How to Make Dawn Powerwash at Home (DIY for 50¢ + Video)

Dawn Powerwash is one of my favorite kitchen helpers! It cuts through grease fast and smells great which makes it my go-to for not only dishes, but laundry stains, countertops, bathrooms, and more.

My husband first saw a commercial for it and said we need to try it, I was skeptical. I had just bought a big 1-gallon jug of Dawn Professional from Sam’s Club. When we went back to Sam’s I got the Dawn Powerwash bundle kit for around $9 which comes with 3 bottles total. Then I was hooked! My husband probably even more than me (you know how men soak pans and leave them soaking forever.. now he sprays them)

Dawn Powerwash quickly became a family favorite but I also didn’t want to spend $4-$5 for refills. I saw great sales on Amazon (like this one) and decided my stock-up price would be around $2.50, preferably $2 with Subscribe & Save and generous coupons from Amazon.

Homemade Powerwash Things to Know

Then I saw a TikTok video (follow FSF here) on how to make DIY Dawn Powerwash Copycat recipe and decided to try it because it looks super easy! All you need is water, Dawn dish soap, and isopropyl alcohol – all ingredients you probably already have at home. You can also add essential oil to make it smell better, but no more than 5 drops not to clog your nozzle. I haven’t tried adding essential oil yet.

When I first started using Dawn Powerwash I was stingy and didn’t spray a lot, but I am more generous with my homemade DIY Dawn Powerwash (as it’s thinner than the original), I may be even going overboard as I noticed I cough from the isopropyl alcohol if I add more than 2 oz. Doesn’t matter if it’s the 70% or 91% kind.

So please be aware of that and adjust the amount of alcohol in the refill if you need it. I’ve also read reviews of people complaining of the scent and fumes of the original Dawn dish spray. If you are sensitive to smell, as always, it would be best to use natural products for dishwashing.

How Much DIY Dawn Powerwash Refill Costs

I used Dawn Professional 1-Gallon ($15.34 at Sam’s Club – compare to $32.99 on Amazon) but any Dawn should work. One gallon is 128 ounces so I’ve paid 12¢ per ounce. I’m estimating 2 oz of isopropyl alcohol is around 30¢, so the final estimated cost of DIY Dawn Powerwash Refill would be less than 50¢!
Even if your price per ounce is slightly higher and your homemade Dawn Dish Spray is around $1 that’s still amazing savings!

How To Make DIY Dawn Powerwash Refill (Recipe)

What you need:

• 1 oz Dawn Dish Soap
• 2 oz isopropyl alcohol (I use 70%)
• 12 oz water
• essential oil (if desired)

Instructions:

Use a funnel to pour the Dawn and isopropyl alcohol into your old Dawn dish spray bottle (or use a continuous spray bottle), then slowly add the water to prevent too many bubbles. Gently shake the bottle to mix and it’s ready to use!

I’ve also tried it with 4 oz soap, 3-4 oz isopropyl alcohol, and the rest water but it makes me cough and I find myself adding water whenever I’ve sprayed a bit and have space at the top.

Ways to Use Dawn Powerwash

Dawn Powerwash can be used for multiple things, not only cleaning dishes. Its powerful degreasing suds help make the tough jobs easier.The DIY version is thinner than the original and if you prefer to use the real thing for your dishes, try the homemade spray for these:

1. Remove grease stains from clothes
2. Clean stovetop and oven
3. Clean stainless steel appliances
4. Remove grime from greasy tools
5. Clean carpet stains
6. Clean windowsills and tracks
7. Freshen up shoes
8. Outdoor patio furniture

I have never tried to make Gain Powerblast at home. I am excited to try that one next as I love the scent of it! Plus, next on my list is Dawn Foam Pump Dish Soap too – I love the foam of that one.

Let me know if you try making your own Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray!! And share your tips and tricks to save money on cleaning products!