Is powdered detergent safe for dishes?

[oliger]

Are there any harmful affects of using powdered detergent for dishes?
I know long ago, everybody used powdered laundry detergent to wash dishes. Tide, Dreft, Cheer, Fab and such used to come with instructions for washing dishes.
In modern times, I have heard of Mexicans using FOCA to wash dishes. I have been doing this for some time.
Is FOCA, or any detergent safe/ dangerous to wash dishes with?

 

[ea56]

Back in the 50’s and early 60’s just about everyone on both sides of my family used powdered detergent to wash dishes, in those old fashioned oval enameled dish pans. Usually Ivory Snow or White King D, I believe. One of them packed a towel in every box for a while, but not Ivory Snow. And actually Ivory Snow is powdered soap, not a detergent.

And they washed the “good china” this way too. I think my Mom was one of the first in the family to use Joy, back when it came in a can and it wasn’t ”lemon freshened”. I got my mouth washed out with it once. Believe me it was much worse than bar soap!

Eddie[this post was last edited: 9/27/2019-21:30]

 

[combo52]

Using Powered Detergent To wash Dishes

My Mons Mother always used powered Tide to wash dishes, in the 50s-60s Tide was a good detergent with phosphates and worked very well on dishes, mordent laundry detergents would probably also work very well as long as you stay away from detergents with added fabric softener etc.

 

I dough that Ivory Snow would be a good choice unless your water was very soft as it was soap and would be likely to leave a film on glasses and dishes.

 

Hi Eddy, what did you say to cause you to have your mouth get washed out with Joy ?

 

[ea56]

Hi Eddy, what did you say to cause you to have your mouth get washed out with Joy ?

It was probably “sh*t”, all I remember is my Mom’s long red finger nails in my mouth, with her other hand holding the back of my head while she said over and over,” are you gonna say it again”.

Good times LOL

Eddie

 

[ea56]

The water was very soft in Richmond, Calif. and actually Ivory Snow or Ivory Flakes were the ones’ best liked because they were easier on the hands. I also recall Tide being used, very slippery had to be careful not to drop the dishes while rinsing. I think that maybe it was Rinso that packed a towel in the box.

Eddie

 

[launderess]

Back in day when powdered laundry detergents were mainly just phosphates, surfactant (anionic mostly), silicates, fragrance and some other bits, no; there wasn't anything wrong with using for washing up. Even later when powders switched to washing soda instead of phosphates things weren't "that" bad. However can think of many reasons why one shouldn't.

First and foremost an enzyme laden detergent is going to do a job on one's skin. Two many laundry detergents today are far more powerful than in past and contain a host of ingredients that may prove difficult to rinse off dishes. Scent, borax and some other things come to mind.

If you can lay hands on a mild laundry detergent that may be different.

 

[tomturbomatic]

I remember the towels hanging over the edge of the bottom shelf in the detergent aisle, but I don't remember the brand. Maybe it was SuperSuds. Old boxes of Super Suds had the jingle, "Super Suds Floods O' Suds For Dishes and Duds"

 

[circlew]

Tide for dishes

P&G does make an all-purpose version of Tide powder. It's recommended for walls, floors, pots and pans, etc. It comes in 18 or 36 lb. cartons, and 1.5 oz. packets in box of 100.

 

[supersuds]

Just for fun (I have a strange idea of fun) I’ve been using a bit of 1968ish Tide XK to wash dishes. The XK was Tide’s first enzyme detergent, but I assume the enzymes are inactive after 50 years, so it shouldn’t be harder on hands than regular Tide of the day.

Yes, the phosphates make everything very slippery and you have to carefully rinse the dishes if you air dry and don’t want detergent spots. It works fine, but there’s no advantage to using it rather than a liquid.

The powdered Trend of the day (“for dishes and fine fabrics”) was linear alkylate sulfonate and sodium borate, according to the box. It works great without phosphates and dishes are easier to handle and rinse.

 

[lordkenmore]

are you gonna say it again

So, Eddie, did you ever say that word again?!?

 

[ea56]

So, Eddie, did you ever say that word again?!?

John, not within Moms’ earshot, and certainly not when she had that can of Joy handy, LOL!

Eddie

 

[tomturbomatic]

The brand with the towels was Breeze. It took a few hours, but it finally came to me.

 

[ea56]

Thanks Tom,

thats right it was Breeze. The size of the towel you got depended upon how large a box you bought. The regular size box got you a dish towel, the large box came with a small, thin bath towel.

Eddie

 

[bendix5]

My mom washed dishes in Breeze. She collected the dish towels, washed and ironed them and then embroidered them for gifts. When I really grease up the kitchen cooking I will fill sink and add a little gain powder. It really cuts the grease unlike any dishwashing liquid. I had no side effects on counters or stove.

 

[jamiel]

P&G also had two "premium" detergents; Bonus; with towels; and Duz, with glasses.

 

[frigilux]

I hear that Mexican detergents like Foca do a great job on dishes. Put about 1/4 cup in the bottom of your dishwasher, press start and prepare for the show of a lifetime!

 

[oliger]

I wash dishes in the sink. I like them to sparkle. I also am not a fan of leftovers.

