20+ Amazing Uses for Dawn Powerwash + DIY Recipe

Learn how to make your own Dawn Powerwash Spray plus over 20 different ways to use it outside of cleaning your dirty dishes. 

Long ago, I really thought that regular Dawn dish soap was expensive until they debuted the Dawn Powerwash dish spray.

But, being a fan of the dish soap, I had to jump on board and see what it was all about. I love using regular dish soap to treat stubborn stains, and actually here are 18 other ways to use Dawn that you may not know about. 

How to Make Homemade Dawn Powerwash

Before we get started, be sure to save my Dawn powerwash recipe. It's so much cheaper to make than buying it from the store. Plus, you'll need a couple other ingredients including isopropyl alcohol. 

I originally purchased the starter kit, which included Dawn Power Wash in the spray bottle, along with one refill bottle. So when I made my own Dawn Powerwash refill, I used the store-bought bottle. If you don't have one, you just be sure the bottle offers continuous spray. 

What's the Difference Between Dawn and Traditional Dish Soap?

The main difference I have noticed is the ability for fighting tough grease, but that's kind of obvious because their commercials make those claims as well. Some dish soaps do not have the same power. I have branched out and used Aldi's brand of soap that is a similar formula to Dawn, and it worked well in that application. 

Is there a Difference Between Down Soap and Dawn Platinum Powerwash dish spray? 

Anytime you use dishwashing liquid you need water to make it suds up and clean. This is where spray Dawn Powerwash has the upper hand. The bottle’s spray mechanism allows you to cover a large area and it begins cleaning without having to use water. I have also noticed that it cleans in less time than other cleaners. 

20+ Dawn PowerWash Uses To Make Your Life Easier 

Pre-Soak

If you have really dirty pots, pans, and regular dishes, you can pretreat them with spray dish soap. Let them sit for a minutes, then wash as normal. 

Glass Cleaner 

When using on glass shower doors, start with my everyday shower cleaning spray then follow up with the DIY Powerwash and watch the soap scum melt away. Wipe with a microfiber cloth and dry with a clean towel if needed. For indoor/outdoor glass or tabletops, you can use just the Powerwash. Feel free to use it in window tracks and sills as well. 

Stove and Oven Degreaser

Cover the stove top and oven door with your diy Dawn Powerwash refill solution, let it sit for a couple of minutes. Then use a cloth to wipe off. If you have baked-on messes, you may want to use a stiff scruber. Use my simple trick for cleaning the oven racks. 

Microwave Cleaner

Easily clean the inside of your microwave without using elbow grease when you spray it on and let it sit. You may also like how to get rid of the burnt microwave smell. I love using essential oils (especially citrus fruits smells) for a fresh scent. 

Countertop and Kitchen Sink Cleaner

Wipe down countertops and your sink for a sparkling finish on a daily basis without using harmful chemicals. I also like to use this DIY recipe for garbage disposal cleaner. If it's really stinky, I will deep clean the disposal instead. 

Fridge and Appliance Degreaser

Clean spills and stains inside the refrigerator, along with giving the outside of your appliances a clean finish and remove the grime. You can also use it inside of the dishwasher. Spray everything down and run a normal cycle. Use this method to deep clean the dishwasher. 

Air Fryer Cleaner 

You know the inside of the basket gets caked with a lot of grease. Normally I will it with warm water and turn it on air fryer mode for a few minutes. Once it's good and hot, I dump it out and wipe it with a damp cloth. Then cover the inside of the basket and tray with the power spray. Scrub and rinse with clean water, and it's sparkly clean. 

Stainless Steel Polisher

Shine stainless steel appliances with a little bit of Dawn Powerspray. This is much cheaper than the products that are marketed as polishes. Learn how to prevent fingerprints on stainless steel. 

Range Hood Cleaner

This Dawn Powerwash hack is one of my favorites! I take off the filter first. Cover it in Power Wash in the sink and let it sit. After a minutes, I rinse it well with hot water and wipe it down with a clean cloth and it's like new again. 

Outdoor Grill 

Ever so often I take the grill grates instead and give them the Power wash treatment. Spray and let them sit. I like to use a Brillo pad for extra cleaning power if the gunk is really caked on. 

Bathroom Cleaner 

DIY Dawn Powerwash is safe to use on shower walls, toliet bowls, sinks, tubs, and tile. Simply spray, let it sit, then scrub and rinse. See how I deep clean my bathrooms and a few other genius bathroom hacks. 

Cabinet Degreaser

This works wonders to clean sticky residues and food particles from kitchen cabinet doors. Definitely test in a small area first. I also would not leave the solution on long when it comes to painted surfaces. 

Floor Cleaner

I like to use Dawn Powerspray on heavy floor stains before mopping. Here's how I make my own floor cleaner using the regular dish soap. 

Tile and Grout Cleaner

Brighten tile and grout lines using the spray and an old toothbrush. If you don't want to do much scrubbing, here's the easiest way to clean grout. 

Jewelry Cleaner

Safely clean jewelry made from real metals by coating them in Powerwash, let them sit, then use a tiny brush to wipe away the buildup. Learn more about how to protect your jewelry and diamonds when it comes to cleaning and using an ultrasonic. 

Carpet Stain Pre-Treater

When it comes to those pesky carpet stains, Dawn can definitely help and can usually be applied to any color carpet. This is also great to remove pet stains. If there are really tough stains or most of the floor has discolored, you may want to use a carpet cleaner instead. Here's the carpet deodorizer I use as well. 

Upholstery Cleaner

Spot clean fabric upholstery with a few drops of Dawn Powerwash. Before covering the spots, I would test on a small area first. 

Laundry Stains

Pre-treat greasy stains, then toss in the washing machine. I use a different method to get wax out of clothes. Also, if you have cooking oil stains on your garments that have already been washed and dried, see how I get those out using Dawn soap. 

Shoe Cleaner

A little bit goes on a long way on a pair of shoes. For sneakers, if all of the dirt doesn't come off, use Powerwash first, then run them through a cycle in the washing machine. 

Concrete Cleaner

This is the best way to remove stains after oil spills on concrete surfaces and driveways. 

Outdoor Patio Furniture and Toy Cleaner

Spruce up your patio furniture with just a few squirts! Before this method I used a homemade cleaner made with Borax to clean our deck furniture. However, this spray nozzle just makes it so much easier. It's also perfect for spraying outdoor toys then rinsing off. 

Tool Degreaser 

Whether you need to get the grime off of your garage tools or garden tools, this spray will do the trick! 

Before you throw that empty powerwash bottle away or buy those expensive refill bottles, make the homemade version that costs the fraction of the price and use this huge list of cleaning hacks. In my personal opinion, I could almost get rid of all of my cleaning products using this solution, white vinegar, and rubbing alcohol! Who would have thought that Dawn PowerWash could do so much more than just clean dishes and food stains.