As the name hints to, dish soap is mainly used to clean dishes. But I think it’s time we break dish soap out of that box we’ve unfairly put it in. There are so many other handy cleaning uses that dish soap can accomplish around the house. Whether you’re looking to get rid of tough stains, shine your jewelry, or get rid of pests, dish soap is your miracle household elixir! Don’t believe us? Check out these 17 unexpected ways to use dish soap.

1. Laundry Detergent in a Pinch

Desperately need to clean your clothes but have to detergent to speak of? Don’t go to work with that stained shirt on, please. Simply put a few drops of dish soap into two cups of water and sprinkled it in the washer once the water filled up.

2. Homemade Bubbles

A fun craft for the kids, especially as the weather gets nicer! To make some fun, homemade bubbles that the kids can enjoy out in the yard, add a few drops of dish soap to a plastic water bottle, shake it a little bit, and then blow some bubbles.

3. Remove Red Wine Stains

Red wine can be a nightmare of a stain, but it’s not impossible to remove. Just mix up this miracle stain fighter. Add 1 teaspoon of dish soap with 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide, then use a clean sponge to drizzle the mixture directly onto the stain. Let it sink in for a bit, then rinse with cold water.

4. Kill Fleas

Depending on where you live, fleas can be rampant. And your poor pets are usually the first victims. Instead of spending money on expensive flea prevention products, try some lemon-scented dish soap when you bathe your dog. Groomer approved homemade flea repellent!

5. Eliminate Grease Stains 

Remove grease stains from clothing, or any fabric, with this simple trick. Just put a drop or two of dish soap onto the stain and rub in with an old toothbrush. Then wash in warm water and the grease stain should be a thing of the past. A mixture of dish soap and hydrogen peroxide will also help rid your kids’ clothing of grass stains.

6. Homemade Ice Pack

Make a homemade ice pack by placing a cup or so of dish soap in a Ziploc bag and putting it in the freezer. The dish soap never fully freezes making it pliable and perfect to put around bruises.

7. Kill Poison Ivy

Nothing is as irritatingly itchy as poison ivy. Nix the itch before it can get to you with some dish soap. Simply swipe poison ivy leaves with some dish soap (wearing rubber gloves of course) and within a few days they should wither up and die.

8. Shine Up Your Jewelry

Make your jewelry sparkle again with a mixture of seltzer and dish soap. Just soak your jewelry in there for 5 minutes, the swirl it around through the suds. Use a soft toothbrush to scrub out grime, then rinse with water and lay out to dry. You’ll jewels will look good as new in just a few minutes.

9. Trap and Kill Fruit Flies

If you’ve got a fruit fly problem in your kitchen (which can get so disgusting), just make a dish soap trap. Pour about an inch of fruity-smelling dish soap into an open container (Tupperware or Mason jars work well), then add another inch of water. Then cover the container with some plastic wrap and poke some holes in the wrap. Flies will be attracted to the smell and fly in, but won’t be able to fly out with the soap on their wings.

10. Get Rid of Stains on Upholstery

Stains on upholstery can be so frustrating – that couch was not cheap and now there’s a oily gravy stain on it. Great. To get rid of stains on your upholstery, you’ll want to use whipped detergent. Sounds fancy, but it’s not. Just fill a container with half dish soap and half water. Then whip up the mixture with a hand mixer. Then use a rag to spot clean stains with this frothy mixture.

11. Grimy Patio Furniture

Spring is here, which means it’s time to bust out your patio furniture! But being in storage for a few months, those chairs and tables are probably pretty nasty looking. Add a squirt of dish soap to warm water and wipe away the dirt and grime on patio furniture.

12. De-Fog Glass 

This is a miracle, especially for your car. If you want to prevent windows or mirrors from fogging up, just squirt some dish soap onto a clean, dry cloth and work it into the glass until soap disappears. No more squinting through foggy mirrors.

13. Lubricate a Screw

If you need to drive a screw into wood and you’re struggling, dish soap is the perfect lubricant. A drop of dish soap on the screw will make it easier to drive into wood.

14. De-Skunk a Pet

Did your dog or cat get sprayed? Yuck, we feel for you. Here’s a quick fix. Mix together 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide, 1/2 cup of baking soda and 2 teaspoons of dish soap. Then use this solution like shampoo on your pet. Try to let it sit on their fur for 10-15 minutes before rinsing. A less messy option than a bath of tomato sauce, for sure.

15. Keep Spiders and Ants at Bay

If you hate spiders or  if your home is under attack by ants, dish soap is a surprisingly effective repellent. Mix water and dish soap in a spray bottle, then spray around vents, doors, windows and other entrances pests like to use.

16. Oil Stains on Concrete

If you notice an oil stain in your garage or concrete patio don’t fret. Simply sprinkle baking soda over the stain, add some dish soap and scrub with a plastic or non-metallic brush. Let sit for a few hours and repeat until the stain is history.

17. Weed Prevention

Dreading the pain of weeding all season long? Reduce weeds with this little trick. Combine dish soap, salt and vinegar into a spray bottle. Spray on weeds that have been removed or spots where you know weeds will grow!

Do you use dish soap in a particularly creative way around the house? Share your ideas in the comments section below.