Dishwashing liquid facts for kids
Dishwashing liquid is a special liquid detergent used for washing dishes. It helps clean plates, cups, and cutlery. This liquid is made to be gentle on people's skin while they wash. It's great for cleaning oily messes because it helps oil mix with water, so it can be easily washed away. Dishwashing liquid is even used to clean sea birds if they get covered in oil from a spill.
One of the main chemicals that can be found in some dishwashing liquids is phosphate.
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How We Use Dishwashing Liquid
Dishwashing liquid is mostly used to get food off dirty dishes and tableware. Before washing, people usually scrape off any large pieces of food. The way dish soap is made can be different depending on if you wash by hand or use a machine.
Washing Dishes by Hand
Many people wash dishes by hand if they don't have a dishwashing machine. They also hand wash items that are big or hard to clean. Some special items should always be washed by hand. These include household silver, delicate glass, anything with gold leaf, certain plastics, and items made of brass, bronze, cast iron, pewter, tin, or wood. Hot water and a dishwashing machine can damage these items.
When you wash dishes by hand, the soap uses special ingredients called surfactants. These make the water less "sticky," which helps it run off the dishes quickly when they dry. Most people also rinse their dishes with clean water. This makes sure there's no soap left that could change the taste of food.
Sometimes, dishwashing liquid can make skin feel dry or irritated. If someone has sensitive skin, they might want to wear gloves or ask someone else to help with the dishes.
Using a Dishwashing Machine
Automatic dishwashing means using a machine to clean your dishes. People often choose this for convenience, for better cleaning, or just because they prefer it. When using a machine, the cleaning power comes more from the hot water and other ingredients in the detergent. These ingredients include builders, bleach, and enzymes. Dishwashing detergents for machines usually create less foam. This is important so they don't cause problems inside the machine.
Other Cool Uses for Dish Soap
Dishwashing liquid has many other uses around the house and beyond!
Making Fun Bubbles
Dishwashing liquid can be mixed with water and other things like glycerin or sugar. This creates a great solution for blowing bubbles!
Cleaning Clothes
You can use dishwashing liquid to gently wash delicate clothes. This includes items like hosiery and lingerie.
Applying Stickers and Decals
When putting on decals or vinyl graphics, a little bit of dishwashing liquid mixed with water can help. It makes it easier to slide and position the sticker exactly where you want it.
Finding Leaks
In factories, dishwashing liquid is used to check for leaks in pipes or equipment that hold gas under pressure. For example, it can find leaks in propane fittings. It's also used to check tires for flats.
Helping Plants and Gardens
Dishwashing liquid can be part of homemade sprays to keep garden pests away. For example, it can help get rid of tiny bugs like spidermites and aphids. However, too much soap can sometimes harm plant leaves.
Removing Stains
A mix of dishwashing liquid and water can help remove stains from fabrics. It works well on stains from coffee, tea, olive oil, soda, and fruit juice. Some brands of dish soap are even used to remove stains from white cloth napkins.
Helping Animals After Oil Spills
Dishwashing liquid has been used to clean birds and other animals covered in oil from oil spills. After the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, many bottles of dish soap were sent to help clean animals. More dish soap was donated during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to help rescue centers clean wildlife. Scientists have even tested dish soap on polar bear fur to see if it could help clean them if an oil spill happened in the Arctic.
Images for kids
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Plastic bottles of dishwashing liquid
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Soap foam bubbles once water and dishwashing liquid are mixed and aerated
See also
In Spanish: Líquido lavavajillas para niños
