30 Ways To Use Dawn Dish Soap In Your Home

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There are multiple ways to use Dawn dish soap around the home. It will save you time and create a safer space for your children and pets. Keep reading to discover 30 ways to use Dawn Dish Soap in the home to save you time and money.

1. Using Dawn to clean garden tools

Largely, after spending time in the garden preparing the bed or planting something new, cleaning tools may seem like a daunting task.

A great way to make tool cleaning easy and less taxing is to place them in a bucket of water with a half cup of Dawn dish soap. Allow the mixture to sit for a half-hour, then use a steel brush to scrub them clean. Rinse and leave the tools to dry before replacing them in storage.

2. Using Dawn to Rid your pets of Fleas

Keeping our pets clean can sometimes be a challenge especially when they aren’t so fond of taking a bath. Other times, commercial pet shampoos contain irritants and traces of other harmful chemicals.

Dawn will not irritate your pet’s eyes or skin when used for long periods. It also reduces surface tension during a warm bath which means that your pet can bathe for longer periods (up to 5 minutes). This soaking allows pests like fleas and ticks to jump off and drown.

An active ingredient in Dawn gets rid of oil or grease that the pet picks up while playing.

3. How to use Dawn to Kill Ants

Having a trail of ants is like having uninvited guests, uncomfortable. You may resort to using insecticides to get rid of them, which might not actually work. Ants can seem quite resilient as they come in small droves and keep coming when others don’t return. No need to fret, we have the solution right here.

Dawn Dish Soap can be used to get rid of ants in a quick and easy way. Spray a mixture of water and Dawn directly onto countertops, floors, sinks, or wherever the ants can be seen.

This will create a sticky trap for ants trying to walk across. It is also very safe for children and pets as there are no harsh chemicals.

4. Homemade Insecticide using Dawn

One of the most disheartening things to see in your garden is plants under attack by pests. These dangerous little critters can make a beautiful garden look like it was struck by a plague overnight if they are not seen and neutralized quickly. An easy and cost-effective method includes Dawn dish soap.

You will need three key ingredients for this homemade insecticidal soap: Dawn dish soap, vegetable oil, and soft water. Mix 2.5 tablespoons of the Dawn dish soap and 2.5 tablespoons of vegetable oil with 1 gallon of distilled water.

Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and apply to the plant as needed, make sure to check that the water is not too warm or it will damage the plant.

5. Using Dawn to clean windows

Windows tend to be like a vacuum for dust, especially during the summer. Luckily there is a solution that is quite environmentally friendly using Dawn dish soap. Just follow these instructions.

First fill a bucket or large pot with clean, cool water and add a few drops of Dawn liquid dish soap. Place a large bath towel beneath the window to catch any spills. Use a clean microfiber cloth or sponge to go over the surface of the window, starting at the top and working down to the bottom.

If it is that you’re doing outside windows, use a garden hose to spray the windows. This will loosen the dust before washing and wash away the soapy residue afterward.

6. Homemade glass cleaner with Vinegar & Dawn

During summer months, glass around the house tends to get dusty quite quickly. There is a creative and cost-effective way to help you get the job done using Dawn dish soap. Below is a list of items you will need:

1/4 cup White Vinegar.
1 cup Water.
2 to 3 drops of Dawn Dish Soap.
Spray Bottle.

Fill a clean, 1-quart spray bottle with the solution. Spray it directly on the glass, and then wipe the glass with dry paper towels or soft cloths. Allow the mist to sit on the window to soften stubborn grime if necessary, especially on kitchen windows that tend to have a greasy film.

7. How to remove grease from clothes

Grease always finds a way to attach itself to our clothes while cooking, eating, and at worst taking a look at the oil level in our car. It tends to take more than a regular spin cycle to get rid of grease. However, Dawn in addition to other household products has created a way to fix this. Here is how it works:

Apply enough Dawn to cover the soiled area of the cotton/poly cotton fabric. Use your fingers to rub Dawn over the entire stained area and allow a few minutes for the soap to soak.

Wash the stain away and place the piece to dry.

8. How to use Dawn to remove hair dye

Dawn dish soap will help fade hair color quickly due to high sulfate levels, therefore you can give your hair shampoo with Dawn dish soap to remove hair dye quickly. Just use a small amount of Dawn to lather then rinse.

You will immediately see some of the hair dye being washed down the drain.

Rinse until the water runs clear then use a deep conditioner, as using the dishwashing liquid is a bit drying due to the presence of sulfates.

Mix a bit of Dawn into your regular shampoo for a dye remover that is a bit more gentle on the hair.

9. How to use dawn to clean the toilet

If you’ve ever had a clogged toilet and no drain cleaner then you know the true meaning of discomfort. You’ll be surprised to know that your Dawn dish soap can be used to effectively unclog your toilet. Check out the simple method mentioned here.

Pour one cup of Dawn liquid dish detergent into the toilet bowl and let it sit for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, pour a bucket of hot water from waist height into the toilet bowl to clear it out.

If you just need to clean the toilet just use a toilet brush to scrub the inside of the bowl and under the rim of the seat. This will give your toilet a fresh sparkle.

