People usually just see Dawn dish soap as a kitchen product. However, cleaning with Dawn dish soap is an old-fashioned and economical cleaning method that has a multitude of applications. The “grease-cutting power” that removes baked-on lasagna from your pan also works on oil stains, soap scum, and grime with ease.
I remember my mom always reaching for the blue bottle to clean something in the house, and now I do the same thing – while my husband questions if I’m really going to clean the mess with Dawn. Spoiler alert – it always works! I have tested most of these out of pure necessity because, between two teenagers, a husband who can’t see crumbs, and Gigi the goldendoodle shedding tumbleweeds in the kitchen, I need to keep things clean. Here are 30 things that I clean with Dawn, and you can also clean with Dawn that earn it a spot far beyond the dish rack.
1. Streak-Free Windows and Glass
A bucket of warm water and a few drops of Dawn produces a superior window washing solution to many store bought sprays. Glass and window cleaner sprays often leave behind a filmy streak that is caused by ammonia. Simply wash with a sponge, and squeegee from the top down to remove those streaks.
Most importantly, I use this one the most. The patio doors serve as a perpetual record of every nose and paw print that Gigi leaves, and the blue-water-and-squeegee duo is the only thing that gets them really clean, as opposed to just smeared in a different direction.
2. Greasy Stovetop and Range Hood
Dawn is made to break down cooking grease, so the stovetop is where it shines. Just squirt a little onto the cooled surface, add a little warm water, and let it sit for a minute to break down the film, then wipe. The brown sticky haze around the burners comes right off.
I avoid thinking about how much grease collects on my range hood, until I eventually notice. I know it only takes ten minutes and a Dawn-soaked cloth to bust my delusion, so I don’t know why I keep letting it get so bad.
3. Grease Stains on Clothes
Dawn is a reliable pre-treater for oil and grease stains on your clothes. Just work in a drop directly into the stain, wait 15 to 30 minutes, and then wash like normal. It gets out salad dressing, butter, and bacon splatters that normal detergent lets go.
With two teenagers, it is like there is a whole new discovery in our laundry each week. Food stains, etc. that I’m sure they didn’t spill. At least several times, Dawn has rescued a favorite hoodie of mine that I’d already pictured as gone.
4. Cloudy Diamonds and Gold Jewelry
To safely soak diamonds, gold, and most hard gemstones, mix a few drops of Dawn dish soap in a small bowl of warm water. After 10 to 15 minutes, gently scrub the pieces with a soft toothbrush and rinse. The soak will loosen skin oils and lotion residue that dull the stones.
My wedding ring gets cloudy more often than I’d like to admit. A quick soak in Dawn dish soap, however, makes it sparkle like new. Avoid this method for softer or more porous stones like opals, pearls, and emeralds. Those need a gentler approach.
5. Soap Scum in the Shower and Tub
For old soap scum, combine Dawn and warm white vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the walls of the shower and on the tub, and let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Then, scrub and rinse. The Dawn cleans the greasy film, and the vinegar dissolves the mineral deposits.
After showering, I’m certain the kids’ bathroom has never been rinsed. It has borderline magical combo effect. It does smell like a salad for a time so crack a window.
6. Carpet Spot Cleaning
For common stains on carpet, you can use warm water and Dawn dish soap. Mix one teaspoon of the soap with 2 cups of warm water. Dab the solution on the stain with a clean cloth, and blot (do not rub). Use a clean cloth with plain water to blot and rinse. It should remove food spills, mud, and most fresh stains without the use of a fancy machine.
I deal with this one constantly, especially with a goldendoodle and two kids who convert the living room into a cafeteria. The trick is to blot instead of scrub, which I remind myself every single time.
7. Scuffed and Grimy Walls
Places where hand-level grime, fingerprints, and mystery smudges collect, such as around light switches, can be cleaned with a drop of Dawn mixed with warm water and applied with a soft sponge. Wring the sponge out almost completely before wiping and follow with a cleaned, damp cloth to avoid leaving soapy residue.
The wall along our stairway has what looks like an everlasting handprint trail that’s exactly at teenage height. I always thought the wall needed to be repainted. I never understood it just needed five minutes and some soapy water.
