32 Genius Washing Up Liquid Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Sooner!

There are plenty of household items that have more than one function, that we’re unaware of. In today’s article we’re going to explore the amazing cleaning properties of one of these unsung heroes…Washing up liquid.

Sure, we all use washing up liquid to tackle that Everest of dirty dishes (or at least one of us does while the others conveniently disappear), but did you know it could be used for cleaning loads of different things around your home?

If you thought washing up liquid was just for doing dishes, keep reading. By the end of this article you’ll be able to stop buying those expensive cleaning products and replace them with washing up liquid.

Here’s What Washing Up Liquid Can Be Used For

Let’s get into the amazing world of using washing up liquid as a general cleaning product. Some of the following will be completely new to you and you might think they’re a bit wacky. But trust us, they actually work, and work well.

Cleaning Kitchen Work Surfaces

OK, this one isn’t exactly rocket science, but hey, why not let your washing up liquid moonlight as a surface cleaning superhero? Washing up liquid cleans dirty, grimy, greasy dishes, so why not the work surfaces of the room that meal was made in? 

What you might not know is that washing up liquid will make short work of stubborn stains and grease left behind on the work surfaces of your kitchen.

All you need to do is mix a few drops of washing up liquid with warm water, pour it onto the affected work surface, and wipe with a clean cloth. The degreasing agent in the washing up liquid will leave your work surfaces sparklingly clean and free from grease.

Floor Cleaner

Vinyl or lino floors can be magnets for grime, kind of like toddlers and sticky fingers. Thankfully, washing up liquid has your back. A quick and easy way to get those floors clean and grease free is to mix a few drops of washing up liquid into a bowl of warm water.

You can use a mop or a cloth to wash the floor in the mixture to remove grime and grease. And, if you dry the floor straight away after cleaning it, your floor will shine too.

Bathroom Ceramic Tiles

Washing up liquid in the bathroom??? We know, right? But if your bathroom tiles have accumulated grime, soap scum and limescale you can get rid of it using washing up liquid. 

This one works best if you use a sponge or brush and a small amount of washing up liquid and warm water. Scrub the tiles using this mixture and the foaming agent in the washing up liquid will help to lift and remove all of that gunk from your tiles.

Glass Surfaces

Say goodbye to streaks and hello to reflections so clear you’ll forget you’re not in a magazine ad. This one works for windows, glass tabletops, mirrors, or any glass surface in your home. You’ll need to mix a few drops of washing up liquid in a spray bottle with warm water and spray it onto the glass.

Wipe it off with a soft, clean cloth, and the grease removing properties of the washing up liquid will leave your glass surfaces streak free and shiny.

Defogging Glasses

Foggy glasses? Not today! This trick will leave your specs fog free and you looking like the cool cucumber you are. All you need to do is rub a small drop of washing up liquid onto each lens, then wipe them clean using a soft microfibre cloth.

Your lenses will now be coated with a thin film that’s almost impossible to see but will prevent your glasses from fogging up.

A word to the wise: Make sure that you only use a soft microfibre cloth to wipe your glasses because anything else could cause damage to the lenses.

Hand Washing Delicate Items

Your delicates deserve TLC, and washing up liquid is here to whisper sweet nothings to your favourite silk blouse. If you have delicate items that need to be hand washed and you don’t have any delicate detergent, don’t panic! You can hand wash those delicates in, you guessed it, washing up liquid.

Fill your sink with warm water, add a few drops of washing up liquid, and gently agitate the water to create soap suds. Then dunk the delicates into the water and make sure they’re submerged. Give it a quick swish, then rinse.

The gentle cleaning action of the washing up liquid will clean your clothes without the use of any harsh or aggressive chemicals.

Removing Grease Stains From Clothes

You know how difficult it can be to get rid of grease stains from clothes right? Well our trusty washing up liquid can be your BFF in the battle of the grease stain.

All you need to do is plop a small blob of washing up liquid directly onto the stain and rub it in gently. Allow it to soak in for a few minutes, and then wash it in the usual way in water as hot as the fabric will allow (consult the wash care label).

The surfactants in the washing up liquid will help to lift the grease from the fabric. Just don’t tumble dry the item, air dry it instead because the heat from the tumble dryer could bake the stain on if it hasn’t been fully removed.

If there is still evidence of the grease stain, repeat the process.

Barbecue Grill Cleaner

Cleaning the grill doesn’t have to feel like medieval torture this hack makes it almost fun. Almost. Simply wait for the grill to cool down, then put it in a bin bag (the big black varieties are ideal for this). Pour in 1 gallon (4.5 litres) of warm water and ½ a cup (118 ml) of washing up liquid.

