Dish soap is tough on grease and gentle enough for use on most products. It may be used for all sorts of cleaning and maintenance tasks in the home. For example, squirt it on a stain before laundering clothes, or mix it with hot water and rubbing alcohol to make a sidewalk de-icer. Although dish soap's versatility, safety and effectiveness make it a must-have cleaning product, some things can be damaged when cleaned with dish soap.
Before using dish soap as a substitute for any other type of soap, make sure it's safe to use. Never use dish soap on any type of appliance. Rather than regret using dish soap in a specific situation, educate yourself on the things you should never clean with dish soap.
1. Cast iron skillet
Do not use dish soap to wash a cast iron skillet; soap will remove the oils that protect the pan. Unlike most skillets, a cast iron skillet requires special care. Scrub the pan with hot water and a soft brush. Allow the skillet to air dry. Once the skillet is dry, apply vegetable oil to the surface with a paper towel. Coat the entire skillet with a thin layer of oil.
2. Washing machine
Never attempt to use dish soap in the washing machine to wash clothes. Dish soap is not like laundry soap—it will likely cause the washing machine to overflow with bubbles. Removing dish soap suds from a washing machine is a tedious process.
3. Dishwasher
Avoid filling the soap dispenser in a dishwasher with dish soap. Dish soap creates a ton of suds. The dishwasher will quickly fill up with these bubbles, and the suds will come pouring out of the top, bottom and sides of the machine.
4. Your face
Some beauty websites suggest washing the face with dish soap to combat oily skin and acne. This is not a good idea. Dish soap is formulated to wash dishes, not faces. Dish soap will deplete all the natural oils from your skin, leaving your face looking dry, dull and possibly scaly.
5. Moka Pot
Never wash a moka pot with dish soap. Dump the espresso pot and wash it with hot water after every use. Dish soap will remove the oily layer on the inside of the pot. Most espresso drinkers argue that this oily layer is what gives the coffee its flavor.
6. Your car
Don't use dish soap to wash your car. It's an abrasive soap with a drying effect, so it's not gentle on tires or a car's wax coating. According to Meineke Car Care Centers, dish soap speeds up the oxidation process and makes a car look dull. Instead, wash your car with a car soap that is gentle on all parts of the vehicle.
7. Delicate clothing
While some water and dish soap may get out of a stain when it comes to cotton, avoid using dish soap on anything that needs to be dry cleaned. Better to leave it to the professionals!
8. Mix it with bleach or other chemicals 
Combining dish soap with harsh ingredients like bleach or ammonia can be dangerous. Safety is the number one priority after all. Leave the combination work up to the chemists, and keep dish soap to dishes!
