11 Places You Shouldn’t Apply Detergent

Among the various cleaning products available, one that is not usually lacking in anyone’s home is detergent. This neutral-based liquid soap is commonly used to wash dishes, but it usually ends up having other uses in the home. However, its use is not always appropriate.

The correct thing is to use detergent to remove grease from washable surfaces, but it is also worth remembering that not properly rinsing the residue left after application is a problem, as the surface will be blurry and the material may be damaged.

In this context, you know below some materials/places that can be damaged when sanitized with detergent.

1. Dishwasher

The dishwasher requires the use of a specific detergent for this purpose, so you should not put ordinary detergent in it.

Ana Paula Barcena, partner director of Natureza & Cleaning, comments that the dishwasher has its positive side, “because you put all the dishes in, it washes and rinses only once, while in traditional washing there is a need to wash one at a time. one”.

“These machines were created with ph 7 detergent (differentiated degreaser) and also require a rinse aid that allows the parts to dry, avoiding stains on the dishes”, adds Ana Paula.

She points out that, since the correct detergent is not used in the dishwasher, over time, there is a risk of damaging the mechanism of the equipment.

Also, using common detergent in the machine can cause a deluge of foams.

2. Washing machine

Ana Paula explains that ordinary detergent should never be used in the washing machine because “each detergent has its purpose and dishwashing detergent is not for clothes… There is a risk of staining, leaving the fabric rough”, she says.

In addition, a deluge of foam can occur, as in the case of the dishwasher.

3. Computer screen

Many people end up using a little detergent to clean their computer/notebook screen. But this is not recommended.

“Detergent becomes a degreaser. A little drop causes it to blur the entire screen and you’ll have a lot more work to clean”, explains Ana Paula.

4. Wood surfaces

A common question is: can I use detergent to clean wooden tables/chairs, for example?

Fábio Malatesta, industrial chemist and consultant for chemical companies, explains that it is not recommended. “That’s because there are many types of wood. For some types it may even be appropriate to use detergent, however, for others, it is not, and can stain”, he says.

“The most appropriate thing is to use furniture polish, which is highly compatible with all types of wood, and which acts in a different way than detergent”, highlights the chemist.

5. Glass and windows

Malatesta explains that it is not “forbidden” to use detergent to clean windows and windows, however, it is not the most suitable option. “Currently, there are a multitude of glass cleaner products on the market. So, of course, there are better solutions for that,” he says.

“It is necessary to remember that detergent generates a large amount of foam that will have to be rinsed with a large amount of water. In addition, depending on the composition of the detergent and, especially if it takes time to remove or is not completely removed, it can leave small stains on the glass”, explains the chemist.

“Of course, these stains are reversible, but still, what we can conclude is that cleaning with detergent is much more work and, in addition, it is not the most sustainable option (since a lot of water will need to be used for rinsing)” , adds Malatesta.

The chemist points out that the most appropriate thing is to use a window cleaner. Cleaning will be done faster, the product will dry faster and leave no stains.

6. Pool tile

Malatesta explains that it is even possible to use detergent to clean pool tiles, but this is not highly recommended. “On the edge of the pool, body fat, sweat, remnants of sunscreen, suntan lotion, conditioner etc…

“There are products that will not foam, so they are more suitable for this type of cleaning”, he adds.

7. Whitewashed walls

Malatesta explains that trying to clean a stain on the wall with lime and detergent can have a negative effect. “Because the detergent will remove the stain, leaving a mark that will stand out in relation to the rest of the wall (that is, the place where it was applied will be whiter)”, he says.

8. Sofas and pillows

It is worth remembering that detergent generates foam and therefore requires rinsing. “Sofas, pillows have foam, they are items that cannot be rinsed”, he says.

9. Car

Detergent should never be used for car washing. “Common detergent is not a friend of the car’s paint and can damage it”, highlights Ana Paula.

10. Skin

Of course, washing dishes without gloves, the person’s hands end up having direct contact with the detergent. And that won’t cause any big problems. “There cannot be any detergent that is not neutral on the market, they all comply with Anvisa’s laws”, comments Malatesta.

However, as the chemist explains, with this, it is natural that there is a greater loss of fat from the skin of the hand, even more when in contact with hot water… But nothing more.

“The recommendation, then, is to preferably use gloves to wash the dishes, to avoid drying the hand, to prevent any possible cut from burning, etc.”, highlights Malatesta.

However, it is worth noting that detergent can never be used to wash other parts of the body (in the bath, for example, in the case of a place where there is no soap). Because it will extract excess fat from the body and, in addition, it may come into contact with intimate parts of the body (which require a lot of care).

It is also important to avoid washing your hands with detergent (when you are not washing dishes), precisely to avoid drying the skin. There are handwashing soaps on the market and these are the most suitable products in this case.

11. Pets

Although it is not something totally “forbidden” and some people even have this habit, it is worth remembering that bathing the pet with detergent is not very recommended.

Ana Paula comments that the legend tells that kitchen detergent eliminates fleas. “It is said that mixing a spoon with warm water and a coffee spoon of detergent (neutral detergent and no dyes required), rubbing your pet’s fur well, releases the flea”, she says.

“Whoever does this must be very careful with the animal’s eyes. You should soap and rinse once a day for three days, as soap breaks the flea’s cell membranes and removes the protective wax… The flea cannot retain water and dies of dehydration”, he adds.

However, points out Ana Paula, it is very important to consult a veterinarian before doing this. And the best and safest thing, of course, is to use shampoos suitable for a pet – there are countless options on the market!

4 questions about using detergent

The use of detergent even causes some doubts. For example: is it true that a drop of the product removes the grease stain from clothes? Below you can find the answer to this and other questions.

1. Does detergent really remove stains from the fabric?

Malatesta recalls that detergent is a product designed to remove grease. “So that’s why it’s customary to apply a little detergent to a grease stain on fabric,” he says.

However, it is worth noting: if the stain is not grease, the detergent will probably not have a positive effect.

“But detergent is not the most suitable product for washing clothes (in general). There are countless better possibilities on the market, which will have a much better effect on the tissue”, adds the chemist.

2. Can detergent be used to clean silver?

Malatesta points out that silver, when exposed to air, looks black. “The detergent has no action to reverse this. It can even be used to clean the object, but it won’t remove the ‘black’, so a specific product is needed,” he says.

3. Can detergent be used to wash the sandwich maker (and similar appliances)?

It can, and is even recommended, according to Malatesta. “You just need to be careful with the amount of water when rinsing, so that water doesn’t get into the electrical parts and damage the device,” he says.

“The detergent, by itself, does not harm the Teflon, what can spoil it is the way it will be rubbed (in the case of a steel sponge, for example)”, adds the chemist.

4. Can detergent be used to clean the eyeglass lens?

According to Ana Paula, yes. “Apply just a delicate drop to each lens, spread gently and blot. Dry with a microfiber cloth,” she guides her.

Now you know some places/materials where you should avoid applying detergent, as well as others where the product will be useful for cleaning.

It is worth remembering that today on the market there are numerous presentations of cleaning products. And that each segment has its particularities. Therefore, there are products more or less suitable for each purpose. When a product is used correctly for its intended purpose, it tends to clean more easily, quickly, has ease of application and will certainly offer better results.