Dish Soap Isn't Just For Dishes: 12 Ways To Use It Around The Kitchen

Did you know that you can remove soap scum from your bathtub and shower in a flash using dish soap? In fact, there are a ton of unexpected things you can clean with dish soap all over your home. It's like the unsung hero of cleaning supplies. And while everyone knows you can use it on dishes, you can really do so much more with it in the kitchen than that. From mopping the floors to finally catching all those nasty fruit flies, dish soap is the real MVP of the kitchen.

While you can clean some items by mixing a bit of dish soap in water and applying that directly, it can also be nice to have a multi-purpose cleaner available. Dish soap makes a great multi-purpose cleaner, and it's incredibly easy to put together. Simply mix two drops of dish soap into 8 ounces of distilled water and shake to mix. Pour it into a spray bottle to keep on hand for quick and efficient cleaning. It can also be helpful to store a few microfiber cloths along with it for wiping down surfaces. Now that you've got a versatile cleaner ready to go, let's dive into 12 clever ways to put dish soap to work around your kitchen.

Don't be so quick to put the dish soap down when you're done cleaning the dishes. You can use it to wipe down the inside of the sink where food and drink particles might have been left. Give it a good rinse and wipe down any water that might be standing along the top and sides. You can also wipe down the faucet, an often forgotten item to clean, with some light soap and water before drying it off with a clean towel. Now your dishes won't be the only thing sparkling after dinner.

Dishes are not the only thing left with greasy residue to clean up post-dinner. Our countertops have held the serving dishes, pots, and pans over the course of meal preparation and have probably caught a few splatters here and there. Now is a great time to pull out the multi-purpose cleaner you've made from dish soap, along with one or two of the micro-fiber towels you stored along with it. Give your counters a quick spray and then wipe them down, repeating as necessary depending on how messy they are.

Blenders can often be tricky to clean, especially ones with the blade affixed to the bottom. It can be challenging to clean under the blade where food and thick liquid can get trapped. Instead of trying to squeeze your fingers into precarious spots, put the blender back on its base and fill it with a couple cups of water. Add a drop or two of dish soap and turn it on high (don't forget the lid!) so the blade spins around in the soapy water. Then just rinse in clean water and set it to dry.

Even for the cleanest of cooks, the stovetop inevitably ends up covered in at least a splatter or two. You can spray it lightly with the multi-purpose dish soap spray and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth. The dish soap will cut through any grease and grime left over from dinner and leave the stove top shining like new. For extra messes, you can repeat the process, focusing on specific spots that need more soap and using a dampened cloth to help lift any food particles that might be stuck. Finish by drying with a clean cloth.

Have you ever tried to check on something in the oven by looking through the door's window and, well, not really gotten a clear view? It might be time to give it a quick clean. Always be sure the oven is off and not hot before cleaning. Grab the dish soap-based multi-purpose spray and micro-fiber towels. You can clean the inside and outside of the window, as well as the entirety of the outside door where spills can accumulate. Spray the surface and wipe with a damp cloth. Finish with a clean, dry cloth.

Microwaves might be incredibly convenient, but they sure can get messy quickly. Besides countertops, this might be one of the things you will use the multi-purpose dish soap spray on the most often. Remove the turntable (which can be washed along with your dishes) and spray the inside of the microwave. Wipe it down with a damp cloth, then let it dry on its own or use a clean, dry cloth. You can also use the spray to clean off the outer sides and front door of the microwave. Don't miss those fingerprint smudges!

Stainless steel appliances, like refrigerators and toasters, can be magnets for fingerprints, making them look less than stellar. A little dish soap can restore their luster and banish those smudges, as the surfactants found in dish soap make it ideal for cutting through greasy, oily streaks. Moisten the surface with a wet microfiber cloth, then wet a second cloth and add a drop of dish soap, working into a light lather before using it on the appliance. Use the wet, soap-free cloth to wipe away the soap. Dry with a clean cloth to avoid streaking.

If you're looking for genius tips for cleaning your kitchen cabinets, you're in the right place. Dish soap is a workhorse when it comes to removing the grease that sticks to kitchen cabinets from cooking. You can use the multi-purpose spray or squeeze a drop of dish soap onto a wet cloth to apply the cleaner to the cabinets. Wipe the cabinets in the same direction as the grain when cleaning, and be sure to dry completely with a clean cloth so there isn't any moisture left just sitting on the cabinet surface.

No need to purchase a whole new cleaner to mop the kitchen floors. Simply mix a few drops of dish soap into a bucket of clean, warm water, and you're all set. Be sure to sweep the floor before you mop to remove any dirt or large particles. You can also spot clean any stains with dish soap and water. Depending on your type of mop, you can use the dish soap solution directly from the bucket or pour it into a spray bottle and apply it to the floor before wiping with the mop head.

We love the extra light that kitchen windows let in, but the dirt and grime that can accumulate on them can dampen the aesthetic. Fortunately, you already have something in your kitchen that can easily clean up those windows ... dish soap. Add a teaspoon of mild dish soap to a 5-gallon bucket of warm water to create a simple cleaning solution. Moisten a cloth in the cleaner and wipe down the window, moving from top to bottom. Then use a clean, dry cloth to finish. Wash and dry one window at a time.

Have you ever taken out a particularly odorous bag of trash only to find that the smell is still lingering? Nobody likes a stinky trash can, but over time, spills, rips, and overflowing garbage can create a mess that can't always be seen. The next time you take out the garbage, spray down the inside of the trash can with the multi-purpose dish soap cleaner and wipe with a clean, dry cloth before inserting a new trash bag. Be sure to also clean the lid, as it can be prone to collecting smashed-on messes when it closes.

Fruit flies can be an absolute menace in the kitchen. It's always good to keep things clean and store overripe fruit in the refrigerator to keep fruit flies at bay. But if they've already descended on your kitchen, you can use dish soap to trap them. Mix 4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a few drops of dish soap in a container, such as a small bowl or jar. Set the container out in the area where you see the most fruit flies. The scent of the vinegar will attract the fruit flies, while the dish soap breaks the surface tension, causing the fruit flies to sink and get trapped. Once the container is full of trapped fruit flies, you can dispose of the mix.