Let’s discuss everything you need to know about blue Dawn® dishwashing liquid when it comes to using it in DIY cleaners.
Many readers have asked over the years, why does blue Dawn work better in recipes?
I would like to go more in depth on this! This way you can know more about WHY everyone loves blue Dawn® and why I prefer it!
To view all the ways you can use it around your home, check out this post!
BTW this is not sponsored! Just sharing why I love it and what you need to know about it for homemade cleaners.
Everything You Need to Know About Blue Dawn® Dishwashing Liquid
Disclaimer: This is a blog post. If you are seeking medical information, please contact a doctor or medical group. If you are seeking chemical analysis or laboratory testing, you need to reach out to the manufacturer of the product. This post is about DIY Cleaners and Blue Dawn….if you are looking for ANY other type of information, please go to the appropriate source.
What is Dishwashing Liquid?
Dishwashing liquid (also called dish soap) is in the category surfactant. Surfactants are pretty neat substances that allow for all types of cleaning.
Surfactants basically work to lower the surface tension between two items like a solid and a liquid. One part of a surfactant is attracted to water while the other part is attracted to a solid like dirt, food, or grease. It works to break down the item, thus cleaning it. This is how we have dishwashing liquids and detergents. This is also why so many of our homemade cleaners contain dishwashing liquid, it is truly the BEST HOME surfactant you can find.
There are a few different types of blue Dawn:
- Dawn Ultra
- Non-Concentrated Dawn
- Dawn Platinum
- Update: They also make a Dawn Free & Clear product
The majority of my solutions contain blue Dawn Ultra because it’s concentrated. The regular Dawn is a non-concentrated version, (also called Simply Clean) so more diluted. Platinum Dawn is almost identical to Ultra, but it contains more surfactants (according to the manufacturer).
Let’s check out the surfactants more closely.
The Chemistry of Blue Dawn
According to the manufacturer’s website, here are the most active ingredients in Ultra and Platinum. Remember the other type, non-concentrated or Simply Clean as they label it, will just be a more diluted version of the Ultra. Beside each chemical in parenthesis, is the purpose of the ingredient. Dishwashing liquids contain cleaning agents, solvents, pH adjusters, then things for viscosity. All things store-bought will contain a preservative so they stay fresh! Even organic items contain a preservative. In fact, all the organic cleaners I’ve looked at contain this same preservative.
A quick side note, anything you purchase from a store will contain a preservative so the product does not grow bacteria on the shelves. Items without preservatives will last about two weeks.
Dawn Ultra
Water (Solvent), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Cleaning Agent), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (Cleaning Agent), Lauramine Oxide (Cleaning Agent), Alcohol Denat. (Solvent), Sodium Chloride (Viscosity Adjuster), PPG 26 (Viscosity Adjuster), Sodium Hydroxide (PH Adjuster), Phenoxyethanol (Solvent), Methylisothiazolinone (Preservative)
You can find more science and ingredients on the SDS here.
Dawn Platinum
Water (Solvent), Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (Cleaning Agent), Sodium Laureth Sulfate (Cleaning Agent), Lauramine Oxide (Cleaning Agent), Alcohol Denat. (Solvent), C9 11 Pareth 8 (Cleaning Agent), Sodium Chloride (Viscosity Adjuster), Tetrasodium Dicarboxymethyl Glutamate (Water Softener), Phenoxyethanol (Solvent), Methylisothiazolinone (Preservative)
You can find more science and ingredient break down on the SDS sheet here.
As you can see, the difference between these two is the Platinum version has an extra cleaning agent and water softener! This makes it more powerful for stuck on stains or food.
Dawn Free & Clear
This is an update in 2023…some of my readers are using Dawn Free & Clear now.It contains no dyes! I haven’t used it, but it should be the same formula.
What Does This Mean?
Initially, you might look at these ingredients and think WOW, that is a lot of chemicals! It is really not. In fact, you can buy a non-toxic, organic dishwashing liquid and see many ingredients listed on the back, they will all have a similar purpose.
Although, you always want to be cautious when it comes to anything like this around children and pets. This goes for things like natural soaps too (Castile soap).
Don’t be mislead by these ingredient names, they are all proper chemical names. Like sodium chloride is salt.
Dawn is safe for animals too. You have probably seen their wildlife campaign. Before making our homemade dog wipes, I asked my vet about using it for dogs. She said yes! Very mild and does a great job of cleaning off allergens.
