If you like home hacks then you’re really going to enjoy these. They all involve Dawn dishwashing soap, a product you might already have on hand. While this particular soap works great for washing dishes, it has a lot of other purposes. Below are 35 of those that you should know about.
1. Helping wildlife
There have been many documentaries made that show people cleaning wildlife. For instance, experts and volunteers alike pitch in to remove gunk on waterfowl affected by oil spills. They use Dawn because it’s effective and harmless.
2. Homemade bubbles
What do you do when your child runs out of bubbles but isn’t ready to stop playing? Simply mix one-half cup of Dawn with a half-gallon of water and one tablespoon of glycerin or Karo syrup. In minutes, they can continue making bubbles.
3. Greasy tools
Depending on the job, some tools get greasy…such as those used by automotive mechanics. To make them look shiny and new but also to improve their functionality, Dawn works great. All you need are a little bit of the dishwashing soap on a rag and mild scrubbing.
4. Garden protection
Dawn even works as a spray for killing bugs. To protect your garden fruits and vegetables, put two teaspoons of Dawn and one quart of water in a spray bottle, then shake well. While you might see a film on your plants, it won’t harm them…just the insects.
5. Oily hair
Whether you got suntan oil in your hair or your hair is naturally greasy, Dawn is an excellent solution. Since it’s mild, it won’t cause any damage. At the same time, its degreasing agent will remove the oil with ease.
6. Dirty hairbrushes
Any oil from your hair transfers to your brushes. To clean them, remove the loose strands. Then, soak your hairbrushes for about 30 minutes in a sink that contains one tablespoon of Dawn, one tablespoon of borax, and hot water, followed by rinsing.
7. Foggy glasses
For this problem, Dawn works in two unique ways. First, you can clean your glasses by rubbing a small dab of soap onto the lenses and then wiping it off with a soft, dry cloth. Second, the invisible film will prevent your eyeglasses from fogging up again.
8. Fireplace brick
Especially if you have a woodburning fireplace, soot builds up over time. Rub a mixture of one-half cup of Dawn, one-half cup of salt, and just enough water to make a paste. Apply that to the surface, let it dry, and then scrub it using a soft-bristled brush. When finished, rinse the bricks with a sponge and warm water.
9. Stubborn stains
Rather than toss out a piece of clothing because you spilled red wine or spaghetti sauce on it, use Dawn. Just apply dishwashing soap directly on the stain and with a toothbrush, scrub. Then, launder as usual.
10. Ugly cuticles
There’s nothing pretty about cuticles. And clipping them usually doesn’t make them look any better. Instead, soak your fingers in Dawn, rinse, and then work on the cuticles. Your nails will look fantastic.
11. Paint stains
Regardless if you changed a wall color or worked on a craft project, it’s never fun to get paint on your hands. Usually, it’s hard to get off. But not when you wash your skin with Dawn.
12. Window cleaner
Although there are some pretty good commercial window cleaning products on the market, most cost a pretty penny. To spend less money and get better results, turn to Dawn. For this, put three drops of dishwashing soap and one gallon of water in a spray bottle and then clean as usual.
13. Hair dye stains
Between busy schedules, tight budgets, and the pandemic, a lot of people are now coloring their hair at home. But as non-professionals, sometimes the dye ends up on the skin. To remove it, a little bit of Dawn and warm water works wonders.
14. Clogged toilet
Few things are more frustrating than dealing with a clogged toilet, especially if you have kids and only one bathroom. Before you call a plumber, try pouring one cup of Dawn into the bowl and letting it sit for 20 minutes. Then, dump a bucket of hot water into the toilet.
15. Flea control
Dawn is a great way to kill fleas on your pets. Just use the dish soap in place of shampoo. Even though this kills fleas on contact, it’s perfectly safe for the animals.
16. Stainless steel appliances
Today, a lot of people choose stainless steel appliances but they show dirt and fingerprints. To eliminate those, place a small dab of Dawn on a sponge and then wipe down the surfaces. When finished, spray the appliances with clean water, followed by drying them with paper towels.
17. Handy icepack
You’ll probably find this hack surprising. But by freezing Dawn in a zipped plastic bag, you can make an icepack. This is an awesome way to keep your kid’s lunch cold or to reduce swelling if they take a bad spill.
18. Poison Ivy
The itching caused by poison ivy is enough to drive you crazy. And the more you scratch, the more it spreads. Not only will washing your skin with Dawn prevent the rash from spreading but it’ll also promote faster healing.
