We all know Dawn dish soap is typically for two things. Washing your dishes and cleaning adorable ducklings that have had the misfortune of an oil spill in their habitat. But what you might not know is all of the other Dawn dish soap hacks you can try around your house. These ingenious household hacks extend their use beyond the kitchen sink and into various corners of your life. Observing its effectiveness on helpless ducklings, it’s no surprise that many have been inspired to uncover more unique ways to employ this versatile soap. Let’s dive into these Dawn dish soap hacks that are sure to revolutionize your domestic cleaning routine.
15 Dawn Dish Soap Hacks
1. De-ice The Front Steps
I live in the Northeast. Icy front steps are a menace for a solid four months of the year. If you live in a warm climate, imagine that for four months of every year, you were risking a clumsy fall every time you left the front door. Perilous, right?
There are salt and other super chemical-y deicers that you can buy for the winter, but salt does a number on brick, concrete, and your car. And the other stuff is EXPENSIVE.
Dawn dish soap will de-ice your steps in a pinch. Just a teaspoon of Dawn, a tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, and a warm 1/2 gallon of water will do the trick AND keep the stairs or walkway from refreezing.
2. DIY Dish Soap Ice Pack
My kids are athletes. That means bumps and bruises and twisted ankles are a thing in my house
The best remedy for most of those mild injuries is always ice. Which means I always need ice packs. Luckily Dawn soap can be used to make a DIY ice pack. You literally just fill a strong baggie (not a sandwich baggie, use something sturdier like a freezer bag) about halfway with Dawn and pop it in the freezer until it’s a frozen-ish gel-like cross between a solid and a fluid. The ice pack can be refrozen and because it’s not frozen solid, it will be a lot more comfortable because it’s flexible!
3. DIY Weed Killer with Dawn Dish Soap
Those pesky weeds invading your driveway or sidewalk can meet their match with a DIY weed killer made from Dawn dish soap, white vinegar, and salt. Mix one gallon of white vinegar, a tablespoon of Dawn dish soap, and a cup of salt in a garden sprayer or a spray bottle for smaller areas. Spray it directly on the weeds during a sunny day and watch them wilt away. Be cautious not to spray on plants you want to preserve though!
4. Dawn Dishwashing Liquid Hack: Grill Cleaner
Do you have grimy grill grates in need of deep cleaning? Don’t worry, there’s a hack for that! With Dawn dish soap and baking soda, you can renew their shine. Begin by scraping off the bigger debris from your grill grates. Then, mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with enough Dawn dish soap to create a thick paste. Apply this mixture to the grates and leave it on for 30 minutes. Scrub, rinse, and voila—your grates are as good as new!
5. A Fun Dishwashing Soap Hack: Bubbles!
My kids and dog love bubbles…until they run out. The worst is when your kid has bubbles and is gleefully blowing bubbles and then spills the bubbles and now they are screaming because the bubbles are gone
Dawn to the rescue. But, not just Dawn. You’ll need 6 cups of water, a half cup of dawn, and a quarter cup of corn syrup. Mix it all together and you’re good to go.
6. Dawn Soap Superhero for Getting Gum Out of Hair
I don’t think anyone makes it out of childhood (or motherhood for that matter) without getting gum or some other equally sticky gunk in their hair. It’s a right of passage.
There are ways to get it out. You can cut the hair off, but, really that’s a little harsh, isn’t it? There’s also rubbing an ice cube on the gum, but that’s not my favorite method. It’s cold and not super effective. There’s always a little gum still stuck in there.
Rubbing the sticky stuff with a little Dawn gets the out goo out quickly and fairly painlessly.
7. Toilet Cleaning Hack with Dawn Dish Soap
A dirty or clogged toilet doesn’t need an expensive cleaner or plunger; Dawn dish soap comes to the rescue again. Pour half a cup of Dawn dish soap into your toilet, and let it sit and soak for 20-30 minutes. Follow up with 3-4 liters of hot water. The soap dissolves the dirt and grease, and the hot water flushes it away.
8. Dawn Soap Hack For the Messy Painter
I’m a messy painter. I do a good job of getting the paint on the walls fairly neatly, but I always end up with it all over my hands. And then I have paint hands for days. Because it doesn’t just come off without some serious scrubbing and picking.
Dawn soap can help with that. Rub some Dawn on your hands before you start painting and let it dry. When it’s time to clean your hands, the paint will come right off!
9. Get Rid of Oil Stains with Dawn Dish Soap
Oil stains on your driveway or garage floor are no match for Dawn dish soap. Sprinkle baking soda or kitty litter on the oil stain and let it sit for a bit. Sweep it up and discard it. Next, apply Dawn dish soap on the stain and scrub with a stiff brush. Rinse with hot water, repeat if needed, and bid goodbye to those stubborn oil stains!
