Dawn dish soap is America’s #1 dishwashing liquid based on sales.
It is widely used by homemade-cleaner enthusiasts as an ingredient in DIY cleaner recipes.
When I first started using Dawn in my homemade cleaners, I was confused about the different varieties and colors.
- What variety works best?
- Is blue Dawn better than the other colors?
- Has the formula changed?
- Is the new formula as good as the old?
I will try to answer these questions for you.
Current Dawn Dish Soap Varieties
New and Improved “3X” Dawn Ultra Blue
The New and Improved Dawn Ultra Blue contains “3X More Grease Cleaning Power.” It is 3 times stronger than non-ultra Dawn.
Note that some other varieties of Dawn Ultra still say “2X Grease Cleaning Power.”
3X Dawn is 50% stronger than the 2X varieties.
The “3X” bottles I bought at my local store were the same price as the “2X” varieties in the same-sized bottles.
Dawn Ultra Ingredients (3X version)
Dawn Ultra Ingredients
| Ingredient | Purpose |
| Alcohol Denatured | stabilizes formula |
| C10-16 Alkyldimethylamine Oxide | boosts cleaning |
| Colorants | adds color to product |
| Fragrances | adds scent to product |
| Methylisothiazolinone | preservative |
| PEI14 PEG24/PPG-16 Copolymer | boosts cleaning |
| Phenoxyethanol | stabilizes formula |
| PPG-26 | stabilizes formula |
| Sodium Chloride | thickener |
| Sodium Hydroxide | balances formula pH |
| Sodium Laureth Sulfate | provides cleaning |
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate | provides cleaning |
| Water | holds inredients together |
| May also contain: C9-11 Pareth-8 | gently aids soil removal |
Dawn Ultra Antibacterial Hand Soap
This version of Dawn has the words “Antibacterial Hand Soap” right on the front label. The soap contains the chemical chloroxylenol. This chemical is used to kill bacteria and viruses. The substance has been used in hospitals since the 1950’s.
There are currently two scents available:
- Orange scent
- Apple Blossom Scent
Dawn Ultra Antibacterial previously contained the chemical triclosan but that has been removed in favor of chloroxylenol. Triclosan, although used for many years in consumer products, is coming under increased scrutiny by government, health, and environmental organizations. It has been banned in the EU. The FDA banned triclosan in antibacterial hand and body washes in 2016.
I would not use products containing chloroxylenol to clean your fish tank or aquarium equipment. Also do not use it to clean your cat bowls. Chloroxylenol is toxic to fish and cats. See the chloroxylenol article on Wikipedia for more information.
Can Dawn Antibacterial Be Used as a Hand Sanitizer?
The FDA recommends using plain soap and water for routine hand-washing. The article states that the benefits of using antibacterial hand soap haven’t been proven.
The CDC coronavirus prevention page currently states to “Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.”
Dawn antibacterial is hand soap and can be used to sanitize the hands per the CDC recommendations.
Does Dawn Antibacterial Soap Kill Viruses?
Chloroxylenol found in Dawn Antibacterial does have antiviral activity but is not proven to deactivate all human viruses. An April 1998 issue of The Journal of Hospital Infection states that chloroxylenol was:
“effective in inactivating the enveloped viruses herpes simplex virus type 1 and human immunodeficiency virus type 1, whilst being ineffective in inactivating human coronavirus”
So if you are trying to prevent coronavirus infection, just use any good hand soap per CDC recommendations.
Dawn Platinum Dishwashing Liquid
The Dawn Platinum dishwashing liquids are 4X strength. The 4X refers to its strength vs. non-ultra Dawn. There are currently 3 versions:
- Dawn Platinum, Refreshing Rain
- Dawn Platinum Bleach Alternative, Morning Mist
- Dawn Platinum Advanced Power, Fresh Scent
Dawn Platinum & Enzymes
The Dawn Platinum liquid dish soaps contained enzymes at one time. I don’t think that the current versions contain any enzymes. I have 2013 Dawn Platinum ingredient sheets from P&G that clearly list the enzymes. The most recent ingredient sheets and/or bottle labels no longer list enzymes.