Blue Dawn Compared to Other Dishwashing Liquids
If you compare ingredients of dishwashing liquids, they are all VERY similar. You can scroll through all the different types and look at common ingredients. Some have more preservatives, others more fragrance. Cheap brands will usually have more preservative ingredients.
So, many years ago I chose to test a few different brands (before I even had a blog) to see if it made ANY difference. You can look at ingredients on each label, but it is impossible to know the percentage of each one because they don’t talk about that on ingredient lists for cleaning agents. It is not required by law at this time. It also doesn’t necessarily matter what order they are in like it does on skincare ingredients.
You can always reach out to the manufacturer to see if they have any additional information. A few brands have sent me things like chemical breakdowns and lab testing. If you want anything like that, it is worth a try reaching out to the brand.
Another way to see what works better in DIY cleaners is to simply test it. This is my favorite part of making DIY cleaners 🙂
A Few Common Brands I Have Tested:
- Palmolive®
- Joy®
- Gain®
- Ajax®
Results:
The blue Dawn Ultra I feature in most of my recipes cleaned better and removed things with less elbow grease. To me, the quicker something cleans up, the better. Each time, blue Dawn seemed to get things up quicker. Especially in homemade cleaners. I have had hundreds of readers write in over the years to say this as well.
Of course, you are welcome to use any concentrated dish soap in our cleaning recipes, but just remember we have tested the Dawn to give the best performance.
Another result I noticed was more suds, but less residue. It has a thicker solution too. It was also more concentrated, so I liked it better for things like my homemade weed killer.
I have been using it since!
What About Other Types of Dawn?
There are other types with different colors. I haven’t tested all of them out, but most of these aren’t concentrated and are scented. I prefer not to use them and stick with the original.
What Is the Closest Thing To Dawn
Many of my readers in other countries have told me they cannot get blue Dawn, so I always recommend to use a concentrated thick dishwashing liquid in it’s place. I can’t say it will be as good in our homemade cleaners, but it will be very similar!
What About Castile Soap?
Many readers have questions about substituting Dawn for Castile soap as more natural option. I have tried Castile Soap in multiple homemade recipes and it did not remove stuck on food stains very well. I love Castile Soap, and you are welcome to try it in any of our recipes, but just keep in mind it will not be as strong of a surfactant.
Is Blue Dawn Safe For Any Surface?
Yes! It is safe for absolutely anything! In fact, here is a list of how to clean your ENTIRE home with Dawn! That’s right, every thing in your home!
I also have this great SCIENCE based DIY cleaning guide with some tips on using dishwashing liquids to clean.
What If I Have Skin Allergies?
If you have any type of allergy to certain ingredients, I would ask your personal doctor about any product and share the ingredients with them. Many people have skin sensitivities to all types of ingredients. I get hand eczema when I touch any type of pepper, so I have to be careful about certain ingredients.
Skin allergies depend on your personal situation, so always check with a doctor if you have skin allergies.
Which Type of Blue Dawn Should I Use?
I typically use the Ultra for almost everything. The platinum version is neat to have on hand. The Simply Clean has good uses too. Really any of them are good, just be sure to see what I use in homemade cleaners. If you have our eBook, all solutions use ultra 🙂
Now you know why I like blue Dawn! Remember to come back for the cleaning guide!
And buy our e-book below for the best homemade recipes
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golly.. what a great article and so much info .. thanks girl
Thank you! I know this was important to share with readers!! 🙂
Your title says everything-you-need-to-know-about-blue-dawn-dishwashing-liquid/ I want to know the ph of Blue Dawn and expected to find it here but Nothing . The advanced formula for platinum does not even have a sds or msds. So impossible to find it. It should not be difficult . We should be able to get this info easily. It should be included with info on the container.
Hi there, thanks for the comment. Both the SDS for ultra and platinum are linked in this post below ingredients. The pH of both according to the SDS is 9. All dish soaps range from about 7.5 to 9.5 depending on their concentrations. I also use a pH meter at home to measure homemade solutions. You can find SDS online for all cleaning products usually through the manufacturer.
How bout you go whine to Dawn, Dianne. Nice of the author to answer your question when you couldnt even find it in you to be nice when asking the question. I swear, boomers want to say millennials and Gen Z’s are entitled but more often than not, its a boomer demanding something from strangers because it “should be” easier for them.