8. Baked-On Sheet Pans and Air Fryer Baskets
For sheet pans and air fryer baskets with cooked-on grease, squirt some Dawn on the surface, fill with hot water, and let them soak for an hour (or overnight). The grease becomes soft and most of it wipes off, so there’s no need to workout your arms to get it all off.
I have resigned myself to the fact that my sheet pans will always have a permanent toasted-brown tint, and for really greasy gunk, a long Dawn soak tackles the heavy lifting while I do literally anything else.
9. The Toilet Bowl in a Pinch
Running low on toilet cleaner? Pour some Dawn (dish soap) into the bowl and let it sit for five minutes. Then, scrub with the toilet brush and flush. The soap attaches to the grime and will help you get by until it is restocked.
I have done this more times than I would like to say on a morning when I found out that the toilet cleaner was empty and guests were coming. It works when you really need it to.
10. Greasy Driveway and Garage Oil Stains
For oil spots on concrete, cover the stain with baking soda and drizzle some Dawn over it. Scrub with a stiff brush and a little hot water, then rinse everything away. The baking soda will absorb while Dawn breaks down the oil and together they will fade the stains.
My husband’s car maintenance involves leaving little presents on the garage floor. This is one cleaning trick of mine that he fully supports, likely because it cleans up after him.
11. Makeup Brushes and Sponges
A drop of Dawn dish soap in some wet makeup brushes helps break down the oily residue from foundations and concealers that regular cleansers can’t remove. Use a gentle swirling motion on your palm, rinse until the water is clear, and then lay the brushes flat to dry.
Judging by the color that ran out, I’m going to guess that it had been months since any of my daughter’s brushes had been washed. After one Dawn wash, the brushes ran a color that I won’t describe during dinner, but they genuinely came out clean.
12. Hairbrushes and Combs
Soaking combs and brushes in warm water and a drop of Dawn for about 15 minutes breaks down the oils and other buildups that cling to the bristles. You can swish it around and then rinse it and let it dry. It will remove gunk that builds up on the bristles.
Our brushes get truly grimy between my daughter’s leave-in products and my dry shampoo habit. Cleaning brushes is one of those tasks I don’t remind myself to do, but when I do it, I feel oddly accomplished.
13. Eyeglasses and Sunglasses
You can clean lenses clearer than regular use by rubbing a small drop of Dawn on each lens with your fingers and rinsing under warm water. Then dry with a microfiber cloth. This method is way better than just breathing on them and wiping them with your shirt .
I wipe my shirts on things. I wonder what my optometrist thinks about that. The Dawn method wipes take ten seconds longer but the difference is so big, it makes me question why I ever wiped on cotton.
14. Greasy Pots, Pans, and Casserole Dishes
If you’re having trouble with really stuck on messes, fill the dish with hot water, add a good amount of Dawn dish soap, and let it soak instead of scrubbing it immediately. Twenty minutes soaking does much more than twenty minutes of hard work.
When I see a crusty casserole dish sticking to a nasty mess, I like to fill it up with hot, soapy water and just walk away. I walk away enough that I can forget about it until the next morning. Future me will take care of it!
15. Outdoor Furniture and Patio Cushions
To clean plastic, resin, or metal patio furniture, add a few drops of Dawn dish soap to a bucket of warm water and use a sponge to scrub away dirt and grime. For fabric cushions, test a small spot first, then scrub gently and rinse the cushion with the hose. It removes pollen, dirt, and weather film.
Our patio set gets left out every winter, where it slowly builds a grime-coated shell I don’t think about until it’s warm out again. 20 minutes of scrubbing and a bucket of soapy water is all it takes to make it look good enough to sit on.
16. The Kitchen Sink and Faucet
A little Dawn on a sponge works wonders on both stainless and porcelain sinks, and easily removes the greasy film that builds up around the base of the faucet. After wiping it down, rinse it, then buff it with a cloth to prevent streaking.
It may seem obvious to use dish soap on the sink, but wiping down the sink instead of just the dishes makes the whole kitchen look and feel cleaner.
17. Mopping Sealed Hard Floors
You can make a budget floor cleaner for sealed tile, vinyl, or linoleum by putting a couple of drops of Dawn dish soap in a bucket of warm water. Remember: You want to use as little soap as possible; too much will leave a sticky residue that will attract dirt.
I have had floors tacky for a week before learning the too-much-soap lesson. Now I use virtually nothing and leave out this on unsealed wood (that hates water).