Seal the bag and leave it overnight to work its magic. The following morning, all you need to do is scrub that grill with a wire brush (you can even use a brush attachment on your cordless drill). Then give it a quick rinse and Bob’s your uncle.

Oven Cleaner

While we’re on our favourite subject, food, here’s another great cleaning hack using washing up liquid. The racks in the oven can get seriously greased up if you’re not on top of the cleaning.

This hack works in a similar way to the barbecue grill but you use the sink not a black bin bag. Just fill the sink with warm water and add a large drop of washing up liquid. Then soak those racks for a couple of hours.

When the time is up, scrub the racks with a brush or sponge and rinse thoroughly. 

Pro tip; If the racks are really grimy, add a dishwasher tablet into the water before soaking them.

Cleaning The Blender

Forget playing Operation with the blender blades, this method does the dirty work for you! The easiest way to clean your blender is to put some water in the blender, add a few drops of washing up liquid, then give it a short blast and boom… Your blender is as clean as a whistle.

Cleaning The Air Fryer

If you have an air fryer you’ll know how convenient it is to get your food cooked at a fraction of the time that it would using a conventional oven. One of the main complaints we hear often is about cleaning the air fryer basket after use.

Guess what? The air fryer basket can be cleaned easily using washing up liquid. All you do is pour some washing up liquid into the basket, then fill the basket around halfway with warm water. 

Don’t fill the basket more than halfway because as the water heats it could overflow and damage the internal workings of the air fryer.

Close the drawer and set the air fryer at 180^oC for 3 minutes. When it finishes, pour the contents down the sink and give the basket a quick rinse. Then dry using a clean tea towel.

Carpet Cleaner

If you have a stain or a spill on your carpet you can remove it using our old friend washing up liquid. Mix it with warm water and apply it to the stain using a soft cloth. Keep blotting the area until the stain has gone. 

It’s the surfactants in the washing up liquid that trap the stain and gently lift it away.

Cleaning Jewellery

Who needs expensive jewellery cleaners when washing up liquid can bring the sparkle back like a Netflix reboot? Time can ravage your jewellery, leaving it dull because of dirt, oil, and oxidation. You don’t need fancy and expensive cleaners to restore your jewellery back to its former glory.

All you need is your trusty bottle of washing up liquid and warm water. Pour warm water into a cup, add a few drops of washing up liquid, then drop your dirty jewellery into the cup.

Nail Cleaner

Turns out, your nails and cuticles love a good spa day too, just add washing up liquid to the mix. Soaking your fingers in a bowl of water with a few drops of washing up liquid for around 5 to 10 minutes can soften your cuticles and get rid of any oils from your nails.

With all of the oils removed, the nail polish will stick better and coat more evenly.

DIY Ice Pack

An ice pack that’s always ready and doesn’t drip everywhere? Washing up liquid strikes again, proving it’s the Swiss Army knife of cleaning products. Just fill the freezer bag with washing up liquid, seal it, and bung it in the freezer.

When it’s needed you can use it until it melts and then return it to the freezer.

Removing Harsh Chemicals From Your Hair

If you constantly use hair products in your hair, they can build up and not get washed out properly. Once a month it’s a good idea to wash your hair in washing up liquid to remove any residual hair products.

Works On Hair Brushes Too

If you have a few hair brushes and other hair styling tools, you’ll know that they need to be cleaned regularly. Washing up liquid is a great hair tool cleaner. 

All you need to do is fill a large jug with water, add a few drops of washing up liquid and place your combs, brushes and other items in between use.

Cleaning Garden Furniture

Garden furniture can get covered in dirt and grime during the course of a summer. If your garden furniture looks like it’s been through an assault course, give it a wash using washing up liquid and warm water.

Use a sponge or brush to scrub every nook and cranny of the furniture to remove all of that accumulated detritus. Then rinse using a hose and allow it to dry in the sun (if you’re lucky).

It Works On Decking & Patios Too

As long as your patio or decking isn’t too grimed up, using a bucket of warm water with a few drops of washing up liquid mixed in can work wonders. Simply pour the foaming mixture all over the surface and scrub using a brush or broom.

Once you’re happy with the cleanliness, rinse off using a hose or more buckets of water. For best results use a hose or pressure washer to really blast that grime away.

Plastic Paddling Pool Cleaner

If you usually clean your kid’s paddling pool with bleach, you’ll know that the plastic degrades quite quickly. Try washing the pool using washing up liquid instead of bleach and you’ll be surprised at how clean the pool is. 