This is interesting and I think I will buy it to make a weed killer outside along with vinegar and Epsom salt. I still would not use something with SLS on my skin, clothes, or dishes, but for something like a DIY blend of ingredients to clean the floor or something I don’t touch or eat from would not be a problem.
Yes, I really prefer dawn in DIY recipes because it performs best. Any concentrated dish soap can be used in our DIY solutions, but dawn is my favorite for results
I have been an art teacher in Georgia for the last 25 years. I have used dawn blue in my art room for 25 yrs to remove acrylic paint from my student’s clothing in the art studio. I asked students to bring in one small bottle at the beginning of each year. It’s an amazing product!
It’s the best!
Hi I am a cacti and succulent collector and am told that this liquid can be very effective in cleaning these plants. What do you think?
I have used it to clean plants! I would dilute it with some water, it doesn’t need to be very concentrated to work.
So I’ve been wasting money by buying Seventh Generation?
I just looked up their ingredients. They are actually very similar to Dawn. In fact, it had all the same cleaning ingredients. I haven’t had a chance to check out how it cleans, but I have preferred Dawn over all the other brands in my homemade cleaners.
Thank you for your reply Alexis! I just read that Dawn is petroleum-based! I think I’ll stick with Seventh Generation. It takes very little to wash a load of dishes so to me it’s worth the extra 50 cents per bottle 🙂
Yes, most dish washing liquids are unless labeled or labeled green 🙂 I talk about that in other posts.
I agree, and also Sodium Laurel Sulfate is something I try to avoid.
Twot things to also consider… Seventh Generation is different in that they do not do any animal testing with their products–which Dawn does. And Seventh Generation uses containers which are 100% recycled plastic.
Hi! Yes, seventh generation is a good product. We use many of their items, and readers are welcome to use their dishwashing liquid in our cleaners. It doesn’t mix as well for DIY cleaners, but it can be substituted. No, they do not test on animals nor have they ever. I visited their manufacturing facilities. To address your comment about concentration, this isn’t my information, this is information from the manufacturer. They said their blue Dawn Ultra is most concentrated compared to the other colors or varieties of soap they produce…so, you would need to reach out to them directly if you have concerns about concentrations.
The manufacturer of my acrylic bathtub recommends Dawn as a cleaner but I’ve never been able to stand it because of the powerful scent. Is there an unscented version of Ultra Dawn?
Yes there is, they have a Dawn free and clear you can buy.
Yes, this is what I use as well!
Well, it’s not grey water safe. But, then, is Seventh Generation, so…
Great info! I’ve been using the original Dawn but will get the ultra formulation at my next purchase. Anything to amp up the cleaning solution a bit. (hello auto glass cleaning ?). P.s. used the everything cleaner on the dirty dog door flap (heavy duty plastic) – cut the cleaning time by more than half! You’re great Alexis! ?
The ultra makes it even more powerful for cleaning! I love the everything cleaner!! It really clean grim off quickly 🙂 thanks Laurie!
I found this a really interesting read
Thanks Jo-Anne!
A friend of mine also uses Dawn for everything. I’ve always used an organic brand at my store, but I tried it out after seeing how clean her shower was! Omg it was amazing. I use it all the time now, works so much better. I’ve never tried the platinum one though. Is it better for cleaning?
Dawn really does clean better! I would say the platinum does better for grease and food for dishes, but it doesn’t matter for cleaning other things
Is there a way u can tell me how to use dawn in tub shower however you all are doing it please and thank u
We use Dawn in DIY cleaners specifically for bathrooms. You can find it in things like our homemade bathroom cleaner. You can use it straight by drizzling it in the bathtub area and scrubbing
Hello Alexis,
My question to you is with using the dawn ultra what other cleaning solution is needed for removing all labels from beer and liquior bottles quickly. That is safe and healthy for my project. Thank you.
This is my recipe for removing labels:
Did the link get changed? It’s not sowing up. I also struggle to remove labels. My husband is miffed about the trail of jars I leave around trying to soak them etc. Thanks.
I am not sure the link you mean. Here is the link on removing labels. If you need information on making DIY cleaners, we have a cleaning tab full of all of our cleaning articles 🙂
Funny thing about Dawn Blue we had a cat that fell into a oil barrel with residue of oil in his panic to get out he was covered in heating oil. Called a family vet she suggested Dawn Blue and we washed him with it. Needless to say he was not a happy camper but I was not scratched or bitten. He knows when he needs help. It worked like a charm and after washing him we put him in a crate to keep an eye on him. He is now 17 years old still catches vermin and that is the last time he got a bath. He prefers to roll in sand to get rid of pests.
