It is impossible to come across a person who does not own a dish soap in their home. That is how you get your kitchenware to look sparkling clean after all, right? However, as much as it is very useful in keeping all your dishes clean, it has, even more, uses even outside your kitchen. Check out the following hacks that incorporate the use of dish soap.
1. Fix Squeaky Hinges
When you have a squeaky hinge at home, the first thing you will reach for is probably a chemical lubricant. However, these are created with very toxic ingredients that may not be the safest for most human beings to smell or breathe in. So, instead of reaching out to them, just get your dish soap and rub some of it on the squeaky hinge. It will immediately take the squeakiness away. So use this soap on glass doors, window hinges or anything else with a hinge.
2. Make Your Own Ice Pack
You can easily buy ice packs from the supermarket then store them at home in your freezer but you can always save that money by making it by yourself. All you have to do is fill a plastic bag with some bar soap then seal it properly. When doing this, ensure you remove all the air inside it after which, you can put the bag in your freezer. This will allow the dish soap to harden. The moment it’s frozen, it makes such a great ice pack. Besides, you can always refreeze this several other times. It’s very cost effective.
3. Remove Natural Oils From Your Nails
If you prefer to do your own manicure at home, then you always want to make the results as great or close to as great as he ones you would have gotten from the actual salon if you had visited one. For you to get the best results, soak your fingers in some dish soap before you proceed with your manicure. Get some soap and place inside a bowl. Add some warm water inside then soak your nails inside for a few minutes. 5 to 10 minutes is the recommended time. The dish soap will make the cuticles malleable while removing natural oils from your nails. As such, the nail polish you apply will stick better and will definitely be more outstanding.
4. Ward Off Insects From Your Houseplants
Placing plants inside the house enables you to decorate your house with some greenery. Unfortunately, doing this also means you have more things to take care of in your house., including keeping bugs and insects away from the plant. For you to ward off any bugs, just ensure you add water into a spray bottle then add some dish soap. Mist the mixture you have come up with on the plants. This keeps mites, aphids and other insects or bugs away. Don’t worry, this is actually safe for your green plants.
5. Remove Ice From Sidewalks
Winter months can be a bit risky for pedestrians in some parts of the world. This is especially when the ice collects on people’s sidewalks. When this happens without your knowledge, you could easily end up slipping and falling badly. A good hack would be to take some salt and use it alongside your dish soap to de-ice those sidewalks. It’s a matter of only combining a teaspoon of rubbing alcohol, a teaspoon of dish soap as well as just half a gallon of hot water. You can then pour this on your walkways and just this alone will make your walkways free of ice and you won’t have slipping incidents or accidents.
6. Kill Fleas As a Pet Shampoo
Dish soap is not only effective in keeping insects away from your plants but also your pets. If your dog has fleas for example, just wash the dog with some dish soap. The soap will not only kill the bugs but will also ensure your pet does not itch. You should also consider it because it is less costly than actual flea-killing shampoos.
7. De-Fog Your Windows
When your glass is foggy, it becomes really frustrating to see through it, especially when the fog sits right on the important parts such as your car’s mirrors, and the windows, just to mention a few. However, you don’t have to keep dealing with this. Take some dish soap, just a dollop of it, and dilute with some water. Rub this mixture on any glass surface. This dish soap keeps fog from forming on the surface so that you have that much-desired clear view.
8. Save You A Trip To The Garage
Everyone hates a puncture and even worse, it becomes more annoying when you can’t seem to trace the hole. Don’t rush to the nearest garage just yet. Before you do this, there’s a trick you can do at home to find the hole much faster. Simply mix a couple of dish soap drops with water then brush this mixture on the tire that has a puncture. You will trace it easily as this mixture will form bubbles around the puncture and there you have it. You will be able to fix the puncture.
9. Clean Grout
Dish soap easily removes stains, even in the grout found between your tiles. You know just how frustrating it is to get the dirt off your grout. To start the process, warm some vinegar or hydrogen peroxide inside the microwave then pour this into a spray bottle. Add some dish soap then shake properly to combine. The moment you have finished that process, spray the mixture on your tiles then leave this to settle for about ten minutes. After this, scrub the grout using a brush then rinse with some water and you will notice the grime easily goes away.
10. Create Your Own Laundry Detergent
Laundry detergent is so easy to find in supermarkets but it is as easy to make your very own. Just grab a large container and then mix some washing soda, just about a third of a cup. Add a quarter cup of Borax washing booster to it and then two tablespoons of dish soap all in a gallon of hot water. The result of this mixture makes the perfect laundry detergent. The dish soap will very easily remove grime and stubborn stains from your clothes.
