We all know that dish soap is used to wash our dishes in the sink. But did you know you can use dish soap for hundreds of other tasks as well? Dish soap is a wonderful multi-purpose cleaning solution that can pretty much be used to clean anything and everything.
We recently found 75 ways to use dish soap other than cleaning dishes. You can use it as a window cleaner and defogger, to clean your tires and hub caps, to help remove a tight ring from your finger, and to remove gum and Silly Putty from your child’s hair, among many other amazing applications.
Here are 75 clever ways to use dish soap that save time and money that you probably didn’t know. Definitely check out #9, 24, 45, 54, and 72.
1) Make dish soap ice packs
Why would you add dish soap when you could just freeze water in a Ziploc bag, right? Well, here’s a
fun life hack that you might not know. When you freeze a mixture of dish soap and water, the soap prevents it from completely freezing. This makes it the perfect ice pack for wrapping around elbow, shoulders, and knees.
2) Easy-to-make carpet cleaner
If you have a nasty stain on your carpet, you don’t have to rush to the store for expensive carpet cleaners. This DIY concoction will have your carpets looking brand new in no time. In a spray bottle, mix 2 ounces of hydrogen peroxide and 1 ounce of dish soap. Spray the stain or problem area and scrub with a rag. Finish by spraying with plain water and scrubbing to remove any remnants of the stain as well as the soap.
3) DIY sidewalk and driveway de-icer
Make sure you don’t slip on an icy stoop or sidewalk by using a really effective
dish soap mixture. Mix a teaspoon of dish soap with a tablespoon of rubbing alcohol and a half gallon of warm water. Pour the warm mixture over the icy area and it will prevent the sidewalk or stoop from re-freezing.
4) Get rid of excess hair color from hair
If you dye your hair at home, it’s easy to go a little overboard with the hair dye if you’re not a professional. For those that dye their hair dark, don’t fret if you’ve found the tone to be a bit darker than you wanted. Just use dish soap in place of your shampoo and it will lightly strip the color down to your desired shade.
5) Remove oil stains from your driveway
“Squirt a large amount of … soap onto the oil stain. Use a large bristle brush to scrub the stain until you start to see the oil pulling out of the asphalt. Rinse off with a hose and repeat this until the stain is gone,” explains
Remove and Replace. Easy as that!
6) Homemade ant and insect repellent
Have you noticed ants crawling around your kitchen lately? Nip that problem in the bud with this simple dish soap solution. In a spray bottle, mix a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide, mouthwash, and dish soap. Spray the problem area and wait for about 5–10 minutes. After, simply wipe up the spray and the ants.
Flea medication can be expensive and rough on your dog’s skin and fur. Make a much less harsh, yet still effective,
version using dish soap. Fill your bathtub with warm water and add one cup of dish soap. Soak your pet in the mixture for five minutes, and then give them a good scrub from head to toe. Let them dry and use a comb through their fur to remove the fleas.
8) Remove soap scum from tub
Dish soap is a miracle worker when it comes to uses in the bathroom. One of those uses is removing soap scum. Simple pour liquid dish soap over the dirty area, let it sit overnight, then rinse clean with water the next morning. It cuts through scum, grease, and grime without harming the material.
If your skin is prone to being a bit on the oily side, dish soap is your new best friend. Incorporate the dish soap into your daily routine by washing your face with just a few drops of dish soap and warm water. Be sure to rinse your face thoroughly. The dish soap will cut right the grease without drying out your skin.
10) Get clean, clear, sparkling windows
Chaotically Creative says that this is, by far, the best way to clean your windows. In fact, she got this handy tip from a professional cleaning company, and now it’s the only method she’ll use. There are a few steps involved, but it’s actually really easy. Head over to the
Chaotically Creative blog for the instructions.
11) Brush and comb cleaner
Over time, oils and hair products build-up on our combs and brushes and they require a deep cleaning. Thankfully — there’s dish soap to the rescue! This simple DIY hack will require dish soap, Borax, and hot water. Head over to The Make Your Own Zone for their
step-by-step instructions.
