Don't do it. Almost all dishwashers use high temperatures in their washing cycle, and the detergents used are a strong caustic solution. They may wash dishes well, but for other cleaning, have almost all the attributes and drawbacks of a hot caustic tank with few of the virtues. I've had the unpleasant experience of spending a day with precision machine tools reworking the castings in an automotive power steering pump that were put through a good household dishwasher. Water, with or without soap.
Water is actually the most universal solvent.
A little bit of soap or detergent will increase its ability to wet the surface. More soap will make an alkaline solution. Safe on most things, but may dissolve inks used on dial markings, and should be used with care around electronic components, particularly iron core chokes and transformers. One of the better detergents to use is a generic-type dishwashing detergent such as Octagon brand. This should be the clear non-sudsing type, with no additives like lemon sent.