 

[ea56]

Jon,

I’m the freak of nature on AW.org that also likes to wash our dishes by hand, but I do like leftovers, LOL.

I don’t like to have to come back to any task later on, like unloading the DW, and I also find the process strangely therapeutic and calming, go figure, huh. I use Palmolive Ultra Strength Liquid, cuts grease well and is easy on the hands and the scent is pleasant. All of my Pyrex and Farberware pots and pans sparkle, no DW ever cleaned them as well.

Eddie

 

[oliger]

Eddie,
I have noticed that. Every one here acts like handwashing is a sin. Just about all of my plates, bowls, glasses, pots and pans are over 50 years old and were never intended to be washed in the dishwasher. I also have just about every piece of Tupperware that was made in the 1970's, and that cannot go within 50 feet of a dishwasher.
I like to look out the window while washing dishes, it is calming on hectic days.
And on top of all that, dishes just look much cleaner when I wash them.

 

[frigilux]

Eddie— You’re a double threat at AW. Not only do you hand wash dishes, I’ve pulled you to the dark side concerning spray rinses in the washing machine!

Nothing wrong with doing dishes by hand. I’ve known a number of people who moved into apartments or houses with dishwashers and never used them.

 

[ea56]

I like to look out the window while washing dishes,

it is calming on hectic days.

Me too Jon, we have a nice window and view right over the kitchen sink to our backyard, which my husband keeps pristine. And over the fence its lush with Liquid Amber and Sycamore trees, just a beautiful view.

Eddie

 

[maytagbear]

I have lived in five apartments

since we sold the house, and NONE of them had windows over the sink, so why not use the machine??

Each to his own. If doing dishes by hand is for you, more power to you. It does not Thrill me, or bring me much Joy...........

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[iowabear]

As a single guy I could easily live without a dishwasher.  On average I run it once a week.  A lot of times I just rinse off whatever dishes I was using and put them in the sink rack to dry to use again.

 

The microwave oven is what I would really miss if I didn't have one.  Hard to believe they can bought for $40 (or even less on sale) these days.

 

[sarahperdue]

Palmolive

"Eddie, you're soaking in it"
--Madge

 

[lordkenmore]

As I think of a view out of the window over the kitchen sink, I'm reminded of my childhood home, which had the kitchen window overlook the area where the family dog would be when out doors. How lovely it would be to watch the dog busy taking a dump while one washes dishes... LOL

 

[lordkenmore]

I personally hate doing dishes by hand. I'm pretty sure I swore 12 years ago that I'd never, ever live without a dishwasher again...only to be forced to accept living in a place with no dishwasher! That said, I don't think it's crazy preferring to wash dishes by hand. One person's relaxing task is another person's drudgery, and all that.

The funny thing for me is that I was once cynical about the value of dishwashers--at least for someone like me (single, living alone). Then I had a chance to use one (and did so just to try it)...and quickly got hooked. Indeed, I thought there was nothing as relaxing as sitting in the next room, watching TV, sipping a glass of wine...while the dishwasher ran in the background, doing all those wretched dishes!

 

[lordkenmore]

>[Microwaves] can bought for $40 (or even less on sale) these days

Or how about getting one for about a dollar, like I did? (Admittedly, it was at Goodwill, and a very special sale). But, yes, it's amazing how cheap they can be.

That's another gadget I was once cynical about. When I was a teenager, someone told my mother that we should consider getting a microwave because "they are so cheap now!" (although probably a lot more than $40!) and it would be something I might find useful. I had no enthusiasm for the idea--my attitude was more or less "why bother?"

Today, I'm not sure I consider them indispensable, but I find it very handy having one, and really wouldn't want to go back to no microwave. Although if I had to choose between a microwave and a dishwasher, the dishwasher would probably win.

 

[tolivac]

Since I don't have many dishes-just clean them by hand.My KA dishwasher died several years ago.Just NOT interested in buying a piddle dishwasher that takes 2-3 hrs to wash dishes when I can do them in 10 minutes!Don't have ANY use for new time wasting appliances.REMEMBER------TIME is a resource you don't get back!

 

[lordkenmore]

>TIME is a resource you don't get back!

Very true. This is one argument in my mind for having a dishwasher. It might only take a few minutes a few times a day...but that time adds up...

That said... I can't say I'm a fan of the idea of long cycle times. Yes, I've heard the argument it really doesn't matter, because you don't have to be standing there as it works! BUT those cycle times can be inconvenient if one is doing something that will generate a lot of dishes through a day (family holiday events, entertaining in general, a cooking binge to fill the freezer). I also personally don't like to leave appliances like dishwashers running entirely unattended. I may be paranoid, but I like to be around in case something goes really wrong. I'm not one of those "I'll hit the button and go out for the evening types!" either.

 

[iowabear]

I know an older guy who runs his dishwasher twice a day!  In the morning after his breakfast (coffee cup, cereal bowl, spoon) and in the evening (plate, glass, silverware, maybe a pot or pan.)

 

His wife passed away a few years ago and everybody worried how he would get along with housekeeping.  He does pretty well, all things considered so if this is his system we don't dare criticize.  We all envisioned unwashed dishes piled to the ceiling.