12) Eyeglass cleaner and de-fogger
Using a small spray bottle, create a mixture of one part water, one part rubbing alcohol, and a drop of dish soap. Spritz the mixture on your eyeglass and rub with a soft microfiber cloth. Your lenses will be crystal clear.
For a sparkling clean car, dish soap is the perfect answer. All you need to do is mix a tablespoon of dishwashing liquid to one gallon of water and use the soapy solution to scrub your car with a soft sponge or cloth. Keep in mind that dish soap will remove any protective wax, so you’ll need to re-wax the car afterward.
14) Make your own floor and wall cleaner
Get your walls and floors looking like new by using dish soap. All you need to do is add half a teaspoon of liquid dish soap, half a cup of Borax, and one teaspoon of ammonia to two gallons of warm water. Using gloves and a soft rag or scrubbing brush, clean away and watch the dirt, grime, and fingerprints come right off!
15) Simple DIY grill cleaner
Using dish soap’s grease and oil-fighting power, it’s the perfect way to clean your barbecue grill. Fill a bucket or sink with hot water and a squirt or two of dish soap. Let your grill racks soak for around 10–15 minutes, scrub, and rinse.
If your toilet is clogged,
dish soap can help treat this issue too. The grease-cutting properties of dish soap break down oils and other materials in the drain, helping to remove the clog. Just pour a pot of warm water in the towel and a few squirts of dish soap, plunge or flush away the clog.
“It literally takes seconds to clean greasy tools with Dawn Dish Soap. Seconds,” the
Keenly Kristin’s blog says. All you need to do is put a tablespoon of dish soap in a gallon of hot water. Use a rag to instantly remove oil and grease from tools.
18) Kill fleas living in carpet and furniture
If your pet has recently had fleas, chances are, they’re probably living in your carpet. After you’ve given your pet a flea bath, make sure to clean your carpets too. Pour a tablespoon of dish soap into a 16-ounce spray bottle and fill the rest with water. Spritz your carpet and upholstery then let sit for 15 minutes. Wipe furniture with a damp towel or vacuum the carpet to remove the excess.
19) Keep houseplants insect free
Using a spray bottle, place a drop of dish soap inside, and fill the rest with water. Shake well and mist your houseplants with the mixture in order to prevent any insects from wanting to eat it or make it their home. The soapy water mixture is a safe and non-toxic deterrent.
20) Grout cleaner for tile
Don’t you just hate cleaning dirty tile and floor grout? It’s the worst. Thankfully, this chore can be made a lot easier with this simple trick. Place a cup of vinegar in the microwave for one minute and put in a spray bottle. Add one cup of dish soap to the spray bottle and give it a shake. Lightly spray the solution on your grout and let it sit for a few minutes before scrubbing the dirt and grime away. Rinse with water and you’re done!
21) Non-toxic pest killer for garden
Avoid using nasty toxic chemicals in your garden and opt for dish soap instead. Although a dish soap and water mixture won’t kill all insects, it’s wonderful for repelling spider mites, aphids, and other common garden pests.
Home Guides at SF Gate has more information.
Who doesn’t love playing with bubbles? Instead of spending money on pre-made bubbles,
make your own! All you’ll need is a cup of dish soap, 6 cups of water, 1/4 cup of light corn syrup, and a container. First, put the water in the container and slowly add the soap while stirring, avoiding making it foam or bubble. Add the corn syrup, stir, and you’re good to go!
23) Remove food stains from clothing
Spilling food or drinks on your newly washed shirt has happened to nearly all of us. Even more so if you have young ones in the household. Easily remove any food stains from clothing by mixing 2 teaspoons of dish soap with two teaspoons of white vinegar and two quarts of warm water. Use the simple solution to dissolve the stain.
24) Prevent insects from entering your home
Although dish soap is great for getting rid of insects and ants that are already in your home, it’s also wonderful for preventing them from getting in in the first place! All you need to do is squeeze out a line of liquid dish soap around door jams and window sills — the creepy crawlies will get caught in the soap and getting rid of them is as easy as using a hose or wet sponge.
