16 Surprising Uses for Dawn Dish Soap
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Dawn Dish Detergent is useful for so much more than washing dishes, everything from killing weeds to cleaning jewelry! Check out these 16 surprising uses for Dawn Dish Soap.
We all know and love that familiar bottle of blue Dawn Dish Soap, don’t we? It’s a classic essential cleaning supply that shows up time and again in my cleaning tips.
We all know that it’s great for cleaning dishes, pots, and pans, and glasses but this little blue bottle is capable of so much more. Here are my favorite uses for Dawn Dish Soap.
FAQs
I do not recommend substituting other dish soaps. Blue Dawn is concentrated and lends the best results.
It is not recommended to regularly wash your hair with Dawn as it can dry it out because it cleans so well. I have heard of both regular people and cosmetologists using it as shampoo to remove too-dark hair color mistakes but I have not tried it myself.
No, the original blue dish soap is not antibacterial. They do currently have 2 antibacterial dish soap options but they are not as concentrated as the blue kind and I do not recommend them for these uses.
Uses for Dawn Dish Soap
Making Bubbles
You can use Dawn dish soap to make your own bubble solution! With three kids we’ve gone through some bubbles over the years, which is why I started making my own. To make the perfect bubble solution simply combine 2 cups of warm water, 1/3 cup detergent, and 1/4 cup light corn syrup or glycerin. It’s super easy and affordable!
Unclog a Toilet or Drain
You heard me, this powerhouse can help you unclog your toilet or clogged drain! Simply pour 1 cup of the deter in the toilet and let it sit 15 minutes. *This works on smaller blockages. DO NOT follow other DIY suggestions to pour hot water down the drain after this step, you can damage your PVC pies, crack the porcelain on your toilet or melt the wax seal on the toilet. (reference here)
Cleaning Makeup Applicators
While maybe not as cute as that duckling, your makeup brushes and sponges need to be cleaned too! Cleaning makeup applicators in Dawn and warm water is key to preventing gunky buildup. Simply wet with warm water, add the detergent and work into a lather. Rinse until water runs clear, reshape and let air dry.
Tools & Tires
Tools and outdoor supplies can get super greasy, and Dawn cuts that grease like a champ! Everything from wrenches to tires to bike rims can be cleaned with a teaspoon of the dish detergent in a gallon of hot water. Scrub with a sponge and rinse thoroughly, you’ll be shocked how easily the grime is scrubbed away! Dry immediately after cleaning to prevent rusting.
Kitchen Grease
You’d be surprised how much grime can build up on your kitchen cabinets, counters, and appliances just from everyday cooking. Wet a sponge with a little Dawn and warm water and wipe away grime on your kitchen surfaces, no specialized cleaners required!
Remove Hard Water Stains & Soap Scum
Mix equal parts vinegar, lemon juice, and Dawn detergent and use to clean tough hard water stains and remove soap scum in the bathroom.
Windows & Stainless Steel
One of my favorite shiny surface cleaners for glass and stainless steel is to add 3 drops of Dawn to a gallon of water. Pour into a spray bottle and use as you would any other glass cleaner.
Cleaning Jewelry
Did you know that you can use Dawn to clean your jewelry too? Soak the jewelry for two minutes in a bowl of warm water with a few drops of Dawn dish detergent. Rinse well and dry immediately to keep your jewelry sparkling!
Remove Tomato Stains from Plastic
Yes! Those dreaded red stains on your plastic containers don’t have to be there forever! Simply hand wash with Dawn dish detergent, dry, and place in a sunny window. Leave up to a few days and be amazed as the sun bleaches those stains away!
Homemade Stain Remover
Mix Dawn with hydrogen peroxide for a super effective homemade stain remover!
Trap Gnats and Fruit Flies
Mix 4 parts red wine vinegar to 1 part dish soap and place in a glass. Cover the top with plastic wrap and poke a few small holes in the top. The flies will be attracted to the mixture and fly in the holes but won’t be able to fly back out.
Pretreat Laundry Stains
Have a stain? Apply a button size amount of Dawn to the stain and cover it completely (no more or your washing will get too sudsy!) Wash as normal and say bye-bye to stains!
Prevent Eyeglasses from Fogging
Wipe glasses with a drop of soap, then wipe clean. The soap leaves a thin layer on the glasses which prevent them from fogging up. *Do not do this on glasses that have specialty coatings such as anti-glare or anti-scratch.