Dawn is great for that! Our vet has always recommended Dawn for our dogs. After our dog was sprayed by a skunk, we used some DAwn and vinegar, the scent went away quickly!
Hi Alexis. My next door neighbor sprays his yard with Blue Dawn to help control certain insects like chiggers and ticks. In your opinion, will this do the job? If not, what would you recommend?
I haven’t tried this for myself yet, but I know it works similar to an insecticidal soap. It is good for mites and similar things. I use baby shampoo in my homemade lawn food and it does the same thing. I would definitely recommend diluting the soap with water…1 cup of water to 1 tsp of soap.
We just adopted a dog from a Mexican dog rescue place and she felt kind of greasy and left a residue on our hand when we pet her. I didn’t want to use a dog shampoo as I didn’t know what her skin reaction would be so we used Dawn, I figured if it was good enough for wild animals it would be good enough for her, She didn’t mind at all and her coat turned out wonderful, a similar dog was adopted at the same time and went to a doggie parlor, she is now loosing hair! I also have very sensitive skin and I can use Dawn without rubber gloves, Thank you for all the great recipes and for all the info on Dawn
That’s great Diana! It really does make their coats nice and healthy, especially when they have been neglected. It is very gentle!!
hi I have been using Dawn for several years,.Its great.
My question is on your weed killer, with the arthritis liquid in it how safe is it for cats or dogs who wonder threw the wet leaves.
Yes it is safe 🙂
Thank you for writing so clearly about Dawn Ultra, & everything really.
I just read a recipe for unclogging toilets using Dawn, hot water, and something else. I simply cannot find it, and I’m hoping you have something that will work, and will also work on shower drains.
If it’s in your E book, I’ll buy it, but I really prefer a hard copy, (a soft cover, with spiral binding and extra blank sheets throughout the book, for notes, etc.) This would be outstanding for next Christmas’ gift-giving, showers, etc. More expensive, but well worth it, and more permanent.
Hi Claire! I have a post coming up next month about all the things you can do around your home with Dawn (keep an eye out for it!). It will contain info on the toilet, but I can tell you now too. All you need is one cup of Dawn and a bucket of hot water. Pour the Dawn in the toilet. Let it sit about 15 minute, then pour the hot bucket of water in (just don’t pour too much in so that it overflows haha) then flush 🙂
I was just wondering if you have included information anywhere about how sodium lauryl sulfate is so very abrasive. I am one of those who is so sensitive to it that my hands crack and bleed. It took me forever to realize that was what was happening. Sodium lauryl sulfate is in so many things. I have to take something like Dove bar soap with me everywhere to wash my hands because that ingredient is so often in the soaps in bathrooms. I think that has become better known now because it is a little easier to find things without it. I have to wear protective gloves to use something with SLS in it, but it does make it easier to clean things.
I just saw this comment too 🙂 not sure if it’s a duplicate. I have a post coming up in a few weeks on this very topic, so keep an eye out 🙂 have a good day!
Can u use Dawn to wash clothing wkthout damage to a washer? How much do u use?
It can be used for stain removal, but not good for an overall wash. Here is an example for how I use it on stains.
Campers use Dawn in their sewage holding tanks. I cup into a 29 gallon keeps it clean and flowing when time to dump! I keep at least a gallon of ultra on hand at all times for my fulltime camper living.
That’s great! It’s amazing how well Dawn works for that too!
the green dawn that is marketed as a handwashing liquid also has Lye in it!! (sodium hydroxide)
Yes, all real soap contains lye. Even natural soap. Here is a link with more information: https://www.chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com/blog/posts/is-there-lye-in-natural-soap-wont-it-harm-my-skin/
I never realized there were three different Dawn products…..very interesting.
Yes, they have three Blue Dawn versions now!
Can you do an actual test using the different Dawn on 3 or 4 identically dirty dishes? Maybe with some baked on stains? Have definitely bookmarked your site!
Hi! We use Dawn primarily in our homemade cleaners. It makes the cleaner work better using Dawn compared to these other brands we have tried. We have had readers write in saying they tried our homemade cleaner solutions with another brand or type of soap. Results were good, but didn’t perform as well as the Dawn. I have been in labs where we tested it with dishes, but I haven’t done it on the blog! Good idea!
