Some years ago, some dish soaps also contained phosphates that assisted in cleaning but posed an environmental hazard. Phosphates can reach lakes and streams, where they encourage algae blooms that reduce water oxygen levels. Today, most dish soaps omit these phosphates. Some dish soaps also contain triclosan, an antibacterial substance that may create problems by hindering the microbial breakdown of wastes at wastewater treatment facilities. Whatever you are using dish soap for, it is a good idea to check product labels to make sure it does not contain either phosphates or triclosan. Generally speaking, though, dish soap is one of the safest of all cleaning products. The rather gentle nature of dish soap makes it a good choice for many uses that does not involve dishes at all. Perhaps most famously, dish soap has been used to save thousands of birds badly soiled by ocean oil spills in Alaska and Louisiana. Take a look at some of the many cleaning uses for ordinary dish soap. Dish soap is very effective on resilient floorings, such as linoleum and vinyl, and also works well on ceramic tile. But do not use soap and water on wood floors, as they may be stained or warped by moisture. If you have plastic laminate flooring, follow the manufacturer’s recommendation for cleaning. Most laminates carry warnings about the effects of excessive moisture. Dish soap is especially effective on food-based oils, such as salad dressing, and it is mild enough to use even on fine fabrics such as silk and wool. If you do not have a dedicated fine-washables detergent on hand, carefully hand-wash fine fabrics such as wool and silk in a solution of 1 gallon of water and a tablespoon of dish soap. Place the fabric item into the solution and submerge it to wet it completely. Then, use your hands to agitate the item gently, for about one minute. Make sure to rinse in clear, cool water afterward. An easy way to apply is to add a little dish soap to a spray bottle filled with warm water. Mist the surfaces and wipe clean, then rinse with a damp cloth and dry the surfaces. Make sure to rinse appliance surfaces after washing by wiping with a damp cloth, then drying thoroughly. The same surfactants that cut grease on dishes will also lift it from cabinet surfaces.
Patio furniture: A small amount of dish detergent mixed in a bowl of warm water can be used to wipe down plastic or metal patio furniture. After soaping down the furniture and lightly scrubbing with a non-scratch nylon pad, rinse the outdoor furniture with a garden hose. This technique works well on plastic or metal furniture, but do not clean teak or other wood furniture with dish soap. Barbecue grill: Make a strong mixture measure of dish soap and warm water and use the solution to scrub away grease residue from the walls of a grill and the burner grates. Make sure to rinse thoroughly before using the grill again. Concrete slabs: Oil and antifreeze stains on a garage slab or driveway can be removed by first covering the stain with baking soda, then pouring some undiluted dish soap over it. Scrub the stain with a plastic brush, then let it sit for several hours. Rinse the stained area, and, if necessary, repeat several times until the stain is gone.
Natural hair oils and grooming products that build up on brushes and combs can be removed by soaking them in a solution of warm water and dish soap for an hour or so.
