the foaming agents in washing up liquid can aggravate skin, leaving it inflamed and prone to cracking, which matters when residue is left in clothes worn all day.
When Washing Up Liquid Is Useful on Laundry
Its grease-cutting power makes it a good pre-treatment for small, fresh oil or food marks. Used this way, you only need a drop, and the garment then goes through a normal wash with proper laundry detergent.
- Blot away excess oil with kitchen roll, without rubbing it further into the fabric.
- Test on a hidden seam if the fabric is coloured or delicate.
- Work in a single drop of washing up liquid with your fingertips or a soft brush.
- Leave for a few minutes, then rinse the area well with warm water.
- Wash as usual with laundry detergent at the temperature on the care label.
For tougher or older marks, see our full guide on how to remove grease stains from clothes.
And the Other Way Round?
Laundry Detergent for Dishes
Not a good idea. It is not made or labelled for washing things you eat from, and enzymes and fragrance are not what you want on plates.
Washing Up Liquid in a Dishwasher
Also a no. Dishwashers need low-foaming dishwasher detergent, for the same reason washing machines do.
Run out of detergent? Delay the load or hand wash a few essentials rather than using washing up liquid in the machine. Which? notes that even shower gel will only do for hand washing the odd item in a pinch, and clothes will not come out as clean.
Shop Laundry Care
Laundry detergents, stain removers and conditioners, so you never have to improvise on wash day.
Shop Laundry CareFrequently Asked Questions
What happens if you put washing up liquid in a washing machine?
It can create far more foam than the machine is designed for, leading to suds in the drawer or on the floor, extra rinsing and clothes that are not properly cleaned. If it happens, stop the cycle and run rinse cycles with no detergent until the foam clears.
Can washing up liquid remove grease stains from clothes?
Yes, as a pre-treatment. Work a single drop into a fresh grease mark, rinse, then wash the garment normally with laundry detergent.
Can I use laundry detergent to wash dishes?
It is best not to. Laundry detergent is not designed for surfaces that touch food, so stick to washing up liquid in the sink.
Sources: Which?, 7 laundry detergent hacks not to try.