Dawn Platinum Liquid Ingredients
Dawn Platinum Ingredients (Refreshing Rain)
| Water | Solvent |
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate | Cleaning Agent |
| C9-11 Pareth-8 | Cleaning Agent |
| Sodium Laureth Sulfate | Cleaning Agent |
| Lauramine Oxide | Cleaning Agent |
| Alcohol Denat. | Solvent |
| Sodium Chloride | Viscosity Adjuster |
| Tetrasodium Dicarboxymethyl Glutamate | Water Softener |
| Sodium Hydroxide | PH Adjuster |
| Phenoxyethanol | Solvent |
| Methylisothiazolinone | Preservative |
| Fragrance | Scent |
| Red 33 | Colorant |
| Blue 1 | Colorant |
| Yellow 5 | Colorant |
Dawn Platinum Bleach Alternative Ingredients (Morning Mist)
| Water | Solvent |
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate | Cleaning Agent |
| Sodium Laureth Sulfate | Cleaning Agent |
| Lauramine Oxide | Cleaning Agent |
| Alcohol Denat. | Solvent |
| PPG-26 | Viscosity Adjuster |
| Sodium Chloride | Viscosity Adjuster |
| Sodium Hydroxide | PH Adjuster |
| PEI-14 PEG-10/PPG-7 Copolymer | Cleaning Enhancer |
| Tetrasodium Dicarboxymethyl Glutamate | Water Softener |
| Phenoxyethanol | Solvent |
| Methylisothiazolinone | Preservative |
| Fragrance | Scent |
| Blue 1 | Colorant |
Dawn Platinum Advanced Power Ingredients (Fresh Scent)
| Water | Solvent |
| Sodium Lauryl Sulfate | Cleaning Agent |
| Sodium Laureth Sulfate | Cleaning Agent |
| Alcohol Denat. | Solvent |
| PPG-26 | Viscosity Adjuster |
| Sodium Chloride | Viscosity Adjuster |
| Sodium Hydroxide | PH Adjuster |
| PEI-14 PEG-24/PPG-16 Copolymer | Cleaning Enhancer |
| C10-16 Alkydimethylamine Oxide | Cleaning Enhancer |
| C9-11 Pareth-8 | Cleaning Agent |
| Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate | Water Softener |
| Phenoxyethanol | Solvent |
| Methylisothiazolinone | Preservative |
| Fragrances | Adds scent to product |
| Colorants | Adds color to product |
Where To Buy Dawn Platinum “4X”
I recommend the 2-Count, 16.2 oz. Dawn Platinum bottles from Amazon.
Dawn Platinum Foam
Dawn Platinum Foam
Dawn Platinum dishwashing foam is a super-strength dish detergent. The label says “5X More Grease Cleaning Power vs. Dawn Ultra Original.”
Note that all of the other Dawn 2X, 3X, and 4X versions are vs. non-ultra Dawn. The foam is 5X vs. Ultra Original. That means that the foam is much stronger than the Dawn Ultra liquids.
Dawn Platinum Foam is not used in the same way that the normal dishwashing liquids are. You don’t fill the sink full of water.
Steps to use the foam:
- Dampen a sponge and squeeze out the excess water.
- Pump the foam directly on the sponge.
- Wash each dish with minimal water.
- Rinse with water.
- If you need to reactivate the foam, just squeeze your sponge.
Dawn Pure Essentials
Dawn Pure Essentials is a dye-free formula. These formulas use essential oils which contribute to the fragrance.
This is a “3X” Dawn therefore it is just as strong as the new and improved blue Dawn Ultra.
There are currently two varieties:
- Lemon Essence
- Lavender Wisp
Dawn Pure Essentials Ingredients
Dawn Pure Essentials has the same ingredients as the blue Dawn Ultra with the following exceptions:
- Does not contain dyes.
- Utilizes essential oils for fragrance.
Dawn Botanicals
The Dawn Ultra Botanicals dishwashing liquids have scents that are inspired by nature. These are “2X” Dawn Ultra liquids. The three current scents are:
- Aloe Water Scent – has a “clean” smell
- Cherry Blossom Scent – has a “pretty” smell
- Lavender Scent – has a “floral” smell
I recommend buying Dawn Botanicals locally. For some reason the big retailers are not shipping these as of August 2019.
Dawn Escapes
Dawn Ultra Escapes are “2X” dish soaps. They are called “Escapes” because the scents are based on far-away exotic locations.
You can currently buy the following scents:
- New Zealand Springs Scent
- Fuji Cherry Blossom Scent
- Mediterranean Lavender Scent
Hawaiian Pineapple scent appears to be discontinued. In fact the whole Escapes line has been removed from the Dawn product page. So if you really like these versions you had better stock up now while you can.
Dawn Gentle Clean
Dawn Gentle Clean is formulated to be more hand-friendly. It doesn’t dry out your skin as much as the other varieties do.
There are currently three scents:
- Pomegranate & Rose Water scent
- Green Tea & Honey scent
- Peach & Almond scent
Dawn Gentle Clean Scents
There is a wide difference of opinion on the Pomegranate & Rose Water scent . People either absolutely love it or they absolutely hate it. Smell it in the store before you buy it to see how you like it.
I wanted to get Amanda’s opinion so I handed her a bottle of the Pomegranate & Rose Water and asked her how it smelled. She said “it smells gooooood!”
Several weeks later I got her opinion of the Green Tea & Honey scent. She said “It doesn’t smell like dish soap, it smells like the outdoors…..”
Dawn Heavy Duty
Dawn Heavy Duty Dishwashing Liquid is a 4X degreasing formula.
The Dawn Heavy-Duty front label says it “Cleans Beyond The Sink.” it shows icons for auto, tools, grills, and paint brushes.
