A little squeeze goes a long way…

10 Surprising things you can clean with washing up liquid

Washing up liquid is an old faithful that’s accessible and a quick grab around the kitchen sink. Who remembers the Fairy Liquid adverts during the 1980’s and early 1990’s? primarily used for cleaning crockery – dishes, plates, cutlery, cups and glasses and pots and pans.

The good thing about washing up liquid – especially with the increase in cost of living, is that there is enough to go around to suit all budgets, needs and tastes. The great thing about washing up liquid is that it’s uses go beyond cleaning a plate and it’s versatile enough to use for other essential cleaning tasks around the home and professional environment.

Inside oven

From a health and safety standpoint, if you use an oven frequently - you should aim to give inside the oven a going over at least once month to eliminate build up of grease, bacteria and food residue. A dirty oven leads to cross contamination, is unsightly and adds unpleasant odours to the home. Cleaning inside oven with washing up liquid and a stainless-steel scourer makes the task less daunting. The foam quickly cuts through the grease and charred build up on grill and at the back and bottom of the oven. The results are worth it, and it becomes an easy task over time, the more you keep on top of it. Another plus - washing up liquid is effectively safer for quick, regular use in comparison to traditional, chemically processed oven cleaners that give off harsh, toxic fumes that burn eyes and cause breathing difficulties when inhaled.

Inside fridge

A sink full of suds from washing up liquid saves a lot of time for cleaning inside the fridge. Take all the trays and drawers out and place in the sink to soak and wipe all the surfaces inside the fridge. Glass trays and drawers will be left smelling as fresh a lime and gleaming.

Porcelain wall tiles

Washing up liquid is perfect for lifting away splash marks, water marks, grease and soap sud stains and day to day blemishes on tiles around the kitchen and bathroom. Side note - washing up liquid is also great for further cleaning of bathtub enamel.

Shower screen glass

Get going with swirling a suddy, foam filled sponge scourer in circles of washing up liquid all over the glass door will help loosen any stains of limescale and add a transparent shine, and like looking into a mirror - good enough to see your reflection.

Chrome and coated taps and fixtures

Brightens dull looking chrome and safe enough to use on coated fixtures and brings back a fresh new look and a streak free finish. Most importantly, zero stripping and unsightly chemical stains and damage on chrome, brushed gold taps and black taps known as Electroplated and Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD).

Windows and sills

Similar effect to shower glass, washing up liquid gives amazing results by lifting mould and mildew away from corners caused by condensation and enhances visibility and natural light through glass windows.

Fabric sofas

Soft stains can be removed by a small squirt of washing up liquid by spot cleaning areas that need attention. Apply a small clear coloured dollop direct onto mark, mix primary-coloured ones (green, blue, yellow) with warm water.

Outdoor furniture

Safe and powerful enough to clean off dirt, dust and leaf and grass residue and slight rusting on materials plastic, metal, good and glass garden interiors.

Floors

A brilliant solution to tackle cleanliness on floors throughout the home, ideal option for when you’ve run out of floor cleaner for laminate, porcelain tile, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and wood finishes.

Pets

A germ and bacteria free area for fur babies is essential and using washing up liquid is a gentle non-toxic option to clean replenishing items such as wet food and water bowls, floor mats and eating areas.

A Brucie Bonus

Weetabix stains!

Packed with whole grains, healthy ingredients in vitamins and minerals and an old school staple in many households and for children’s breakfast. Then why, oh why for such a wholesome brand, does it stick and stay stuck like cement? There’s not much scope for cleaning when getting children ready for nursery and school - but act quickly and the weetabix won’t have a chance to join in. Squeeze a drop of washing up liquid over weetabix marks to keep it soft and then time permitting - wipe straight away. When time is lacking, and the weetabix marks are unintentionally left to dry - for best results squeeze a drop of washing up liquid over weetabix marks. Then get a jug or anything with a pouring spout - gravy jug, a small watering can and mix washing up liquid with boiling hot water from the kettle and pour carefully onto Weetabix marks and leave for a few minutes and start to wipe immediately.

Who knew washing up liquid is a great all purpose asset to add to cleaning solutions and is a sustainable way to avoid build up of single use plastic products and lower cost on household spending over time.