I want to know why they don’t list the ingrediants on the bottle like everyone else does.
They are on the back 🙂 they were the first dish soap brand to have them on the back. I’ve seen it on their bottles the last 2 years
You forgot to mention that Dawn contains synthetic FRAGRANCE chemicals too. And only God knows what chemicals are actually in ‘fragrance’ when listed on a product, as a loophole in the Packaging Act allows manufacturers not to list them, as they can claim ‘trade secret’ information. Dawn does this also. They will not divulge what chemicals are in it. I am one person who is highly allergic to fragrance chemicals. I used a little Dawn in my clothes washer in an attempt to get some stains out, and even after 3 additional washings with baking soda and washing soda, I could not wear the clothing without lung irritation within an hour. FYI, today’s synthetic fragrance chemicals are bound by silicone, which means once it is on something, you cannot get rid of it. It binds to fabric or whatever it comes in contact with. That’s why after ten years you can smell the collar of that old jacket in the closet and still smell the perfume or cologne on it.
Hi James! Thanks for your email. Yes, it does contain fragrance which most store-bought products do. I have the MSDS sheet attached with the link for a complete list of the ingredients. Unfortunately, with fragrances, we are dealing with a few scientific situations.
The first one, synthetic fragrances are used in place of the real chemical substance which gives fragrance because there is not enough of the substance available to create the scent. For instance, lavender is a great smell for cleaning products, but the lavender fields would be depleted across the world if companies used real lavender in their products. Environmentalist are very upset with this in many areas of home products. The synthetic fragrance allows for the scent without using the lavender resources. Another reason companies use synthetic fragrance is the real fragrances actually impact those with allergies. Another for instance on this is my mom. She has horrible allergy induced asthma. The real flower fragrances for her causes allergies. She cannot be around real lavender flowers or essential oils for this reason, but she can be around the synthetic version without issues. She cannot be in the same room as any essential oils in general. So, it is definitely a tough road on both sides. The lavender scent is just an example. I personally use fragrance free products when I can especially for laundry because I don’t like the scents as much. I talked with a master perfumer earlier this year who works with Dawn and learned some interesting facts I wasn’t aware of. I hope to share more information on this later in the year when I get back on my feet from surgery. It is not my area of expertise, but it was so cool getting to learn from someone who has been in the industry for 30 years. If you enjoy our blog, you can keep an eye out of that post in the fall.
I use blue Dawn because it cleans better than any other product I have tested in our homemade cleaners. If you want to try some homemade cleaners, you can substitute any concentrated dish soap you have on hand 🙂 Thanks again, please let me know if you have any other questions.
I’m getting conflicting info. Is it safe to mix blue dawn with bleach? Some say dawn contains ammonia, but I’ve not seen it listed anywhere
You should never mix bleach with dish soap. Read our post here on why plus other ingredients you should never mix!
Doesn’t the simply clean lack the sulfates they are harmful I thought? And does it seem that they no longer make it?
Simply clean is a thinner, less concentrated version of Dawn. According to their SDS sheet, it is almost the same ingredients.
what is the difference between Dawn Ultra Platinum Dishwashing Foam and Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray?
It has the same ingredients, but the packaging allows for better use on dishes. It has as spray nozzle, that you spray on the dishes and makes it easier to clean 🙂 I just recently bought some to try out!
I found that using dawn instead of shampoo leaves my hair free of hairspray build-up. Hair always looks shiny. Try it…
Our vet recommended using it for our dog and his hair is so shiny too!
Thanks for this article. I love Dawn and have been using the original formula to bathe my dogs during dog show prep for years. (Gets them clean without leaving any residue or extra fragrance behind.) It is getting hard to find though.
i HATE Dawn Platinum and didn’t know why until I read your article. It’s the water softener I’m sure of it. When I’m washing dishes it almost has a slimy feel to it that I find hard to rinse off and I don’t like the smell either. At least now I know why.
Will have to try some of your DIY cleaners! Yay!
I continue to use and love the Dawn Ultra! It is my favorite for sure and works so great for the DIY cleaners!! Hope you enjoy using them!
I would like to know if Dawn dish soap is better used on feathers or would it be natural based soaps?
I know vets use it on duck feathers when it is diluted…I am not sure about feathers no longer attached if that is what you are asking. Typically, any dish soap when diluted is good for this
Dawn etc are Detergents, *not* soaps.
