Dish Soap Isn’t Just for Dishes
To create a skin-safe yet strong all-purpose cleaning solution that can tackle any oil-based mess — from cooking grease to fingerprints — add one to two drops of dish soap to a spray bottle filled with water. This inexpensive solution will cut through most grime.
A dish-soap-and-water solution is my go-to for cleaning and degreasing many different surfaces in my home — including my appliances. And due to its grease-busting properties, diluted dish soap is also an excellent cleaner for my induction cooktop, keeping the surface in pristine condition. It’s even useful for refreshing fingerprint-laden cabinets, grimy baseboards, and other trim.
To prevent streaking, be sure to use a damp cloth to carefully wipe away any residue that remains after cleaning. My favorite cleaning cloth for the task is an absorbent cotton cloth diaper, though a microfiber cloth, an absorbent dish towel, or a clean rag can also work.
Beyond using a dish-soap solution for household surfaces, you can also use it to clean items that regularly come into contact with body and hair oils, including computer keyboards, phone screens, camera lenses, eyeglasses, and even yoga mats. These oils can build up over time, but a dish-soap-and-water solution can safely remove them and, in many cases, leave your items looking brand-spanking new.
Each item requires a slightly different method of cleaning and a different ratio of dish soap to water, so it’s best to check out our specific cleaning guides for each one.