The back label states:
“For dilute cleaning of auto, tools, grills, and paint brushes*: Add a teaspoon (5mL) of Dawn to gallon (3.8L) of warm water.
*Not for use with oil-based paints and stains.
Where to Buy Dawn Heavy-Duty
I bought my bottle at Lowes. I have not seen it anywhere else. Let me know if you see it elsewhere.
Non-Concentrated Dawn
Around 2009, Procter & Gamble introduced Non-Concentrated Classic Dawn.
This was later changed to just Non-Concentrated Dawn. Some bottles also say “Simply Clean”.
In the photo you can see two different bottles of Non-Concentrated Dawn that I picked up at the same store in November 2013. I believe these two are identical liquids. Only the label is different.
I do not know the exact difference between Non-Concentrated Dawn and Dawn Ultra, but I can tell you that Dawn Ultra is much stronger. I did a quick test in the sink and the difference was obvious.
Even though the Non-Concentrated version is cheaper, I believe Dawn Ultra is the better buy.
Dawn Professional
Dawn professional is also known as Manual Pot and Pan Detergent.
I have read that a lot of people like this version and that the formula is not changed around as often as the other versions.
I have not been able to find the ingredient list of Dawn Professional, but when I do, I’ll let you know. Some people have said that it is similar to the Original Dawn that so many people love.
Dawn Dish Soap FAQs
What countries is Dawn sold in?
Dawn in sold in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Procter & Gamble sells Fairy brand instead of Dawn in Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, Spain, United Kingdom, and Ireland. They sell Dreft brand instead of Dawn in the Netherlands.
Is the Blue Dawn Ultra better than some of the other varieties?
Yes it is. The New and Improved Dawn Ultra blue is stronger than all other varieties except the Dawn Platinum and Heavy Duty lines.
I had previously wrote that all of the Dawn Ultra varieties were basically the same product with different scents and colors. With the introduction of the new “3X” blue Dawn, this no longer true.
How has the Dawn dish soap ingredient formula changed?
The formula has been changed many times over the years and the exact formulas and ingredient changes are trade secrets protected by Procter & Gamble.
There is no way we are going to know the exact ratio of ingredients in Dawn and how those ingredients have changed over time as old formulas were retired and new ones were introduced. We will have to rely on random tidbits of information and anecdotal evidence to try and piece together a better understanding of this product.
Is Dawn dish soap biodegradable?
Yes. The back labels on Dawn bottles now state “Dawn contains biodegradable surfactants.”
Is Dawn dish soap harmful to the environment?
All of the SDS (Safety Data Sheets) that I have read state in Section 12, Ecological Information that “the product is not expected to be hazardous to the environment.”
For more information about P&G’s environmetal effort’s, see the P&G Environmental Sustainability page.
Can Dawn dish soap be used to control Africanized honey bees?
Yes. Mix 1 cup of Dawn in 1 gallon of water. Add the mixture to a garden sprayer. Wet the surface of the swarm with the Dawn mixture until the bees are eliminated.
Texas A&M AgriLife extension has more information about using soapy water to control bees.
Can Dawn dish soap be mixed with bleach?
Some bottles of Dawn have “Do not add bleach” on the back label. Therefore I do not recommend adding bleach to any version of Dawn.
Dawn Dish Soap History
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Proctor & Gamble introduced Dawn to a small test area.
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Dawn was released across the entire United States. This was the original blue Dawn with original scent.
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The International Bird Rescue Research Center received a grant from Chevron to test the effectiveness of dish soaps to clean oil-soaked birds. This study determined that Dawn was the best product for cutting through the oil.
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A new Dawn formula was introduced. A 1987 Dawn magazine ad reads “Introducing New Tougher Dawn. So tough, it even pulls grease off plastic.”
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After the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Dawn was used to clean up the oil-soaked birds that were victims of the spill.
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There was another improvement to the Dawn formula. A circa 1991 Dawn bottle states ” New! Keeps Grease Cutting Power Longer.”
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The original Dawn was taken off the market and replaced with Dawn Ultra. They would later introduce “non-ultra” Dawn as a cheaper alternative to Dawn Ultra.
Discontinued Dawn Varieties
Original Dawn (Discontinued)
The original Dawn is believed by many to be better than than today’s Dawn. The original Dawn was replaced by Dawn Ultra in 1996.
Original Dawn Ingredients (mid 1980’s)
These ingredients are from a mid-1980s bottle of original Dawn:
Cleaning and sudsing agents (anionic and nonionic surfactants), dispensing aid (ethyl alcohol), water, stabilizing agents, colorant and perfume.
Original Dawn Ingredients (1991)
A 1991 Dawn bottle states ” New! Keeps Grease Cutting Power Longer.” Here are the ingredients listed on this version:
Cleaning and sudsing agents (anionic, nonionic, and amphoteric surfactants), dispensing aid (ethyl alcohol), water, stabilizing agents, colorant and perfume.