As well as how much longer it lasts before needing to be replaced.

Weed Killer

Mix ½ a teaspoon of washing up liquid with ½ a cup (118 ml) of salt and ½ a gallon (2.25 litres) of white vinegar. Put this into a spray bottle and spray the offending weeds directly.

Make sure to avoid any plants that you want to keep. If you don’t have a spray bottle, you can pour the mixture directly onto the weeds but this way you’re more likely to hit some of your plants as well.

Ant Killer

Let’s stay in the garden for a bit. If ants are a problem and you want rid of them just add 1 to 2 teaspoons of washing up liquid into a spray bottle filled with warm water. 

Give it a shake to mix it and then spray any ants you see.

It’s Also A Flea Killer Too

The same mixture that works for ants will work on fleas as well. Just spray onto any flea infested areas and let it soak in for around 30 to 40 minutes. Then simply vacuum all of the dead fleas up.

Dog Flea Shampoo

If your dog has fleas, you can use washing up liquid as a one off flea killer. Use it in place of your regular dog shampoo and be sure to keep it out of your dog’s eyes. Plus you need to rinse it off thoroughly.

Please note; Using washing up liquid too often on your dog will dry out their skin. Just use it as an occasional flea shampoo and return to their regular shampoo the rest of the time.

If you use a flea comb on your dog or cat, drop any fleas into a bowl of water that has 2 to 3 teaspoons of washing up liquid mixed in to kill them.

Plant Insect Repellent

Pesky plant eating bugs? Show them the door with washing up liquid, the botanical bodyguard you didn’t know you needed. A spray bottle full of warm water with 2 or 3 drops of washing up liquid can be used to repel insects around your houseplants. 

Shake the bottle to mix it up and then spray the leaves of your houseplants. Watch those insects disappear.

Fruit Fly Trap

Fruit flies: 0. You: 1. Washing up liquid turns this little nuisance into yesterday’s problem. Fill a small container with white vinegar (or cider vinegar), add a few drops of washing up liquid, and place it in the area where the fruit flies congregate.

They’ll be attracted to the smell of the vinegar and will get trapped by the thicker washing up liquid. Then you can simply wash them down the sink.

Hole Finder In Bike Tyres

If your bicycle tyre keeps going flat and you think it might have a puncture. Mix up some warm water and washing up liquid and cover the tyre with it.

If you see bubbles forming on the surface, that’s where the leak is. You can then get your puncture repair kit out and fix the hole.

Prevents Squeaky Doors

If your door squeaks every time you open it, don’t reach for the oil can, just drop some washing up liquid onto the hinge and the squeak will be gone.

This can also be used for sliding doors that squeak. Just use washing up liquid to lubricate the tracks.

Unclogging The Toilet

It can be a real pain if your toilet gets clogged. Apart from the inconvenience, there’s also the expense of calling out a plumber. In many cases you can clear the blockage yourself simply by pouring a cup of washing up liquid into the toilet bowl and allowing it to work for around 20 to 25 minutes.

Then pour a bucket of water into the toilet. Make sure to pour from a height of around 3 feet (90 cm) which is around waist height for most people. That should free the blockage and your toilet should work normally again.

Garage Floor Cleaner

If you spill oil or grease onto the floor of your garage or drive don’t panic, we’ve got you covered. Simply cover the spillage with cat litter to soak it up. After a few minutes, remove the cat litter and fill a bucket with warm water and a cup of washing up liquid.

Pour the solution over the area and scrub it using a brush or broom. Once it dries out, the floor will be oil and grease free once again.

Gentle De-Icer For Paths

When the path is covered in ice we automatically reach for a salt based de-icer. These work well but the salt can damage the concrete surface.

The safest way to clear that ice is using a bucket filled with a gallon (4.5 litres) of warm water with 2 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and 2 teaspoons of washing up liquid.

Pour this mixture over the iced up areas of your path to melt the ice and prevent it from refreezing.

First Aid For Nettle Rash

Got a nettle rash? Let washing up liquid soothe the sting while you question why you ever thought frolicking in the wild was a good idea. Just wash the affected area with warm water and washing up liquid to remove any oils left behind by the nettles.

If not, those oils can remain active for a long time, causing more pain and discomfort. You can also use washing up liquid to soothe any irritation caused by the rash.

Your Turn

Got any other clever uses for washing up liquid? Spill the tea (or washing up liquid), and don’t forget to share this article with your fellow cleaning warriors.

SEE ALSO: The Weird Laundry Hack That Cuts Drying Time AND Makes Bedding Hotel-Fluffy

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