25) Use as a daily shampoo
Just as you can use dish soap to remove excess dye from hair, it can also be used as a daily shampoo — especially if you’re prone to having greasy hair. All you need is a few drops and some water — be sure to rinse your hair thoroughly afterward. Think about all the money you’ll save on shampoo!
26) Find a puncture in a car or bicycle tire
If you seem to have a leaky car or bicycle tire but aren’t sure where the hole is, dish soap can help. Simply mix a few drops of dish soap with some water and brush the soapy liquid around the tire. Small bubbles will indicate where the puncture is so you can either fix it or replace it.
27) Help get rid of a yeast infection
Yeast infections can be unpleasant and uncomfortable — and medication for them can be expensive. Make your own at home using dish soap. Kill and stop the fungus from spreading by putting a few drops of the liquid soap on the crotch area of your underwear, scrub with water, then toss in the washing machine.
If you’re somebody that likes to save a bit of money and do your own manicures at home, you’ll want to keep dish soap at an arm’s length. Soak your fingers in a bowl of warm water with a few drops of dish soap to soften your cuticles. The soap will also remove any oils from your nails, making it easier to adhere the nail polish.
29) Quick and easy pool cleaner
We mentioned dish soap was great for cleaning kiddie pools, but it’s actually great for cleaning an in-ground pool as well. If you squirt dish soap down the length of the pool, all of the suntan lotion, dirt, etc., will move toward the edges of the pool, making it easy to scoop up! The pool will absolutely sparkle afterward.
30) Remove stuck-on soot from hearth or fireplace bricks
Soot and ash can harden and settle around your fireplace making the appearance unsightly and dirty. Dish soap is an easy fix! Just mix equal part of liquid dish soap with Morton salt and add enough water to make a paste or cream. Rub the mixture onto the stained brick and let dry for 10 minutes. Wipe clean with a sponge and warm water.
31) Remove brake dust from car wheels
Since dish soap is so great at cutting through grease, it’s perfect for so many things when it comes to cleaning your car. Mix a few drops of dish soap in a bucket of water and sponge down your car wheels with the solution. Rinse clean with water and your wheels will be sparkling like they’re brand new.
32) Use as a non-toxic lubricant
Nothing is more annoying than a squeaky door or cabinet hinge — it’s enough to drive you crazy after a while! Luckily, dish soap can help with that. Just apply a little drop of the soap on the squeaky hinge and your sanity will be restored. It works like a charm AND it cleans the parts it’s lubricating. Double duty!
33) Prevent bathroom mirror from fogging
After a hot shower, it’s nearly impossible to see yourself in the mirror because it’s become completely covered in steam. Prevent this by applying a small amount of dish soap diluted with water on the mirror. The film it leaves behind will make your mirror fog-free next time.
34) Get makeup out of clothing
If you’re a makeup wearer, you know how frustrating it is to put on a shirt only to find that you’ve smeared your foundation or lipstick on it. Use dish soap as a pre-treatment before washing and the stain will come right out.
35) Make cleaning up after painting a breeze
Whether you’re painting a canvas or painting a wall, be sure to apply a layer of dish soap over your hands and arms. Then let it dry. If you happen to get any paint on yourself during the paint job, it will come right off when you wash your arms and hands with water. Absolutely genius!
36) Guide and fish cable through conduits
Guiding cables through tight spaces can be a real pain. Lighten your workload with the help of dish soap. Using a spray bottle with water and a few drops of dish soap, spritz the cable with the mixture before you guide it through a conduit. The soapy solution will help guide the cables through the windy and tight spaces.
37) Clean patio furniture
After a few seasons of sitting outside without much use, you’ll want to give your patio furniture a nice clean before summer — especially if it’s plastic. All you need to do is mix some dish soap with warm water and wipe it down with a sponge or scrub brush.
If you do a lot of wood chopping or are camping and end up with tree sap on your hands or skin, it’s a real pain to try and get off. Here comes dish soap to the rescue once again! It will easily eat through the sap without drying your skin.
Suffering from acne can be miserable, but dish soap is said to be able to help you treat and clear it up in a few weeks if you’re oily. Wash your face with dish soap twice a day until the oil issue resolves. You’ll have clear skin in no time.
