male using Blue Dawn shampoo in the shower

A Most Unusual Frugal Use for Blue Dawn Dishwashing Liquid

/84 Comments/in /by Mary Hunt

There are days when I open my mailbox I have to sit down because I’m laughing so hard. Some things just strike me funny. Like yet another use for our beloved Blue Dawn dishwashing liquid. Turns out this time, though, the last laugh was on me.

male using Blue Dawn shampoo in the shower

 

I am a cheapskate. I read your blog and newspaper columns for hot tips, particularly about Blue Dawn dishwashing liquid. Recently I have begun to use Dawn for a hair shampoo. My wife is aghast. She says my hair is going to turn blue and I will smell. She claims that shampoos have an acid base balance that ensures shiny luxurious hair. Do you have an opinion? How about using it for body wash, as well? Bill

Dear Bill: l must admit that I was a bit aghast as I read your letter. And I came this close to firing off a response siding with your wife. But I stopped short by sending myself on a research expedition to tell you exactly why you should listen to her and never shampoo or shower with Blue Dawn.

Boy, was I in for a shock. Not only could I not find credible reasons not to use Blue Dawn for personal care, I discovered a cult-like following of people out there who swear by the stuff not only for hair care and body wash but as a very effective acne treatment, too.

Let’s compare

I found the list of ingredients for Procter & Gamble’s original Blue Dawn and compared it to the most expensive men’s shampoo I could find—Kérastase Capital Force. While not exactly the same (for starters, Blue Dawn has far fewer ingredients) and with full disclosure that I am not a chemist, I was stunned by the similarities. From sodium laureth sulfate to methylisothiazolinone, Blue Dawn and Kérastase Capital Force have what I found to be remarkable similarities.

Serious research

I decided to take this research a bit farther into the shower. And not to clean the dishes, floors and walls. I shampooed, body-washed, and gave myself a complete Blue Dawn personal spa treatment using the super-concentrated “Ultra” version I had on hand.

I purposely did not follow with hair conditioner because I wanted to experience the best (or worst?) case outcome. I can’t remember the last time I and my hair emerged so squeaky clean. Of course, I assumed I’d just removed every last bit of moisture from myself, which I was willing to endure in the interest of product testing.

Conclusive outcome

I styled my hair, using my regular routine and styling products. I waited a few days to declare the outcome. My hair was fantastic and shiny—read it again: Shiny and, dare I say, luxuriously so. And super clean. I guess the folks at P&G might know something about what your wife refers to as acid-base balancing.

Blue Dawn Body Wash?

As for using Blue Dawn as a body wash, it was great. I felt so clean! I didn’t notice any difference from other body washes, other than it required a lot of rinsing, possibly due to the high concentration in the “Ultra” version of Blue Dawn.

I’ve done more reading and poking around and have now come to these conclusions:

  • Blue Dawn can restore hair in a number of ways because of its intense cleaning properties (remember the ducks and wildlife from oil spills)— oil, product build-up, and other grimy liquids and dirt that regular shampoo isn’t strong enough to clean.
  • Blue Dawn may lighten your hair if you accidentally color it too dark
  • Blue Dawn will deep clean your skin with no apparent adverse effect that I can detect, even to my super sensitive skin.

I’ve begun diluting Ultra Blue Dawn with as much as three, even four parts water and it still works well.

Blue Man?!

As for your hair turning blue or you smelling, I don’t think I would be concerned about either unless you decide not to rinse, which I do not recommend. In fact, I suggest that you rinse, rinse, rinse again, and repeat.

