Can you water plants with washing up water? Black fly control washing up liquid. Can you put washing up water on plants? Washing up water on plants?

We here at Homethings HQ are all about doing more with less, so if there’s a way to reuse your dirty washing up liquid we’re all about it. But can you pop out into the garden and empty your washing up bowl on your roses? 

The water from washing up your dishes can also be referred to as ‘grey water’ (a nicer word for waste water that doesn’t contain anything that should be going down the toilet). It will however contain oil and fat from your dishes, pots and pans, food waste, and detergents from the washing up liquid that you’re using.

Will it damage your plants?

As long as the water doesn’t contain any bleaches you should be alright. Bleaches contain chlorine, which can damage the leaves of plants. It’s also worth noting that if you’re watering edible plants (like herbs or veg), you should be careful not to pour water with any bacteria onto them (so if you’ve been washing up chickeny chopping boards… it’s best to pop that water elsewhere).

Washing up liquid can also be used as pest control when mixed with vinegar… but pouring dirty dish water on your plants probably won’t have the same effect.

Will it damage the environment?

Not all dish detergents are created equal, meaning that some contain chemicals that are harmful to aquatic life or groundwater contaminants. If you’re planning on pouring your dirty dish water on the garden, a non-toxic washing up liquid could work better for you.

Washupthings is our non-toxic, powder-to-gel washing up liquid. It’s waterless formula means that it’s lighter and more compact to transport (meaning less carbon emissions), and it’s powder form means that you can reuse the same washing up bottle over and over again. Makes Sense. To learn more, just like *here*.