As a good helper for home cleaning, dishwashing detergent can effectively remove stains from tableware and other items. But when we were children, we often saw our elders washing dishes with rice washing water. They believed that using dishwashing detergent would leave harmful substances on the dishes, causing harm to our bodies. So, what chemicals are in dishwashing detergent? Can residual dishwashing detergent on tableware pose a threat to human health?

In fact, the main ingredients of our commonly used dishwashing detergent include sodium alkyl sulfonate, fatty alcohol ether sodium sulfate, foam agent, solubilizer, essence, water, pigment and preservatives. Among them, sodium alkyl sulfonate and sodium fatty alcohol ether sulfate are anionic surfactants used to remove oil stains. Our concerns about dishwashing detergent mainly come from these two chemical components. However, in reality, the country has established strict hygiene standards for the quality of dishwashing detergent products, so for dishwashing detergents produced by legitimate manufacturers, their chemical components are within the safe range. And if we rinse the tableware multiple times after using dishwashing detergent, most of the detergent attached to the tableware has already been washed away, and the remaining small part is within the range that can be decomposed by the human body, so there is no need to worry too much.
However, it is worth noting that according to the Health Times, the chemical components in synthetic cleaning products such as dishwashing detergent can cause certain damage to the skin. Therefore, in order to avoid hand injury and take good care of the skin, we must wear latex gloves when washing dishes with dishwashing detergent, and rinse the latex gloves thoroughly with water after washing.
When using dishwashing detergent, in addition to rinsing the utensils multiple times after use, we also need to pay attention to the process of using dishwashing detergent. When soaking and washing with dishwashing detergent, it is best to dilute the detergent with water by 200 to 500 times, soak for 2 to 5 minutes, and rinse thoroughly with flowing water. After use, it should be stored in the dark at room temperature. Strong sunlight exposure can increase the temperature and accelerate the oxidation rate of the product. At the same time, try not to mix dishwashing detergent with other cleaning products, especially 84 disinfectant products.
The quality of dishwashing detergent is crucial for our health, so what are some tips to choose a trustworthy dishwashing detergent?
Firstly, it is necessary to purchase products from legitimate business premises. The survey results show that the quality of tableware detergents produced by some small workshops is not guaranteed, and there is a tendency for bacteria to exceed the standard. Secondly, it is important to examine the labels and identification of the product. Do not purchase products with missing labels or important markings. Finally, we need to learn to distinguish the quality of products. Most products produced by legitimate enterprises have a certain fragrance (mainly fruit aroma), no odor, moderate viscosity, no layering, no suspended solids or sediment.