As the name suggests, dish soap is primarily used to clean dishes. But I think it’s time to take dish soap out of the box we’ve unfairly stored it in. There are so many other practical uses for dish soap around the house. Whether you’re looking to get rid of stubborn stains, shine your jewelry or get rid of pests, dish soap is your miracle household elixir! Don’t believe us? Check out these 15 unexpected ways to use dish soap.
- Laundry detergent in a jiffy
Desperately need to clean your clothes but don’t have any detergent to speak of? Don’t go to work with that stained shirt, please. Just put a few drops of dish soap in two cups of water and squirt it in the washer once the water is full.
- Homemade Bubbles
A fun craft for kids, especially as the weather gets nicer! To make homemade bubbles for kids to enjoy in the yard, add a few drops of dish soap to a plastic water bottle, shake it up a bit, then blow bubbles. - Remove red wine stains
Red wine can be a stain nightmare, but it’s not impossible to remove. All you have to do is make this miracle stain remover. Add a teaspoon of dish soap to a cup of hydrogen peroxide, then use a clean sponge to pour the mixture directly onto the stain. Leave it on for a bit, then rinse with cold water.
- Killing Fleas
Depending on where you live, fleas can be endemic. And your poor pets are usually the first victims. Instead of spending money on expensive flea products, try a little lemon-scented dish soap when you bathe your dog. A groomer-approved homemade flea repellent! - Get rid of grease stains
Get rid of grease stains on clothes, or any other fabric, with this simple trick. Just put a drop or two of dish soap on the stain and scrub with an old toothbrush. Then wash with warm water and the grease stain should be a thing of the past. A mixture of dish soap and hydrogen peroxide will also help rid your children’s clothes of grass stains. - Homemade ice pack
Make a homemade ice pack by placing a cup of dish soap in a Ziploc bag and putting it in the freezer. The dish soap never freezes completely, making it soft and perfect for bruises.
- Kill poison ivy
Nothing itches like poison ivy. Get rid of the itch before it gets to you with dishwashing liquid. Simply wipe the poison ivy leaves with dish soap (wearing rubber gloves of course) and within a few days they should wilt and die.
- Make your jewelry shine
Re-shine your jewelry with a mixture of seltzer and dishwashing liquid. Soak your jewelry in it for 5 minutes, then swirl it in the foam. Use a soft toothbrush to remove the dirt, then rinse with water and set aside to dry. Your jewelry will be as good as new in just a few minutes.
- Trap and kill fruit flies
If you have a fruit fly problem in your kitchen (which can be gross), make a trap with dish soap. Pour about an inch of fruity-smelling dish soap into an open container (Tupperware or Mason jars work well), then add another inch of water. Then cover the container with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in the wrap. Flies will be attracted to the smell and fly in, but will not be able to fly away with the soap on their wings. - Getting rid of stains on upholstery
Stains on upholstery can be so frustrating – this couch wasn’t cheap and now it has an oily sauce stain on it. Great. To get rid of stains on upholstery, use a whipped detergent. It sounds fancy, but it’s not. Simply fill a container with half dish soap and half water. Then whisk the mixture with a hand mixer. Then use a cloth to clean the stains with this sudsy mixture.
- Spooky patio furniture
Spring is here, which means it’s time to get your patio furniture out! But since they’ve been in storage for a few months, those chairs and tables are probably looking pretty nasty. Add a little dish soap to warm water and wipe the dirt and grime off the patio furniture. - Defogging windows
This is a miracle, especially for your car. If you want to keep windows or mirrors from fogging up, just pour a little dish soap on a clean, dry cloth and apply it to the glass until the soap disappears. No more squinting into foggy mirrors. - Lubricate a screw
If you have to drive a screw into wood and are having trouble, dish soap is the perfect lubricant. A drop of dish soap on the screw will make it easier to drive into the wood.
- De-greasing a pet
Did your dog or cat get sprayed? Yikes, we’re sorry. Here’s a quick fix. Mix 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1/2 cup of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of dish soap. Then use this solution like a shampoo on your pet. Try to let it sit on his coat for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing. A less messy option than a tomato sauce bath, for sure. - Keep spiders and ants at bay
If you hate spiders or your home is under attack by ants, dish soap is a surprisingly effective repellent. Mix water and dish soap in a spray bottle, then spray around vents, doors, windows and other entrances that pests like to use.
Do you use dish soap in a particularly creative way around the house? Share with us your ideas in the comment