Castille soap is a true soap, not a detergent.
Huge difference in the chemistries involved. Wikipedia and Youtube will help you learn the differences.
Actually, they are considered dishwashing liquids…not quite detergents chemically. Soap comes from the chemistry term Saponification, which is how they are made. A true soap is made from salts and various naturally occurring fatty acids. You will notice that any type of body wash cannot be called “soap” unless it is truly made from this mechanism. So, most things are called body washes, body bars, beauty bars, etc when it comes to things for washing the body. Cleaning wise, they are all types of surfactants, but people call them dish soaps in their liquid form as kind of a slang term. I don’t recommend Wikipedia for any research, but a few good websites to read about soap can be found here and here. Hope this helps!
Part right, part wrong. “Detergent” is a functional category, not a chemical one. It means “cleaner” and says nothing about its chemical composition.
“Soap” means “fatty acid salt”, and is a chemical category, not a functional one. So if you use castile soap for cleaning, it is soap and detergent. There are also soaps that are not useful in cleaning.
Since Dawn has discontinued the Simply Clean, I wonder if you’d consider giving us tips on the best dilution ratio so that we can make it at home. As much as I like the more concentrated Dawn, the diluted version has its uses. I would be most grateful.
I like doing about 2-3 tbsp per 1 cup of water. It seems to be just the right amount! My mom used to only use Simply Clean, so I dilute it like that for her and she likes it. If you add that to a bottle or pump bottle, just remember to give it a slight shake before use to mix up the water and dishwashing liquid 🙂
HiAlexis,
Thank you for the great info! I was wondering if Dawn Ultra could be used on laquered surfaces and chrome metal? The directions for cleaning the laquered table say to use a mild soap solution (max. 1%) and I wasn’t sure if Dawn Ultra applied. Thank you! – Mackenzie
I use it! I would just dilute it…. 1 cup of water to 1 tbsp of dawn ultra is always my favorite ratio
Why is there SLS in blue dawn? I thought SLS was unsafe. Is there triclosan in blue dawn? It does work excellent, but I want to be safe from harmful chemicals that I use everyday to do dishes.
Hi Sandy! There is a lot of misinformation regarding sodium lauryl sulfate. It can be a skin irritant, but this why I dilute it for any homemade solution. It is harmful for cleaning or dishes. Healthline has a really great article specifically about this ingredient. I have tried so many other dish soaps including many natural brands, but they just don’t perform well enough for me to switch. I use blue dawn in small portions and diluted so it is safe for handling
https://www.practiganic.com/2014/05/dish-soaps-good-bad-and-toxic.html
Hi! So, that article mentions Dawn is toxic due to MIT (methylisothiazolinone). This is a preservative found in many skincare and cleaning products. If used in large doses it can be a skin irritant, not a corrosive chemical like they said in this article. That is chemically incorrect. If you would like to read more about MIT and what it’s uses are and toxicologist takes, you can read this article from last year. Thanks!
Thanks for an interesting and informative article. I have one question.
Given that you said that Platinum is likely a better cleaner for greasy dishes or stuck on food but is otherwise virtually identical to Ultra, why do you stick with Ultra rather than moving to Platinum?
Also, I use Platinum in the kitchen, and will be trying out a solution with water and a small amount of Dawn for some finished furniture to help remove buildup of various substances like polishes, smoking tar, etc. Is there some reason that it wouldn’t be as good as using Ultra?
Hi! You can really use either one in diluted homemade cleaners. They will work the same. I have used both. I prefer Ultra as an overall option because it is usually cheaper at the store, but still concentrated for good cleaning results. If you have Platinum, you can use that too
Hi,
Lot of info. Thanks for the work.
QUESTION: Isn’t Dawn dish washing liquid a petroleum-based product?
QUESTION: In researching the chemicals, have you checked each one to see whether one or ore are petroleum based?
My questions arise from an article about the irony of Dawn advertising its massive amount of dish washing donations for cleaning animals victimized by oil spills. The article claimed,= that Dawn is petroleum-based, but didn’t specify which ingredients are petroleum based.
Thanks again for any related info you can provide.
Hi Steve! Yes, about 1/7th of Dawn ingredients are petroleum based. Here is an article from 2010, although they have minimized petroleum ingredients since then. Unfortunately, it’s the petroleum based ingredients that make it work so phenomenally…you can use seventh generation for non-petroleum dish soap or another green dish soap. It doesn’t work as well in homemade cleaners, but it is definitely an option for readers. Other than that, most dish soaps will be petroleum based unless specified.
