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If you use spray dish soap, then you know that it’s a powerful cleaning agent that’s hard to live without. The good news is that it’s easy to whip up with ingredients you already have on hand when you inevitably run out of the product.
Learn how to make your own spray dish soap for a refill that’s better for your wallet and the environment.
What You’ll Need
- Spray bottle
- 13 oz water
- 4 Tbsp dish soap
- 2 Tbsp rubbing alcohol.
- Optional: A few drops of your favorite essential oil
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How to Make Spray Dish Soap
Pour Water Into the Spray Bottle
Measure 13 ounces of water and pour it into an empty spray bottle. Use distilled water, if possible, to avoid potential streaks and residue.
Add Dish Soap and Rubbing Alcohol
Add the dish soap and the rubbing alcohol to the water. You can use soap without an added scent or color if you prefer.
Add Essential Oil (Optional)
The rubbing alcohol can have a strong odor. To mask the smell, add a few drops of lemon, peppermint, or another kind of essential oil in the mixture.
Gently Swirl Ingredients to Mix
Screw the spray nozzle back on the bottle. Then, mix the ingredients by gently swirling the bottle. Your dish soap spray is ready to be used!
What You Can Use Use Spray Dish Soap On
The best part of spray dish soap is that it has so many more uses beyond dishes! Try it to clean one of the following:
- General kitchen cleaning, especially anywhere where grease or oil has splattered
- Appliances, such as your stove, oven, or air fryer
- Grill grates
- Windows
- Mirrors
- Bathtub or shower
- Sinks
- Carpet and upholstery stains
- Sneakers
- Clothing stains
- Outdoor furniture
- Garden tools
The suds work their magic quickly, so for most items, simply spray the solution onto the mess and wipe it clean with a cloth.
However, tough grease stains or extremely dirty surfaces may need a little extra time for the spray dish soap to break down the grime.
For large messes or tough stains, spray the solution and let it sit for two to five minutes before blotting or wiping away.
What to Not Use Spray Dish Soap On
While it’s tempting to use spray dish soap as a catch-all cleaning product, it’s not compatible with all surfaces. This cleaning solution is strong, so it’s not recommended for some materials.
Always test a new cleaning product on an inconspicuous area first to see how the surface reacts with the cleaning agent.
- Unsealed wood
- Soft natural stones, such as marble
- Painted surfaces
- Other porous surfaces
FAQ
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Dish soap is already an effective cleaner, but the addition of rubbing alcohol makes it more powerful than regular dish soap. The rubbing alcohol makes the spray more effective at removing stains and helps it to form a lather without adding water, allowing you to use the spray to easily clean messes around the house.
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For most messes, you don’t need to let the spray dish soap sit. Simply spray and wipe it clean. However, for grimy, greasy surfaces or extremely dirty items, spray the solution and let it sit for two to five minutes to let the suds work their magic. Then, wipe with a clean cloth.
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Yes! Spray dish soap works great to break down the grime and hard water deposits on glass surfaces, including shower doors. Simply spray the solution, let the suds sit for about two minutes, and wipe the mess away.