Non-Ultra Dawn (Discontinued)
Not long after Dawn Ultra was introduced in 1996, Procter & Gamble released Non-Ultra Dawn. I believe the Non-Ultra formula was updated in 2004.
In 2006, it was renamed to “Classic Dawn”. These versions are no longer available.
Dawn Special Care (Discontinued)
Dawn Special Care was available in the late 1990’s. It was formulated to be gentle on the hands. A 1998 Dawn magazine ad states “At Last a Gentle Dish Liquid With Real Muscle.”
Dawn Ultra Lemon (Discontinued)
This was a standard version of Dawn Ultra. It contained a chemical called limonene which is found in the peels of citrus fruits.
My photo of Dawn Ultra lemon scent was taken in 2013.
Discontinued Dawn Platinum Formulas
In late 2016, I wrote about 5 varieties of Dawn Platinum:
- Platinum Power Clean – good for dried, stuck-on foods
- Platinum Power Oxi – has great soaking power
- Platinum Bleach Alternative – good at removing invisible residue from your dishes
- Platinum Stainfighter – for tough food stains
- Platinum Advanced Power – overnight soaking power in 5 minutes
These discontinued Dawn Platinum formulas contained enzymes. Enzymes help to break down tough, cooked-on foods.
According to information I gleaned from a Proctor and Gamble website:
- Power Clean and Bleach Alternative contained amylase enzymes.
- Power Oxi contained protease enzymes.
- Advanced Power contained both amylase and protease enzymes.
Amylase enzymes break down starches and protease enzymes break down protein.
Therefore I recommended using Power Clean for such things as pasta sauce and gravies. For cooked on cheese sauce or meats, I recommended the Power Oxi.
The enzymes appear to have been removed from the ingredient lists of the most recent Dawn Platinum formulas.
Final Thoughts
Whew! This was a long post. I didn’t realize there was so much to say about Dawn Dishwashing Liquid.
Please share using the social media buttons.
Just saw (early April 2014) large bottles of Advanced Power Dawn for sale in my local Costco. Don’t remember the price but it was very reasonable.
I’ve noticed that “enzymes” no longer appear on the ingredients. P&G removed enzymes from all versions commonly available at the grocery store, except platinum, some time ago. Now they’ve removed it from Platinum, too. I called customer service and was told enzymes are no longer an ingredient in any Dawn product!!!! I registered my dissatisfaction.
Hi Smitty,
Thanks for the info. It is strange that they would say that. The US website for Dawn still advertises that Platinum Power Clean “Contains micro-scrubbing enzymes that power through all types of food messes.” Here is the link:
If they discontinue the Platinum products, then that will tell us something. Thanks again.
What I noticed in the past year is that the new “2x” Dawn is thinner, the concentrated was thicker thus you got more use out of the same amount of dishwasher fluid
I have had a cleaning business for a little over 6 years now and Dawn has become a staple in my business. Over the years I’ve tried pretty much every single cleaning product available from Clorox clean up to the $1 Totally Awesome. I learned, after spending far too much money, that if you have Totally Awesome, a green bath Magic Eraser and the ‘Simply Clean’ clear Dawn bleach alternative that you could clean an entire house for right at $5! Granted I typically use glass cleaners and stainless steel cleaners but only cause my clients would fire me on the spot if I walked in with 3 products lol I’m saying all of this because I’ve recently discovered that this specific Dawn is no longer on the market and I’m panicking! I’m wondering if anyone else has used this specific Dawn and if so have you found any of the other kinds that work as well? If anyone has any info PLEASE message me. Thank you very much!
Laura
I love this article, thank you. Myself, along with hundreds of others, rely on Dawn detergent for world class gigantic soap bubbles. The information you provide herein will help other bubblers understand the product better. I have shared it to my FB page which reaches bubblers all across the globe. Thanks again!
Why not just buy sodium Laural sulfate ..which is the foaming agent in Dawn ? …if you just want to make a lot of bubbles . It comes in a powder that you mix with water to make it as strong as you want…
Hello Rob,
I am not a bubbler but I know that Dawn is a mixture of at least 3 different detergents or surfactants. It also contains ethanol. I think one of the detergents has a greater foaming action than SLS. The amine oxide that is added is a foam booster and stabilizer I think. Sodium lauryl sulfate by itself is irritating to the skin and causes contact dermatitis. Adding amine oxides synergistically counteracts the skin irritating properties of detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate and allows the dish detergent to be skin friendly.
Back in the 1970’s, chemists discovered that mixing a nonionic detergent with an anionic detergent could yield a synergistic mixture that was better at cutting grease than either detergent could individually.
The specific process was patented with Procter and Gamble as the original assignee. The patent is now expired but I believe companies still use detergent mixtures because of this grease-cutting synergy. How that synergy might relate to bubbling is unknown to me.
