Can you use dishwasher sheets as washing-up liquid?

Short answer

Yes, if the sheet is made for it. FreshRinse is: tear off a strip and dissolve it in warm water in the sink, and it works as your washing-up liquid. Not every dishwasher sheet is designed for hand-washing, so check the pack before you try another brand. One box covers the dishwasher and the sink, so the bottle by the tap can go.

How to use a dishwasher sheet as washing-up liquid

1. Fill the sink or a washing-up bowl with warm water.
2. Tear a FreshRinse sheet into two strips and drop one strip into the water.
3. Swirl the water until the strip has dissolved.
4. Wash, then rinse each item in clean water.

Use warm water, not cold. The strip is made to dissolve in warm water, and warm water lifts grease off pans faster anyway.

What to hand-wash and what to leave for the machine

Keep the dishwasher for everyday plates, glasses and cutlery. Hand-wash the things that don't fit or don't like the machine:

• Roasting tins and large pans that block the spray arms
• Sharp knives and wooden spoons or boards
• Anything the maker says is hand-wash only

Wear gloves and read the pack

Treat a dissolved strip like any other detergent. Gloves are sensible for long sessions, keep it away from eyes, and store the box closed, dry and out of reach of children. Read the safety information on the pack.

Never do it the other way round

Washing-up liquid does not belong in a dishwasher. It foams heavily and can push suds out of the door. The strip goes in the detergent drawer for the machine, and only the sink gets the dissolved version.

How the strips split between the two jobs

Each FreshRinse sheet tears into two strips. In the dishwasher, one strip runs one cycle, which is how 30 sheets give 60 cycles. Any strip you use in the sink comes out of the same box, so a household that hand-washes most evenings will get through a box faster.

New to sheets in the machine? Read do dishwasher sheets actually work? for how they compare with tablets.

Get FreshRinse Dishwasher Sheets. 30 sheets, 60 cycles, Citrus Rinse scent, in a card box with no plastic wrap. Doubles as your washing-up liquid. Free UK delivery over £40, and backed by our 30-day money-back guarantee.

FAQ

Can you use dishwasher sheets as washing-up liquid?

Some, yes. FreshRinse is made for both jobs: tear off a strip and dissolve it in warm water in the sink. Check the pack of any other brand first, because not every dishwasher sheet is made for hand-washing.

How do you use a dishwasher sheet for washing up?

Fill the sink or a bowl with warm water, drop in a FreshRinse strip and swirl until it dissolves, then wash as normal and rinse.

Does a dishwasher sheet dissolve in cold water for washing up?

Use warm water. FreshRinse is made to dissolve in warm water for washing up.

Should I wear gloves when washing up with dishwasher sheets?

Wearing gloves is sensible with any detergent, especially for long washing-up sessions. Read the safety information on the pack and keep it away from eyes.

Can you use washing-up liquid in a dishwasher instead?

No. Washing-up liquid foams heavily and can flood a dishwasher. Use a dishwasher strip in the machine and save the washing-up for the sink.