“Secret Recipe Revealed: DIY Dawn Power Wash Spray – Cheaper and Works like the Original!”

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DIY Guide: How to Make Your Dawn Powerwash Refill

Dawn Powerwash is a popular kitchen cleaning product known for its grease-fighting powers. I have a guide on using Dawn Powerwash 49+ in different ways.  While it’s effective, the cost of purchasing refills can add up over time. 

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Even though Costco sells a three-pack, it’s still pricey.

Fortunately, you can save money and reduce plastic waste by making your own Dawn Powerwash refill at home. 

I will walk you through the simple steps to create your DIY Dawn power wash refill solution.

Dawn powerwash DIY recipe

Materials You’ll Need:

1. An empty Dawn Powerwash spray bottle, or you can buy a similar one-off Amazon if you don’t have one.
2. Liquid Dawn dish soap
3. Rubbing alcohol 70-90% works the best.
4. Water (or Distilled Water for best results)
5. A funnel if you are mixing right inside the spray bottle
6. A measuring spoon

Step 1: Prepare the Empty Dawn Powerwash Bottle

Ensure the Dawn Powerwash spray bottle is thoroughly cleaned and residue-free. Rinse it out with warm water.

Step 2: Measure the Ingredients

• For a 16-ounce Dawn Powerwash bottle, you’ll need approximately 2-3 tablespoons of Liquid Dawn dish soap.
• 2 Tablespoons of Isopropyl Alcohol
• Fill the rest of the bottle with warm water, leaving some space at the top to allow for shaking.

Step 3: Mix the Solution

Add the water to the bottle. Pour the measured Liquid Dawn dish soap and alcohol into the spray bottle using a funnel.

Step 4: Seal and Shake

Securely screw the spray nozzle back onto the bottle. Ensure it’s tight to prevent any leaks. Shake the bottle gently to mix the soap and water thoroughly.

Step 5: Test and Adjust

Spray a small amount of your DIY Dawn Power Wash refill on a dirty surface to ensure it’s effective. If you find it too soapy, you can adjust the soap-to-water ratio in your mixture.  Or even adjust the alcohol if need be.  Consider that you will get a different consistency depending on your ratios.  

What is the difference between Dawn Dish Soap and Dawn Powerwash?

The reason we add alcohol to the Dawn Powerwash is because rubbing alcohol lowers viscosity and increases the evaporation rate of the solution, making it difficult or impossible to form bubbles. Any bubbles formed do not last very long.

If you were to throw in regular Dawn and water into a spray bottle, it would just be a soapy, bubbly mess.  

Alcohol does three things: reduce the bubbles, increase the evaporation, and boost cleaning. 

The cool thing is that the Powerwash does start to bubble on contact. 

Does the Dawn powerwash hack work just like regular Dawn powerwash?

The Dawn powerwash hack does work but understand that regular powerwash has stabilizers to control the solution. 

Think separation, shelf life, things like that.  It’s important to note that we aren’t chemists, though it would be fun to download all the information in our brains.

The homemade Dawn power wash works and makes a great substitution for cost savings.

But remember to use it sooner than later. 

Will this Dawn power wash disinfect?   

I know we think the regular powerwash and even my own homemade version have alcohol.  It should disinfect things, too.

Unfortunately, not even the original version is rated for it. Otherwise, it would be another selling point.

So no, it’s not a disinfectant.  You can check out the data charts at Dawn.com.  It just becomes too diluted for effectiveness.

Can I add a scent to my Dawn power wash recipe? 

It is possible to add a scent using essential oils.  The Dawn powerwash lineup has scented and unscented versions.

Personally, though, when using a plastic bottle, I would hesitate to add any essential oils.

Mostly because there is a certain plastic capable of handling essential oils. 

These plastics are made of HDPE, also known as plastics number 2. 

And since we are using the Dawn powerwash sprayer, we want to ensure the essential oils don’t dissolve the plastic inside our sprayer.

Can I use regular water to make my own homemade powerwash?

This was a question I asked because I know that my home

Has hard water.  And with hard water comes mineral deposits.

The answer is yes, you can, but we might get a better solution using distilled water. 

Since it’s water in its purest form, we would have less chance of creating mineral deposits and the risk of whatever is put inside your water.  When making the homemade version, it’s better to use distilled water to ensure it doesn’t leave any residue. 

How does the regular Dawn powerwash compare to the DIY homemade version? 

I had to test it out for sure to compare.  At first glance, both spray with foaming action.  Upon touching the dirt dish, I began to lift the grease.  

I found the DIY version less foaming, but not by much.  

They both sprayed the same out of the bottle.  I do find, though, that with the DIY version, if you adjust the amounts you put in less soap or alcohol, the consistency will change. Figure out what works best for you. I have made several bottles since this post and adjusted a bit each time.

As I stated above, you can always adjust your recipe, so don’t be afraid to change it slightly until you find out how you like it. 

How much cheaper is it to make my own Dawn power wash refill? 

I bought the 70 fl oz Dawn bottle for my home, which equals about 139 tablespoons.  The cost is about $9.94, about .071 cents per tablespoon.  The refill for a Dawn powerwash is about 4 dollars a bottle. 

You can make several bottles for way under that amount.  

So yes, it is much cheaper.

This Dawn Powerwash hack is not only cost-effective but also eco-friendly, as it reduces the need for additional plastic bottles. Following these simple steps, you can keep your kitchen sparkling clean without breaking the bank. Give it a try, and you’ll be amazed at the savings and cleaning power of your homemade solution!

Don’t forget to read the 49-plus ways you can use Dawn Power Wash in your home.