40) Clean your kiddie pool
The plastic wading pools that kids use in the warmer months is something that can get grimy, funky, and slimy fairly quickly. To clean it, dump out the water from the pool, then simply scrub it with dish soap using a wet sponge. Avoid using bleach because it will weaken and dry out the plastic.
41) Keep your fruit trees aphid-free
Aphids are every gardener’s worst enemy. Keep the bothersome insect off your fruit trees by following this simple trick. Mix two tablespoons of dish soap into a gallon of water and add to a spray bottle or garden sprayer. Spray both sides of the leaves, branches, and the trunk then let sit for 15 minutes. Be sure to rinse the tree thoroughly afterward.
42) Make tarnished jewelry sparkle again
Even though dish soap is really tough on grease, it’s actually surprisingly gentle on jewelry and metals. Mix seven parts hot water with one part ammonia and just a squirt of dish soap. Using an old toothbrush, scrub your jewelry with the mixture until it’s sparkling like when you first bought it.
43) Remove oil from concrete
Have an oil spill in your garage? You can get rid of that stinky black stuff by covering the stain with some baking soda to soak up the oil. Then, pour some dish soap over it to degrease the stain. Scrub this mixture with a stiff brush and let it stand for a few hours before you rinse it away. You may have to repeat a few times until it is gone if it’s a tough stain.
44) Help soothe poison ivy blisters
Poison ivy rashes and blisters spread when the oil of the blisters gets pops and moves to other areas of the skin. Since dish soap is great with oils, it’s perfect for soothing any poison ivy mishaps. Wash the affected area with dish soap — it will help dry up the blisters and help prevent it from spreading.
45) Easily clean cloth diapers
Cloth diapers are super economical and great for the environment, but let’s face it, they’re downright nasty to clean. To clean them in a jiffy and without any hassle, just add a little squirt of dish soap to the load of laundry you’ll be washing them in. Run a hot wash and rinse until there are no more bubbles. Don’t overdo it though! You could have a sudsy mess on your hands.
“I have been plagued with eczema on my hands and arms for years. Nothing would take it away. Since showering with Blue Dawn, my eczema has completely disappeared. I am thrilled beyond belief with this wonderful product. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!” said an avid Dawn user to
Everyday Cheapskate.
In addition to your brushes, you can also clean your makeup sponges with dish soap as well. “Make a solution of 2 cups warm water and only 1-2 drops of Dawn. Soak your makeup sponges in the solution for 30 minutes or so. Rinse well and repeat until they’re cleaned. Make sure to dry them fully so you don’t risk mold or mildew inside of the sponge,” explains
Six Dollar Family.
Our little ones are bound to end up with chewing gum in their hair at least once in their lives. You might think you need to cut that piece of hair off, but actually, dish soap will help work the gum right out. The grease-cutting properties just need to be worked into the piece of gum and it will start to crumble and lift out.
Fruit flies are so pesky and annoying, aren’t they? Get rid of them with the help of dish soap. Put a few drops of the soap in a small bowl or container with some white vinegar. They’ll be attracted to the white vinegar then become stuck in the Dawn.
50) Clean your pool filter
In addition to cleaning your pool with the hack mentioned earlier, you can also use dish soap to clean your pool’s filter. Just soak the filter in a mixture of water, baking soda, and dish soap. Rinse the filter thoroughly before putting it back.
51) Clean kitchen cabinets
Kitchen cabinets can easily get greasy from cooking and grabbing them with your grubby fingers. You can get them nice and clean by pouring a little dish soap into a spray bottle with warm water and spraying your cabinets with a mist of this solution. Rinse the solution off with a damp cloth and dry with a dry cloth.
52) Treat ring around the collar
You can rub some dish soap around your nasty sweat ring marks on your shirts and rinse it with water to remove the stain.
If you need to wash something ASAP that can’t be thrown in the washing machine and you’re all out of Woolite, you can use dish soap. Use a tablespoon of dish soap instead of detergent and use it to hand wash your clothing.
