That little inexpensive plastic bottle of Joy or Palmolive (or store brand, if you’re thrifty) is actually far more useful than we give it credit for! Not only can you clean a sink-full of dirty dishes with it, you can do everything from lightening your hair color to ridding your pets of fleas!
Instead of heading to the supermarket and spending a small fortune on products that fix squeaky hinges, kill the weeds in your lawn and clean your air conditioning units, use that inexpensive bottle of dish soap you already have to handle all of that.
1)
Remove Carpet Stains
Mix dish soap with warm water (approximately 1 tablespoon to 2 cups) and blot the stain with the solution. Continue to do so until the stain has lifted. To remove residual soap, simply sponge the area with a damp sponge or cloth.
2)
Get Your Hair Squeaky Clean
If your shampoo is not cutting it and the natural build-up of oil is causing your hair to look a little lackluster, wash it with dish soap. This grease fighter will eliminate what your shampoo has left behind. Lather, rinse and follow up with shampoo.
3)
Fight Grease Stains on Shirts
You don’t have to invest in stain fighters – just use dish soap. Simply squirt a drop or two on the grease stain and let it work its magic overnight. Once it’s had time to work the stain, wash your shirt as usual.
Photo: Fuse, Thinkstock
4)
A Longer Lasting Manicure
Did you know the natural oils around your nails can shorten the life of your manicure, if you don’t eliminate them pre-polish? Soak your fingers in a bowl of warm water and a few drops of dish soap before you add your polish. Just make sure you dry your hands thoroughly before you paint them.
Photo: Gubcio, Thinkstock
5)
Fix Hair Color Overload
If you’ve colored your hair at home and took it a few shades to dark, dish soap can save a bad situation. Wash your hair with this miracle product to lighten color.
Photo: Ra3nr, Thinkstock
6)
Lubricate Those Squeaky Hinges
Add a drop or two of dish soap to any hinge that’s making a sound when it shouldn’t. No need to rinse it off – just let it work its magic.
Photo: Luknaja
7)
Clean Your Air Con Unit to Stay Cool
The filters on your air conditioning unit attract dust and all manner of dirt and if you don’t keep them clean, you’re breathing all that in. Remove the filters from your unit, soak them in warm water and dish soap and give them a gentle scrub. Once they’re clean, dry them completely and return them to the unit. You’ll be nice and cool and breathing clean air at the same time.
Photo: Adrian825, Thinkstock
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8)
If your furry friend is suffering a flea infestation, bathe him using a healthy amount of dish soap, which will dry out and kill the fleas.
Photo: Laures, Thinkstock
9)
Kill Weeds Without Harsh Chemicals
The last thing you want is to douse your lawn and plants in heavy duty chemicals. Mix a little bit of dish soap with ¼ – ½ cup of coarse salt in a spray bottle and fill to the top with distilled white vinegar. Spray the troublesome areas and watch weeds wither away.
Photo: Wylius, Thinkstock
10)
Create an Ice Pack
Fill a freezer sandwich bag with dish soap and freeze it completely. It’s ideal for bumps and bruises as well as keeping a lunchbox chilled. Dish soap takes longer to melt than water.
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