We all know what this magical blue stuff is. Yup, Dawn dish soap. Why do I call it magical? Well because it has many awesome uses! It's not just to clean your pots and pans. It has several other duties that it can pull off like a boss. I love this stuff and I use it for lots of things. In fact, most of what I'm going to share with you, I've done and am proud of it. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the secrets of Dawn. But don't get too comfy, because I expect you to put some of these ideas to good use when you're done.
1. Cleaner of Wildlife
We all knew this one. But I had to put it in my line-up anyway. I just wanted to remind you of why it was chosen to clean wildlife animals. Especially the ones who get caught in all those nasty oil spills. According to the International Bird Rescue Research Center, Dawn effectively removes grease but does not cause harm to the skin of the birds. It’s also biodegradable and contains no phosphates. So i'd say this is a fantastic choice for this application.
2. Pets
Since this is gentle enough to use on birds in the wildlife, it's also safe to use on your pets. You can bathe your pets in Dawn to get them nice and clean. A bonus is that if your animal has fleas, Dawn kills them on contact. At a much cheaper price for expensive flea shampoos. This is safer for your pets and easier on your pocket. I have had great success with this.
3. Face Wash for Oily Skin
Dawn makes a wonderful facial cleanser for oily skin. As you know it cuts grease and oils. So this makes it a great contender for the battle against a greasy, shiny face. You only need a drop of two combined with warm water. Then just wash and rinse your face as usual. I must admit I suffer from oily skin, so I have done this. It does a pretty good job at reducing the oils in my skin. But one word of caution, be more careful than usual about not ingesting this soap. I mean, I know that we're all careful about that anyway. It's just be extra careful with this. Because one time I accidentally breathed in while washing my face and oh my gosh, I could not breathe. Basically the soap was like choking me. Don't swallow it either, because the same thing will happen. I obviously was fine after I rinsed it all off and calmed down. That's never happened with any other soap, and I don't know if it was just me, but please be careful. Please don't let this hold you back from trying this method though, just take extra care with it.
4. Oily Hair and Product Buildup
Sure, since it does well with oily skin, it also does well with oily hair too. Dawn removes some of the toughest grease and oil. Therefore you can substitute your regular shampoo and wash your hair a few times a week with it. You can do it more if desired to help you keep your oily hair under control.
Dawn is also great If you don't have oily hair, but you have product buildup. Use it once a month in place of your regular shampoo. It will remove excess oil from your hair and scalp and strip away any build-up of styling products without any damage. Do this once a month and you won’t have to buy expensive salon products that do the same thing.
5. Paint of Grease Remover for Hands
Been hard at work painting the house? Or do you have black, greasy hands from working on your car? Dawn combined with corn oil makes for the perfect paint or grease remover. Simply combine a little bit of both in your hands then rub it over affected areas. The corn oil and the dishwashing liquid both help to dissolve the grease and paint – yet leave skin soft, unlike harsher paint removers.
6. Manicure
Getting ready for a night out on the town? You want those fingers and nails to look as pretty as can be. Soak fingers in full-strength blue Dawn. It makes the cuticles soft and easy to work with. And it removes the natural oil from the fingernails, which allows the polish to adhere very well.
7. Tools
After you have finished your automotive or other repair project, soak your dirty tools in Dawn before you put them away to remove all the oil and grime. Dawn also helps prevent rust from forming on the tools.
8. Driveway Cleaner
If you have gas or motor oil stains on your driveway, you can use the 'kitty litter method' to clean up the excess oil and then use a scrub broom and a solution of Dawn dish soap and warm water to safely and effectively remove excess motor oil from the pavement. Rinse well after scrubbing.
*Kitty litter method - in case you were wondering I wanted to explain. When you have gas or oil in the driveway, purchase the cheap kitty litter. Spread the litter, use a generous amount, and completely cover the oil stain. Wait for a bit, and give the litter a chance to work. If it's just a little bit, 10 to 15 minutes should be enough. For bigger spills, let it sit a couple hours, or even overnight. Crush the litter. Using your grubby shoes, crush the litter on the oil/gas, breaking it up and grinding it into the oily/gas spot, like a scrub brush. When you're done scrunching, sweep up and discard the dirty litter. Then use the Dawn method as described above.