Thanks
Thank you so much for the info. I went years without using dawn as the original would cause huge amounts of skin to peel from my hands. Four or five years ago I began using it as my only laundry spot remover as most items made for that specific purpose rarely work. I’ve been using Ultra Dawn but just brought home the Platinum Dawn for the first time just because it had enzymes listed as an ingredient. I like enzymes. Enzymes = less elbow grease.
Yes we too have found that it works well as a spot remover. We have started using the Homemade Shower Cleaner on tough spots with success. Sometimes it will even remove spots that have been through the dryer.
Do you sell Dawn Simply clean (blue) in Holland?
I contacted U.S Procter and Gamble support and they told me I would have to call the Netherlands P&G to ask this question. I can’t speak Dutch so I can only refer you to the Netherlands contact page.
Can I find dawn in Italy? Where???
You will need to contact Procter and Gamble in Italy. If you call U.S. support that is where they will direct you. I believe the Italian Procter and Gamble contact page is here.
My niece has a small bird and it flew into a pan of gravy. He is now full if grease and told her to wash him with dawn.
She found a bottle of medditerrainian lavender in her basement. Is this suitable to use or does it have bleaches in it or anything else carrosive in it?
Mediterranean Lavender is just Dawn Ultra with a different color and scent. You could use it to clean oily bird feathers. I would try to keep it out of the eyes though.
I believe I found the ingredients for Dawn Professional:
SECTION III – COMPOSITION AND INGREDIENTS
Ingredients: Water (CAS# 7732-18-5), sodium alkyl sulfate (CAS# 68585-47-7), sodium alkyl ethoxylate sulfate (CAS# 68585-34-2), alkyl dimethyl amine oxide (CAS# 70592-80-2), undeceth-9 (CAS# 34398-01-1), SD alcohol (CAS# 64-17-5)
They are listed 1/2 way down page 1 of this PDF: http://www.officedepot.com/pdf/msds/217739.pdf
Great article, TY!
Hi Erica,
Yes that is a MSDS for Dawn Professional. Procter & Gamble has updated versions of these documents here.
Although the MSDS does reveal a few of the basic ingredients, there are several other ingredients that are not revealed. We still don’t know what the enzyme profile is for Dawn Professional and how it differs from Dawn Ultra.
I appreciate your input.
Thanks
Long informative post but well worth the read (and reply’s) for those of us who wanted to know these specifics.
My own successful application with the use of Blue Dawn was in my battle with a tent worm infestation in the rental property next door. A tall cherry tree. Year two. I constructed a chicken wire moat, then covered it with plastic , then filled it with water and BD. (encircled the tree trunk-circumference about 25′) Thousands of worm died. Thousands of others went down using a spray bottle of water and BD. I hope they will remove this tree by next worm season.
Hi Patricia,
Thanks for the tip.
Thanks for good information. We couldn’t understand what happened to old formula This new one in stylish bottle is not much better than colored water. We will try the advanced formula next
I appreciate the posts and information but what it comes down to is that Dawn is no longer the same product I have been using over the years. No matter what formula they make it does not cut the grease. I am at least glad to know I was not imagining the difference, I no longer will be purchasing their product . Their customers as you can see by their post have been loyal over the years and obviously that loyalty has not been returned. It is not about quality to them only money. We do not need five different versions just stick with the old. Why mess with what works.
We too have found that the quality of Dawn Ultra – original scent has changed. It is less viscous and also has less sudsing/staying power. It is unfortunate that P&G felt they needed to changed the formula; it was a great product.
There is a new Dawn Platinum called Stainfighter. It says on the front label that it “Powers away stains in SECONDS”.
Is the Dawn Ultra Platinum safe for our environment? I have been washing my dishes in a plastic basin and then when done with my dishes I pour it all on my backyard grass. I am trying to be careful not to waste water or contaminate the ground. Also, I have dogs, cats and feed birds in my backyard.
Thank You,
Darcy
Hello Darcy,
According to the Dawn Ultra Platinum MSDS, Section XII Ecological Information, all of the surfactants are biodegradable. I don’t think you have anything to worry about.
Thanks
Hello. I work at an animal shelter and we use Dawn for both cleaning the facility and cleaning the animals sometimes. We’ve been using the blue Dawn Ultra but I can get a better price on the “Manual Pat and Pan” (professional) formula. The Dawn ultra is gentle for sensitive kittens. Anyone know if the Professional formula would be as well?
Hi Jenny,
I compared the MSDS for both products. The biggest difference I saw was that Dawn Ultra had higher amounts of the listed hazardous ingredients. So the Dawn Professional looks like it is as safe if not even safer than Dawn Ultra.
Thanks
I often foster kittens and the mother cat. They often have a bad case of fleas when they arrive. Dawn works great to clean them up and seems to kill the fleas almost instantly! Just be sure to keep the bathroom really warm and use two people so one person can towel them off while another washes them because they can get dangerously cold very quickly. Also keep it out of their eyes mouth and nose!
