DIY Dawn Powerwash Recipe: The Easiest Dish Spray Refill (2024)

Dawn hasbeen my dish soap of choice since I first started blogging back in 2011, so coming up with a Dawn Powerwash recipe was a no-brainer! I’ve used Dawn to make a powerful homemade shower cleaner, DIY cleaning wipes, a homemade granite cleaner, a DIY window and mirror cleaner, and much more!

TheirDawn Powerwash Spray has its uses too, but I thought if I could make Dawn Powerwash instead of continuing to buy those refill bottles, that would be even better! If you also like Dawn’s dish spray but don’t love its price tag, you’ll definitely want to learn to make your own Dawn Powerwash too, and that’s exactly what you’ll learn in this post!

What Is Dawn Powerwash?

According to P&G, more people are adopting a “clean as you go” approach in the kitchen, andDawn Powerwash is meant to fit seamlessly into the process. When you’re done using a dish or other container, you can just place it in the sink and spray it with Powerwash to start breaking down grease and food stains, which makes post-meal cleanup quick and easy.

Dawn Powerwash Spray Vs. Dawn Dish Soap

The main difference between Dawn Powerwash and regular Dawn dish soap is that you have to add water to dish soap in order for it to work properly. On the other hand, Powerwash starts working as soon as you spray it onto your dish, ideally saving you some time and effort.

Powerwash is diluted and made to spray in a fine mist. Powerwash does list alcohol as the first ingredient on the bottle, but their website says it isn’t antibacterial.

After buying the spray initially, I was less enthusiastic about buying a refill based on the price tag. So I decided to do what I do best and make a Dawn Powerwash hack at home! (Wondering how to refill Dawn Powerwash after you’ve emptied the bottle? This recipe works perfectly for that!)

DIY Dawn Powerwash Recipe

Ingredients:

• Dish soap
• Water
• Spray bottle
• White vinegar or rubbing alcohol (optional)
• Lemon essential oil(optional)

Directions:

Add 1 tablespoon of dish soap (either classic blue Dawn orhomemade dish soap, if you prefer) to an empty spray bottle, then fill the remainder of the bottle with water.

You can stop there, or add a splash of distilled white vinegar or rubbing alcohol to help offset the effects of hard water. (A couple drops oflemon essential oil for added cleaning power wouldn’t go amiss either!) Replace the spray top and shake the bottle gently to mix.

I recommend making your homemade Dawn Powerwash in an empty Powerwash bottle orcontinuous spray bottle. (You can use a standard 16 ounce spray bottle if that’s all you have on hand, but the foam will be more likely to clog the nozzle of a standard spray bottle.)

How To Use Your DIY Dish Spray

When you start making dinner (or any meal, for that matter), set your DIY dish spray out next to the kitchen sink. As you prep and cook your food, spray each dirty dish generously with the dish spray before setting it in the sink.

Later on, once you’re finished eating and ready to clean up the kitchen, the dish spray will have worked its magic! Whether you choose to scrub the dishes by hand or load them into the dishwasher, your dishes will be sparkling clean in no time.

Have you tried a Dawn Powerwash recipe before?