First published: 1-9-18; Updated: 1-24-23

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84 replies
  1. Nicole says:

    i have oily skin, in menopause, and moved to humid gulfcoast so this DAWN dish soap is a perfect shampoo & body wash for me for now as I already have a bottle of it in the kitchen I just pour a cup in another bottle for my shower where a little goes a very long way (just like with dishes in the sink) and a bonus is the DAWN cleans the bathmat in shower & the tub itself so there win win all around for now! nothing is forever, enjoy while it lasts, be happy when it’s over

    Reply
  2. Wendy Tucker (Tockman) says:

    Yes to Blue Dawn as shampoo & body wash. Works fine. No drying, no stripping of color, no residue. Just clean. Dilute it. Plus….if you take showers and shampoo simultaneously, all the suds will rinse into the tub or shower stall and clean it as you clean yourself. You can dilute some vinegar and spray in hair afterwards but it really isn’t necessary.

    If it can clean the ducks and birds, then it can clean humans.

    Reply
  3. patricia austin says:

    I found the Dawn disgusting as a shampoo. My hair was dry, course and dull. Would never recommend it to anyone If the other good declarations are legit, good for them. I’ll continue to use Dawn for it’s remarkable uses but not a shampoo

    Reply
  4. Debbie says:

    Good evening, a friend told me about dawn a few years ago, it’s great for oily hair, I was told I could use it like once a week..thrilled to read the article so I can use it more, my hair never felt cleaner and shimmery, thanks for writing this article..btw I found a little goes a long way..happy shampooing

    Reply
  5. ROSE LAUCHART says:

    I am intrigued by the use of Blue Dawn, and am wondering how it compares with the baby wash, I use in the same way? I have been using Aldi brand baby wash for years. I don’t know how it would compare chemically to Dawn or even if the price would work out the same. I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Thanks. AKA “Tighter Than a Coat of paint”

    Reply
  6. Sharon k Boullion says:

    I had to have dentures about 8 or 10 years ago. The dentist told me to use clear, odorless and tastless dishwashing liquid to brush my dentures. I was shocked but I followed his instructions. It makes a foam when you use it, but my dentures look nice and white.My mouth doesn’t smell clean but I brush my tongue and gums with toothpaste, and I use my mouthwash. I thoutht this was strange but it works. Sharon B.

    Reply
  8. Jo says:

    Re:blue dawn on hair…I’m a hairdresser & if you color your hair& it comes out too dark, shampoo with Blue Dawn. It will reduce some of the darkness & will not hurt your hair. If it’s good for ducks covered with oil, it’s good enough for you. I’ve used it myself.

    Reply
  10. Joni Kelly says:

    I actually tried the dawn lavender scent on my hair and love the results. My salt and pepper hair felt cleaner and softer than with any of the shampoos and conditions I’ve used. I love it so much when I travel I take one small bottle of lavender dawn for all my washing needs (hair, skin, clothes, etc!) Talk about less to pack!

    Reply
  11. Jane says:

    Back in the 70s when I was in college I had very little money, so I used joy dishwashing detergent for a shampoo and body wash. I always got comments on my long, silky hair. It taught me a lesson about cosmetics and beauty products. The fancy ones are fun, and they may smell good and be packaged beautifully, but they’re really unnecessary. I use regular shampoo now, but I use almond oil for moisturizing, and generally use my shampoo as a body wash. Sometimes I just use an olive oil soap for everything.

    Reply
  12. j d wolfe says:

    as a person with white hair whose hair does ‘grab’ the base color of shampoos and conditioners, i will warn that your hair might well turn blue if you use blue dawn on your hair. i don’t need to use blueing on my hair. my mother did. but, i must be careful to use products that are white or pale blue in color or my hair will grab that color. i’ve had green hair, lavender hair, and pink hair – none intentionally. and, they don’t just rinse out. i usually must mask them or have my hair treated professionally to return to my original color. that was true even when my hair was its original very dark brown years ago.

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      Go to EverydayCheapskate.com. Click on the little orange magnifying glass at top right of every page. Type a keyword (like “detergent”) in the search box. Enter. That will give you a drop-down list of posts on detergent. You’ll find posts on both homemade liquid and homemade powdered laundry detergent!