18. Bathtub Ring and Grime
For a dirty tub, spray some Dawn around the tub ring, add some warm water, let it sit for ten minutes, and then scrub the tub with a sponge or a soft brush and rinse. It breaks up the film of body oil and soap that forms the classic bathtub ring.
The kids’ tub forms a ring that looks like they bathe in mud! Dawn and ten minutes means I am not going to be scrubbing on my knees for half an hour, something my back appreciates more with each passing year.
19. Window and Door Tracks
To clean the tracks where your sliding windows and doors dirty, grab an old toothbrush, cotton swab, or something similar, and soak it in Dawn dish detergent. Pour a small amount of soapy water into the track, and then scrub the loosened gunk out, and wipe the area clean with a paper towel or clean rag.
We have a patio door track that collects a disheartening amount of dirt, dog hair, and what could only be described as mystery material. It is disgusting, but somewhat satisfying to clean, and Dawn is what ultimately gets it to work.
20. Blinds and Window Screens
Using a cloth dipped in warm Dawn water, wipe dusty, greasy blinds, slat by slat. To clean window screens, remove them, lay them flat, gentle scrubbing with a soft brush and soapy water, then rinse with the hose.
Sticky paste forms from dust and grease on the kitchen blinds, sealing me into an unending nightmare of cleaning them, aggravating me to no end. I hate this chore, but once I give in, Dawn makes it somewhat tolerable.
21. Greasy Cabinet Doors and Hardware
Kitchen cabinet doors, especially around the handles and over the stoves, attract a layer of sticky grease and dust. All you need is a soft cloth, a little bit of Dawn dish soap, and some warm water, and it will cut through that sticky layer. Just make sure to wring the cloth out and follow it up with another wipe that is clean and damp.
When I initially saw the cabinet next to the stove, I assumed the film over it was the finish. After wiping it, I saw the actual color. It was less than pleasant to see, but also incredibly satisfying.
22. Garbage Disposal and Sink Drain
Pour some Dawn soap down the drain, then follow it with a kettle of hot (not boiling) water. This will help keep the drain clear of grease build up which will cause slow drainage and foul odors. This solution won’t replace a true clog remover, but it will help clear grease build up in between deep cleans.
In our kitchen, every few weeks there is a blockage that often gets worse after someone washes down a food item that they should have thrown away. Running hot water with Dawn gets me a bit of time before I have to take real action on the issue.
23. Hummingbird Feeders
Hummingbird feeders require constant cleaning because they attract a lot of sugar and mold. A few drops of Dawn dish soap will help clean hard to reach places and bottleneck ports. Use warm water and a bottle brush to clean these areas. Be sure to rinse thoroughly so that you do not leave soap residue.
I love the idea of a feeder hanging off our back porch, and for some reason, I really enjoy the process of keeping it clean for the little guys. The especially important part about rinsing is that no one wants soapy nectar, especially not a hummingbird!
24. Gigi’s Emergency Bath
Dawn dish soap is known for removing grease from wildlife, and that same power makes it an excellent emergency dog bath. Just lather, being careful around the eyes, and rinse thoroughly. Dawn isn’t meant to be a replacement for regular dog shampoo, and should not be used too frequently as it can dry out the skin.
Once at the park, Gigi discovered something astonishingly dead that she just had to roll in it. I knew that regular dog shampoo was not going to do the trick. Dawn dishwashing soap is what finally got the smell out. She has not forgiven me, but at least the car ride home was tolerable.
25. Sticky Label and Adhesive Residue
Get gummy label residue off jars and containers by mixing Dawn dish soap with a little cooking oil, or with baking soda to form a paste, rub it on the area, let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub it off. The soap and oil break down the adhesive so it rolls away instead of smearing.
I save glass jars thinking I’ll get to my pantry organization project one day, but that sticky label ghost drives me up the wall. This finally lets me reuse them without a gluey reminder of where they came from.
26. Fruit Fly Trap
An easy way to trap fruit flies is with a bowl of apple cider vinegar and one drop of Dawn dish soap. The fruit flies are attracted to the apple cider vinegar, and the Dawn dish soap breaks the surface tension of the liquid so the flies can’t escape once they land in the bowl. Once the fruit flies are eliminated, remove the trap from the countertop.
