This post was originally published on February 27, 2009 at repurposeful.
Want to stretch the use of your dish soap? Looking to reuse an empty spray bottle? I have your answers.
Fill an empty spray bottle (if using a recycled spray bottle, be sure to clean it thoroughly) half full with water. Fill the other half with liquid dish soap. Slowly turn it back and forth (don’t shake it) to mix the soap and water. The next time you need to wash a dirty pan, spray it a few times with your new money-saving soap mixture. You’ll find that you don’t need full strength soap to get your dishes clean and you’ll find that your soap lasts so much longer!
To save yourself even more time, money and to reduce packaging waste, buy dish soap in bulk-sized containers.
This trick also works in the foaming pump dishwashing soap dispensers. When the original mixture runs out, refill it using the instructions above.
Take this One Small Step one step further: If you want more control over the ingredients in your dish soap, consider making your own. It’s cheaper and you’ll reduce waste by not having to purchase new containers. Check out this simple recipe.
Photo by Conor Lawless.
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I think after this was published the first time, I tried putting out dishwashing soap that I had bought in bulk (not being as far down the green and frugal path as I am now) in a pump bottle diluted with about 1:1 water. I am sure my husband has not noticed a difference(one criteria). I have stretched out the original soap incredibly and have been most pleased with the ease of use. And I am sure less gets used with deliver of pumps rather than squeezes. I am looking for a local source of the castile soap so I can make my own in the future. Thanks for the post.
I love this idea. I tried it after you first posted it and everyone in the house agrees it is much better. It seems to work better and when washing hands it takes less time to get all the extra soap feel off. We are just now on our second or third bottle so one bottle lasted a very long time.
I have one of those Dawn foaming dispensers, and I have not filled it with a Dawn foaming refill since I used the one that came with it. I simply dilute Palmolive 1:4 (roughly) and it works pretty well. My only complaint is that the solution dribbles a bit from the dispenser, but it’s not wasting enough for me to do anything about it.
I bought the Palmolive at the local warehouse club. I’ve had it for forever, it seems… at least two years, anyways.
I buy the dark green original Palmolive and dilute it about 1:1 in a pump. As with your previous commenters, I agree that it takes less soap and is easier to rinse off when washing only one or two dishes.
Also, when washing a single item, I run a little hot water into first, then add the soap to the water. If I forget and put the soap directly onto the pan, it’s harder to rinse off (even with it diluted).