Dawn Powerwash Review: Worth It? Pros, Cons & Uses
In this Dawn Powerwash review, The Cleaning Lady tests its grease-cutting power, compares it with regular Dawn, and shares the best uses, drawbacks, and verdict.
Product Brand: Dawn Platinum Powerwash Dish Spray
Product Currency: USD
Product Price: 4.78
Product In-Stock: InStock
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Summary:
In this Dawn Powerwash review, my verdict is yes—it is worth it for greasy dishes and quick kitchen cleanup. It starts working without added water, controls how much product I use, and makes it easy to spray, wipe, and rinse. It costs more than regular dish soap and is not appropriate for every surface, but I reach for it when I want fast grease-cutting power.
Dawn Powerwash pros and cons
- Pros: Fast on grease, easy spray control, useful on dishes and compatible hard surfaces, and a reusable sprayer for refill bottles.
- Cons: Costs more than regular dish soap, must be rinsed thoroughly, and cannot be used safely on every material or finish.
I had seen the ads for the new Dawn Powerwash Dish Spray but didn’t pay them much attention, until our dishwasher broke and I had the dreaded task of washing about 5000 dishes by hand. Mind you, I really don’t mind washing dishes by hand. I think it puts you in a Zen-like state, but after about dish number 2500, my Zen checked out and I was running low on dish soap.
So I ran to the store. After staring at the aisle of dish soaps pondering whether my sink was half full or half empty (guess the Zen didn’t check out after all), I settled upon the new product.
With the promises of “Spray, wipe, rinse” and “5x Faster Grease Cleaning,” I was all in. My sink would be all empty in no time! So I ran home with Dawn’s new spray soap and here’s what I found:
What is Dawn Powerwash Dish Spray?
Dawn Powerwash sprays a foam mist of soap on dishes using a spray head that you fit onto the bottle. It sprays a continuous mist that coats your dishes instead of the squirt gel of regular Dawn.
What’s the difference between Dawn Powerwash and regular Dawn Dish Soap
Regular Dawn is a gel that needs water added to work, whether it is from a filled-up sink or your wet sponge. The Dawn Powerwash spray works without water so you can spray it on dry dishes and wash. This is not regular Dawn where you fill up the sink and put a squirt in and it gets all sudsy.
This is a different formula and I noticed when I tried to use it in water, it did not suds up like regular Dawn. But that is the point I suppose. It is a whole new way to wash dishes which is really more convenient.
Spraying it on the dirty dishes worked fine. It still cuts through grease pretty well. Just spray, wipe and rinse. Although for the most baked-on dishes, I would still soak them.
Is Dawn Dish Soap and Spray safe for septic systems?
Yes, Dawn is a mild detergent that is designed to be gentle on the skin and the environment. It is formulated to break down grease and oils effectively, which makes it useful for cleaning dishes, but it is also biodegradable.
Septic systems rely on the natural breakdown of waste and bacteria to function properly. Strong chemicals and antibacterial agents can disrupt the balance of bacteria in the system, potentially causing issues with the breakdown process. However, Dawn dish soap is not known to contain ingredients that are harmful to septic systems when used in normal household quantities.
Is Dawn Powerwash Dish Spray worth the money?
After washing the rest of my dishes with the Dawn spray, I had used only about a quarter of a 16-ounce bottle. With the same number of dishes, I would normally use much more regular Dawn dish soap.
I have found that I have no discipline over how much dish soap I use, even if it’s concentrated. This really helps with that as the spray head sprays a controlled amount, which is a pretty generous amount, onto the dishes.
Powerwash generally costs more than regular dish soap, but the starter pack includes a reusable spray head that transfers to the refill bottles. Because prices change, compare the current cost per ounce before buying.
Other uses for Dawn Powerwash Spray
Dawn Powerwash is useful beyond dishes, but the surface must be compatible and able to be wiped and rinsed thoroughly. Always test a small, hidden area first. Good uses include:
- Cleaning compatible kitchen surfaces such as stainless steel, granite, quartz, porcelain enamel, and Corian.
- Degreasing stovetops, oven doors and racks, microwaves, grills, and greasy kitchen tools.
- Cleaning water bottles, air-fryer baskets, and washable plastic or ceramic kitchen items.
- Pretreating grease stains on washable cotton, polyester, and poly-blend fabrics before laundering; check the care label and spot-test first.
- Cleaning sneakers and other washable items that can be rinsed completely.
What should you not use Dawn Powerwash on?
Avoid marble; unsealed, stained, varnished, or painted wood; specialty-coated glass; leather; precious metals, copper, or sterling silver; unfinished cast aluminum; and painted, varnished, or coated surfaces such as automobile paint. It can also remove the seasoning from cast-iron cookware.
After washing the dishes, I sprayed a compatible countertop, wiped it down, rinsed the cloth until the suds were gone, and wiped the surface again. I like not having to juggle several spray bottles. If you’re in a rush, it can also help you speed clean your house.
Overall, I like Dawn Powerwash. It does not build suds in a sink like regular dish soap because it is designed to be sprayed onto dry messes, wiped or lightly scrubbed, and rinsed. For greasy dishes and compatible kitchen surfaces, the convenience is worth the extra cost to me. If you want a traditional spray for everyday surfaces, read my Method All-Purpose Cleaner review.
How to make DIY Dawn Powerwash Refill
Now, as you have already gathered, the Powerwash Spray is a bit more expensive than regular Dawn. Luckily many homemakers have figured out a trick to make it out of regular Dawn. This hack is easy and less expensive than buying refills. Check out the video below:
Where can you buy Dawn Powerwash Dish Spray?
Luckily Dawn Platinum Powerwash Spray is available at most grocery stores in the dish soap aisle. It is also available on Amazon. CLICK the box below to be taken to the Dawn page on Amazon.
While Dawn bills itself as gentle enough to be used on animals (hence the baby duck on the label), it is not entirely without chemicals and dyes. If you would like a purely natural dish soap, check out Dr. Bronner’s, which you can actually clean your whole house with.
Also Blueland Cleaning Products makes a natural dish soap as well and is committed to 100% sustainable packaging.
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About The Cleaning Lady
I’m The Cleaning Lady, a professional house cleaner with 20 years of hands-on experience. I share practical cleaning, organizing and product advice for people who want a cleaner home without spending all day on it. I’ve worked with people of all ages and abilities, including clients managing mobility challenges, mental health conditions and neurodivergence. Those experiences shaped my realistic, judgment-free approach to housework. My goal is to help you clean more safely and efficiently with methods and tools that work. My motto is “Clean smarter, not harder!”
