# Is it safe for me to wash my dishes with face soap? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 24, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-me-to-wash-my-dishes-with-face-soap/667085 "2013-08-24T20:35:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![john44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@john44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/john44)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-me-to-wash-my-dishes-with-face-soap/667085/1 "2013-08-24T20:35:30Z")
I have very sensitive skin so I wash my hands with face soap and when I have to wash dishes by hand I also use the same face soap to wash the dishes. Is this safe? The soap is called Neutrogena Facial Cleansing Formula and it has these ingredients in it: Water, Glycerin, Sodium Oleate, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Lauramide DEA, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Triethanolamine, Trisodium HEDTA, Citric Acid, BHT, Yellow 5, Red 33, Blue 1. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-me-to-wash-my-dishes-with-face-soap/667085/2 "2013-08-24T20:39:07Z")
The whole point of soap is to wash things away, including itself. If it rinses clean and there’s no oil or perfume left behind, I don’t think anything else could be left behind on your dishes. (Google suggests it is “exceptionally clean rinsing”, but check for yourself.) ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-me-to-wash-my-dishes-with-face-soap/667085/3 "2013-08-24T20:44:59Z")
AS long as you rinse them well you’ll be fine. If the stuff was toxic you wouldn’t want to put it on you face, which surrounds your mouth. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-me-to-wash-my-dishes-with-face-soap/667085/4 "2013-08-24T21:06:10Z")
Have you considered using rubber gloves? Or you could purchaser a dishwasher. ---
**Author:** ![Hockey\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hockey\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hockey_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-me-to-wash-my-dishes-with-face-soap/667085/5 "2013-08-24T21:11:51Z")
That sounds like a super expensive alternative. Have you tried any of the dish soaps for Sensitive Skin, or as \*\*Quartz \*\*mentioned, rubber gloves? ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-me-to-wash-my-dishes-with-face-soap/667085/6 "2013-08-24T21:26:46Z")
Safe, yes, but probably not as effective and a _lot_ more expensive than the detergents made for the purpose. ---
**Author:** ![john44](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@john44](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/john44)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2013, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-me-to-wash-my-dishes-with-face-soap/667085/7 "2013-08-24T22:51:29Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Have you considered using rubber gloves? Or you could purchaser a dishwasher. I have very large hands a size 11 or xxl I can’t find dish washing gloves in that size. I have a dishwasher but I have certain pots and pans that are hand wash only. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-me-to-wash-my-dishes-with-face-soap/667085/8 "2013-08-25T08:46:50Z")
Maybe Neutrogena is better in that respect, but I’ve tried other soaps in the past and they leave a disgusting soapy taste, even after rinsing copiously. They’re just not made for the same purpose. If you don’t get the soapy taste then I’m sure it should be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-me-to-wash-my-dishes-with-face-soap/667085/9 "2013-08-25T09:51:53Z")
> [@john44](#): > > I have very large hands a size 11 or xxl I can’t find dish washing gloves in that size. I have hands that size and the rubber gloves stretch just fine ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2013, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-me-to-wash-my-dishes-with-face-soap/667085/10 "2013-08-25T17:49:17Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > your face, which surrounds your mouth. Wow, you learn somethin’ new every day at the Dope!!! 🙂 (Sorry, mods…but I couldn’t resist,…and it’s after the 10th post.) Almost. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![48Willys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/4/db5fbb/32.png) [@48Willys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/48Willys)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2013, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-safe-for-me-to-wash-my-dishes-with-face-soap/667085/11 "2013-08-26T23:18:42Z")
john44 said,“I have very large hands a size 11 or xxl I can’t find dish washing gloves in that size. I have a dishwasher but I have certain pots and pans that are hand wash only.” > [@Quartz](#): > > I have hands that size and the rubber gloves stretch just fine Like john44, I also have large hands. I can tell Quartz and all, NO THEY DO NOT. They WILL put my hands to sleep in about 3 seconds, only if I can get them on without ripping them. That does not happen often. My fingers are short but big around. I have found some industrial strength gloves through an online supply company that fit. They would work fine. They are size 13 with short fingers. I just went online to order another three boxes of 50 pairs. The company that I have been ordering them from is no longer on the web. I will keep looking for them and when I find them again, I will post the link to them. john44, as far as the face soap, if this soap leaves no residue, I would use it. Could you use some Bon-Ami? It comes in a cardboard tube. I used to use this for all of my pots and pans before I got married. My skin is not sensitive (yet), but my moms was, and that is why she used Bon-Ami. IHTH, 48.