22 August 2021

How to Make DIY Dawn Powerwash Refill

Learn how to make your own Dawn Powerwash refill.  This  hack will save you money, and you won't believe how easy it is to make with only has three ingredients and one is water!


I made a lot of my own cleaners, but I do buy dish soap.  I've used liquid castile soap in a pinch, but it doesn't work as well as blue Dawn.


When I saw Dawn Powerwash, I thought it was just a gimmick.  At around $5 it wasn't a big investment, and I figured the convenience was worth a few bucks.





Remember several years ago when Dawn came out with a foaming soap?  It was just watered down soap in a foaming soap dispenser.  


It really wasn't anything special, but it was convenient to get a bit of foam on a sponge to wipe down the counters or wash one dish.


From the first spray, I was converted.  Dawn Powerwash isn't just a spray dish soap.  It's magic!


But seriously, it does work really well.  We mainly use it in the kitchen, but I've always found other uses for it around the farm.  Particularly in the shop to clean greasy tools.


I also really love it for at the office.  We don't get a lot of dishes there, so we usually clean one or two at a time.  This is perfect for that!


How To Make Your Own Dawn Powerwash Refill


When I saw a  recipe for Dawn Powerwash, I expected it to be just water and blue Dawn.  However, there's another secret ingredient: isopropyl alcohol.


Or simply rubbing alcohol.  Rubbing alcohol has some disinfectant properties, but the percentage in this Dawn Powerwash hack is too low to call it a disinfectant.


However, the alcohol does change how this DIY cleaner remove marks from markers, paint, dyes, and other pigments.


For more natural cleaning ideas, check out these posts:


  

Keep track of your favorite natural cleaning recipes with my printable essential oil recipe cards.  


If you want to learn how to make more natural cleaners, check my printable ebook with 12 easy natural cleaning recipes you can make at home.



How is Dawn Powerwash Different From Regular Dawn?


Dawn Powerwash is almost the same as regular Dawn, but it also has rubbing alcohol.  This helps it remove more stains.


It also spray in a foam, so it's easy to dispense and small amount.


Does Dawn Power Wash Really Work?


Yes!  I've been very happy with it and my copycat Dawn Powerwash.  I use it for greasy dishes and dishes with dried stuck on foods.  


I also use it for small stains on clothes and things like tools or outdoor toys that have a lot of grease or dirt on them.


What Are the Ingredients in Dawn Powerwash?


When you learn how to make Dawn Powerwash, you'll be shocked that it only has three ingredients!  It's just blue Dawn dish soap, water, and rubbing alcohol.


The real deal has denatured alcohol, but I found that regular rubbing alcohol works just as well.  Rubbing alcohol is easier to find, and it's not as irritating for your skin.


Can You Refill Dawn Powerwash With Regular Dawn?


No, if you fill the spray bottle with regular blue Dawn, it will clog the sprayer.  You need to dilute it with water.  You'll also add rubbing alcohol for a DIY Dawn Powerwash.







Can I Make My Own Dawn Powerwash?


Yes, you can absolutely make your own refill recipe.  It's so easy to do, and it will help you save a lot of money!


Do You Have to Rinse Dawn Powerwash?


No, you don't have to rinse this cleaner.  However, I do rinse it from dishes.  I don't rinse it if I use it to wipe the counters.


Does Dawn Powerwash Kill Germs?


No, this copycat Dawn Powerwash does not kill germs.  Although you'll use alcohol, it's not a high enough percent to kill germs.


In order to be a disinfectant, you have to use 70 percent rubbing alcohol.  This recipe is too diluted to properly disinfect.


Dawn dish soap does not kill germs either.  However, dish soap has surfactants that help lift dirt from surfaces.  This makes it easier to wipe away germs and dirt.  





How to Use Dawn Powerwash


I use my Dawn Powerwash a few different ways.  For dishes that have stuck on food or grease, I spray and let it sit for several minutes.  Then I scrub with a dish washing brush and rinse.


I also spray onto a dishcloth and use it to wash a few dishes at a time.  This is perfect for my office!  I also grabbed these semi-disposable dish cloths to use there since we don't have a lot of dishes.


