Kitchen Chemistry

The rule is like dissolves like. Water is a polar solvent, meaning it has distinct charges at different ends. Grease is non-polar so water can't tear it apart. Dish detergent banishes grease by emulsification: it surrounds the grease and carries it away in the wash water. This new product by Dawn contains denatured alcohol, which is just ethyl alcohol: what's in booze and your gas tank, but has additives so folks won't drink it to get a buzz. Ethyl alcohol is a non-polar solvent so it dissolves the grease (like dissolves like) and makes it much easier to clean baking pans and ceramic cooktops! Dawn sells a convenient refill, which makes it rather cheap also.