Before You Buy Another Cleaner: 12 Jobs Dawn Dish Soap May Already Handle

6. Wash Outdoor Furniture

Patio tables and chairs don’t always require an outdoor furniture cleaner.

For many washable plastic, resin and metal pieces, a bucket of water with a small amount of dish soap can remove ordinary dirt, pollen and grime.

Rinse thoroughly afterward and check the manufacturer’s recommendations before using it on specialty finishes, wood or fabrics.

7. Clean Vinyl Blinds

Blinds can accumulate dust and greasy household residue that’s hard to remove with dry dusting alone.

For washable vinyl blinds, diluted dish soap can help cut through the grime.

Depending on the style of blind, wipe the slats with a cloth dampened with soapy water or wash removable blinds according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

8. Clean Greasy Tools

Some household and garden tools pick up oily or greasy grime that plain water won’t remove.

A little dish soap and warm water may be enough to clean compatible tool surfaces before drying them thoroughly.

Don’t soak tools with electrical components, wooden handles or parts that shouldn’t be submerged. Some metal tools may also need to be dried immediately and oiled afterward to prevent rust.

What this may replace: General-purpose degreasing cleaner.

9. Wash Trash Cans

Kitchen and outdoor trash cans can develop sticky residue and odors even when you use liners.

Rather than buying a special deodorizing cleaner, start with the basics: dish soap, water and a scrub brush or cleaning cloth.

Removing the actual grime that holds odors may be more effective than simply covering the smell with fragrance.

Rinse the container and allow it to dry thoroughly before replacing the liner.

10. Clean Grease From Some Car Surfaces

Dish soap can be useful for cleaning certain greasy automotive items, but it’s important to distinguish between parts and paint.

A small amount can help clean greasy tools, removable rubber mats or other compatible washable surfaces.

However, don’t make dish soap your regular car-wash soap. Products formulated for vehicle exteriors are designed with automotive finishes and protective coatings in mind.

11. Clean Combs and Hairbrushes

Hairbrushes and combs collect hair oils and residue from styling products.

After removing trapped hair, you can often clean washable plastic combs and brushes in warm water with a few drops of dish soap.

Don’t soak wooden brushes, cushioned brushes or anything the manufacturer says should not be submerged.

12. Make a Simple Soap-and-Water Cleaning Solution

Sometimes we buy a cleaner because we’ve been conditioned to think every surface requires its own bottle.

For many washable household surfaces, it doesn’t.

A few drops of dish soap added to water can provide a simple cleaning solution for ordinary dirt and grease. Depending on the surface, that may be all you need.

Don’t assume it is appropriate everywhere. Electronics, natural stone, unfinished wood, specialty finishes and certain flooring may have specific cleaning requirements.

But before reaching for another bottle at the store, it’s worth asking whether plain soap and water will handle the job.

What this may replace: One or more general-purpose specialty cleaners.

The Bigger Savings Isn’t in the Soap

You probably won’t save a noticeable amount of money by calculating how many pennies’ worth of Dawn you used to clean your kitchen cabinets.

That’s not where the real savings are.

The savings come when you don’t buy the $4, $6 or $8 bottle designed for one particular cleaning problem because something already under your sink can handle it.

It’s especially worth considering for a product you’d use infrequently. A specialty cleaner that lasts three years because you rarely need it isn’t necessarily a bargain. It’s money sitting under the sink and another item taking up space.

Where Dawn Isn’t a Money-Saving Substitute

The cheapest cleaner isn’t cheap if it damages what you’re cleaning.

Don’t assume Dawn is safe simply because it’s relatively gentle on dishes. Before using it on natural stone, specialty flooring, painted or finished wood, electronics, delicate fabrics or manufacturer-treated surfaces, check the care instructions.

And don’t automatically substitute dish soap for products that serve a function beyond basic cleaning. Dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent, disinfectants and automotive wash products, for example, are formulated for their particular jobs.

There is also no benefit to using more soap than necessary. Extra dish soap generally means extra rinsing, not extra cleaning.

TDS Takeaway: Try the Cheapest Solution First

There’s a useful rule for cleaning on a budget: Start with the simplest product likely to work and move up only if you need to.

Sometimes that will be water. Sometimes it’s soap and water. Sometimes you’ll genuinely need the specialty cleaner.

Dawn isn’t a miracle product and it doesn’t belong on every surface in your home. But because you may already buy it for dishes, every additional job it can safely handle gives that bottle a little more value.

The next time you’re tempted to buy a cleaner for one specific problem, check under your kitchen sink first. The solution may already be there.