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25 Things You Can Do With

Dawn Dish Soap Besides

Wash Dishes

by Maria Gracia Join our newsletter to be notified when the newest Organizing Article is available. Dawn dish soap is more versatile than you’d think, especially since it’s non-toxic and not going to harm your skin!. Check out these 25 ways to use Dawn dish soap other than washing dishes. 1. Remove oily stains. With just a tiny drop of Dawn dish soap on a toothbrush, you can scrub oily stains on clothing before tossing them into the washer. 2. Strip cloth diapers. Add a drop of Dawn into your washer before starting a load with cloth diapers. 3. Remove paint from your skin. Had a finger-painting session with the kids? Apply a small dab of Dawn and corn oil to the paint spots. With a gentle rub, your skin will be left soft and clean. 4. Prevent the spread of poison ivy. When you scratch a blister from poison ivy, the transfer of the oil on your skin to other areas makes it spread. Using a dab of Dawn and a splash of water on a clean paper towel, you can gently wash the wound to stop the oil (and therefore the poison ivy trapped in the oil) from spreading. 5. Remove excess oil from your hair. Replace your shampoo with Dawn on those occasional days when you’re having an oily hair day issue and you’ll wash that oil right out. 6. Wash your dog. Dawn is safe for pets, so if you don’t have animal soap on hand, it makes a fine replacement. It will also rid fleas that have hatched. Here’s a recipe from the American Kennel Club: • 2 cups of warm water • 1/4 cup of Dawn dish soap • 1/2 cup of white vinegar Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle and shake to mix. Then wet your dog’s coat with warm water and spray with shampoo, avoiding his eyes. Work the shampoo into his coat, creating a thick lather. Rinse thoroughly and repeatedly, even if you think all signs of shampoo are gone. Then dry him off, and he’s good to go! 7. Clean driveway oil leaks. Scrub away the oily patches with Dawn and warm water. 8. Deep clean your bathroom. Instead of using a store-bought spray, you can make your own by heating up half a spray bottle of vinegar in the microwave and then fill the rest of it with Dawn. After mixing it well, spray your shower and tub. Rinse it after a few minutes. For a deeper clean, try leaving it on overnight before scrubbing any hard spots. 9. Unclog your toilet. Don’t have a plunger? Let a cup of the dish soap sit in the toilet for 15 minutes. Then pour a bucket of hot water from waist height to flush it. Your toilet might smell better, too! 10. Clean your glasses, ski goggles, or snorkel gear. Wet your glasses, lather a drop of soap on the lenses, rinse glasses under warm water, and dry with a clean towel or lens cloth. This cleans them and helps prevent them from fogging up. 11. Repel insects from household plants or counter tops. Mist your household plants with a spray bottle filled with water and a single drop of Dawn. This will keep away pesky bugs. You can even spray your counters to keep ants out.  12. Clean your windows. Don’t have any window cleaner? Add three drops of Dawn to a gallon of water, mix, and fill a spray bottle. Spray and wipe the spots away. 13. Keep your sidewalks from icing over. Instead of using abrasive salt, mix a teaspoon of Dawn, a tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, and half a gallon of hot water. Pour it over your walkway to help prevent ice in the winters. 14. Make your cuticles manicure-ready. With a short soak of your nails in Dawn, you can soften your cuticles. 15. Clean the wooden shelves, cupboards, and paneling in your home. Add one drop of Dawn to eight ounces of water and pour in a spray bottle. After gently spraying, be sure to dry them as you work to keep your wood from getting waterlogged. 16. Clean pool water. To get rid of any dirt or unwanted substances, like lotion out of pool water, squirt Dawn in the middle of the pool. This directs the substances to the edges of the pool for easier cleaning. 17. Use it as lubricant. For door knobs and hinges, apply a dab of Dawn to keep these parts moving smoothly. 18. Make stainless steel appliances sparkle. To make those fingerprints on the fridge door disappear, all you will need is water, a rag, and Dawn. First, wet the rag and run it along the appliance to see if the grain goes sideways or vertical. Next, add a few drops of the dish soap to the wet rag and run it over the greasy prints in the direction of the grain. 19. Remove grime from your oven. Make a paste by mixing together equal parts baking soda and water. Then add Dawn. Spread the paste in the oven and spray a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar. After allowing it to sit for a few hours, you can spray one last time and wipe it down. 20. Wash your grill. First, scrape your grill grate. Next, take half a cup of baking soda and add enough Dawn until the paste is as thick as you want it. Coat your grates and let them sit for thirty minutes. Last, scrub and rinse them to get clean grill grates. 21. Clean off patio furniture. Use 1/4 cup of Dawn and a gallon of warm water to sponge down outdoor furniture. Rinse and towel dry them after. 22. Remove stickers. With a dab of dish soap, you can rub off stickers or labels. 23. Make an adjustable ice pack. Choose a Ziplock bag that is the size of the ice pack you want. Fill it partially with Dawn and freeze in the shape you need. It keeps the temperature for a long while and the mixture can be refrozen. 24. Make bubbles. Looking for a form of entertainment for little kids? Just take half a cup of Dawn, half a gallon of warm water, one tablespoon of glycerin, and gently stir them together. Lastly, remove excess foam at the top. Now you are ready to stick in a bubble wand and have some fun with bubbles! 25. Clean fireplace brick. Mix a ½ cup of Dawn and a ¼ cup of salt. Add a bit of warm water at a time until it forms a paste. Rub it into the brick and let it sit for 10 minutes. Scrub with your brush. When done, wipe the brick down with a wet sponge and allow to air dry. With all of these ways to use Dawn dish soap, it’s a good idea to keep a few bottles in the cupboard.   Back to Organizing Articles Index