Hi,
What about using Dawn ultra Platinum as shampoo and or body wash? What about C9 11 Pareth 8 and 1,4-dioxane contamination ? Inhalation toxicity of methylisothiazolinone?
Thanks
I wouldn’t use it as a body wash or shampoo since its formulated as a grease surfactant, it would dry out your skin I am sure. Methylisothiazolinone is found in almost every store-bought body wash or shampoo though
Thank you for the information.
Question: How do you feel about the safety of the Dawn being safe for birds, etc., especially in the eye area? Would you use it to wash your bird or other pet? Even if you knew some of the product would get into their eyes?
I don’t know about birds, so I would definitely ask your vet about that. My vet did recommend using Dawn for our dog as a flea treatment, and it worked well. We washed her in diluted dawn ultra, even around the eye area. Our vet said it was safe and more gentle than some of the medicated shampoos.
What about Dawn Professional. It’s BLUE! (Not Dawn Platinum). How is it different?
Hi Susan! Dawn Professional comes in industrial sizes for large dishwashing needs and it is has a little more concentrated formula. Other than that, it is the same 🙂
Love your article. I do have one question. I was told that Dawn is no good to use with “Microfibre Cloth” as it will leave a residue and the microfibre will mot work like it should. Do you know anything about this? Thanks
Most things like soap or cleaner will leave a residue on microfiber cloths due to their surface structure, but I have found that simply rinsing in warm water after use removes all residue. I don’t have any issues with it
Very informative article. Have you ever tested Sunlight? I find that to be most effective on grease so far and definitely bang for the buck. Also have used it almost every surface in my house, including my toddler’s carseat, and even my pups! I use normally use the Lemon, but have switched to their Antibac lately with COVID. Interested to know if I could use the same amount of Dawn as Sunlight, and what the long terms savings would be if both are just as effective but Sunlight is much more value.
I think sunlight works best for fabric surfaces as an antibacterial and odor removal. We have a post about it here. I don’t think it would really compare to using dish soap though on all other surfaces, but sunlight is my favorite thing for clothing.
I believe the comment was referring to Sunlight Dish Detergent. That detergent is fantastic
I can’t find any place on the Dawn Ultra label where the word “concentrated” is used. Is it really “concentrated”?
Yes, the ultra is a concentrated formula. Here is description on their website.
Good article but why was the Dawn Professional not included in your list of “there are a few different types of Bue Dawn?
I have never seen Dawn Professional available in the store, and the manufacturer claims it is not for a home setting…so, it isn’t relevant to this post. It is just a large quantity of Dawn Ultra
Have you tested it compared to any other “Natural” brands? As far as cleaning power?
Hi! I have used Castile Soap, Sals Suds, and also Seventh Generation. Castile soap is not recommended in our DIY cleaning solutions as it did not perform very well. Some readers still use it it, but results just aren’t as strong. If readers substitute anything in our DIY cleaners, I recommend the seventh generation. It doesn’t have as strong surfacting power, but it does mix well in our cleaners and will still get some scrubbing power 🙂
“There are other types with different colors. I haven’t tested all of them out, but most of these aren’t concentrated and are scented. I prefer not to use them and stick with the original.”
Isn’t this making a rather big assumption? Yes, Dawn Ultra comes in different colors and scents–but that has nothing to do with the concentration, and it is wrong to imply that this is the case and they are linked together.
We think the quality of Dawn has eroded. The suds don’t last nearly as long as they used to.
I haven’t noticed any difference. Where do you purchase it?
very clear and good article easy to understand. Thank you
I can appreciate all of the defense you have put into Dawn. However the fact and hard truth is that Dawn is comprised of both clean and toxic ingredients.
Here is the lowdown from the Think Dirty App on its rating of an 8 (not ever recommended for use)
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Thanks for sharing! It’s not really a defense for it. But if you want cleaning results in DIY cleaners we have, Dawn performs best. Readers use many other dish washing liquids in our recipes, but also agree they aren’t as good. But you are welcome to use your favorite one if you make our stuff 🙂
Does dawn really work for fleas on animals? If so which one is best and safest to use?
I have never used it on fleas, but I have had several readers tell me over the years they swear by it for fleas! I always use the Dawn Ultra and dilute it, I think this is the main one everyone uses.
