 of friction which results in it having a “squeaky clean” feel. This squeaky clean feeling goes away in time as the surface of the dish adsorbs environmental molecules. Silica surfaces adsorb environmental molecules readily.
I believe the reason Dawn may have historically created a superior squeaky clean effect is that it contained solvents that other dish soaps did not have. One such solvent that is still in there today is ethanol.
Ethanol and other organic solvents are really good at stripping grease and contaminants from the dish surface and will produce a squeaky clean effect more readily than soaps or detergents will.
So maybe the chemical you are thinking of is ethyl alcohol, also known as ethanol. Ethanol is water-soluble and rinses off easily. It is also the same alcohol that is in wine and other alcoholic beverages.
I just don’t think there is anything to worry about as far as any type of chemical being left on the dishes.
I’ve got a granddaughter that uses soap (Dawn) like it won’t clean the dishes unless its blue. I’ve told her it only takes a small amount. We use it in pump bottles in the bathroom and porch for washing our hands, there again I’ve told her about the small amount. I need to know the ratio for Dawn to water for dishes, for washing hand etc.
It should only take a few drops of Dawn Ultra on a sponge to wash a small sink load. I don’t recommend using Dawn as a hand soap. It can dry the skin.
Amanda uses baby wash as a hand soap to keep the skin on her hands moisturized.
Your daughter is correct. Dawn stinks now. A ‘few drops on a sponge’ will not clean a dish. It is not the same product as it used to be.
Thanks for the informative post. Is there anything secret or proprietary about Dawn ultra or are there other generic soaps from other brands that are at least almost identical?
Proctor & Gamble continually registers patents for many of their products. Dawn has been protected under several patents over the years.
As the patents expire, improved formulas with new patents are created.
So I would say that although not necessarily secret, some of the ingredients or manufacturing processes are possibly patented at any given point in time.
In Toronto Canada, Dawn dish liquid had a different name. I was wondering if anyone would know of the original product name?
When I look at Walmart Canada and Costco Canada, they both offer the Dawn brand.
I have a brown composit sink. Is it ok to use Dawn Platinum Bleach Alt.?
I stumbled on your page. Great info on Dawn! I’m looking for the best one for degreasing bones (for my work). Many taxidermists just say “Dawn”, but there are so many!
I have 4 two week old kittens with fleas.  Which Dawn would be the safest to use on these kittens? I need to do something soon.
I would use the Dawn Gentle Clean. It might not irritate the skin as bad.
Here is a link where a vet recommends Dawn.
I accidentally came across your posting of Dawn, as I was Google searching for the P&G difference of Dawn Ultra and Dawn Professional and I am thankful for your time and energy on this topic. Like many of you out there, I’ve been a loyal Dawn user since it came on the market, and have learned much through trial and error, which Dawn is better or worse than others. I have learned through the years, that Dawn Blue is a must for stain removal on clothes, as other Dawn products, leave traces of the color on the fabric, especially white items. Dawn with added colors and scents isn’t the Dawn you want in your cabinet for overall cleaning needs. And I have now discovered that the Dawn Professional is a watered down version of Dawn Ultra. I just bought the one gallon jug of Dawn Professional, at Staples, with a price match, thinking I would be getting a better deal. However, I was truly disappointed at how much detergent has to be pumped onto the sponge for just one dish! I thought this gallon jug would last me a couple of years in this 1 person retired household, that also averages two dishwasher loads a week, and at this rate I’m going through the Dawn Professional, I’ll be lucky for it to last 3 months!
Like all of your other readers, why mess with something if it’s not broke? I loved the Original Dawn Blue and wished it was back. Seems to me, money spent designing new bottles, scents, etc drives up the cost. Save P&G and the consumer some dollars, and manufacture the one and only true original Dawn Blue and see your shares go up and happier customers too!
I am looking for the original Dawn but I’m sure they don’t sell it here in Costa Rica.
I am looking for it because a weed killer recipe I found claims that vinegar, epsom salts and original dawn will kill the toughest of weeds as well as Monsanto Roundup which is toxic to humans.
The purpose of the Dawn is to act as a surfactant. This makes the mixture spread out and stick to the leaves instead of forming beads. It is the vinegar and Epsom salt that is actually killing the plant.
Article discusses why this concoction will not kill the weed (down to its roots) and why using Epson salts makes no sense as it can be used to feed plants, and using table salt would make more sense, but lists the negatives to that as well.
I prefer Dawn Free and Clear as the fragrance in the blue bottle gives me a headache. Wouldn’t the strong perfume smell be bad for little birds? Is a milder, fragrance free version actually the one used on the birds?
I’m sure Free & Clear would be the best choice but people have saved the lives of many oil-damaged birds with the regular blue Dawn.
In San Diego CA the Dawn Professional can be found at the Business Costco only. We only have one business Costco in the area. It caters to businesses but anybody with a card is welcomed to shop.
Was searching why blue Dawn is used in the weed killer recipe. From your answer to Jimbo it seems as other varieties would work also. I have bottles of Platinum. Just as good??
I just looked at the SDS for the new Dawn Platinum. It looks like the Dawn Platinum is basically Dawn Ultra with an additional cleaning chemical called ethoxylated decanol. As a weed-killer ingredient, Dawn Platinum should work even better than previous version of Dawn.
Thanks for posting the Dawn history. Thought you might like to know that the Dawn Manual Pot can be purchased from the Costco Business Center. Any Costco member can purchase from a Costco Business Center.
I don't get it at all. My son is at uni, lives in student accommodation and so long as he lets me know he is still alive I'm good. His uni is in the same town as where we live (one of the top 10) and I told him to move into student accommodation in his first year rather than live at home if he was staying locally so he got the full uni experience and got some independence. He does come home, to be fed usually, maybe once a week which is nice but if he didn't I'm not gonna go freaking out at him, but I would not want to track his movements, that's weird. It's nice having him close, but if he had wanted to go to a uni miles away, also fine. Tracking your adult kids is not normal in any way.Propane gas associations represent the propane industry at national and state level. They are a key component of the propane landscape to the extent that they engage with national, state and local authorities regarding propane-related issues and monitor the propane industry to encourage industry members to adhere to certain consumer and safety-related standards.
As you request and compare quotes between different propane companies to find the one that is best adapted to your situation, bear in mind how important it is for companies to participate actively in national and state propane gas associations, especially when it comes to compliance and safety issues. Being an NPGA member costs most companies the modest sum of $382 per year.
Founded in 1931, the NPGA groups 3,200 companies in 50 states and has 38 affiliated state or regional associations. The NPGA’s primary members are propane companies but the association also has members in appliance manufacturing, carburetion installation, container manufacturing, equipment manufacturing, insurance, manufacturer representation, wholesale, LPG transportation, vehicle fabrication and wholesale distribution of appliances, containers and equipment. The NPGA therefore brings together all segments of the propane industry at national level.
The NPGA conducts its activities through a number of committees. The most important of these committees is the one overseeing the Certified Employee Training Program (CETP), which the NPGA implements for the Propane Education and Research Council and which ensures safety and compliance training for employees of the propane industry.
The NPGA also organizes a number of events and conventions to facilitate dialogue and information exchange between different industry members. It interacts with government to recommend policy and legislative changes related to propane in the US. The NPGA’s technology, standards and safety committee makes recommendations as regards storing, transporting and using propane and the member services committee establishes services offered to industry members that might answer their needs.
The NPGA further produces a number of key reports for industry members on government affairs, legislation, energy trends, etc., which companies use to decide on what they offer customers. NPGA councils assist members on issues they feel might concern them by overseeing independent business councils on a variety of