25 uses for blue dawn that have nothing to do with dishwashing

Lately, it seems like every tip I see on the internet involves the use of Dawn dish soap, specifically blue soap. The reason so many people are talking about the blue Dawn is because it must be useful. And according to one woman’s Facebook post, Dawn blue can actually be used for a ton of unexpected things. Here they are!

1. Wildlife
   Ever wonder why Dawn dishwashing liquid is the cleaner of choice for wildlife after an oil spill? According to the International Bird Rescue Research Center, Dawn effectively removes grease without harming birds’ skin. It is also biodegradable and contains no phosphates.
2. Bubbles
   According to Bubbles.org, Dawn dishwashing liquid makes great homemade bubbles. Here’s the recipe for giant bubbles used in many children’s museum bubble machines: 1/2 cup Ultra Dawn, 1/2 gallon hot water, 1 tablespoon glycerin (available at any drugstore) OR white Karo syrup, that works too! Stir gently. Skim the foam off the top of the solution (too much foam breaks the bubbles). Dip the bubble wand in and get ready for some clean fun!

3. Oily hair problems
   Kids get into the weirdest things! Like Vaseline and baby oil rubbed into their hair! Dawn is gentle enough to use on their hair and powerful enough to remove the most stubborn grease.
4. Hair product build-up
   Once a month, use Dawn Original as you would a shampoo. It will remove excess oil from your hair and scalp and remove any build-up of styling products without damaging it. Do this once a month and you won’t have to buy expensive salon products that do the same thing.

5. Manicure secret
   Soak your fingers in very strong blue sea water. This makes the cuticles soft and easy to work with. And it removes the natural oil from the nails, which makes the polish adhere very well.
6. Repel houseplant pests
   Here’s a safe and effective way to repel pests 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 spray your houseplants with the soapy water.
7. Clean your windows
   Try this recipe from Merry Maids: mix 3 drops of Dawn in 1 gallon of water and fill a spray bottle with the solution. Spray and wipe as you would with any window cleaner.
8. Pets and Pests
   Use it to bathe dogs. It kills fleas on contact and is much cheaper than expensive dog shampoos.
9. Clean automotive tools
   After completing your auto repair project, soak your dirty tools in Dawn before storing them to remove all the oil and dirt. Dawn also helps prevent rust from forming on tools.
10. Ice pack
    Partially fill a solid zip lock sandwich bag with Dawn dishwashing liquid, seal and freeze. The liquid soap stays cold much longer and it can be refrozen several times. It will conform to where you need an ice pack.
11. Bath and Shower Cleaner
    Take a spray bottle and fill it halfway with white vinegar. Heat it in the microwave. Fill the rest with Dawn Blue. Put the lid on and shake to mix well. Spray on the sides of your tub and shower. Let sit for a few minutes and rinse. This product will totally melt all the dirt, silt, mud and other things that build up, including a bathtub ring.
12. Repel ants
    Spray countertops, cabinets and any other place you see ants with a solution of Dawn and water. Wipe off. The light residue of Dawn that remains will not be a problem at all for children or pets, but ants hate it. If you see a trail of ants, feel free to hit them with the Dawn spray.
13. Strip cloth diapers
    Add a squirt or two of Dawn Original Dish Soap to your washing machine and run it through a hot wash, then rinse until no more bubbles appear. Dawn is a degreasing agent and helps with stripping by removing oily residue. Be sure to rinse, rinse, rinse until the water runs clear.
14. Unclogging the toilet
    A cup of Dawn detergent poured into a clogged toilet for 15 minutes, followed by a bucket of hot water poured in at waist level, will unclog the toilet.
15. Poison ivy
    Poison ivy is spread by the diffusion of the oil into the blisters. Washing the affected area with water, especially in children who continue to scratch the blisters, will help dry up the fluid AND prevent its spread.
16. Driveway Cleaner
    If you have gasoline or motor oil stains on your driveway, you can use the kitty litter method to clean up the excess oil, then use a broom and a solution of Dawn biodegradable dishwashing detergent and hot water to safely and effectively remove the excess motor oil from the roadway.
17. Oily Skin
    Dawn is an excellent facial cleanser for oily skin. A drop or two combined with warm water will do the trick.
18. Paint or grease remover for hands
    Aurora combined with corn oil makes a perfect paint or grease remover. Simply mix a little of both in your hands and rub the affected areas. Both corn oil and dishwashing liquid help dissolve grease and paint, while leaving your skin soft, unlike harsher strippers.

19. Cleaning The Kiddie Pool

Plastic wading pools can get very gunky, very fast. Dump the water, then scrub the pool with Dawn and a sponge. More potent cleaners like bleach will weaken and dry out the plastic in the sun.

20. Multipurpose Cleaner

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:
• Bathroom and kitchen counters and sinks
• Woodwork including baseboards, shelves, and wainscoting (Dry as you go… wood doesn’t like prolonged contact with water)
• Tubs and toilet seats

21. 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 dishwashing liquid directly to the stain and scrub with a small brush or toothbrush until the oil is removed. Then, launder as usual.

22. Non-Toxic Lubricant

Use Dawn for sliding glass doors, door knobs, hinges etc. It lasts much longer than any aerosol-type spray that I have tried. And it’s non-toxic! It does a great job of cleaning the parts that it’s lubricating as well!

23. Sidewalk De-Icer

For icy steps and sidewalks in freezing temperatures, mix 1 teaspoon of Dawn dishwashing liquid, 1 tablespoon of rubbing alcohol, and 1/2 gallon hot/warm water. Pour over walkways. They won’t refreeze. No more salt eating at the concrete on your sidewalks.

24. Pool Cleaning

Squirt Dawn down the middle of the pool and all of the dirt, suntan lotion, etc. will move to the edges of the pool for easy cleanup! AND it makes the pool sparkle.

25. Eyeglass Defogger

Simply rub a small drop of Dawn on eyeglass lenses, then wipe clean. It will leave a very thin film that will prevent them from fogging up.