54) Homemade cleaning bomb
In a bowl, mix baking soda, citric acid, and a bit of liquid soap. Stir together with a whisk until it becomes a moist, crumbly mixture. Mold the mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze. Once frozen, drop a “cleaning bomb” into the toilet and watch it do its magic!
People love their jewelry, especially rings. Sometimes, though, due to the weather or body changes, a ring might be difficult to remove. If you find yourself with a ring stuck on your finger, rub some dish soap on the finger and wash it. The ring should slip right off.
Instead of using chemicals on your lawn, you can mix a teaspoon of dish soap with a cup of salt and gallon of white vinegar. Then pour it into a spray bottle and spray on weeds you want to kill.
Kids will love this art project. Put milk and a few drops of food coloring on a paper plate. Then, dip a cotton swab in dishwashing soap. Next, dip the swab in the center of the plate and just watch what happens. It’s really cool!
Conduct cool science experiments with your kids by using dishwashing soap. Learn more
here.
Dishwashing soap can remove the oils and other bacteria on your pets. Try to give them a bath in it!
Quickly and easily clean your blender using dish soap. Add a couple of drops into the blender, add warm water to fill the blender a quarter full, then turn on the blender until it’s nice and clean. Then rinse well.
61) Marble and granite cleaner
Add a few drops of dish soap and water into a spray bottle. Spray onto any marble or granite countertops to get sparkling clean counters.
62) Stainless steel cleaner
You can actually use dish soap to clean anything that is stainless steel. A mixture of dish soap and water works great on any type of stainless steel appliances. If necessary, you can use a touch of baby oil to follow-up.
63) Other appliance cleaner
In addition to your stainless steel appliances, you can use some dish soap to clean any other type of appliances. Just wipe them down with dish soap and water.
64) Clean air conditioner filters
Dish soap can be used to clean the metal mesh filter or foam on your air conditioning unit. “Soak the filter in warm water mixed with dish soap, gently scrub with a toothbrush, then rinse and dry. Clean the filter once a month during the summer for cleaner air,” according to
The Spruce.
Dish soap is also a great way to clean window blinds. Mix water with dish soap, and then wipe down each blind.
Just like you can use a dish soap mixture to wash your hair, you can also use it as body soap. Apply a small amount of dish soap on your palm and use it to wash your body with.
Dish soap is also used to save wildlife. “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,” according to
One Good Thing.
68) Removes Silly Putty from hair
Just like dish soap can remove gum from hair, it can remove move anything your child puts in their hair, including Silly putty, baby oil, Vaseline, etc.
69) Clean your shower floor
Shower floors can quickly build up with grease from your footprints and body oils. Apply some dish soap on the shower floor, let it sit overnight, and then scrub away the built-up gunk with a clean towel or stiff brush.
70) DIY dishwasher detergent
You can make your own dishwashing liquid at home using dish soap. Here’s the full tutorial on how to do it via
Binkies and Briefcases.
71) DIY Mary Kay satin hands
If you want to make your own Mary Kay satin hands, it’s a cheaper option than buying it, and it works just as well. To find out how to make your own using dish soap, read
these instructions.
If you or your kids needs a good shoe cleaner, this is it. Pour dish soap and water into a small bucket, and then clean your shoes using the solution and a toothbrush. It’s safe on leather, canvas, and rubber soles.
Just like you can use dish soap to clean makeup sponges, you can do the same with your makeup brushes. Use dish soap and water to clean your makeup brushes twice a month to help minimize or eliminate acne-causing bacteria that remains on the brushes. Just make sure to wash the brushes with the bristles facing down so you don’t get water into the base of the brush where the glue holds the base on.
If you need to apply decals onto various surfaces, using diluted dish soap can help make the decals easier to position during the application process.
75) Clean car tires and hub caps
Just like you can use dish soap to find a puncture in a tire or to clean off break dust, you can use it to clean the tires and hub caps. Hose them off, apply some dish soap on a clean rag, and they scrub the tires and hub caps. Finish by rinsing them down.
If you like this article, please SHARE it with your friends and family.
It’s amazing how dish soap has so many applications. And the best part … using dish soap as a multi-purpose cleaner is usually cheaper than using most store-brand cleaning solutions.
