the water in my front loader washing machine goes through the soap dispenser and into the tub, without even being plugged in?

What are you on about?

Water can only get into the soap dispenser of a front loader:

1. If it is turned on and starts running through a cycle.

2. You pour water into the soap dispenser manually.

3. The machine is faulty and has stopped with the water inlet solenoid jammed open.

Water entering the soap dispenser pours down into the tub (drum) by the sheer effect of gravity.