11. Make Your Own Carpet Cleaner
While dish soap is good at removing different stains from clothes, it is also very useful in removing unwanted marks from carpets. So instead of buying expensive carpet cleaners, it’s best to just make your own. Get a spray bottle and in it, add two ounces of hydrogen peroxide and an ounce of dish soap. Stir this concoction properly before spraying it on the area with stubborn marks. Use a rag to scrub off the stain. Use a bit of elbow grease on it and then add plain water. Scrub it just a bit more to get rid of the remaining dish soap and stain. Your carpet will be very clean after this.
12. Keep Fruit Trees Aphid-Free
Dish soap can also ensure the health of the plants you have outdoors by keeping aphids away. It is generally so difficult to control aphids without adding poison to your entire garden. To use dish soap, get one that has no fragrance and mix just a tablespoon of it thoroughly with a quart of water. Do this in a spray bottle and once you are done, the dish soap will easily get rid of aphids without causing any harm to your plants and fruit trees. Do this once every week for the best results.
13. Make a Simple DIY Grill Cleaner
Cleaning your grill happens to be one of those things you can do to ensure you get a very healthy barbecue. This is because as you use it to cook, grate usually fills up with food and grease particles which can’t be easily wiped off once you have finished making the BBQ. You can however get rid of them by getting some dish soap, half a cup will do, and then mixing it with half a cup of baking soda and vinegar, just a quarter a cup. Mix these until you have a paste then pour it over the grill using an old paintbrush. Let it sit there for eight hours and then scrub the grill using a strong brush. The stubborn grime will come off easily and you will be left with a clean and fresh grate ready for your next barbecue.
14. Cleanse Oily Skin
Oily skin can be difficult to manage but instead of looking for different expensive cleansers to help solve the situation, you can easily just use some dish soap. Mix a few drops of this dish soap with some water then rub this mixture on your face. Ensure you rinse it until your face no longer has any soap. The dish soap eliminates the extra oil and you can then say goodbye to that unnecessary shine..
15. Take Care Of Your Garbage Disposal
When there is a garbage disposal in your sink, you will often call a plumber to clear it out. This can be expensive so why not do it yourself? Get some dish soap and mix it with some ice cubes. It would be great if you already have some dish soap cubes that have been frozen as an alternative too. Start by removing the rubber seal then clean it by dipping it in hot water that contains dish soap for a soak. Get several ice cubes and then place them on your sink after which you can pour the dish soap over them. Put on your stopper and then turn on your garbage disposal. You will end up not only with clean garbage disposal but also a sharp one. Do this three times every year.
16. Kill Weeds
Dish soap is also great at ensuring weeds stay away from your garden. Get a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and put it in a spray bottle. Add some vinegar, a tablespoon will be enough, and then include a tablespoon of salt. Spray this mixture on the weeds. You will notice that in just a matter of days, the weeds will disappear and your garden will be free of this nuisance that could damage your greens.
17. Clean Your Hairbrushes
Oil accumulates in your hair and in the same way it can accumulate on your hairbrushes. If left there for too long, the oil will become even thicker such that when you use the brush on your hair, you will be returning this dirt to your tresses. To keep your hair clean, wash your brushes with some dish soap. Fill the sink with water then add some dish soap. Soak the brushes so that the dirt lifts before taking the brushes out of the water. You will notice that the oil will be very much gone.
18. Clean and De-Fog Eyeglasses
Eyeglasses are important especially if you are not one of those people blessed with very good eyesight. However, they tend to accumulate dirt and even some smudges as you wear them throughout the day. When this happens, the glasses could use some deep cleaning from the dish soap. Place a small drop of dish soap on the outside of the glasses then inside the lenses and gently use your fingers to wash the glasses. Once done, dry them using a soft cloth, and just like that they will be free of frost.
19. Unclog Your Toilet
Nobody likes a clogged toilet. However, with just a bit of dish soap, you can very easily solve this problem. Pour half a cup of some dish soap inside the toilet. Allow it to sit for a couple of minutes about 15 to 20 before flushing the dish soap out using some hot water. With this, your pipes will be cleared from the debris that causes clogging.
20. Clean Kiddie Pools
A kiddie pool is such a great way of ensuring your kids enjoy a great time by the pool under the sun. However, the more you use these kiddie pools the more they become gross. It is essential to keep them clean for the sake of your kids. To do this, use some little dish soap to eliminate the grime and even gunk. The good part is that the dish soap will not damage the plastic-like other potent cleaners would.
21. Kill Fleas On Carpet and Furniture
If your pet has been going through a phase with fleas, it’s possible that they picked those up from the carpet or furniture. So, to keep fleas away from pets, simply add a tablespoon of dish soap and water to a spray bottle then spray this mixture on furniture and your carpet as well. Let it sit for about 15 minutes then vacuum the carpet and wipe your upholstery using a damp piece of cloth. By doing this, you will completely get rid of the fleas.
22. Rid Your Home of Ants
Ants just always get into our homes somehow and we don’t like this. It is easy to just call pest control to handle this but that is also expensive to do. Instead, how about handling this issue by yourself. Mix water and some dish soap and spray this on your countertops. Just like that, your ants will stay away. You can also pour this on a line of ants that you spot in your house. The dish soap handles them immediately and is less toxic compared to other options you could use for pest control.