If it kills any living thing easily it is harmful to humans as well. 409 kills wasps and spiders immediately. Rinse skin off immediately every time. Wonder where cancer comes from? Cleaning chemicals. Use lemons, baking soda, salt, vinegar and the like whenever possible. How safe for septics?
It only kills insects because it interferes with their breathing process. It actually chokes them to death. It is not a poison that reacts to their system. If you spray it on your plants be sure to hose the plants off with clear water after about one half hour.
Since Dawn changed its packaging, the Dawn Ultra seems ‘diluted’, both in viscosity and what I would call washing strength or ability to last long enough to wash several dishes (some people might consider those 2 different characteristics). I haven’t noticed the diminished ability to cut grease as stated in a previous post. However, it seems we now use 50% more to clean the exact same dishes we did just a year ago. This is an unfortunate discovery. Why won’t P&G own up to changing it?
Since buying the large bottle of Dawn Ultra(Advanced Power) my skin has become extremely dry to the point of being painful. This morning, I realized the problem has been since starting to use the Dawn on a regular basis. Have been using Dawn products since before the Valdez incident with never a problem-until now. Will be returning the second bottle I bought, as I usually buy two at a time. Will continue to use the Dawn listed as Hand Soap and forget about the ones listed as Dishwashing Liquid.
Hello Dan,
Dawn is designed to strip oil and grease. It can also strip the natural oils out of your skin. Many people find that they must wear dishwashing gloves to prevent this.
Thanks
Where is Dawn made and packaged? Looking 100 percent American made items
Thanks for the great info. My bottle from Costco, the Ultra Platinum Advanced Power has enzymes. Just made some laundry spot remover with this and hydrogen peroxide. Thanks for the great info.
Thank you so much for this information. It was illuminating. Dawn seems to have over complicated a product that was just fine in its original state. Without proper labeling we would be in the dark. What will we do if the Congress passes HR-1599 “The Dark Act” this week. I sure do want to know what is in my food, and where it came from. 07/30/15 ( I have a ton of information on this if you are interested)
Is the products sold in NZ as Fairy the same as Dawn then or quite different
Hello Robyn,
I don’t know for sure but my best guess is that they are very similar.
Thanks
Thanks for your time and efforts for your infomation on the history and characters of all the Dawns. For years, the Dawn original was what I stayed faithful too. Then out of the ‘blue’ a few weeks ago I decided to try the Dawn Platinum and got hooked on it. I decided to see what info was out there on Dawn and got your site and was amazed. I will try the Ultra Platinum Advanced and I am almost sure that this will be as far as I am straying away from the Original Dawn (Platinum/Ultra Platinum). Thank you for the fascinating information.
I personally like the Dawn ultra PLATINUM STAINFIGHTER! I don’t care too much, if it has enzymes in it or not! It’s the BEST I have found for my needs. However, I was surprised and disappointed, when I went to our local Safeway in Alameda, CA yesterday to purchase a backup bottle, and discovered none on the shelf, PLUS NO SHELF SPACE REPLACE STOCK IF IT WAS JUST OUT OF STOCK! Unfortunately, our Safeway, in spite of Being the SECOND LARGEST SAFEWAY STORE IN CA, IT’S HUGE! Has been discounting several other items that I like and miss!
We use Dawn to wash our dogs. I heard it also kills fleas. Do you know if that is true?
Hi, Rosemarie,
I believe it will kill fleas. However, I would not use it as a shampoo on a regular basis. The strong detergents will strip the natural oils from the dog’s skin, possibly causing skin problems. Occasional use on a very dirty dog might be ok.
Instead, I would use a proper dog shampoo and then apply a topical spot-on treatment for long-lasting flea protection.
I bought Dawn non-concentrated this week from Walmart. I saw immediately that it was far less concentrated than the product I had ordinarily bought at SAMS and it did not clean my dishes as well, especially greasy pans. I thought that Dawn had watered it down like so many things available now at the grocery store. Companies are making inferior products and smaller packaging, but charging more. I am so disappointed! We hear there is no inflation, but there truly is, it is just sneaky product development!
I was wondering myself why many cleaning recipes and remedies mentioned blue dawn specifically, and now I’ve figured it out. It’s important to note that while the different colors and scents may all perform the same on dirty dishes, other ingredients are required to get make those seemingly aesthetic changes in the formula. This means the addition of things such as lemon or lavender or whatever other essential oils. When it comes to animals, lemon is toxic to both cats and dogs if ingested, as are other essential oils like lavender- especially to cats. Dogs are a little more tolerant because they don’t lick their fur as much as cats. Other kinds of animals are very likely to have their own sensitivities to these ingredients.
Thanks for the information. I keep seeing cleaning recipes specifically saying to use blue Dawn. I used to use it Canada before moving to Australia. We dont have Dawn here so I will give Fairy a go. I have a feeling it will be different.
Thanks so much for the Dawn history lesson. You and your commenters touched on several good points.