9. Clean Windows
Try this recipe from Merry Maids: mix 3 drops Dawn in 1 gallon water and fill a spray bottle with the solution. Spritz and wipe as you would with any window cleaner.
10. Unclog Toilet
A cup of Dawn detergent poured into a clogged toilet allowed to sit for 15 minutes and then followed with a bucket of hot water poured from waist height will clear out the toilet. I have tried this method a few times and it was a success!
11. Tub and Shower Cleaner
Take a spray bottle and fill it halfway with white vinegar. Heat in the microwave. Fill the rest of the way with blue Dawn. Put lid on and shake to mix well. Spray on your tub and shower walls. Allow to sit for a few minutes and rinse away. It will totally melt all the gunk, slime, sludge and other stuff that builds up including a bathtub ring. I love this method, It works very well. If your shower or tub is really heavily soiled, you may have to let it sit on longer. Also, try to have some ventilation in the bathroom while you do it. Because as you can see there is our wonderful vinegar in this mix. So yes, it is pretty strong smelling. But as always, the smell will dissipate.
12. Laundry Pre-treater for Oily Stains
For oil-based stains such as lipstick, grease, butter, motor oil, cooking oil, and some pen inks, simply apply some Dawn dish soap directly to the stain and scrub with a small brush or toothbrush until the oil is removed, and then launder as usual.
*Tip: I have also used about 1/4 cup of Dawn dish soap in my top load washer when I've run out of laundry detergent. It may not be recommended, but I have used it with success. You must be very careful with the amount because you don't need an overflow of bubbles in your laundry room. In addition, I have seen a recipe for homemade laundry detergent using Dawn online. But I have not tried it yet, so I really can't comment much on that yet. But I think I may try it out. When I do, I will let you know along with a nice post about different homemade laundry detergents. So you'll have to stay tuned for that.
13. Multipurpose Cleaner
It's always nice to have a good all around cleaner. Dawn is a very good choice, aside from the vinegar choice or course.
Merry Maids recommends using a drop of Dawn in water to clean ceramic tile and no-wax/linoleum floors. You can also use the spray on things such as:
14. Repel Ants
Spray counter-tops, cupboards and any other area where you see ants with a solution of Dawn and water. You can use about a tablespoon of Dawn in a regular sized spray bottle. The ratio is really a personal preference, but try not to make it too soapy. Then wipe the areas dry. The slight residue of Dawn that remains will not be a problem at all for kids or pets, but ants hate it. Should you see a trail of ants, go ahead and hit them with the Dawn spray.
15. Repel Houseplant Insects
A safe, effective way to repel insects from your houseplants, including aphids, spider mites and mealy bugs. Put a drop of Dawn Dishwashing Liquid in a spray bottle, fill the rest of the bottle with water, shake well, and mist your household plants with the soapy water.
16. Aphid Control on Fruit Trees
Mix two tablespoons of Dawn to a gallon of water and put in your sprayer. Try to get spray on both sides of the leaves, branches and the tree trunks. Let sit for about 15 minutes and then rinse the trees THOROUGHLY!
17. Poison Ivy
Poison ivy spreads rapidly through the spread of the oil within the blisters. Washing the affected area with Dawn, especially on children who keep scratching the blister’s open, helps dry up the fluid and helps keep it from spreading.
18. Bubbles
Now after all that, time for some fun! Dawn dishwashing liquid makes great homemade bubbles. Here is the Giant Bubble Recipe used in bubble makers at many children’s museums: 1/2 cup Ultra Dawn 1/2 gallon warm water 1 tablespoon glycerin (available at any drug store) or White Karo syrup works too! Stir gently. Skim the foam off the top of the solution (too much foam breaks down the bubbles). Dip bubble wand and get ready for some good, clean fun!
