6 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Dish Soap
If you're like me, you're always looking for ways to make the items you already have in your house more useful. With the cost of just about everything on the rise, the things we do buy have to go further and serve more purposes. There's a "hack" (or alternative use) for just about everything in the kitchen, so it's not surprising that dish soap can be used in a number of creative ways. Before you spend money on special cleaners or other household items like bug sprays, consider trying dish soap.
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One of the reasons that dish soap cleans your pots, pans, and plates so effectively is because it is a powerful degreaser. It removes oils that can leave dirty residue or bad smells behind. This makes it extremely useful for a number of jobs around the house. Just about any grease- or oil-related cleaning job can be tackled with dish soap; no need to purchase special soaps or cleaners. Just be careful if you are using dish soap on yourself or a pet; because it removes oil so effectively, frequent use can dry out your (or your pet's) skin.
Dish soap also has a thick, viscous consistency that makes it useful for a number of other household jobs. Unlike other liquids that spread easily, dish soap can be applied in a thick layer on stains and spills; this makes it a great tool for pre-treating laundry stains or tackling stains on your carpet or cloth furniture. And, its viscosity makes it a useful alternative to chemical-based bug-killing sprays; set a trap for fruit flies or bees; once the dish soap coats their wings, they won't be able to fly.
So, before you spend money on a special soap or household item, check this list of creative uses for dish soap.
Prep for a Manicure
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Because dish soap is a great de-greaser it will also remove oil from your skin and nails. Prep your hands for a manicure by soaking them for a few minutes in a bowl of warm water and dish soap. Removing the excess oil from your skin and nails will allow the nail polish to better adhere to your nails.
Kill Weeds
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Don't like the idea of chemical-based weed control? Spray a combination of water, an all-natural dish soap, vinegar, and salt on pesky weeds (the dish soap acts as a binder that allows the weed-killing ingredients to stick to weeds leaves and stems).
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Kristie Collado is The Daily Meal's Cook Editor. Follow her on Twitter @KColladoCook.