Yes to the baking soda, dawn combo....I do not have an exhaust fan nor an automatic dishwasher...but I do this when I wash my dishes by hand. I have well water that is somewhat acidic due to the fact it filters through the forest above my home. So while it is the best tasting water, it does tend to corrode copper pipes and leaves a bit of a residue on dishes and what not...it will turn blond hair a bit green as well. So adding baking soda seems to even out the ph value of the water. My dishes do come out sparkling with just a bit of a soak and a swish and rinse. I also make the dawn/baking soda paste to do a quick clean of the oven, I hate the nasty smell of oven cleaner. It is also less harmful to my leach field system of sewage disposal. Baking soda is one of those "magical" things....you can use it to make a facial scrub, shampoo, dishwasher aid, oven cleaner, biscuits, acid reflux aid...seems there is nothing you cannot use it for.