~That's it for now. Special thanks to 'one good thing by Jillee' for supplying me with a lot of the ideas in this post. I hope you enjoyed finding out all the magical ways that Dawn dish soap can make your life easier, safer, and cleaner. Please leave your comments if you have tried any of the methods above or if you have any methods that I didn't mention. Thanks!~
1. Cleaner of Wildlife
We all knew this one. But I had to put it in my line-up anyway. I just wanted to remind you of why it was chosen to clean wildlife animals. Especially the ones who get caught in all those nasty oil spills. According to the International Bird Rescue Research Center, Dawn effectively removes grease but does not cause harm to the skin of the birds. It’s also biodegradable and contains no phosphates. So i'd say this is a fantastic choice for this application.
2. Pets
Since this is gentle enough to use on birds in the wildlife, it's also safe to use on your pets. You can bathe your pets in Dawn to get them nice and clean. A bonus is that if your animal has fleas, Dawn kills them on contact. At a much cheaper price for expensive flea shampoos. This is safer for your pets and easier on your pocket. I have had great success with this.
3. Face Wash for Oily Skin
Dawn makes a wonderful facial cleanser for oily skin. As you know it cuts grease and oils. So this makes it a great contender for the battle against a greasy, shiny face. You only need a drop of two combined with warm water. Then just wash and rinse your face as usual. I must admit I suffer from oily skin, so I have done this. It does a pretty good job at reducing the oils in my skin. But one word of caution, be more careful than usual about not ingesting this soap. I mean, I know that we're all careful about that anyway. It's just be extra careful with this. Because one time I accidentally breathed in while washing my face and oh my gosh, I could not breathe. Basically the soap was like choking me. Don't swallow it either, because the same thing will happen. I obviously was fine after I rinsed it all off and calmed down. That's never happened with any other soap, and I don't know if it was just me, but please be careful. Please don't let this hold you back from trying this method though, just take extra care with it.
4. Oily Hair and Product Buildup
Sure, since it does well with oily skin, it also does well with oily hair too. Dawn removes some of the toughest grease and oil. Therefore you can substitute your regular shampoo and wash your hair a few times a week with it. You can do it more if desired to help you keep your oily hair under control.
Dawn is also great If you don't have oily hair, but you have product buildup. Use it once a month in place of your regular shampoo. It will remove excess oil from your hair and scalp and strip away any build-up of styling products without any damage. Do this once a month and you won’t have to buy expensive salon products that do the same thing.
5. Paint of Grease Remover for Hands
Been hard at work painting the house? Or do you have black, greasy hands from working on your car? Dawn combined with corn oil makes for the perfect paint or grease remover. Simply combine a little bit of both in your hands then rub it over affected areas. The corn oil and the dishwashing liquid both help to dissolve the grease and paint – yet leave skin soft, unlike harsher paint removers.
6. Manicure
Getting ready for a night out on the town? You want those fingers and nails to look as pretty as can be. Soak fingers in full-strength blue Dawn. It makes the cuticles soft and easy to work with. And it removes the natural oil from the fingernails, which allows the polish to adhere very well.
7. Tools
After you have finished your automotive or other repair project, soak your dirty tools in Dawn before you put them away to remove all the oil and grime. Dawn also helps prevent rust from forming on the tools.
8. Driveway Cleaner
If you have gas or motor oil stains on your driveway, you can use the 'kitty litter method' to clean up the excess oil and then use a scrub broom and a solution of Dawn dish soap and warm water to safely and effectively remove excess motor oil from the pavement. Rinse well after scrubbing.
*Kitty litter method - in case you were wondering I wanted to explain. When you have gas or oil in the driveway, purchase the cheap kitty litter. Spread the litter, use a generous amount, and completely cover the oil stain. Wait for a bit, and give the litter a chance to work. If it's just a little bit, 10 to 15 minutes should be enough. For bigger spills, let it sit a couple hours, or even overnight. Crush the litter. Using your grubby shoes, crush the litter on the oil/gas, breaking it up and grinding it into the oily/gas spot, like a scrub brush. When you're done scrunching, sweep up and discard the dirty litter. Then use the Dawn method as described above.
9. Clean Windows
Try this recipe from Merry Maids: mix 3 drops Dawn in 1 gallon water and fill a spray bottle with the solution. Spritz and wipe as you would with any window cleaner.
