WHEN something sounds too good to be true, it usually is – but home experts have sworn that one common household product can do almost everything.
From treating fleas to removing gum from hair, or de-icing driveways in winter and chilling aches and pains, a certain dish soap formula can do it all.
The laundry list of uses comes from the experts at Cubby, who revealed the underappreciated hero of your cleaning caddy: Dawn dish soap.
You might know the blue gel as a kitchen sink staple, but the pros say it does so much more.
For example, you can rely on Dawn’s de-greasing agents to clean just about any part of the patio, from paving stones to outdoor furniture.
Mix 1/4 cup of Dawn with a gallon of warm water, spray or soak the surfaces, and scrub with a brush. This is also a great way to remove oil stains from the driveway.
The same properties that make Dawn ideal for removing sap and mud will also remove any sticky substances from your child’s hair.
Next time your kid – or, heaven forbid, kids – wind up with gum or Silly Putty in their locks, don’t make an appointment with the hairdresser right away.
“Just apply Dawn, and you can massage it out — without resorting to cutting your tot’s hair,” the experts write.
As a rule of thumb, anything sticky can be washed away with a touch of Dawn.
Try using it to remove price stickers from purchases, or to peel labels from reusable glass candle jars.
Slippery surfaces can use a dose of Dawn, too – stock up before winter so you can treat driveways, sidewalks, and steps with a homemade de-icer.
“Pour on a mix of one teaspoon of Dawn dish soap, one tablespoon rubbing alcohol, and a half-gallon of warm water,” the experts said.
The mixture will help clear icy surfaces and keep them from re-freezing when temperatures change.
That’s because the soap doesn’t freeze solid, which also makes it a good candidate for creating DIY ice packs.
Grab a zippered sandwich bag and fill it halfway with Dawn.
Pop it in the freezer for a flexible cold gel pack that can be used again and again.
If you’ve seen the advertisements that show Dawn being used to clean oil from baby ducks, you know the miracle formula can help you care for animal friends.
The experts at Cubby suggest breaking out the Dawn next time your furry family member brings home fleas.
“Soap will coat the fleas and make them sink and drown,” the pros explained. “It’s the perfect gentle treatment for puppies too young for flea treatments.”
Make sure to use a flea comb on your pet afterward and rinse thoroughly – Dawn does a lot, but unfortunately, it won’t kill off fleas’ eggs.
The overall lesson? If there’s something in your home that needs cleaning, Dawn can probably take care of it.
Don’t limit yourself to doing dishes: when you need to clean makeup brushes, jewelry, garden tools, windows, air filters, or eyeglasses, consider using a little bit of Dawn mixed with warm water.
