Stop! 5 Things You Should NEVER Clean with Dawn Dish Soap

Dawn dish soap is a wonderful cleaner but not for these items!

For years people have used Dawn not just for cleaning their dishes, and they have good reasons for doing this. This brand of dish soap has proved itself to be more than that, and it was shown to be efficient at cleaning more items.

You can clean your stone floors with it, and they will be sparkly clean, or you can wash your dog toys, or you can effortlessly de-grime outdoor furniture. There are many uses for Dawn soap, but this doesn’t make it ideal for anything.

There are some things you should never wash using this type of soap, and we are here to tell you more about them. In this case, Dawn can be harmful and can destroy the said items. In order to avoid this, make sure you keep it as far from them as possible.

You can find better cleaning alternatives, and we’ll make sure to help you with that as well. Read on and discover all you need to know!

dawn
Photo by Artistic Operations at Shutterstock

Your car

If you think about it, Dawn soap might seem like a convenient method to wash your car, right? Well, it might seem like it at first, but please don’t do that because this is one of the worst treatments you can apply to your car’s exterior.

The paint used for cars, known as auto paint, is specially designed to resist harsh conditions such as road salt, chemicals, and minor scrapes. Considering this, it might sound surprising to hear that Dawn soap is a special kind of threat that can completely destroy your car.

Dish soap doesn’t resemble dedicated car wash products. Dawn is made to cut through grease and grime on dishes, and the chemicals that give it this support power are the same ones that completely destroy the protective wax and sealants on your car’s finish.

This means that the protective layer will be gone if you keep washing your car like this, and in the end, the paint will be directly exposed to elements like UV rays, moisture, and pollutants. The paint will start to fade, leading to a dull appearance.

You should choose a car-specific soap like Meguiar’s Gold Class Car Wash or any similar product that is made specifically for washing cars. These products are not harsh on the paint and will not destroy your car.

Leather items

We love leather because, let’s be real, there are not many materials that look as luxurious or are as durable as leather. But if you want your leather to keep its integrity, you need to take good care of it. This means never clean it using Dawn dish soap.

Yes, we know it might feel tempting to clean your shoes with dish soap or the seats of your car, but doing this can eventually destroy them. Leather resembles your skin in some ways, and it has its natural oils that keep it hydrated.

When those oils are stripped away, the leather items will become stiff and will start to crack. Considering that dish soap is made to disintegrate grease, it’s easy to see that it will also clean these natural oils.

So, you can use Dawn to clean a pair of dirty sneakers; this is completely safe, but please keep the dish soap away from your leather boots or shoes. Fine leather is vulnerable, and this soap is too harsh for it.

When you want to clean leather, the best thing to do is to pick up a clean, damp cloth and use it to wipe away any dirt. Once the leather is clean, apply a high-quality leather conditioner to hydrate and protect the material. There are many products out there that can nourish the leather without leaving behind an oily residue.

Hardwood floors

They might be called hardwood floors, but they are softer than their name says. These floors are beautiful and durable, but when you clean them with the wrong products, you might shorten their life without even being aware of it.

When you use dish soap or general household cleaners on hardwood floors, it will lead to damage in time. For example, a dull, sticky residue might appear or a film that will take away the shine of your floors.

If you want to clean your floor properly, you should try sweeping or vacuuming first in order to remove debris such as dust, sand, and grit. These small particles, when dragged on the floor, can cause scratches.

After this, it’s finally time to grab a wet mop and start cleaning. But, for this, you’ll need a cleaner specifically formulated for wood floors. These cleaners are the most suitable because they are very gentle and won’t destroy the finish of the wooden floor.

PolyCare is an amazing choice. And the best part is that besides being effective, it is also cost-efficient. Preserve the natural beauty of your floor and never use Dawn dish soap!

The cast-iron pan

You are probably expecting to be able to clean your pan with some dish soap. After all, it is a kitchen utensil. Why shouldn’t that be possible?

Well, the thing about cast-iron pans is that they are made to develop a natural, nonstick surface over time. This is known as seasoning and is the main ability that makes these pans so special. Layers of oil are heated and bonded to the pan’s surface, and this is how this protective barrier is created.

This means that if you use dish soap to clean your cast-iron pan, you are destroying the protective layers and simply ruining your pan. In order to preserve the seasoning, always clean your pan under some hot water and use a scrubber or coarse salt to rub the food particles away without worrying.

Now we understand that sometimes the pan will be extremely oily and you might need a little bit of soap. When you need to do this, try to use an eco-friendly, sulfate-free dish soap that is sure to be gentle on the protective oils.

Another important step is to dry your cast-iron pan with a towel right after you have cleaned it because this will help prevent rust. Then apply a thin layer of oil to protect the seasoning.

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Photo by nattha99 at Shutterstock

Silk clothing

Sometimes accidents happen; for example, you drop some food on your shirt, and many people head right to the kitchen sink to grab some dish soap in order to clean the mess. Maybe this can work and solve the problem quickly and prevent further damage, but this is not the case for silk clothes.

Silk is a luxurious and delicate fabric, and Dawn dish soap is too harsh for it. Never clean silk like this because it can make the fibers weak and also cause discoloration. If you want things to be done the right way and never risk damaging your silk clothes, you should invest in a fabric-specific detergent.

Silk is a protein that is pretty similar to our hair. You can try to use a detergent that has plant-derived enzymes because these are more gentle and will help you preserve your clothes longer.

If you need a new mop, this might be the right choice for you: Eyliden Dust Mop with Reusable Washable Pads

You should also read: 19 Genius Coca-Cola Hacks You MUST Try

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