I've also used it to spot clean grease or pigment from my shirts.  Just be careful not to do this on dry clean only clothes.


You can also try this DIY dish soap with liquid castile soap for an eco friendly dishwashing liquid.


Other Uses for Dawn Powerwash Spray


I mainly use my DIY Dawn Powerwash for my dishes and in the kitchen, but there are several other uses.  Here are some ideas:


  • Use to clean baseball hats.
  • Clean your kitchen backsplash.
  • Spot clean laundry (don't use on dry clean only!).
  • Clean door knobs and light switches to remove grease.
  • Clean kitchen cupboards, especially handles.
  • Clean outdoor grill.
  • Spray on outdoor patio furniture and scrub.
  • Use to wash bikes.
  • Clean shoes, including Crocs.
  • Clean windows.
  • Clean stovetops.
  • Use to clean grout.
  • This copycat Dawn Powerwash makes an excellent shower and bathtub cleaner.
  • Spray on the Air Fryer and let soak for a few minutes before washing.
  • Clean outdoor tools, including garden tools.
  • Clean greasy hands after being outside working.

Ingredients


To learn how to make Dawn Powerwash, you will need:


 

Directions


This makes 16 ounces of DIY Dawn Powerwash.  This is enough to refill one bottle.  However, you can also double it and store it in a quart mason jar.   I'll have the amounts to use to make 16 ounces, 32 ounces, and a gallon below.


Step #1


Put the water in an empty Powerwash spray bottle or in a mason jar. 





Step #2


Then add the rubbing alcohol and the Dawn dish soap.  Stir gently with a spoon and let sit for several hours.  





It's important to let it sit for several hours so the dish soap and alcohol fully combine with the water.  Otherwise, you'll get inconsistent sprays.


Pour into the empty Dawn Powerwash bottle to refill as needed.


  • To make 16 ounces, you will need 13 ounces water, 2 ounces blue Dawn,  and 1 ounce rubbing alcohol.
  • To make 32 ounces, you will need 26 ounces water, 4 ounces blue Dawn, and 2 ounces rubbing alcohol.
  • To make a gallon, you will need 104 ounces water, 16 ounces blue Dawn, and 8 ounces rubbing alcohol.


The percent of rubbing alcohol doesn't matter.  Use what you can find and is cheap.  Even a 99 percent rubbing alcohol is not enough to disinfect once it's diluted.


You can make this copycat recipe for pennies compared to the real thing!


diy, cleaning, natural living, dawn powerwash, refill, hack
Yield: 1 refill
Author: Cari @ Everything Pretty
Estimated cost: $1

DIY Dawn Powerwash Refill Hack

prep time: 5 Mperform time: 5 Mtotal time: 10 M
How to make your own Dawn Powerwash refill for pennies!

materials:

  • 13 ounces water
  • 2 ounces Dawn dish liquid
  • 1 ounce rubbing alcohol

tools:

  • Funnel
  • Measuring cups

steps:

  1. Put the water in an empty Powerwash spray bottle or in a mason jar.
  2. Then add the rubbing alcohol and the Dawn dish soap. Stir gently with a spoon and let sit for several hours.

NOTES:

To make 16 ounces, you will need 13 ounces water, 2 ounces blue Dawn,  and 1 ounce rubbing alcohol.
To make 32 ounces, you will need 26 ounces water, 4 ounces blue Dawn, and 2 ounces rubbing alcohol.
To make a gallon, you will need 104 ounces water, 16 ounces blue Dawn, and 8 ounces rubbing alcohol.
Created using Craft Card Maker

Like this post?  Pin it!






2 comments:

  1. The type of dawn you use makes a big difference. Although Professional sounds the best and strongest the one they use in Powerwash is the Platinum.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the recipe!

    I live in an RV and my storage space is VERY limited, to where the Dawn spray bottle doesn't fit in my cabinet. I'm looking at alternative storage containers, but I understand that spray nozzle might be a quintessential factor in the foamy spray results. Do you know if this recipe works with other types of spray nozzles?

    I'm thinking of one of those pumping oil spritzers. Just wondering if you had any insights!

    Thanks again for sharing your knowledge.

    ReplyDelete