      Reply
  14. Wendy Tucker (Tockman) says:

    After reading about Dawn as shampoo & soap (aka ‘body wash’), I began to use it. It Is Fine. Better than fine. I have grey hair but it does not create a yellow cast–the ‘violet’ based shampoos are a sham. I also feel very very very clean. P.S. I can spray my hair with diluted cider vinegar as a rinse if I’m in the mood to indulge myself.

    Reply
  15. Vonnie says:

    WAY BACK when I was in high school, I always used dishwashing liquid to wash my hair. People would always want to know what kind of shampoo I used because it was sooooo shiny. They were always shocked!

    Reply
  16. Cathy down on the farm... says:

    May i suggest another product? How about downy (diluted) for cream rinse? a hair stylist suggested it to me almost 45 years ago. 😀

    Reply
  17. James Edward Anderson says:

    On my last visit to my local Dollar Tree, they were out of laundry detergent so I impulsively bought 3 small bottles of Blue Dawn I’ve since purchased laundry detergent, but this morning I’m out of body wash and a Google search led me here Thank you very much for your research and experimentation!

    Reply
  18. sillygirl says:

    I washed my hair yesterday with it – feels great and looks clean – as soon as my shampoo is gone this is what I’m using!

    Reply
  20. Chris says:

    I successfully used blue dawn last week – in the shower- to wash off suspected poison exposed skin, I guessed it would work since poison has an oil in it. Thankfully I’m rash free.

    Reply
  21. Tom says:

    Our vet recommended using blue dawn in place of flea shampoo years ago. They don’t recommend shampoos with insecticides because they had issues with animals being affected negatively by some of them. Just use blue dawn and let the lather sit in the fur for a few minutes to suffocate the fleas before rinsing.

    Reply
  22. Colleen Huston says:

    I found yet another use for blue dawn. With all the mask making, I was asked if I would make some with the clear screen for a Special Ed. teacher to use. I wondered how to keep that screen from fogging up. I tried just a drop of blue dawn on it & then rinsed & wiped dry & it does not fog. So, while those that have these masks can get a swimmer’s goggle spray for this, blue dawn will work just as well in a pinch.
    Colleen

    Reply
  23. Kami Crum says:

    A coupke if years ago a friend told me as a teen & esrly 20s firdt wash was with blue Dawn second wash the expensive salon product. She saud just a dropp or 2on 1-2fibgers. Later I asked my hairdresser who has over 20 years experience she said Yes for peopke with extremely oily hair. First friend is an RN.

    Reply
  24. peggy says:

    i had a recent surgery. my scalp developed a film? on it. tried the blue dawn. whatever was on my scalp is GONE, w/one wash. i have spent hundreds of dollars on shampoos, essential oils, etc. to get a minimal result. DAWN cleared it in one washing.

    Reply
  25. Sarah says:

    Dawn may be okay for a lot of people to use. That is fine. I personally struggle with really dry skin. I discovered a number of years ago that I needed to quit using it to wash dishes because it only aggravated my dry hands. Therefore, I do not buy Dawn to use for dishes, let alone think about using for body wash or shampoo.

    Reply
  26. Jennifer says:

    I downloaded the Dawn ingredient list and see that it includes both Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) &
    Sodium Laureth Sulfate. The former is an ingredient which you yourself do NOT recommend in shampoo, Mary. In a recent column you described it as “still harsh.” Are you changing your mind about this?

    Reply
  27. Clara Ellenburg-Aplin says:

    As an extremely cash-challenged ChE student – with very oily hair – more than 40 years ago, I reasoned if Dawn “cut through grease” so well, it would probably work quite well as a shampoo for me. At the time I could buy an 8 oz bottle for 51 cents, use only 3-4 drops per day, have nice clean hair and save money at the same time.

