Dawn Dishwashing Detergent: It's Not Just for Dishes Anymore!

10 Alternative Uses for Dawn Dishwasing Detergent

Going around the internet are a ton of emails that offer hints, tips, suggestions, warnings, funny stuff, and information. Honestly, most of these emails are complete bunk, and you can often find out the truth of these myths, rumors, and information by visiting a site called Snopes.com.

However, one interesting email that has wandered into my inbox several times was one about alternative uses for normal household products. There were many suggestions for things like Bounce Dryer sheets being used to repel mosquitoes or tossed into a dresser drawer for nice fragrance and freshness. One of the suggestions in particular caught my eye, and that was alternative uses for Dawn dishwashing detergent.

The reason this one stuck with me over the others was because of the recent commercials that Dawn dishwashing detergent has had on the air about how Dawn is used for wildlife organizations helping to clean oil from birds using this liquid soap. This made me recall something my vet once told me when my cocker spaniel, Dani, turned up allergic to flea dip and medication: Dawn dishwashing detergent is effective at killing fleas, and can be used on very young animals that are not yet old enough or large enough to use flea medication.

Then I was reminded of the old Palmolive commercials with Madge. Any of you remember these? “You’re soaking in it…”

So these things caused me to scour the internet for other uses for dishwashing detergent, and in this instance, Dawn dishwashing detergent in particular. Below is what I found:

1. Dawn Takes Grease Out of Your way!

Yes, this is a commercial tagline, but it appears that this is pretty accurate. According to the International Bird Rescue Research Center, Dawn dishwashing detergent has effectively been used to clean wildlife birds who have been exposed to oil spills. Apparently, other dishwashing and liquid detergents were tried but they were either not effective or they caused irritation to the birds.

2. Dawn Dishwashing Detergent Kills Fleas.