12 Brilliant Ways to Use Dish Soap Around Your House (That Have Nothing to Do With Dishes)

Makeup Brushes

Makeup brushes require regular cleaning to remain hygienic and keep bacteria growth at bay. “If you aren’t washing your tools, oil and bacteria can grow and cause acne or even skin infections,” warns Sarah McAllister, founder and CEO of Go Clean Co.

Dish soap cuts the oil that builds up from both your skin and the brushes while being safe for skin contact. To clean your brushes, place a drop of dish soap in the palm of your hand and massage the bristles with warm tap water. Rinse and repeat until the water runs clear. Then, gently squeeze out any excess water, reshape the bristles, and lay flat on a towel to dry, says Dawn senior scientist Morgan Eberhard.

Blenders

Blenders can be frustrating to clean: Most are equipped with sharp blades at the bottom, making it difficult to reach corners and angles. Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid, has a solution. “To clean your blender, fill it halfway with warm water and add a few drops of dish soap,” she says. “Turn the blender on a high setting, then rinse and dry.” Using this method will ensure that you have a thoroughly clean blender for smoothies, dips, and more.

Household Sinks

After washing your dishes, the basin might need a little sprucing up, too. Why bother with a secondary cleaner when your hands are already sudsy and gentle dish soap is within arms reach? 

Eberhard recommends rinsing your bathroom and kitchen sinks with warm water prior to cleaning and then applying dish soap spray to each side of the sink and around the drain. “Once you have scrubbed the surface with a soft sponge, rinse all sides and the bottom of the sink thoroughly,” she advises. If your sink has a garbage disposal, freshen it up by directing your dish soap spray into the drain and letting it sit for 30 seconds. Then, run warm water for a few minutes until all suds have disappeared. 

For best results, use only on stainless steel, enamel coated, Corian solid surface sinks, and light and dark granite sinks.

Appliances

Kitchen appliances see a lot of action throughout the day, accumulating grime and smudges at an alarming rate. McAllister recommends using dish soap and water to wipe down the exteriors of all your kitchen appliances, as well as the shelves and drawers inside your refrigerator. Mock similarly suggests removing dirt and fingerprints from your dishwasher exterior by wiping down the door and control panel with a damp microfiber cloth and a few drops of dish soap.

You can also clean your fridge's water dispenser by mixing 1 cup of white vinegar with two tablespoons of dish soap in a spray bottle. Spray and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Then, gently wipe with a cloth or scrub brush, repeating if necessary.

Windows and Mirrors

Try ditching window cleaner for dish soap the next time you notice your windows are full of streaks and spots. Mock’s recipe for a homemade glass cleaner is a simple combination of:

• 1 gallon of water
• ½ cup vinegar
• ½ cup of rubbing alcohol
• A few squirts of dish soap

Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and wipe the glass with a microfiber cloth or squeegee.

Patio Furniture

Patio furniture sure can take a beating sitting out in the elements all year round. But regular maintenance and cleaning will keep your patio set or chaise lounges in good shape for summers to come. 

Mock advocates for using dish soap, noting that the cleaning agent's appropriate for all kinds of materials. “A cleaning solution of mild dish soap and warm water will effectively clean nearly all porch and patio furniture, including materials such as metal, plastic, wood, fabric, and wicker,” she says.

BBQ Grill

BBQ grills can be hot spots for bacteria and stubborn residue. To clean the grill grate, Eberhard advises first burning off residue and using the grill brush to remove any charred residue. After letting the grill cool completely, the grates should then be removed and sprayed down with a solution of dish soap and water. Soak for 5-10 minutes, and then scrub the grates using a bristle-free or stiff nylon grill brush to remove tough buildup. Finally, rinse the grill grates thoroughly and wipe with a clean towel.

Laundry Stain Removal

Versatile dish soap can also be used in the laundry room to remove stubborn stains. For clothing, McAllister suggests applying dish soap directly onto the stain and gently working it into the fabric. Let it sit for 20 minutes, rinse, and toss the garment into the laundry. This method works especially well on grease stains, but you can also use dish soap on gravy stains, cranberry stains, and more. 

For protein stains (such as from a nosebleed), McAllister relies on a DIY dish soap recipe: “Combine one teaspoon each of dish soap, baking soda, and hydrogen peroxide,” she says. The mixture should be scrubbed into the stain and left to sit overnight, followed by a cold water rinse. Check that the stain has lifted, repeating if necessary. (Be sure to do a test spot on dark colors first, as hydrogen peroxide has bleaching qualities.) 

Baseboards

Baseboards are easy to overlook, but they can quickly discolor when dirt on floors and shoes gets kicked up onto them. Enter dish soap! Mock recommends creating a cleaning solution of mild dish soap and warm water and using a microfiber cloth to wipe down baseboards for a top-to-bottom clean. 

Floors

Floors are one of the most consistently dirty places in the home, as they're obviously the object of ongoing foot traffic. For an alternative to mopping with the usual cleaning agents, try a mixture of warm water and pH-neutral dish soap. “This will cut through the grease and grime without stripping the surface,” says Mock. 

Oil and Grease Stains

Oil spots on driveways can be real eyesores. According to McAllister, dish soap can effectively remove them. Similarly, dish soap can be applied to grease stains on carpets. “Dish soap is an effective tool for cutting through built-up grease,” says Mock. To remove grease stains from carpet, simply squirt some dish soap onto the greasy area, let sit for a couple hours, and then wash it out. 

Hard Surfaces

Dish soap spray is an effective solvent to clean many hard surfaces in your home, including stainless steel, light and dark granite countertops, and porcelain. Note that you should avoid using dish soap on marble and bathroom surfaces.

Clear the surface and apply dish soap spray (sparingly, as the suds generated will require multiple rinses and wipe-downs). Then, wipe or scrub the dirty surface with a plain hand, dish, or microfiber towel. Be sure to rinse between multiple wipe-downs to remove all of the suds. Finally, use a clean towel to wipe down any remaining excess soap and water for a finished, polished look.