    Reply
  28. Penny Clabaugh says:

    Wow, is it possible that I get to include a use for Blue Dawn that you have not listed yet?
    I love mushroom hunting ever spring an I am allergic to poison ivy, so ever time I come out of the woods, I take a shower using Blue Dawn to get rid of any poison ivy off my skin. I only break out with poison ivy every 5 years now and I’ve found that happens when I wait too long to launder my clothes with blue dawn and I catch it from the clothes worn in the woods when I grab an arm load of clothes to take to the laundry room. I’m pretty sure it helps with the ticks that come home with me too.

    Reply
  29. Tina J Kuesel says:

    As any wife of an auto mechanic will tell you, Dawn is a miracle worker! My husband regularly keeps a bottle of it in the shower for cutting through the grease, oil and grime. I love the stuff!

    Reply
  30. Pat says:

    People with sensitive skin should avoid using Dawn (or any soap containing sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate) on their skin or scalp. It took me decades to realize that the sores on my skin and hands were from using Softsoap to wash up and washing dishes using Dawn without wearing gloves.

    Reply
  31. Ginger says:

    The man I hired to wash the outside of the windows of my house, seemed to be skipping the rinsing step. He washed and squeezed. No rinsing, and the window were sparkling clean with no streak. I asked him what he was using. He said “Dawn. It has something special in it that other window washers don’t. I don’t need to rinse.”

    Reply
  32. JD WOLFE says:

    some hair – mine – will ‘grab’ the base color of a shampoo or conditioner. i must be very careful what color shampoo i use on my hair. now that my hair is naturally white, i must use clear, blue, or purple shampoo and conditioner. if i used green or red or yellow, i’d wind up with hair with that ‘cast’ of color for a couple weeks. i prefer my natural white. that said, soap is soap. blue dawn has been my favorite since it came on the market. i use it for many things, including laundry detergent – mixed with borax, of course (see mary’s recipe). i haven’t seen a need for super concentrates or whatever. just the plain old original blue dawn. i buy it at the dollar tree.

    Reply
  33. Cheri says:

    I have been using the blue Dawn for about two years for shampoo. It’s GREAT! I also will use it as a shower soap when I run out of my lavender soap. One time I had a rash on my chest that was taking forever to go away, used Dawn when I showered, and it was gone in two weeks. it’s amazing stuff!

    Reply
  34. BILL SHERMAN says:

    I am the Bill of the above question to “cheapskate.com.
    I have two new uses for Blue Dawn. Who hasn’t prepared hot chili peppers and then touched their eye or nose. Burns. After pepper preparation apply a liberal amount of blue dawn and rub in thoroughly, Rinse and all the Capsin is gone. No more burning!
    I still shave with a safety razor. Use blue dawn as a gel instead of shaving cream. The razor glides like a dream. Apply blue dawn to the razor after rinsing and the blade sharpness will last longer.

    Reply
  35. cherie says:

    vet and breeder both recommend blue dawn as dog shampoo! Particularly for those that get frequent washing [I have an allergic kid so we wash more frequently than otherwise necessary]

    Reply
  36. Debbie Corley says:

    I use Blue Dawn dish soap for many things and love it. I use Blue Dawn dish soap in my foaming hand soap dispensers — fill them almost all the way with water and then put a few drops of Blue Dawn dish soap in the dispensers — shake and it is ready to use … doesn’t separate either. I haven’t bought any hand soap in ages!!

    Reply
  37. Debra Rieck says:

    Blue Dawn, or any Dawn, will also remove that white hair spray build up on your hair. I used to use vinegar or baking soda, but now just a little Dawn takes it right off my bangs. I then shampoo as usual.

    Reply
  38. Alba says:

    So many questions here – I went to dawn-dish.com the official website for the product, and there is a world of information there ~ even videos & cleaning tips. But one thing I could not find is whether Blue Dawn dish soap os safe for septic systems. The product is used to wash wildlife that have been covered with policing oil spills so I would think it would be safe for septic systems, but there is such a delicate balance in a septic system to keep it functioning and breaking down materials naturally. Anyone out there in the septic business who could help shed some light on this topic???

    Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      Some of the things you cannot use when you have a septic system include anything with bleach, antibacterial agents, antimicrobial agents, and phosphates. So, the answer to the question about Dawn is YES, it is safe for septic systems because it does not contain any of these things.

      Reply
  39. Sheila Strehlo says:

    I have used blue Dawn on my hair and body for years after coming in from the woods around our home during the summer time. There is poison ivy in our area. A Dr. told me several years ago to wash the clothes immediately and take a shower using Blue Dawn from head to toe. I have not had any problem with poison ivy if I follow his advice. On another note: when my soap dispenser at the kitchen sink failed, the plumbing company told me to use blue Dawn in it. The soaps sold for hand soap through a soap dispenser at a sink has fine grains of particles in it. He told me the dispenser will last for years using blue Dawn.

    Reply
  41. KAT says:

    I haven’t try it yet, but I wonder if it works good washing cars. The old Spic and Span cleaner did a marvelous job but I wondered if the finish of the car was destroyed in any way. I do not think that blue dawn would damaged the finish. It probably would enhanced it.

    Reply
  42. peggy says:

    we shall watch p & G raise the price of dawn by multiples. i seen this happen b4. i used to buy a cleaning solution, 66 in the dollar store. it now cost $19.99/each since discovery. if ya like dawn, stock up now.

    Reply
  43. Barbara says:

    After reading about using Dawn as shampoo in this site previously, I tried it and broke out with a mild case of hives. At a different time my five year old grandson poured some Dawn that was on the side of the tub into his bath water, and he also broke out with hives.

    Reply
  44. Darlene says:

    Someone told me they use blue Dawn for eczema in their hair as a shampoo. The resulting studs rolled down their arms and found out that it helped their psoriasis. I told my husband and he started using it all over including his hair and the psoriasis got better. Who would’ve thought.

    Reply
  45. Janice says:

    Hi Sheila, that is great it works for poison ivy. I will have to do that too! I live in the woods and for 20 years I was miserable all summer from poison ivy. Then a senior citizen told me about jewelweed. It grows near poison and the juices in the stem stop poison in its tracts. I make my own spray with it and spray myself with it. I have not had poison since I discovered jewelweed. Summer is wonderful again! You can buy already made on Etsy or google to find how to make. All I do is gently boil a chopped bunch in water. After 20 minutes I run through a sieve and then I am done. I freeze it so I have it ready for early spring before jewelweed grows wildly.

    Reply
  46. Jenn says:

    Bought 1 bottle of the foaming Dawn for degreasing pots and pans, never bought another one since finding Dawn ultra. : quarter cup ultra dawn with water up to the white base of the foaming bottle.Works like magic. Thank you makers of Dawn, job well done.

    Reply
  47. nina says:

    What is grwatvlinger ?
    I have used blue dawn in my liquid soap dispensers for a few years now. Also I pour a drop or two on stains, enough to saturate the stain and let it set before washing. Works well.

    Reply
  48. Chris Kealoha-Hall says:

    Does the Green Dawn work the same or does it have to be blue? I heard on a radio station that Dawn was also helping with getting hair to grow back for those who were loosing there hair?

    Reply
    • Cheri Thompson says:

      I haven’t tested as a shampoo yet as my coloring only last a couple of weeks (severe grays), but you’ll love it as a body wash.

      Reply
    • Sarah says:

      Do not use on color treated hair! It will strip your color out. I love Blue Dawn for making household cleaners, but it’s so effective because of its grease removing properties. I wouldn’t use it on my skin either. We need to keep some of our natural skin oils.

      Reply
  50. Pat says:

    As I read this post I suddenly thought of the “blue hair ladies” of the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s. They used a blue rinse to counteract the tinge of yellow in their gray hair. I will try Blue Dawn (which I always have on hand) as my shampoo to see if it works in the same way, since I have been unable to find a product to get rid of the yellow. I refuse to pay the exorbitant prices charged by salons for any kind of color.