DIY Ice Pack
Freeze a plastic baggie filled with Dawn dish soap to make your own gel ice pack.
Kill Weeds
I shared this homemade weed killer recipe recently and so many of you wrote in to thank me, it really works! Simply mix two cups of white vinegar with two tablespoons of Dawn dish detergent and shake well in a spray bottle. Spray on the weeds preferably on a sunny day. Be careful to spray on the weeds only, don’t get it on your good plants!
Kill Aphids on Plants
Mix 1 tablespoon of Dawn and 1 quart of water and put in a spray bottle. Spray on infested plants to kill the aphids without harming your plant.
So there you have it. Dawn is the superhero of detergents, saving wildlife and helping you to keep your home sparkling. Did I miss any additional uses you think I should add? Leave them in the comments below!
I A MIXTURE OF DAWN GOOD FOR CLEANING DOG DROOL OFF OF CAR DOOR LEATHER/VINYL APPOLHESTRY. I HAD A YORKIE THAT LIKED TO LICK. I AM NO GETTING READY TO SELL THE CAR AND NEED TO CLEAN IT.
I haven’t heard about this product yet but you made me felt like I had to get one of that. I think this product should upgrade itself to all-purpose cleaner.
I love Dawn and I agree that it has many uses. I would really check the actual studies regarding Dawn saving wildlife from the big oil spill. Every one of those animals died and Proctor and Gamble made a lot of money from those commercials.
All of these hacks alwyas mention Dawn dishsoap. Does it really have to be Dawn?
Half cup Dawn and boiling water in kitchen drain at night will have them flowing free the next morning.
Thanks for the tip, I will try that one! ~Melissa
For wine stains on white and other colors of clothing, use a mixture of peroxide and Dawn. I read that a while back. It works for lots of other stains too. I don’t know how much of each. I just put a little bit of both on stains, and it works.
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If you have a problem with fruit flies, put some apple cider vinegar in a small bowl with a few drops of Dawn and mix. They will be attracted to the vinegar but the soap makes the vinegar slippery. You will be amazed how many fruit flies will be in the bowl the next day.
Great tip-I need to try this one right now! ~Melissa
You can also put some in a spray bottle with a bit of water. Spray fruitflies and it kills them fast!
Great tip!!
A doctor told me to use Dawn soap to soak my finger in, because it was infected. It worked real well!
Wow, that’s a great tip, Jeanne, thanks for sharing! ~Melissa
Outstanding denture cleaner with water in ultrasonic bath
Good tips, thanks! ~Melissa
1gal vinagar,2cups Epson salt,1/4 cup Dawn, for weed killer!
How much of the dawn white vinager and Epsom salt Do I use to kill weeds.I need to get rid of the Crap around my above ground pool,thanks for your help
How much Epsom salt, dawn ,and white vinager ? For the weed killer recipie? I really need to kill the Crap around the above ground pool…thanks
One gallon vinegar, 2 cups Epsom salts and only 1/4 cup Dawn. Mix well and spray await where you want brown, dead weeds or plants.
Best way to clean glasses! Only takes a few drops, mixed with a little water with your fingers.
Great tip, thanks!! ~Melissa
It also kills fleas on cats and dogs . Mix it with warm water and shampoo your carpet , and furniture too
It really is a one-stop shop around the house! ~Melissa
Toilet clogged? Pour a good amount (1/2 to 1 cup) into bowl … Let sit for a while … Flush!
I hadn’t heard that one, I will try that, thanks! ~Melissa
On the weed killer mixture…yes it calls for everything the post list…but is missing the one two punch…Epson Salts…i mixed this combination and it’s been a month now…no weeds…just make sure if you spray it on the weeds…do not get it around flowers or areas of the lawn or nothing will grow there…but.IT REALLY DOES WORK!!
How much Epsom salt
Two cups Epsom salts. This really works! Costs $$$$ less than weed killer that stinks and isn’t healthy for the weeds, people or animals!
In spray bottle with vinegar dawn soap great for shower great for water build up on shower door
Sheila, how much of each do you use?
Mix water and dawn and spray where you get wasp nest. They will not make there nest there. Works great . use to have a bad problem . but not no more
It also is great to remove skunk spray from dogs! It’s what I use all the time.
Great to know. I use tomato juice.