Dishwasher detergents use active ingredients that enhance the cleaning process and give a shine to your dishes. Yes, dishwasher detergent is a good degreaser for your dishes.
Dishwashing soap is a degreaser. As dishwashing soaps go, Dawn is a very effective degreaser, is inexpensive as one mixes a few ounces of soap in a quart of water.
All dishwasher detergents contain surfactants that work together with water to break down oily residues for easier removal. They also contain enzymes to help break down food particles and bleaching agents or brighteners to make dishes look brighter.
Dawn Platinum Dish Soap
Dawn's reputation for being tough on grease is well-earned — it's been famously used to help clean up wildlife after oil spills.
Yes, using Dawn detergent and baking soda can effectively remove grease and oil stains from fabrics.
Fast Orange 22340 Grease X is a very popular detergent for mechanics and other people that are exposed to a lot of grease. This detergent is rated the #1 Best Seller on Amazon for Automotive Engine Degreasers, so it is clearly one of the most popular on the market.
What the company doesn't advertise -- and these days is reluctant to admit -- is that the grease-cutting part of the potion is made from petroleum. "To make the best product out there, you have to have some in there," says Ian Tholking of Procter & Gamble. He says less than one-seventh of Dawn comes from petroleum.
1: Vinegar
For tough, caked-on grease stains, especially those stuck to the stove and the inside of the oven, you can spray white vinegar directly on the stain and let it soak in for about five minutes.
The molecules in the dishwashing liquid remove dirt, plaque, germs and grease from dishes so that they can be rinsed down the drain. After rinsing the liquid with water, the dishes are clean and reusable. Water (which dissolves many food molecules by itself) and stirring or rubbing are essential for an optimal result.
Cascade Dishwasher Cleaner helps eliminate limescale, grease, and odors that develop in your dishwasher after numerous cycles while giving you a fresh scent. With just one easy-to-use, single-dose pac every month, you can break through the buildup to reveal a fresher, cleaner machine.
Best: Use up or give away. Rinse out empty container and recycle or dispose of in the garbage depending on your curbside guidelines. Second best: Flush small amounts of unwanted liquid detergent down an inside drain (toilet is best) with plenty of water.
Improper loading: Overloading the dishwasher or blocking the spray arms can prevent proper water circulation, leading to residue on the dishes. Ensure that you are following the recommended loading instructions and leaving enough space for water and detergent to reach all the dishes.
Use distilled vinegar.
Distilled vinegar (also called white vinegar) can be used alone as a degreaser. The vinegar can be applied to greasy surfaces with either a spray bottle or a cloth, and should cut most grease with minimal rubbing. Mix 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water.
Dawn dishwashing liquid can be used to clean items beyond the kitchen sink. Use Dawn dishwashing liquid to pre-treat greasy laundry stains, to clean greasy tools and car wheels, and to remove grease and grime from around the house. Dawn is tough on grease, yet gentle.
Mix 1 cup vinegar with 3 cups of water, 1 cup of baking soda and ½ cup of dish soap in a bowl. This solution is best used right from the bowl, so dip a clean cloth into the bowl to apply the degreaser, then use the cloth to scrub the greasy surface. Be sure to rinse afterward and wipe the surface again to finish.
The highest strength industrial degreaser available, Solvalene was created for the toughest degreasing applications. This alkaline fortified, water based degreaser is extremely versatile and can handle most heavy duty cleaning assignments.
WD-40 Specialist® Degreaser
Contains a proprietary industrial-strength solvent that quickly breaks down grease, yet unlike other harsh degreaser solvents is safe on most surfaces including metals, plastics, rubber, glass, aluminum and more (if unsure test on a small area first).
Use a degreaser or dish soap with warm water to wipe down your countertops and cabinets as well as your walls and backsplashes. Sinks can be cleaned with a degreaser or baking soda. For particularly tough grease deposits, mixing baking soda and water can help break through the grime.
Scrape and blot liquid dish soap (for handwashing), stain pretreatment or liquid enzyme detergent into the stain and let sit for 10 minutes. If using liquid dish soap for handwashing, be sure to fully remove the soap by rinsing thoroughly before placing the item in the washer.
For over 40 years, Dawn dish soap has helped over 75,000 animals affected by oil pollution and given thousands of bottles of dish soap to wildlife rescue workers like The Marine Mammal Center.
Balanced Surfactants
In the world of car care, dish soap is the equivalent to a cleaner-degreaser: a heavy-duty car wash soap that strips away old layers of wax for a complete detailing overhaul. Using this kind of soap for a routine car wash would be considered overkill.
For effective cleaning, the recommended ratio is 1 part dish soap to 2 parts vinegar for general cleaning tasks. This mixture perfectly balances the grease-cutting power of dish soap with the disinfecting and deodorizing properties of vinegar, making it suitable for everyday cleaning needs.