    Reply
    • Emy Young says:

      If you have a Sally ‘s beauty supply store in your area, ask for a blue shampoo(Shimmer Lights). It works better than the old fashioned blue rinse. Once you are happier with your hair color, cut back on use to only every second or third shampoo, otherwise you could hear children ask about the blue hair lady. But then again, they may just be admiring the color.

      Reply
    • Glenda Steffee says:

      My hairdresser says the yellow tinge comes from copper pipes in old houses. He suggests rinsing with filtered or bottled water.

      Reply
      • Sarah says:

        Yes, Clairol Shimmer Lights is a good purple shampoo. Not expensive, either. There are other brands out there too. Blue Dawn is not going to do the same thing. It literally strips color out…please don’t use it on color treated hair, especially dark colors. Unless, as Mary said, it’s too dark. Then, go ahead and use Blue Dawn, it will strip some of that color right out.

      • Maxie says:

        I have white hair and I wash it every day! I’ve used Dawn for 3 years and love it! My hair is thicker now than it was and I get several comments on how pretty white it is!! I now use It as a body wash! A bottle lasts for a long time!!

  51. Mary says:

    I had actually heard about this from my son. He is attending a technical college doing an automotive technology program. He had run out of money, but he had his Blue Dawn dish soap. He had told me it worked great as a hair and body wash and getting clean from his time in the shop. Go figure!

    Reply
    • Sherry says:

      If you go look on Dawn official page they show a clear dawn .. I’ve never seen it untill tonight . I couldn’t believe it .I took a snapshot but I didn’t know how to share it

      Reply
      • Mary Hunt says:

        The clear version is “free and clear” and Lavender Whisp. It is pretty highly scented and is not the same as Blue Dawn.

      • April Bagley says:

        I never seen any clear dawn either . I can’t find the old real one I can only Fong the blue ultra concentrated . I think
        That’s the one everyone talking about but they sell other colors and scents yes but I also never seen a clear one. I seen clear dish soap other kinds . Are you sure it’s dawn refill you bought ? Maybe someone sold you the wrong thing .

    • Judy Jones says:

      Yes, diluted apple cider vinegar and water does help get rid of the suds. White vinegar will as well but, won’t give you the added benefits of nourishing minerals that are in the apple cider vinegar. Also, try to remember if you aren’t diluting the Dawn that a little bit goes a very long way. I use to use Dawn all the time but, haven’t been for a while but, I am going to go back to using it even though I don’t really use any hair care products. The other benefit of the vinegar is that you probably won’t need conditioner and if you do you can water it down and just spritz it on as a detangler.

      Reply
      • Jan says:

        Those great nourishing minerals in cider vinegar will turn gray hair yellow. Please use white vinegar, it will brighten our gray.

  55. Deborah Corley says:

    When I finished using one of the foaming hand soap dispensers, I filled it with mostly water and a bit of Blue Dawn dishwashing soap. It works great, foams the same, and is so cheap to use. I keep it at my kitchen sink and the bathroom sinks!! I also have been using your homemade laundry detergent recipe as well for a long time and convincing other people to use it as well. Thanks for all your advice!!

    Reply
    • Angel says:

      Oh my goodness! I have one of those soap dispensers so I did this, and you just saved me a fortune if buying overpriced foamy soap washes

      Reply
  56. Marla says:

    I used it to lighten my hair that was colored too dark just a couple months ago. It did work – it did lighten it, enough that I didn’t resemble Elvira anymore, but still had to get highlights added by my stylist to be happy with it. But it DOES work for lightening too-dark color….I used it 4 times in a 5-day period, so you do have to do it multiple times depending on how dark your hair is, etc.

    Reply
  57. Lorrie Ney says:

    Sounds great to me! I raise miniature Schnauzers and use a watered down combo of generic head and shoulders plus blue dawn to wash my dogs. It cleans them well and is a natural flea killer and repellent. Then I use an inexpensive human conditioner. They smell grwatvlinger and their hair is beautiful!

    Reply

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