Some folks feel that the product (whichever version of Dawn) is less effective than it used to be. As a former dutiful corporate wife, I came to understand several corporate truisms.
The first and foremost of which is that the product must make at least a certain profit margin for it to be worth the company’s efforts. Formulas are constantly reviewed to see if new information can substitute cheaper ingredients with little or no perceptible consequences. That “new and improved” formula may not be improved for you the customer at all. It may only increase or maintain the current profit margin on a product. If the performance of that product is minimally affected, customers may not notice and will become accustomed to the lesser quality. The story continues with consecutive modifications until the product finally falls out of favor with the buying public to the extent that the profit margin narrows beyond the corporation’s tolerance level. Then the product disappears from store shelves .
Another reason ingredients change is that some fall out of favor with consumers and/or government agencies. If there are serious consequences or risks, either to humans or the environment, corporations do not want to risk the potential legal and financial exposure.
What consumers must keep in mind is that for a product like a dish detergent to work super fast is must be pretty strong and most likely will have side effects that may or may not be desirable. Hence the mantra: if a product is that powerful, it is probably too powerful to use safely. A detergent’s ability can be enhanced by using hotter water and/or letting the product have time to do its thing. Additionally, something as simple as a sprinkle of baking soda on a wet dish left to sit for a few hours can much more safely cut through baked on foods. The baking soda slowly breaks down the chemical bonds between the dish and the food. Then the grit helps to remove the last bits. . . . .skin saved, less of a stress on the environment, money saved and dishes clean.
Yet another consideration is the idea of antibacterial detergent. The idea is good, until you look at the elements of its use. First keep in mind that any soap or detergent and hot water is naturally antibiotic. Antibiotics only increase this affect by around 1.5%. That might seem desireable until we look at what happens when we use antibiotic soaps and detergents. Detergents by their nature remove natural oils from our skin that causes drying and microscopic cracks and fissures in the skin that are awesome places for bacteria and germs to hide. Antibiotics in the detergent increase this effect and consequently counteract their own purposes. Advertising and consumers’ good intentions keep these items on the shelves, not results. Regular liquid bath soap probably does a better job than antibacterial bath soaps for just this reason. If you are still concerned about germs beyond what hot water and regular dish detergents can do, run a pan of rinse water and add a capful of chlorine bleach to it. Local health departments have been recommending this for years for at risk clients. Those of us who live in hurricane territory know we can rely on this when we have no hot water.
Lastly I would like to address hidden price increases. When a product becomes cheaper to manufacture and the price does not reflect this, it is one of the many forms of hidden price increases. If that container suddenly has less product and the price does not go down, it is a hidden price increase. If the toilet paper roll seems smaller, or if the toilet paper tube is bigger diameter, you can bet that your product just got more expensive. No toilet paper roll at all? They can tell you that it is better for the environment, but watch the price. Environmental claims sell product and it is up to the consumer to think through the process and the science just like the unintended consequences of antibacterial soaps and detergents. Hang on to some old containers, packages and toilet paper rolls and see for your self.
Advertising and marketing do more than inform us the availability of a product. The work to shape our preferences and opinions “for the benefit of the manufacturer.” As an informed and responsible consumer, it is up to you to see past the marketing magicians’ slight of hand and possible misdirection to figure out what is really going on with the products they sell.
Excellent commentary. Thanks, Dianna.
Thank you for your VERY INFORMATIVE Post!!
I have a question. All I have is Dawn Ultra Platinum Advanced Power from Costco. CAN I USE IT NOW ON MY ANIMALS, DOG and CATS???
Hi Shelly,
All dish detergents are highly alkaline and can irritate the skin and eyes. I do not recommend using dish soaps as regular pet shampoos since they can cause dermatitis and eye irritation.
A better method would be to use a baby-wash to clean the coat and then apply a topical spot-on flea treatment afterwards if fleas are a concern.
I looked at the MSDS for several versions of Dawn including your Advanced Power version from Costco. They all explicitly state to not get the product in the eyes. There is nothing about the Advanced Power that makes it more hazardous than the other varieties.
Thanks
My friend told me the blue Dawn sold in Oklahoma is different than the one sold in California. She said it can’t be sold in California because it has an ingredient that is prohibited from sale in California. Can you verify this. I have both and they look exactly the same down to the bottle design and label. Thank you
Hello Sheryl,
I doubt this is true. For one thing, if there were different chemical versions of the product, by law they would have to have a separate MSDS for each formula. I only see one MSDS for blue Dawn Ultra and one for the blue Simply Clean version.
Also, If Dawn had California-prohibited ingredients, it could not be considered safe under Proposition 65. But the latest MSDS documents for both blue versions state that Dawn “is not subject to warning labeling under California Proposition 65.” So I must conclude that the same version is sold nationwide.
Thanks
Brilliant article! I wanted to find out about enzymes in Dawn for purposes of making laundry detergent. Now that I know what to use as a pre-soak for those pesky gym and gardening clothes. Thanks.
