Dawn Powerwash Recipe: How to DIY the Ultimate Dish Soap

Deirdre Mundorf
·3 min read
5
product shot of Dawn Power Wash bottle sitting next to kitchen sink in front of window
product shot of Dawn Power Wash bottle sitting next to kitchen sink in front of window

If you’ve ever used Dawn Powerwash, you already know how much it can help with tackling burnt-on or greasy messes that used to be nearly impossible to remove. The special spray-on cleaner works quickly to release stubborn stains and stuck-on gunk on pots, pans, stainless steel, air fryer racks, and more, allowing you to simply wipe them away after a few minutes. However, while Dawn Powerwash can be quite effective, it is also not the most budget-friendly option. Fortunately, you can follow the Dawn Powerwash recipe below to save money and DIY your own spray.

Project Overview

Working Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours
Skill Level: Beginner
Estimated Cost: $2 to $25 (you will get many uses from this investment)

RELATED: How to Make Foaming Hand Soap in 5 Easy Steps

Before You Begin

When you’re looking for a Dawn Powerwash refill substitute, keep in mind that you cannot just refill the spray bottle with regular Dawn dish soap. If the soap isn’t diluted with water and isopropyl alcohol, it will clog the nozzle. When you’re ready to make your own Dawn Powerwash, you can use either a standard spray bottle or reuse an empty Powerwash bottle, if you have one.

close shot of woman's hand holding bottle of rubbing alcohol and pouring it into a spray bottle on a marble kitchen counter top
close shot of woman's hand holding bottle of rubbing alcohol and pouring it into a spray bottle on a marble kitchen counter top

Photo: istockphoto.com

STEP 1: Pour 1½ tablespoons of rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle.

When you’re searching for how to make Dawn Powerwash, you can’t skip the rubbing alcohol. It is one of the ingredients that works to make it so powerful and effective at removing gunk and grime. So, start by adding 1½ tablespoons of isopropyl rubbing alcohol (70 percent) to the spray bottle.

STEP 2: Add 4 tablespoons of Dawn dish soap to the spray bottle.

After adding the rubbing alcohol to the spray bottle, measure out 4 tablespoons (¼ cup) of Dawn dish soap. Pour it into the bottle.

STEP 3: If desired, add 8 drops of essential oils to the bottle.

You can put about 8 drops of essential oils into the bottle if you want to give your DIY cleaner a fragrance. A few scent options to consider include lemon, lavender, tea tree, peppermint, and eucalyptus.

STEP 4: Add distilled water to the bottle until it is ½ inch below the top.

The final ingredient you’ll need for DIY Dawn Powerwash is distilled water. Fill the spray bottle with the distilled water, stopping when it is about ½ inch from the top.

STEP 5: Gently mix the ingredients together.

After adding all of the Dawn Powerwash ingredients to the spray bottle, screw the lid back on. Gently swirl the bottle and move it from side to side to mix the ingredients together.

STEP 6: Let the mixture sit for several hours before using it.

Before putting your homemade Dawn Powerwash to use, let the mixture sit for at least 4 hours. This will give the alcohol and dish soap time to evenly combine with the water.

spray bottle with blue cleaning solution inside with gloves and sponge and blurry background on counter
spray bottle with blue cleaning solution inside with gloves and sponge and blurry background on counter

Photo: istockphoto.com

Top Uses for Homemade Dawn Powerwash

Beyond its abilities to effectively remove grease and grime from cookware, dishes, and other kitchenware, this DIY Dawn Powerwash refill can also be used in other areas of the home. Some of the top uses for it include:

  • Cleaning window tracks

  • Getting grease stains out of laundry

  • Cleaning sealed tile and grout

  • Polishing stainless steel faucets and appliances

  • Removing carpet stains

  • Getting rid of soap scum on shower doors

RELATED: The Best Dish Soap Dispensers for the Kitchen Sink

Final Thoughts

Making Dawn Powerwash will help you power through tough messes in your home. If you thought you could do a lot with regular dish soap, just wait until you put your DIY Dawn Powerwash recipe to use. Cleaning up dishes, the grill, grout, outdoor patio furniture, and other areas of the house will be a breeze. Just remember, as versatile as the DIY recipe is, you should never use the dish soap in the dishwasher. Dawn Powerwash (and this DIY recipe for it) should also not be used on painted or porous surfaces, as it could damage them.

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