I am highly allergic to lavender. I wish the manufacturer would post what fragrances are in the different Dawn dish soaps. I used Dawn Original thinking I was safe…guess not, I am breaking out in hives on my hands and arms. Please send me the fragrance list. Thank you
Hi, you will have to contact the manufacturer to see about the fragrance. They also make a Dawn free & clear version which is fragrance-free. I have bought it on Amazon before, but have not seen it in the store.
I have a question. I am a die hard Dawn user as well. I like to put a few drops in our handsoap in the kitchen to cut the grease on my hands while cooking. I used to not have an issue with mixing the two until recently. I’ve noticed that when we add Dawn to other soaps, it makes the soap separate and become extremely watery. Do you know why that is happening?
I finally gave up and just use a watered down form of Dawn as hand saop. Works fine.
That is interesting, what type of Dawn is it? The Ultra or Platinum?
It’s Platinum. We’ve even tried different handsoaps to no avail.
The Platinum formula does contain more alcohols. The higher alcohol content can make it not mix as well especially with ingredients in hand soap which usually has glycerin. The alcohol reacts with those molecules in the hand soap making it less thick and fatty, plus forms water molecules essentially breaking apart the hand soap. I am not sure why it used to work before, but not now though.
I have been out of the kitchen for maybe 8 or more years, and recently resumed kitchen activities.. Have used whichever Dawn was available at Costco USA… My first time using Dawn after returning to kitchen duties, I immediately noticed a very disconcerting effect – my hands do not feel clean, hard to rinse, and almost feel tacky while they are wet, as if I have petted a greasy animal like a sheep – almost like there is sticky fatty substance on them. They are OK after I dry them. We live in the same house with the same private well water source, so no change there! I DO NOT remember Dawn feeling like this on my hands years ago! It’s so unpleasant enough to make me want to change brands! I asked tonight which Dawn is in the kitchen sink pump, and I was told Platinum, as it’s the only one COSTCO sells now. Why does it feel this way on my hands?? TERRIBLE! I will try the ULTRA but if it does the same thing, I am switching brands, Thanks!
I haven’t experienced this before. I have used Dawn for 20 years now, but the formula of platinum is different. It is more concentrated, a few heavier surfactants and it does contain a little more alcohol. Climate will play a factor in dish soap consistency especially with more concentrated formulas. I personally prefer Dawn ultra in all of my recipes. I have used platinum, but I don’t like it as much for the way I use it.
Thanks so much for taking the time to research this out! It’s probable that we were using higher quality handsoap before? Or now that I think about it, we might have been using Dawn handsoap when I mixed the two and had no issues!
It might have been due to a different type of hand soap! It is hard to say, but I think that is definitely what is happening with your hand soap now when you mix them!
The preservative they use causes allergic reactions to many people, including myself. Methylisothiazolinone is in so many cleaning / beauty products.
I wonder if some countries don’t sell this due to the ingredients used.
I only use Dawn for homemade cleaners due to the performance. It is usually about 1 tbsp per recipe, so not very much is needed. Some readers substitute brands like 7th generation for similar results. This product is sold all over the world. If you are looking for a dish soap substitute for DIY cleaners, I have used 7th generation and ECOS brand. It doesn’t have quite the cleaning power, but can still be a good sub for those who don’t want to use Dawn.
Alexis, would this be safe to spray my vegetable leaves with?
Thanks
Many readers do spray them on vegetable leaves, although I have not done it personally before. We do have a DIY insecticide that uses oil-soap instead. Here is that recipe if you are interested in it.
Thanks Alexis. I was told by a well meaning friend not to use Dawn on my vegetables because it contained lye and would be a health risk . Thanks for the substitute I will try it. Always appreciate your analysis. Thanks
Dawn does not contain LYE, that is common in actual soaps…but I think that is fine not to use it and use something more natural 🙂 Let me know know if you have any other questions!
Do you have a DIY recipe for rust for bathroom sinks with rust around the drain area on the white sink part?
There are two you can try. First, is the DIY all-purpose cleaning paste which I have used on rust. Another DIY paste to use is the two-ingredient chemist paste. This is more so for grout, but it has also worked on rust stains for me. If none of those do it, you can upgrade to the Pink Stuff Cleaning paste which is very affordable and works on just about anything! Do to the formula of the Pink Stuff it can scrub away most stains on most surfaces