Gain's green dish spray is the closest product you'll get to Platinum Powerwash, both in terms of functionality and performance. I prefer the discrete clean scent of the Dawn to the Gain, though Gain's formulation includes an “Aroma Boost”—which I didn't mind, but it is strong.
Preferences vary, and on the whole, demand wasn't enough for us to continue making it.
Surfaces to avoid with Dawn® Powerwash:
Glass with UV coatings or other specialty treatments. Painted, varnished, or coated surfaces, including automobile paint. Precious metals, copper, or sterling silver. Leather, upholstery, or fabrics that won't later be rinsed.
Powerwash contains several strong solvents, chelants, and high-alkaline ingredients that help it cling and decimate dirt—it's absolutely not regular Dawn dish soap in a pump spray bottle (as internet rumor has it). When I need to rid my dishes of stubborn stuck-on food, I'll just give 'em a soak.
Ginger Boggs Reedy no. Power wash has a different formula that cuts through the grease better, it's not just Dawn watered down.
Why Dawn Powerwash Spray Works So Well. The reason it is so effective at cutting through food and grease is because the product has both the power of Dawn's usual soap and the added bonus "3 cleaning boosters not found in traditional soap," according to its Amazon page.
Pour equal parts of vinegar and Dawn into a spray bottle. Gently shake, then spray liberally onto the surface to be cleaned. I have found the best results is when I use it to clean chrome shower and sink fixtures. After spraying on the fixture, rub and wipe it with a microfiber cloth to avoid scratching.
I see on my supermarket shelf a clear version of Dawn Powerwash Spray — Dawn Platinum Powerwash Free & Clear (“no dyes with a light pear scent”). If you want to give that a try, substitute the Free & Clear Dawn Dishwashing Liquid for the blue, and proceed.
Why Is Dawn Dish Soap Blue? “Dawn's 'clear blue' color was seen as unique, represented something new in the marketplace, and was preferred 2-to-1 over other colors shown at the time, even against competitive products already in the market,” Eberhard adds.
For simple messes: Just spray, wipe, and rinse. For tougher messes: You can skip the overnight soak, just let the suds sit for 3-4 minutes. You may see the suds gradually change from white to the color of the mess as Powerwash starts breaking down grease. Then, lightly scrub, and rinse.
As you can see, the original Powerwash is finer and foamier, while the DIY Powerwash has plenty of aerated bubbles. I wiped down both sides, and found that I only had to do a little bit of scrubbing on each side. In other words — the DIY Powerwash worked just as well as the original.
ALCOHOL DENAT., C10-16 ALKYLDIMETHYLAMINE OXIDE, DIPROPYLENE GLYCOL BUTYL ETHER, ETHANOLAMINE, FRAGRANCES, HEXYL ETHOXYLATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PPG-26, SODIUM CITRATE, SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, TETRASODIUM GLUTAMATE DIACETATE, WATER. CONTAINS FRAGRANCE ALLERGEN(S).
70% isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. distilled water. a clean, empty Dawn Powerwash spray bottle OR any 16 oz. or larger spray bottle.
Even with regular cleaning, it doesn't take long for a shower door to go from clear to cloudy. “Cleaning soap scum and hard water stains from shower doors can be a difficult and very time-consuming task, but Dawn Powerwash can break them down effortlessly,” explains Hernandez.
Warnings. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Eye irritant. In case of eye contact, flush thoroughly with water.
So, yeah, it can handle a hefty helping of grease and grime. TikTok user @zackryram let his 14.8K followers know that Dawn was the answer to keeping his greasy strands at bay. “Look at my beautiful hair—woo,” he said, rubbing his clean tresses.
Clean the Bathtub and Shower
Scrubbing shower walls and soap rings can be a major pain. Fortunately, Powerwash revolutionizes this labor-intensive chore.
Add 4 tablespoons (1/4 cup) Dawn Platinum Dishwashing Liquid. Add 1 1/2 tablespoons 70% isopropyl alcohol. Apply spray top. Shake gently to combine ingredients.
Though dish soap is great as a stain pretreatment option, it's not meant for direct use in a laundry washing machine. That's because dish soaps are uniquely formulated to break up grease and stuck-on food particles with foamy suds—something you don't want to happen in your washing machine.
Yes, Dawn dish soap is generally safe for septic systems. It's got quite a reputation for being septic-friendly, and for good reason. As long as you're not going overboard with it, Dawn isn't likely to mess with the bacteria in your septic tank.