Common Household Uses for Dishwashing Liquid That Don't Involve Cleaning Dishes

Every kitchen, in every home, is guaranteed to have a bottle of liquid dish soap sitting by the sink. Though lately, homeowners are finding many reasons to take that bottle out of the kitchen, and are using it in various areas of household cleaning!

That’s right, dishwashing liquid is in no way limited to just cleaning dishes. If you’re wondering why and how, it’s because of the surfactants it contains. These substances have cleansing properties and serve as emulsifiers and foaming agents that work together to tackle hardened grease, grime, and dirt. More importantly, it should be noted that dishwashing liquid products (that do not contain triclosan and phosphates) are eco-friendly, child and pet safe, and do not cause skin irritation. All in all, liquid dish soap is safe to use on most household surfaces, and is extremely effective, too!

Here are some of the best uses for dishwashing liquid that have nothing to do with dishes!

Clothes Stain Remover

From grease stains to protein stains like blood and wet grass; you can remove fresh stains from clothing using dishwashing liquid, a sponge and some hand washing ingenuity. In fact, spot-treating clothes stains with dish soap has proven to be more gentle and effective than most types of laundry detergents. 

To use liquid dish soap to remove stains from your clothes, follow the instructions below:

1. Dab the stain with paper towels to lift some of the discolouration and soak up as much liquid as possible. 
2. Dampen a sponge with room temperature water (squeeze out excess water).
3. Spread a small amount of dishwashing liquid over a corner of the sponge.
4. Place one hand under the fabric and hold it firmly in place; then gently scrub the stain with the sponge.
5. Rinse and repeat as needed.

Clean Appliance Exteriors

Kitchen appliances are prone to grease and grubby hands on a regular basis. If not cleaned in a timely manner, this sticky buildup attracts bacteria, looks unsightly, and dulls the surface material of the appliance overtime. The good news, however, is that dish soap is meant to cut through grease,and that’s exactly what it will do when used to clean your grimy kitchen appliances!

All you need to do is mix a squirt of dish soap in 4-5 cups of warm water, pour it into a spray bottle, and give it a vigorous shake. Spritz the exteriors of your kitchen appliances generously, and then wipe them down with a kitchen microfibre cloth.

Clean Outdoor Furniture

Stubborn dirt and grime on outdoor furniture rarely come off with a mere damp cloth. On the other hand, a mild liquid soap solution is generally enough to effectively clean off dust and dirt buildup on patio furniture made from plastic, wood, cane/bamboo, metal and outdoor upholstered fabric cushions. 

Here is a quick step-by-step guide to clean outdoor furniture in your backyard with liquid dish detergent:

1. Remove the cushions and pillows.
2. Dust the furniture to remove loose dirt, dust, and debris. Use a brush to clean out crevices and narrow spaces.
3. Mix ¼ cup of dish soap in a bucket of warm water to make a soapy, sudsy cleaning solution.
4. Hose down the furniture or dampen it with water.
5. Dip a sponge or soft scrubber in the solution and clean the furniture thoroughly.
6. Rinse off and clean missed spots (if any).
7. Wipe the washed furniture pieces with a dry towel and leave them to air-dry completely.

Clean Floors

If you’ve run out of floor cleaner, there’s no need to run out and buy some more. With as little as 2 tablespoons of dish soap mixed in a bucket of water, you can clean various types of flooring including tiles, vinyl, and marble. It is especially effective in cleaning up spills and grease clinging to your kitchen floors, however, you might want to warm up the cleaning solution for best results.

When using liquid dish soap to clean your flooring, be sure to make a mild solution that is not too soapy as this will make the surface slippery. If that happens, simply mop over the floor with plain water to rinse the surface.

Clean Glass Stovetop

Your glass stovetop can quickly go from spotless and gleaming to stained, greasy, and grimy! In fact, the cleaning experts at MaidForYou recommend daily cleaning to prevent excess buildup on the surface which ultimately affects the performance of the stove.

A simple method to clean a glass stovetop requires nothing more than dishwashing liquid, warm water, and a couple of microfibre cloths. Gather these items and follow the stovetop cleaning guide below:

1. Wipe the glass with a damp cloth to remove loose grime sitting on the surface.
2. Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap in a 1-litre spray bottle filled with warm water; shake well.
3. Douse your glass stovetop with the cleaning solution, and allow it to sit for 5 minutes.
4. Take a clean microfibre cloth and scrub the glass to remove grease and stains.
5. Dampen a fresh cloth with plain water and wipe over the surface to remove the cleaning solution.
6. Dry the glass with a dry cloth. 

Remove Stains from Window Blinds

These window treatments come in various types of materials ranging from vinyl and fabric to wood and plastic. Fortunately, due to its gentle nature, dishwashing soap can be used to remove stains from any type of window blind! 

For mild stains, dilute some dish soap and gently rub the stain away with a clean microfibre cloth dampened in the solution. If you’re dealing with stubborn or old stains, dampen the area and pour a small amount of dishwashing liquid over it. Allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes, and then scrub the stain with a non-abrasive scrubber. Rinse off the blinds thereafter and check if the entire stain has come off. If not, dry the blind and repeat the cleaning process.

Clean AC Filters

When cleaning your air conditioner filters, it’s important to be thorough in order to improve the unit’s performance while also ensuring better air quality in your home. More often than not, brushing and rinsing your AC filters are not enough to effectively remove buildup because the fine mesh traps debris which is not easily dislodged.

To make your AC filters as clean as they were when they were brand new, rinse them off thoroughly, and then soak them in a warm, soapy solution. Give the filters at least 15 minutes of soaking time before rinsing them once more. Once dry, place them back into your air conditioning unit.

Dishwashing liquid is an extremely versatile cleaning agent that can be used in numerous areas of household cleaning. So, when in doubt, turn to the bottle of liquid dish soap sitting by your kitchen sink and we are sure the results will pleasantly surprise you!