For a deep clean, mix 1 cup of Dawn and 1 cup of vinegar in 1 gallon of water and fill a spray bottle with the solution, this can be used to spot-treat stains. Simply allow it to sit for 15 minutes, then scrub and rinse.

10. How to use dawn and vinegar to clean the shower

When cleaning your bathroom, you always want it to sparkle and smell as fresh as spring when you are done. There is an amazing way to do this with Dawn dish soap.

Add equal parts of Dawn and vinegar to a spray bottle and shake gently to combine. If you have really tough deposits, you can heat the vinegar in the microwave before mixing for a little extra power.

Spray all over the tub/shower and let it sit for a few minutes to a few hours, depending on how yucky the target is. If you have an odor sensitivity, a mask is recommended as scents tend to be amplified when vinegar is in the mix.

11. Dawn lime juice and vinegar grout cleaner

Dawn is a multi-purpose cleaner. It will help to make tough jobs like cleaning the grout between tiles, easy. For this process you will need the products listed below:

1 cup white vinegar

A cup of Dawn dish soap

1 cup of lime juice.

Mix lime juice with vinegar and slowly add Dawn while you stir, emulsifying all ingredients.

Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.

Spray on your grout lines, let sit for a few minutes, then scrub with a soft brush before wiping off with a wet cloth.

12. Using Dawn to get sparkling tiles

Not every product you use on tiles will make them sparkle, some will make for a cloudy floor. However, Dawn is sure to give you a satisfying result.

The way to do it is by adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of Dawn dish soap to a bucket of water. Use this mixture to mop or wipe the floor.

Your floors will be shiny, smelling fresh, and clean in no time. Dawn dish soap is very effective on resilient floorings, such as linoleum and vinyl, it also works well on ceramic tile.

13. How to use Dawn in a dishwasher

When doing you’re dishes, be sure to rinse all food residue from the dishes before placing them in the dishwasher. Then follow the step below.

Place three drops of liquid Dawn in the soap slot of your dishwasher. Fill the slot the rest of the way with baking soda and close it.

Select the wash cycle and dishes will come out squeaky clean.

14. How to use Dawn for laundry

An important point to note when using Dawn dish soap to do laundry is that it produces more bubbles than regular laundry detergent. With that said it is imperative that you follow per-load instructions as they are a preventative measure.

Pour the Dawn dish detergent into the washing machine the same way you would if you were using laundry detergent. Then run the cycle as usual, including any soak cycles you may need.

Bare in mind that you will be using the amount required for the particular load size

Use 1 teaspoon for small loads and 3 teaspoons for large loads.

15. How to use Dawn when cleaning a cut

In the event that you need to provide first aid for a victim with a cut, be sure to stop the bleeding before you proceed.

Once the bleeding has stopped. It’s important to clean your hands and clean the wound properly.

Dawn dish soap does well to clean without causing any form of irritation, it is equivalent to using an iodine-based medical cleaner to remove bacteria.

16. Dawn as an automotive tool sanitizer

Dawn dishwashing liquid works great when you want to really clean up your automotive tools.

Those tools tend to get very greasy after working on your vehicles, especially when oil is involved. What better way for removing grease than by using Dawn?

Just pour a small amount (enough to make the water feel a bit slick between your fingers ) into a sink or tub of warm water and place your tools inside. Let them soak for about 15 minutes or so then wash and rinse them.

Next, allow your tools to air dry or use a dry cloth to dry them. Finally, apply a small amount of Dawn dish soap as a lubricant to prevent rusting and seizing.

17. Using Dawn to remove stains

Stains can be stubborn and washing them in the wrong way can cause them to set and become a part of the fabric.
However, there is a way to remove stains using Dawn dish soap. The ingredients for this effective stain removal are:

Scrub brush
1 ounce Dawn dish soap
2 ounces of hydrogen peroxide
1 tablespoon baking soda
Small bowl

First mix Dawn dish soap and hydrogen peroxide in the small bowl and pour the mixture over the stain( s ). Sprinkle the baking soda over the mixture to form a paste and allow that to sit for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes use the scrub brush to gently brush the stains away. After this process, you can add the clothes to your regular wash cycle.

18. Getting out armpit stains using Dawn

If you have kids you are sure to come across armpit stains when doing laundry. There is a process that works like magic, check it out below:

1 oz dishwashing liquid Dawn

2 oz hydrogen peroxide

Mix the two ingredients and apply them to the stain. Let it sit for an hour or more to act at full strength. If the stain is stubborn, add baking soda and scrub. After this process, the item can be placed in the regular wash.

19. Using Dawn to make homemade carpet cleaner for the machine

Having a pet or kids are two things that guarantee you will have stains on your carpet at some point.

Thankfully we can remove these stains using household cleaners. Below is a list of items and a process that will give your desired result:

1/4 cup white vinegar
1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide
1 tablespoon Dawn dish soap
warm water

Add the vinegar, peroxide, and Dawn dish soap to the vacuum refill bottle.

Fill the container the rest of the way to the fill line with warm water and use the vacuum the way you normally would.