23. Create The Most Effective Home Cleaner
Hard water is definitely not good for your sinks as it leaves marks on them. Fortunately, you can clean these marks off very easily using a mixture of vinegar and dish soap. You can start creating a good cleaner by mixing some dish soap with white vinegar. Heat a cup or two of white vinegar inside your microwave until it’s hot enough. After this, pour it inside a spray bottle then add the dish soap. Thoroughly mix them then spray on the surfaces that you intend on cleaning. Allow it to sit for between 30 to 60 minutes. Scrub then proceed to rinse. Your surfaces will look a lot cleaner and even shinier.
24. Remove Stains From Your Clothes
Stains are annoying but they can be removed with the help of some dish soap. The moment you notice a stain on your clothes, dip a toothbrush in a bit of the dish soap then rub on the stain until the mar goes away. After that, place the piece of cloth in the laundry as you usually would. Once you are done with your laundry, you will notice that the stain is completely gone.
25. Clean Your Jewelry
You should make it a point to clean your jewelry every once in a while since it also accumulates both grime and dust. To restore its shine, you can use dish soap. Place just a tablespoon of it in a bowl of club soda. Place your jewelry in the bowl and allow it to soak. Remove the jewelry and scrub gently using a toothbrush. Your jewelry will be clear of grime and dirt and you will not damage it. Just avoid using this hack on opals since the stone is very porous and could easily absorb dish soap. This could ruin the stone.
26. Make Your Glass Stove Top Sparkle
Stovetops get messy very easily because of the food that often spills over to the stove as you cook. Dish soap can however solve this easily. When you have finished cooking, let the top of your stove cool for a while, and then apply some dish soap. Grab a sponge or brush and rub the particles and grime. Once done, wipe off the dish soap using a wet rug. Allow it to dry and you’ll notice how sparkly the stove will be.
27. Remove Stray Paint
If you decide to paint your own house, be ready for a few mishaps. When paint ends up going to a place where it should not, you can solve this easily by using dish soap. Rub some on the areas that got painted by mistake and the paint will easily disappear. Dish soap is very useful in clearing paint from hardwood floors. It isn’t just effective but it is also cost-friendly.
28. Remove Oil and Other Stains From The Driveway
After a few years of parking your car in the same spot, you will notice some oil stains on the driveway. You don’t have to live with this. Using dish soap, you can eliminate this eyesore. Grab a bottle of dish soap and pour a reasonable amount of it on the stain. Grab a large bristle brush and use it to scrub the oil and if it proves to be a very stubborn stain, add some more soap. You will soon notice that the stain rises from the asphalt and comes off. Rinse your driveway using a hose and repeat the process a couple of times until all the stains are gone.
29. Clean Your Pool
Cleaning the pool can be quite a difficult task. However, you can sort this situation by using dish soap as this can easily lift the grime from your pool. Squirting a bit of dish soap in the pool will compel the different oils, lotions, and all sorts of dirt to the sides of the pool. You will then be able to clean the pool easily and quickly. It’s the perfect solution.
30. Wash Your Hair
Dish soap is generally not the best shampoo but in some cases, it could give you the fresh results that you crave. If your locks are all messy, dish soap can serve as a great shampoo especially on kids’ hair since they are always putting things in there. The dish soap will get rid of the oils and dirt. Do this every few weeks for the best results. It will rejuvenate the scalp which is what you want.
31. Clean Your Tub & Bathroom Tiles
Dish soap can be used on grubby tiles that are packed with gunk. When you’re cleaning the tub and also your shower, simply grab a spray bottle and fill it with white vinegar. Inside the microwave, heat the vinegar and then add some dish soap to the bottle. Mix thoroughly and then spray it into the dirty shower or even tub. Allow this to sit for between 5 to 10 minutes and rinse. Your tiles will look all nice and new.
32. De-Grease Your Tools
If you’re always working outside, you know just how important it is to keep your tools clean. Wash them with dish soap as this will easily remove any grease from your tools of work. Once you are done with any dirty project such as working on the engine of your car, soak the tools in some dish soap. After this, the dirt will be gone and the tools will look as good as new.
33. Properly Clean That Baking Tray
As a result of the internet’s presence, people can easily get their hands on various hacks at home. Cleaning baking dishes is not exactly easy. Luckily, dish soap can effectively take out the dirt. Just freeze some dish soap in an ice cube tray. Proceed by rubbing the soap directly onto the utensil for best results.
34. Remove Gum From Hair
Everyone has a bad hair day every now and then. However, the worst thing that can happen to you is having gum stuck in your hair. You could spend hours trying to get it out, but you really don’t have to. Get some dish soap and start working it into the affected areas. The soap will break down the sticky gum and force it out of your hair strands. No need for an unplanned haircut.
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