The Many Uses of Dawn Dish Soap

RV Life

We all know that Dawn dish soap is the best for washing dishes. I know I’ve tried many different kinds of dish soap over the years, and Dawn truly is the best. (This isn’t a sponsored post, it’s just my honest opinion.)

But what if I told you this soap is also ideal for a variety of jobs around your RV? That’s right, the next time something in your RV needs cleaning or fixing, you might find that that handy blue liquid sitting by your sink is exactly what you need!

Here are 10 of the best uses for Dawn dish soap in your RV.

Wash the Windows

Washing the RV windows—nobody enjoys it, but it’s one of those things that really does have to get done, especially if you spend time on the beach or in a dusty location. The good news? Dawn can help make the job a cinch!

To make an amazing window cleaning solution using dish soap, simply add ⅛ teaspoon of Dawn and ¼ cup of vinegar to a gallon of warm water. Mix well, pour into a spray bottle, and voilà, you have an excellent window cleaning solution that’ll work no matter what grime has made itself at home on your RV windows.

Note: This cleaner also works well for stainless steel appliances!

Cut Through Grease

Cutting through grease is Dawn’s whole thing, right? Well, that grease-fighting power isn’t limited only to dishwashing. You can also use Dawn to cut through the grease that has built up behind your stove, on your oven, and on your kitchen cabinet doors.

Simply add a few drops of Dawn to a damp sponge and rub until sudsy. Use the sudsy sponge to wipe the grease away, making sure to rinse with a clean damp sponge and dry with a soft towel when the job is done.

Remove Carpet Stains

Camping is dirty business. I know that when we’re parked out in the middle of nowhere, dirt, sand, mud, and all kinds of other messes end up tracked into our home-on-wheels. Unfortunately our current rig also has carpet, which has a tendency to catch this debris, often leading to carpet stains.

The good news? Dawn can help with this, too!

To remove carpet stains with Dawn, mix equal parts Dawn and warm water in a spray bottle and spray the solution onto the stain. Allow to sit for a few minutes, then use a microfiber cloth to gently clean the stain. Use a damp cloth to rinse the soap away and then blot the area with a dry towel.

Clean the Bathroom

Nobody wants a dirty RV bathroom, but I don’t especially like putting harsh chemicals into my RV’s holding tanks. What if they cause some sort of damage? Instead of risking it, I like to create a bathroom cleaning solution using Dawn.

To make your own bathroom cleaning spray, fill a spray bottle halfway to the top with white vinegar and heat the vinegar in the microwave until warm (obviously, don’t put the sprayer head in the microwave when you do this, just the bottle itself). Fill the other half of the bottle with Dawn, put the lid on the bottle, and shake vigorously.

Spray the mixture on the shower walls, in your tub, and on the toilet. Let sit for ten minutes or so, then rinse the soap away for a shiny clean bathroom.

Get Rid of Fruit Flies

Dealing with pests is never fun. Unfortunately, they seem to really like RVs. We’ve dealt with all kinds of bugs in our rig over the years, including those annoying little fruit flies that will sometimes go after your ripe produce.

The best way to get rid of fruit flies? You guessed it: Dawn dish soap. In this instance, you will want to pour white vinegar into a bowl and add a small drop of dawn. The fruit flies will be drawn to the vinegar, but then can’t escape the bowl because the dish soap makes things so slippery. Genius!

Kill Ants

Another pest we’ve had to get rid of in our RV? Ants. These little pests have actually found their way into our rig several times.

There are lots of ways to get rid of ants, and ant poison is my favorite method. That said, Dawn can help keep them out as well. Simply put a couple of drops of the soap into a spray bottle of water, shake to mix, and then spray on the ant trail and on any suspected ant entry points into the RV.

Soothe Poison Ivy

Poison ivy is something I don’t wish on anyone. My family has been fortunate enough to avoid it somehow, but our friend’s kids dealt with it recently and it was not fun.

If you do end up walking through poison ivy during your RV adventures, Dawn can help. Start by washing immediately with Dawn and cool water. The oil-fighting power of Dawn will help get rid of the poison ivy oils. Follow up with another wash with Dawn and warm water to help soothe the rash.

Scrub Up Oil Spills

Most campgrounds have strict rules about vehicle maintenance, meaning changing your engine oil in a campground is typically against the rules. That said, if you do happen to come across a park that allows oil changes, you’re probably going to want to take advantage of that.

Obviously, the best thing to do in this case is avoid spilling oil at all. That said, if you do spill a bit of oil on your RV pad, you can get rid of it and leave it clean for the next guest.

First, spread cat litter over the oil spill to soak up as much as possible. Pick up the oil-soaked litter with a paper towel then squirt a good amount of Dawn over the area. Use a damp scrub brush to scrub the stain until it is removed and then rinse the area with water.

Seek Out Leaks

If you suspect a water leak or a propane leak on your rig, you’re going to want to find that as soon as possible. Water damage is no fun to deal with (trust me on this one) and propane leaks could be even worse.

Use Dawn to help you find leaks by spraying soapy water over the hose wherever you think it’s leaking. If bubbles appear, that is the culprit!

Remove Stickers

Lots of people like to put stickers on their RVs. This is fun, but when the stickers start to fade, they can look pretty ugly. The best way to remove them? Dawn, of course!

Rub some Dawn soap onto the stickers you wish to remove. Let the soap sit for several minutes then use a putty knife to carefully scrape the stickers away. Any remaining sticky residue can be removed using Goo Gone. Be sure to rinse the area after cleaning!

Obviously, Dawn is a great product to keep on hand while traveling in your RV. Pick some up today so you’re prepared for your next RV trip!