This recipe is great because it actually does clean your carpets instead of just adding shampoo into the carpets as many of the commercial products do.

20. Restoring your hair using Dawn

If you are looking for an efficient way to restore your hair Dawn is the way to go.

Simply wash your hair with Dawn just as you would with any other shampoo. Measure out the amount of Dawn to use on your hair to reflect the amount of restoration that needs to be done in your hair.

For example, if you only need a light wash in the middle of the week, use a quarter-size amount in the palm of your hand. If your hair is saturated with hair products, apply liberally.

Lather the soap through your hair evenly and make sure to wash each section of your scalp and hair thoroughly. Do this to make sure to ensure that you don’t miss a section of gunk or dirt in your hair.

Rinse thoroughly and apply conditioner. Enjoy your new-found luster and shine.

21. Dawn dish soap is excellent when cleaning upholstery

We all enjoy having a comfortable couch in our living room. A dirty and greasy couch is more smelly and sticky than comfortable. If your living room set happens to be upholstery here is a way to keep it fresh and clean, using Dawn dish soap of course.

For synthetic upholstery, mix 1/2 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of warm water, and 1/2 tablespoon of liquid Dawn dish soap in a spray bottle. Mist the soiled area and scrub it with a soft cloth until the stain is gone.

22. Dawn dish soap has the grill cleaning power

Dawn is specially formulated to cut grease, which makes it perfect for cleaning your barbecue grill. You don’t even have to do much to get that grill clean.

Just fill a bucket or sink with hot water and a bit of Dawn, then soak the racks from your grill for about 10 minutes. You can also use Dawn to clean the inside and outside of your grill to get all of that grease and debris off.

23. Dawn dish soap as jewelry cleaner

Dawn is harsh on grease but believes it or not, it’s really gentle on jewelry. It makes a wonderful no-soak jewelry cleaner. You just mix seven parts hot water with one part ammonia and just a small squirt of your Dawn dish soap.

Dip an old toothbrush in this mixture and gently scrub your jewelry until it looks brand new again.

24. Using Dawn to clean makeup sponge and brushes

You can use Dawn dish soap, along with coconut oil, to make a wonderful cleaner for your makeup brushes and sponges. Just mix liquefied coconut oil with Dawn dish soap and then freeze.

Once it’s frozen, you just need to swirl your sponges around on top and it will remove all of the makeup and gunk. You can also use the liquefied version to soak makeup off of all of your brushes.

25. Dawn dish soap is used as an acne cleanser

Acne cleansers can be quite expensive. Instead of buying a specialty cleanser, try using Dawn dishwashing liquid. The ingredients in Dawn are perfectly safe for your skin and the soap has wonderful grease-removing properties.

This makes it great for keeping your skin free from oil and buildup that can cause acne. Just use it as a wash for your face – or your body if you have acne on your back and other areas.

26. Using Dawn dish soap clean glasses lens

Not only will Dawn dish soap perfectly clean your glasses, but it will also help to keep them from fogging up in the future. I don’t know about you, but I always have trouble keeping my glasses from getting all foggy.

You can use Dawn with rubbing alcohol to clean those glasses, this even works on sunglasses. Just mix the two ingredients with water and use a microfiber cloth to remove dirt and defog.

27. Using Dawn to clean your driveway

If you have grease or oil stains on your concrete driveway, you can use Dawn dishwashing liquid to clean it off.

Just squirt the dish soap directly onto the stain and then use a brush to scrub until the grease or oil begins to come up. Then just rinse the soap suds and the stain away. This will prevent slippage from oil build-up in the driveway. It will also prevent grease from being tracked inside the house.

28. Dawn used as a knock-off Beauty product

Mary Kay Satin Hands is very popular for manicures but it’s also pretty expensive. You can create your own hand defoliant with Dawn Hand Renewal dish soap and just a bit of sugar.

Mix the two ingredients together and use them to scrub dead skin cells off your hands, leaving them smooth and beautiful. This makes an excellent and valuable homemade gift and it’s so cheap and easy to make.

29. Using Dawn to clean the tub and shower

You may need to wash your shower multiple times per week based on usage. Dawn helps to create a quick and easy way to keep your shower fresh and clean.

You just need a few ingredients, that you probably have on hand right now. You don’t have to have handfuls of cleaning products to keep your home clean. Dawn dish soap along with a bit of vinegar will clean soap scum and other stains without any scrubbing. Imagine cleaning the ring out of your bathtub without having to scrub it. Just rub it on and rinse it off with warm water.

30. Dawn ice pack

When you run daily for long periods you may get a tingling pain in your knees. A great reliever is a Dawn ice pack. This is something you can make yourself quite easily.

You can use original Dawn dishwashing liquid to make a wonderful ice pack that is perfect for when you pull a muscle, overextend yourself, or even when you get a bit sunburned.

Just fill an impalpable sandwich bag about half full of dish soap and then place it in the freezer for a couple of hours until it freezes. The dish soap won’t completely freeze so this is a great ice pack for using around elbows, knees, and other areas where you need something flexible.

Dawn is a single product with multi-purpose capabilities. This gives your home an all-around freshness from using one product in so many ways.