Can I clean clear aligners with dish soap?

Yes. Align Technology’s patient instructions for active Invisalign aligners and clinical studies show that hand-washing clear aligners with a mild/clear soap and lukewarm water is an accepted cleaning method; avoid hot or boiling water and dishwashers. [1, 3]

Quick takeaways

• Manufacturer IFU: hand-wash with soap and water; do not use hot/boiling water or dishwashers.
• Clinical trial arms tested a colourant-free/neutral dish-type soap and found it an acceptable cleaning agent in vivo (outcomes varied by measure).
• Lab tests show neutral detergents can reduce microbes with relatively low color change, but immersion tests differ from everyday use.
• Avoid abrasive cleaners, whitening toothpastes, and dishwashers unless a source explicitly permits them. [1, 3]

What the manufacturer and studies say

Align Technology’s official patient instructions for active Invisalign aligners explicitly say aligners may be hand-washed with soap and water and warn against using hot or boiling water and dishwashers. [1]

A randomized crossover clinical trial of clear-aligner cleansing compared five products and included a colourant-free/clear dish-type soap as one tested arm; that trial measured microbiological and colorimetric outcomes in real patients and found soap-based cleaning to be one acceptable method, though results varied by outcome and comparator. [3]

Practical details and important cautions

Use a mild, clear (colourant-free), non-abrasive dish or hand soap with lukewarm water and gently brush or rub the trays by hand; avoid hot or boiling water and do not put aligners in a dishwasher, as the manufacturer warns these can deform trays. [1, 3]

Laboratory (in-vitro) studies that tested a neutral detergent showed microbiological reductions and relatively low color change under immersion protocols, but authors note that continuous immersion in a lab does not replicate intermittent, real-world rinsing and brushing. [4]

How this compares to retainer guidance

Professional retainer guidance (AAO) lists dish soap or special retainer cleaners as acceptable for retainers, but that guidance applies to post-treatment retainers and should not be treated as a device-matched substitution for every active-aligner product without checking the active-aligner manufacturer’s instructions. [2]

Smilo tip: track your cleaning routine

If you want to keep a simple record of when you clean your trays, Smilo can help by logging aligner cleaning sessions and letting you set regular-clean and deep-clean reminders so you can maintain a consistent routine.