The Ingenious Hack for an Almost Empty Dish Soap Bottle That I Use Every Single Day

Before I toss, trash, donate, or recycle almost anything in my home, I try to think of a second use for it. Whether out of stubbornness or sustainability efforts, no ketchup bottle, pickle jar, or lone container lid passes through my tiny apartment kitchen without getting a thorough cleaning — and a thorough contemplation. So, when I discovered the most clever trick to give a second life to an empty dish soap bottle, I couldn’t wait to try it myself. 

I like to beautify my tiny kitchen with glass soap bottles next to my sink; they add an easy touch of luxury to an otherwise busy area, and they bring me a little bit of joy every time I do the dishes. When I squeeze all of the soap out of my plastic dish soap bottles into the glass ones, there’s always a tiny bit left that I can’t possibly get out. Of course, instead of going straight to the recycling bin, I’ve become obsessed with this simple upgrade: I add a little bit of warm water and a splash of distilled white vinegar.

In an instant, with just a light shake, I’ve gotten the rest of the soap out of the bottle and put it to good use, making a DIY multipurpose cleaner that works on dishes, countertops, and even tough grime in the kitchen. With just a spritz and a swipe, I’ve used some of the best cleansers hiding in my pantry to keep my kitchen sparkling. And I saved money while doing it!

What I love most about this hack is how customizable it is. While I usually add just water and vinegar, you could try washing soda, hydrogen peroxide, lemon juice, citric acid, salt, or even a few drops of essential oils for fragrance based on the task at hand (just make sure not to mix anything that could be dangerous together!). I like to keep mine nonabrasive and gentle enough for tons of surfaces around my apartment, but you can make it work for anything you’re cleaning.

I also appreciate that my little makeshift multipurpose cleaner is more portable than my glass dish soap container. I can bring it to my stove for a quick squeeze (love the squeeze top!), which is where I typically let my bigger pans soak before I go in with a dish brush in my sink for stuck-on food bits. 

So, the next time you’re running low on dish soap, worry not — everything you need is right in your pantry for your new favorite multipurpose cleanser!