19. Greasy cabinets
Although this hack is ideal for any cabinets, it works particularly well on those in kitchens closest to the stove. From cooking, the surfaces become coated with grease over time. Using a little bit of Dawn and warm water will take it right off.
20. Icy concrete
Ice-covered driveways, walkways, and other concrete surfaces are a hassle to clean and potentially dangerous. Unfortunately, a lot of commercial melting products cause damage. Instead, pour a mixture of one teaspoon of Dawn, one teaspoon of rubbing alcohol, and one-half gallon of hot water over the area you want to de-ice.
21. Showers and tubs
It doesn’t take much time for showers and tubs to become incredibly dirty. In some instances, grime, sludge, and slime accumulate, making them more difficult to clean. But by microwaving a half-bottle of vinegar topped off with Dawn that you spray on the surfaces and you’ll never go back to conventional products again.
22. Ant repellant
Summer is a great time of year for hanging out with friends, visiting the beach, and having family over for barbecues. But it’s also when ants invade. Spraying your cupboards, countertops, window sills, and other areas where you find these pests with a mixture of Dawn and water and they’ll disappear.
23. Tires and rims
To clean tires and rims, you usually have to purchase two different products. But Dawn will get both of them sparkling clean. All you need is some dish soap and a wet rag, along with water for rinsing.
24. Cloth diapers
Although a lot of parents prefer disposable diapers, some like those made of cloth. The issue is that with frequent washing, they deteriorate relatively fast. To remove residue and stains but without causing the cloth to erode, use Dawn as a laundry detergent alternative.
25. Goo and tangles
Kids have a reputation for getting things stuck in their hair. That includes suckers, gum, cereal, and more. An easy way to remove the goo and detangle their hair is by using your fingers to work a few drops of Dawn through the strands.
26. Oily skin
For some people, oily skin is a natural problem. For others, oil develops because of the environment in which they work. Regardless, washing the skin with Dawn and then rinsing it thoroughly will help control that.
27. Labels and stickers
Whether you put a sticker on the back of your car or your child stuck a label on their bedroom mirror, it might’ve seemed like a good idea at the time. But when trying to take it off, well, good luck. Thanks to Dawn, you can remove anything sticky in little time and without much effort.
28. Kiddie pool
If you have kids but not a swimming pool in your backyard or access to one in the community, a kiddie pool will have to do. But these plastic pools get dirty and slimy. As you probably guessed, all you need to do is clean it with Dawn and water.
29. Clogged drain
Similar to how Dawn works to unclog a toilet, it helps with clogged sinks, bathtubs, and showers. For this, pour one-half cup of dishwashing soap down the drain and then let it sit for about 30 minutes. After that, flush the drain with two to three gallons of hot water.
30. Laundry pretreatment
There’s nothing like freshly laundered clothes. But even if you have a top-of-the-line washing machine and use quality detergent, some stains are hard to remove. For those caused by coffee, wine, lipstick, cooking oil, butter, and pen ink, pretreat them first. You’ll be amazed at the results.
31. Lubrication
You can even use Dawn dishwashing soap to lubricate things like door hinges, window locks, doorknobs, sliding glass doors, and so on. There are two key benefits to this. First, Dawn isn’t toxic. Second, you’ll enjoy longer-lasting results compared to using an aerosol lubricating spray.
32. Aphid control
Aphids are a real pain for anyone with fruits trees. Not only are they destructive but also hard to get rid of. But by spraying the trees with a mixture of Dawn and water, you won’t have to worry about these nasty pests.
33. Multipurpose cleaner
Most people have multiple cleaning products under the sink. But with Dawn, that’s all you need. It’s safe to use on any material, whether ceramic, glass, wood, or plastic. As long as surfaces are rinsed and dried, they’ll be clean and look amazing.
34. Driveway stains
Whether from your vehicle or one that another person drives, you could end up with oil stains on your driveway. Although this doesn’t cause any real harm, it looks terrible. With Dawn, a scrub brush, and water, you can remove them quickly.
35. Pool water
This Dawn hack will save you a tremendous amount of effort. If you have a swimming pool, you can spend less time cleaning the water. Simply squirt some Dawn down the middle of the water. Due to its degreasing agent, things like oil, lotion, and even dirt will automatically make their way to the side of the pool.
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Source: One Good Thing, Homemaking, Kitchen Fun with My Three Sons, Survival Frog