I agree that Dawn is no longer the product that the original one was. I use twice as much and it is not as effective. I am now looking for a replacement after being a “Dawn” user for about 20 years.
This is great info. The only unanswered question I have is where is Dawn Dishwashing Liquid made now days?
The label only says distributed by P & G, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Hello Donn,
I believe it is made at the Procter & Gamble Kansas City Plant in Kansas City, Kansas. The sign on the front of the building says “Since 1905”
Thanks
What happened to dawn platinum foam Lime surge? Obviously people loved it. There are a few remaining bottles selling on ebay and amazon for $10 to $25 a bottle. We want it back. Much better scent than the blue stuff. I think it even works better.
I’m 72 years old. I remember when Dawn was introduced. If I remember correctly (and I believe I do) it’s advertising claim was that it would quickly get your dishes squeaky clean, implying that other dish-washing liquids require much rinsing before they became squeaky clean, so Dawn would save you time, effort, and water. This claim appeared to be true, but I believe (conjecture only) due to addition of an ingredient or ingredients that produced a physical squeak due to the ingredient(s) remaining on your dishes even after rinsing. This resulted in the dishes squeaking after much less rinsing than after other detergent use. Dawn sales quickly increased, at the expense of other detergents’ sales, so much so that the other detergents eventually changed their formulas to mimic the squeaky clean effect of Dawn. My decades-old question is if my conjecture is true, what effect, if any, does the addition of a squeaky clean chemical or chemicals to Dawn, and eventually to other dishwashing liquids, have on our ingesting such chemicals as they remain on the squeaky clean dishes.
Please note I have no proof of any of this, just assumptions based upon personal observation. I’ve scoured the web for pertinent information and have found none. Have you run across any such info? Thank you.
Hello Rob,
I don’t believe that Dawn has any chemicals that remain on the dishes after proper rinsing.
A clean silica surface has a high coefficient 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.
Thanks
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.
Please help, thank you
Grammy
Hello Carolyn,
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.
Hi Jeffrey,
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?
Hi Rebecca,
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.
Thanks
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.?
Shouldn’t be a problem.
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. Regular flea medicine and flea shampoos will kill a kitten. 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.
If you take dawn and warm water, make bubbles. Take comb and softly comb the bubbles over them. Works wonderfully
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.
So can you tell me what it is in the Original Blue Dawn that makes it especially good for killing weeds? So I can look for that ingredient in a dish detergent here in Costa Rica…
Thanks for this article.
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.
https://www.southernliving.com/garden/weeds/vinegar-epsom-salt-weed-killer
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??
Hi Gini,
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.
Hi,
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.
https://www.costcobusinessdelivery.com/Dawn-Professional-Dish-Detergent-with-Pump%2c-1-gallon.product.11192768.html
I have a bottle of green Dawn that says it is for handwashing and toward the bottom of the bottle it says dishwashing ! What is it??
That sounds like Dawn Apple Blossom scent antibacterial hand soap. It is a hand soap that can also be used for washing dishes. I don’t like to use the antibacterial versions for dish washing though. I only use them for hand washing.
I loved your article!! Thanks for the info! But, I had to laugh when you indicated “how much” could be said about dishwahsing liquid…you left out how much of the “little duck”- labeled Dawn is used for washing fleeces and yarn; and handmade woolen and natural fiber items! Gallons and gallons! I often wonder why Dawn hasn’t picked up on this for an advertisement; but at least the seabirds got a shot!
Why on earth would you suggest killing honeybees? Do some research — Honeybees, when swarming are NOT a threat, they are simply looking for a new home. All a person needs to do is look up beekeepers, agricultural extension service, or State Beekeeping Associations, on the internet or phone book, then call them and they will find someone to come out and remove the bees by putting them into a hive (giving them a home). This service is usually free of charge. Spraying bees with anything will agitate them and increase the chances of the “idiot” getting stung! Do nature a favor, and the honeybees, and take the time to have them picked up — remember, those vegetables and fruits you eat are pollinated by pollinators like honeybees. I’ve been a beekeeper/Apiarist for 50+ years.
I am not suggesting anyone kill bees. It was simply a FAQ based on bee control information from Texas A&M university. I have changed the bee reference to “Africanized honey bees.” According to Michael Merchant, Ph.D., Urban Entomologist, “in areas where Africanized honey bees are established, it may become necessary to control wild bee swarms.”
I was so pleased to come across your breakdown, but I must admit to being absurdly confused by Dawn products. I simply want the best dish liquid for typically greasy dishes. I’ve purchased both Ultra and Platinum, depending upon recent availability, and still not sure. Who’d have thought that dishwashing could be so complicated. Please, help.
So I don’t see that the “new” 4x Platinum Ultra Dawn is safe for birds like it used to be.
Is it? Haven’t seen anything recent about Dawn and Bird rescue.
I don’t think anybody would use Dawn Platinum for bird rescue. They would probably use the standard or Ultra formulations.