All summer long, the fruit bowl in the house becomes a resort for fruit flies. However, this little bowl of doom is the only thing that consistently helps eliminate them. It feels a little bit like I’m doing something evil, but I’ve come to terms with it.
27. Grout and Tile
Combine baking soda with Dawn and create a paste. Apply the mixture to the grout lines and let it set for 10 to 15 minutes. Then use an old toothbrush to scrub, and rinse. Dawn’s grease cutting action combined with the light abrasiveness removes the dirt that discolors grout.
The grout in my kitchen had changed from white to gray, and I just thought that was the new color. I learned that it had been years of old dirt that had been mopped into it. This cleaning paste restored a surprising amount of white.
28. Shirt Collar and Cuff Rings
Dawn can remove the yellowish color from the oil and body residue that collects on the collar and cuffs of the shirt. Put a drop of Dawn on the yellowed area and allow it to set for a few minutes before washing. It breaks down the body oil residue that regular washing does not remove.
Collar rings on my husband’s work shirts are not coming out from normal washes. A little Dawn dish soap does the trick, and saved shirts I was going to demote to yard-work duty.
29. Combs, Brushes, and Kids’ Bath Toys
Water-squirting bath toys are magnets for mold on the inside. To clean them, soak them in warm water with Dawn dish soap, squeeze some soapy water in, and out a few times, then rinse. The same method can be used for comb sets that are grimy and small plastic toys.
I learned what is inside a squeeze toy the hard way once and have never fully recovered from that experience. Now I try not to think about what comes out when they get a regular Dawn soak.
30. Houseplant Leaves and a Mild Pest Spray
Dawn dish soap mixed with a quart of water can be used to remove dust from houseplants and can deter soft bodied insects like aphids and gnat. Be careful when using soap on plants because it can hurt the leaves. Test it out on one leaf first and use it sparingly.
I do my best to keep a few houseplants alive, usually by sheer luck. So when little gnats showed up, I was really glad to learn that the blue bottle can help. I do go a little bit light on it — a little Dawn goes a long way, on plants and on everything else.
It’s a joy to clean with Dawn dish soap because it requires no cabinets full of special cleaning products. One bottle, a few dollars, cleans grease, grime, soap scum, oil stains, and a goldendoodle who’s rolled in something terrible at the park. Classic cleaning hacks our moms and grandmas use to stretch a dollar actually work.
Lets start with the greasy stovetop and windows. My husband was skeptical but those two convinced him. After that, keep the blue bottle close by and you will be amazed at how often it will be the answer to the question “What do I clean this with?”
Common Questions About Cleaning With Dawn Dish Soap
What should you not clean with Dawn dish soap?
Avoid using Dawn on a few things: leather, which it strips of natural oils, and unsealed or waxed hardwood floors, where water and degreasers can damage the finish. Skip it on delicate fabrics like wool, silk, and cashmere, and on natural stone such as granite or marble when it is mixed with vinegar. You also should not pour it into a dishwasher or washing machine, since it suds far too much, and it is best not to use it regularly on hair or skin because it dries them out.
What happens when you mix vinegar and Dawn dish soap?
Mixing Dawn with white vinegar makes a powerful cleaning spray. The Dawn cuts grease while the vinegar dissolves mineral and soap-scum buildup, which is why it works so well on showers, tubs, and glass. Use it on those surfaces, but skip it on natural stone like granite or marble, since vinegar can etch the surface.
What does pouring Dawn in your toilet do?
Pouring Dawn into the toilet bowl does two things. It coats and lifts grime so you can scrub the bowl clean in a pinch, and when it is squirted in before a bucket of hot (not boiling) water, it can help lubricate and loosen a minor clog. It is a handy backup, not a replacement for a real toilet cleaner or a plunger on a serious clog.
Can you clean windows with Dawn dish soap?
Yes. A few drops of Dawn in a bucket of warm water makes an excellent streak-free window cleaner. Wash the glass with a sponge and squeegee from the top down. Because Dawn cuts grease, it leaves windows clearer than many ammonia-based sprays, which can leave a filmy streak behind.
Will Dawn dish soap kill fleas on my dog?
Dawn can drown and wash away fleas during a bath because it breaks down the waxy coating on the insects, which is why it is a common emergency option. It does not prevent future fleas, so it is not a substitute for a vet-recommended flea treatment, and it should not be used as your dog’s regular shampoo since it can dry out their skin.