I’m all about those easy cleaning hacks, especially when they use something I already have on hand! I don’t know about you, but my cleaning supply closet sometimes gets crowded with specialty cleaners designed to do one specific task. Why waste the space and the money on all of these products when dish soap can accomplish so much on its own?! Let’s take a look at some of the most creative uses for dish soap around the house!
Clean Garden Tools
Maybe you’re like me and don’t even consider cleaning your gardening tools until the end of the fall when you’ll need to store them away for the winter. However, the task is made monumentally easier if you do it after each use. And that is made even easier with dish soap. Simply soak your tools in a bucket of warm water + 1/2 cup of dish soap. Let them sit for 30 minutes and then scrub them off with a sponge or even an old rag. The dirt and grime will wipe right off!
Clean Pets
Note: Only use Dawn dish soap for this. Dawn dish soap is safe to use on animals (which is why you often see it used in photos of cleaning up the poor animals that get caught in oil spills). Not only is Dawn gentle enough to use on pets, but it is useful for ridding them of fleas. This is good to know, since the special shampoos can be quite pricey, and they often irritate the animal’s skin. The dish soap also reduces surface tension in a warm bath, which causes the flees to sink and drown.
Rid House & Garden of Pests
Do you have some unwanted house guests? How about nasty pests in your garden that you can’t seem to get rid of? Instead of purchasing expensive products with harsh chemicals, use these homemade mixtures to get rid of these unwanted insects! If you have ants in your home, simply mix dish soap with water and spray onto the countertop or wherever you have ants. It will leave a sticky layer that the ants will get stuck in. Simply wipe up the mess when you see fit and apply as many times as necessary. This solution is safe for kids and pets, unlike a lot of other products out there on the market.
For pests in the garden, you will need three key ingredients for homemade insecticidal soap. Mix 2.5 tablespoons of dish soap and 2.5 tablespoons of vegetable oil with 1 gallon of soft water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and use on the garden for a safe and easy way to keep your plants free of harmful insects!
Clean Windows
There’s no need for a separate window cleaner that can’t do much else around the house. Make your own window cleaning solution by mixing 1/4 cup white vinegar, 1 cup Water, and 2 to 3 drops of dish soap in a spray bottle. Use the spray like you would normal glass cleaner, allowing it to sit on particularly grimey or grease-covered windows. This works well for all glass surfaces, not just windows.
Remove Grease Stains From Clothes
Whether it’s from accidentally wiping your hands on your pants or shirt, or from an unfortunate spill, we’ve all experienced the pain of the mighty grease stain. It seems like a formidable opponent, but it’s no match for dish soap! Instead of sorting through the different stain-removal products at the store and spending unnecessary money, simply grab some dish soap. You’ll want to make sure the kind of soap you use doesn’t use bleach, so as not to damage your clothes. Dawn is always a safe bet. Simply apply a thick coat of dish soap over the stain and rub it in with your fingers. Let it sit for a few minutes before tossing the garment into the wash.
Unclog & Clean The Toilet
There’s nothing quite as unpleasant as unclogging a toilet, but it’s something we’ve all had to deal with from time to time. You can use dish soap to help with the task at hand, as well as clean your toilet on a regular basis. To unclog the toilet, pour one cup of Dawn liquid dish detergent into the toilet bowl and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then, pour a bucket of hot water from waist height into the toilet bowl to clear it out.
For an easy homemade toilet cleaner, Mix 1 cup of dish soap and 1 cup vinegar in 1 gallon of water and fill a spray bottle with the solution. Let the vinegar mix soak in the toilet for 15 minutes, then use a toilet brush to scrub away any stains or grime.