10. Unclog Toilet
A cup of Dawn detergent poured into a clogged toilet allowed to sit for 15 minutes and then followed with a bucket of hot water poured from waist height will clear out the toilet. I have tried this method a few times and it was a success!
11. Tub and Shower Cleaner
Take a spray bottle and fill it halfway with white vinegar. Heat in the microwave. Fill the rest of the way with blue Dawn. Put lid on and shake to mix well. Spray on your tub and shower walls. Allow to sit for a few minutes and rinse away. It will totally melt all the gunk, slime, sludge and other stuff that builds up including a bathtub ring. I love this method, It works very well. If your shower or tub is really heavily soiled, you may have to let it sit on longer. Also, try to have some ventilation in the bathroom while you do it. Because as you can see there is our wonderful vinegar in this mix. So yes, it is pretty strong smelling. But as always, the smell will dissipate.
12. Laundry Pre-treater for Oily Stains
For oil-based stains such as lipstick, grease, butter, motor oil, cooking oil, and some pen inks, simply apply some Dawn dish soap directly to the stain and scrub with a small brush or toothbrush until the oil is removed, and then launder as usual.
*Tip: I have also used about 1/4 cup of Dawn dish soap in my top load washer when I've run out of laundry detergent. It may not be recommended, but I have used it with success. You must be very careful with the amount because you don't need an overflow of bubbles in your laundry room. In addition, I have seen a recipe for homemade laundry detergent using Dawn online. But I have not tried it yet, so I really can't comment much on that yet. But I think I may try it out. When I do, I will let you know along with a nice post about different homemade laundry detergents. So you'll have to stay tuned for that.
13. Multipurpose Cleaner
It's always nice to have a good all around cleaner. Dawn is a very good choice, aside from the vinegar choice or course.
Merry Maids recommends using a drop of Dawn in water to clean ceramic tile and no-wax/linoleum floors. You can also use the spray on things such as:
- Bathroom and kitchen counters and sinks.
- Woodwork, e.g., baseboards, shelves, and wainscoting. (Dry as you go–wood doesn't like prolonged contact with water.)
- Tubs and toilet seats.
14. Repel Ants
Spray counter-tops, cupboards and any other area where you see ants with a solution of Dawn and water. You can use about a tablespoon of Dawn in a regular sized spray bottle. The ratio is really a personal preference, but try not to make it too soapy. Then wipe the areas dry. The slight residue of Dawn that remains will not be a problem at all for kids or pets, but ants hate it. Should you see a trail of ants, go ahead and hit them with the Dawn spray.
15. Repel Houseplant Insects
A safe, effective way to repel insects from your houseplants, including aphids, spider mites and mealy bugs. Put a drop of Dawn Dishwashing Liquid in a spray bottle, fill the rest of the bottle with water, shake well, and mist your household plants with the soapy water.
16. Aphid Control on Fruit Trees
Mix two tablespoons of Dawn to a gallon of water and put in your sprayer. Try to get spray on both sides of the leaves, branches and the tree trunks. Let sit for about 15 minutes and then rinse the trees THOROUGHLY!
17. Poison Ivy
Poison ivy spreads rapidly through the spread of the oil within the blisters. Washing the affected area with Dawn, especially on children who keep scratching the blister’s open, helps dry up the fluid and helps keep it from spreading.
18. Bubbles
Now after all that, time for some fun! Dawn dishwashing liquid makes great homemade bubbles. Here is the Giant Bubble Recipe used in bubble makers at many children’s museums: 1/2 cup Ultra Dawn 1/2 gallon warm water 1 tablespoon glycerin (available at any drug store) or White Karo syrup works too! Stir gently. Skim the foam off the top of the solution (too much foam breaks down the bubbles). Dip bubble wand and get ready for some good, clean fun!
~That's it for now. Special thanks to 'one good thing by Jillee' for supplying me with a lot of the ideas in this post. I hope you enjoyed finding out all the magical ways that Dawn dish soap can make your life easier, safer, and cleaner. Please leave your comments if you have tried any of the methods above or if you have any methods that I didn't mention. Thanks!~
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