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No. You should not put dishwasher tablets in a washing machine to wash clothes or use them as a general washing machine cleaner.
Dishwasher tablets are formulated for dishwashers, not laundry appliances.
Bosch specifically advises against using dishwasher tablets or dishwasher detergent either to clean a washing machine or to clean laundry. Instead, the company recommends using a cleaner designed for washing machines.
If you want to clean your washer, follow the cleaning instructions for your specific machine and use a washer-compatible cleaner or another method explicitly permitted by the manufacturer.
Why Do People Put Dishwasher Tablets in Washing Machines?
The idea makes intuitive sense.
Dishwasher tablets are designed to remove grease, food residue, and other stubborn deposits from dishes, so it is easy to assume that a tablet could also remove buildup from a washing machine.
Videos and cleaning hacks online sometimes recommend putting a dishwasher tablet into an empty washer and running a hot cycle.
The problem is that the two appliances have different purposes.
A dishwasher tablet is designed around:
- hard dishes and cookware;
- dishwasher wash cycles;
- dishwasher components;
- food and grease residues.
A washing machine must deal with:
- textiles;
- dyes;
- elastic materials;
- body oils and clothing soil;
- washer-specific seals, pumps, hoses, dispensers, and other components.
A product being effective in one appliance does not establish that it is appropriate for another.
What Does Bosch Say About Dishwasher Tablets in Washing Machines?
Bosch gives an unusually direct answer to this question.
Its official washing-machine support guidance says not to use dishwasher tablets or dishwasher detergent to clean either the washing machine or laundry. Bosch recommends using its washing-machine-specific cleaner instead.
This distinction matters.
The question is not simply whether a dishwasher tablet is capable of dissolving dirt.
It is whether the product has been formulated and tested for the appliance in which you are using it.
Bosch’s guidance makes clear that, for its machines, dishwasher tablets are not the recommended solution.
Can Dishwasher Tablets Damage a Washing Machine?
It is difficult to make a universal claim that a single dishwasher tablet will immediately damage every washing machine.
Different washers use different components and materials.
That is exactly why manufacturer instructions matter.
What we can say with confidence is that dishwasher tablets are not designed as washing-machine cleaners, and at least one major appliance manufacturer specifically advises against using them this way.
There is little reason to introduce an unapproved cleaning chemical into a washer when products and cleaning cycles designed specifically for washing machines are available.
If you have already used one dishwasher tablet once, that does not automatically mean your washer has been damaged.
If the machine is operating normally, check your owner’s manual for the appropriate rinse or cleaning procedure rather than adding another chemical in an attempt to “neutralize” the first one.
Can You Wash Clothes With a Dishwasher Tablet?
No.
This is an even clearer case than using one in an empty washer.
Dishwasher detergent is designed for dishes rather than textiles, and Bosch explicitly says dishwasher tablets or detergent should not be used to clean laundry.
Use a laundry detergent appropriate for:
- your washing machine;
- the fabric;
- the load;
- the water conditions;
- and the garment care instructions.
Do not assume that a “stronger” cleaning product will produce cleaner clothes.
Cleaning chemistry is designed around a particular application.
Can You Use a Dishwasher Tablet to Clean an Empty Washing Machine?
This is the version of the hack most commonly seen online.
The washer is emptied, a dishwasher tablet is placed inside, and a cleaning or hot cycle is started.
I would still avoid it.
Bosch specifically advises against using dishwasher tablets to clean a washing machine and recommends a washing-machine cleaner instead.
Whirlpool’s official washer-cleaning guidance follows the same broader principle: use a cleaning procedure designed for the washer.
For applicable Whirlpool machines, the company recommends removing all items from the tub, adding a washing-machine cleaner, and selecting the washer’s cleaning cycle. Whirlpool notes that liquid chlorine bleach may be an alternative on some machines, but owners should check the Use and Care Guide first.
Notice what is missing from these manufacturer procedures:
dishwasher detergent.
Dishwasher Tablet vs. Washing Machine Cleaner: What’s the Difference?
They may both come in tablet form, but that does not make them interchangeable.
Whirlpool describes its washing-machine cleaner as being specifically formulated to reach washer components including the:
- pump;
- tub or basket;
- agitator;
- filter;
- drum;
- hoses;
- valve.
That is a useful real-world distinction.
A washing-machine cleaner isn’t simply “another cleaning tablet.” It is formulated for a different appliance and cleaning environment.
The shape of a cleaning product does not tell you where it should be used.
What Should You Use Instead?
Start with your washing machine’s manual.
Look for a cycle called something like:
- Clean Washer
- Drum Clean
- Tub Clean
- Self Clean
- Machine Clean
Then follow the instructions for that model.
For example, Whirlpool instructs owners of applicable machines to remove clothing, place a washer-cleaner tablet in the washer basket, and run the Clean Washer cycle. If the machine does not have a dedicated cleaning cycle, Whirlpool provides separate instructions involving the available water level and temperature.
Some Whirlpool machines also permit liquid chlorine bleach as an alternative.
But even here, the details matter.
One current Whirlpool maintenance procedure specifies 1 cup (236 mL) of liquid chlorine bleach and warns that using more than the recommended amount could damage the washer over time.