10. DIY Grease Stain Remover for Clothes
I still love Spray N Wash as a stain pre-treater, but it’s one of those things that I often forget to buy and when I suddenly need it, I’m out.
I’ve used Dawn in a pinch for a pre-treater and it works well on greasy stains. Like a pizza drip. Or a salad dressing drip. Or even grease from the potato chips you were eating.
Put a small (SMALL! Dime size drops of dawn soap, tops. We don’t have a Brady Bunch episode happening) on the stain and rub it in. Allow it to set for a bit and then wash it as normal.
11. Dawn Dish Soap Hack: Cleaning Your Patio Furniture
Summer dirt or winter moss, outdoor furniture can take quite a beating. Skip the pricey patio cleaners; all you need is Dawn dish soap and warm water. In a bucket, combine 1/4 cup of Dawn dish soap with one gallon of warm water and sponge off the grime. A rinse and towel dry later, and your patio furniture will gleam like never before!
12. Prolong Your Manicure with Dawn
If you are a do-it-yourselfer when it comes to your fingernails, then you should always start with Dawn.
Our skin has natural oils and the less of those present on your nails, the better your nail polish will adhere.
So wash your nails and cuticles with Dawn, rinse well, dry well, and then do your normal nail polish routine.
13. Repel Insects From Your Plants
Bugs are my number 1 creep-out thing, especially those little aphids that suck the juice off people’s houseplants. If you love your plants, you can use Dawn dish soap and water to eliminate them. Mix a tablespoon of Dawn dish soap with a quart of water in a spray bottle. Spray this solution on affected plants, covering both sides of the leaves. Repeat every few days until the aphids are gone.
14. Defog Your Glasses with Dishwashing Liquid
If you don’t wear glasses this seems like it’s not a big problem.
You’re wrong, it is a problem. When I am wearing glasses and I open the dishwasher or sometimes the oven, I am temporarily blinded. It’s not fun. And it’s an easy fix.
Just smear a bit of Dawn on your eyeglasses and rub them till they are clean. The Dawn will leave a little bit of a film that will prevent fogging.
15. Get Rid of Ants with a Dawn Dish Soap Recipe
If you have ants in your cabinets, counters, or floors, you don’t need to buy expensive or toxic ant killers. You can use Dawn dish soap and hydrogen peroxide to get rid of them easily. Mix equal parts of Dawn dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, and mouthwash in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray generously on the ant-infested areas. Leave the spray on for about 15 minutes, then wipe it away, taking the ants with it. This will also deter any new ants from coming in.
Things I Don’t Recommend Using Dawn For
As you search for DIY cleaners and hacks, you’ll see two other uses for Dawn that a lot of people recommend.
Don’t Use Dawn for Poison Ivy Rash Blisters
One of them is to help stop the spread of poison ivy. I don’t recommend Dawn for this. First of all, poison ivy is NOT spread from the oozy stuff that comes out of the blisters after you’ve gotten a poison ivy rash.
I know this because I have had poison ivy several times and the doctor tells me so every time I have to go get steroids when the rash gets infected. The rash is sort of time released. You can’t stop the spreading. It’s going to happen. Dawn isn’t going to stop it.
You can try using Dawn immediately after you’ve been exposed to poison ivy to get the wickedly sticky oil off of your skin, but a soap made specifically for poison ivy oil will work better.
And, PSA, go to the doctor at the very first sign of an infection. It can get out of control quickly.
Don’t Use Dawn for Regularly Bathing Your Pets
Dawn does work for getting rid of fleas. Unfortunately, it can also dry out your pet’s skin. And dry skin is pure misery for a pet.
Take them to the vet and get something that is more appropriate for an animal’s skin.
What Else Can Dawn Dish Soap Be Used For?
In addition to being a great cleaning hack, Dawn soap can be used for many other helpful tasks around the house. It can be used as a car wash, to remove bug and tar residue from your car’s exterior without damaging paint or wax. It also works well on makeup brushes as it’s pretty mild. And ditch the costly cleaners, and create your own all-purpose cleaner with these ingredients: Dawn dish soap, white vinegar, and water.
That’s our list of surprising Dawn dish soap uses. Whether you’re cleaning patio furniture, shining your grill, eliminating weeds, creating DIY ice packs, or more, Dawn dish soap is your go-to solution. So, why wait? Grab a bottle of Dawn dish soap and start exploring these hacks. You’ll be surprised at its potential!
Did you find this Dawn dish soap hacks useful? Don’t forget to share these tips with your friends and family.