That is why generic internet instructions such as “add a cup of cleaner” should not automatically be applied to every washing machine.
Follow your own appliance instructions.
Should You Use Vinegar or Other DIY Cleaners Instead?
Not automatically.
Replacing one unapproved cleaning hack with another doesn’t solve the underlying problem.
Vinegar, baking soda, citric acid, bleach, and commercial cleaners all have different chemical properties.
Whether they are suitable depends on the machine and how they are used.
If you prefer household or lower-chemical cleaning methods, read our how to clean a washing machine naturally guide. It separates manual cleaning methods from internal cleaning procedures and looks at what manufacturers actually recommend.
For broader information about detergent, load size, placement, storage, cleaning, and everyday operation, see our washing machine use and care guide.
How Should You Clean a Washing Machine Safely?
The exact procedure depends on your washer, but the general principle is straightforward.
First, remove any clothing or other items.
Clean accessible areas such as the door, gasket, and detergent dispenser according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Then use the washer’s designated cleaning cycle if it has one.
For applicable Whirlpool machines, the Clean Washer cycle uses higher water volumes together with a washer cleaner or an approved bleach procedure to clean the interior. Whirlpool also recommends allowing the interior to ventilate and dry after cleaning.
Whirlpool documentation for some models also states that the Clean Washer cycle should not be interrupted.
That’s another reason I would not follow generic online instructions telling you to stop a cleaning cycle halfway through and let an improvised chemical mixture soak.
Use the procedure the appliance was designed to perform.
What If You Already Put a Dishwasher Tablet in the Washing Machine?
Don’t panic.
Using a dishwasher tablet once does not prove that your washing machine has been damaged.
If no clothes are inside, don’t add additional chemicals in an attempt to counteract the dishwasher detergent.
Check the washing machine’s manual for the appropriate rinsing procedure.
For example, Whirlpool advises running a Rinse & Spin cycle if its own Clean Washer procedure has to be interrupted, illustrating that flushing residual cleaner from the machine may be appropriate in some circumstances.
However, that Whirlpool instruction applies to Whirlpool’s specified cleaning procedure, so use your own manufacturer’s instructions where available.
If clothes were washed with dishwasher detergent, don’t continue using dishwasher tablets for subsequent loads. Rewash the items according to their care labels using an appropriate laundry detergent.
If the machine develops persistent error codes, drainage problems, leaks, unusual noises, or another malfunction afterward, stop experimenting with cleaning chemicals and consult the manufacturer or an appliance service provider.
How Often Should You Clean a Washing Machine?
Again, there is no single schedule for every washer.
Some manufacturers and models provide specific intervals.
For example, one current Whirlpool cycle guide says to use its Clean Washer cycle every 30 washes. The same documentation says the cycle should be run with an empty basket.
Other Whirlpool guidance recommends monthly cleaning for applicable front-load machines.
These are useful reference points, but they are not universal rules.
Your washer’s manual and cleaning indicator should take priority.
How Can You Keep a Washing Machine From Smelling?
Preventing residue and trapped moisture can reduce how often you need to deal with serious odors.
Useful habits include:
- remove wet laundry promptly;
- use the correct detergent and amount;
- clean visible residue from dispensers and seals;
- allow the washer interior to dry when appropriate;
- run the manufacturer’s maintenance cycle at the recommended interval.
Whirlpool specifically warns that using more HE detergent than recommended can increase detergent and soil residue inside the washer and contribute to unwanted odor. It also recommends leaving the door or lid open between uses to help the interior dry.
These habits address the conditions that contribute to buildup rather than trying to solve everything with a stronger cleaning chemical.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a dishwasher tablet in my washing machine to clean it?
It is not recommended. Bosch specifically advises against using dishwasher tablets or dishwasher detergent to clean washing machines and recommends using a washer-specific cleaner instead.
Can I use a dishwasher tablet to wash clothes?
No. Bosch also specifically advises against using dishwasher tablets or dishwasher detergent for laundry.
Will one dishwasher tablet ruin my washing machine?
Not necessarily. There isn’t evidence that one tablet will automatically destroy every washer. But dishwasher tablets are not designed as washing-machine cleaners, so discontinue the practice and follow your washer manufacturer’s cleaning instructions.
Are washing-machine cleaner tablets the same as dishwasher tablets?
No. They are different products designed for different appliances. Whirlpool states that its washer-cleaner tablets are formulated to clean internal washer components such as the pump, drum, hoses, filter, and valve.
What should I use to clean my washing machine?
Use the method recommended by the manufacturer of your machine. That may involve a dedicated Clean Washer, Tub Clean, Drum Clean, or similar cycle together with an approved washing-machine cleaner.
The Bottom Line
Keep dishwasher tablets in the dishwasher.
They are not laundry detergent, and they are not a universal substitute for washing-machine cleaner.
More importantly, this is not just theoretical advice: Bosch explicitly tells consumers not to use dishwasher tablets or detergent to clean washing machines or laundry.
If your washer needs cleaning, check its manual, clean accessible residue, and use the cleaning cycle and product recommended for that machine.
That approach is less exciting than a viral cleaning hack, but it avoids experimenting with an expensive appliance when a manufacturer-approved procedure already exists.