Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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This post was updated December 2018
Its Frugal Friday! This recipe for homemade dishwasher detergent is so stinking frugal, so easy it’s crazy, and you have to try it! It takes about 2 minutes, costs about $0.65 to make, and should last about 100 loads. That’s not even a penny a load! Talk about saving money!
Have I convinced you yet? Also, I think it works better that the brand name stuff. This is a great beginners project for someone who wants to make more items homemade and purchase less consumer products.
I thought I’d make some homemade dishwasher detergent today because I’m so thankful to have my dishwasher working again after it broke on us for a couple of days. So, what better way to celebrate than a DIY project?
This is a much more natural version of dishwasher detergent than many you can find in the store. Cheap and more natural? Sign me up.
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Tips For Using Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
- Use 1 Tbs in both the pre-wash cup and the main wash cup.
- Different water types can have different results with DIY dishwasher detergent. If you are getting any cloudiness, add a few drops of natural dish soap to the mix.
- If you want a natural dishwasher detergent, but don’t want to make it you could try this natural option.
- Add vinegar as a rinse aid as a natural way to get sparkly dishes.
How To Make Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Step 1:
Gather ingredients! You will need:
- 2 cups Borax (I use this kind)
- 2 cups washing soda (I use this kind)
- 4 packets of sugar free lemonade Kool-aid (or you can use citric acid- Like this one)
Step 2:
Mix all ingredients together and keep in some kind of container. It could be a super cute old mason jar like mine 🙂 or just an empty detergent box you have.
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Step 3:
Use it: Place 1 Tbs in the pre-wash (open cup) and 1 Tbs in the main wash (closed cup).
I found if you put a squirt of Dawn or some other brand in the main wash container it makes your dishes much more sparkly!
Want some more DIY Natural Products? Try these!
- DIY Foaming Hand Soap
- Homemade furniture polish is a cheap and natural cleaner.
- Get my favorite natural cleaning tips here.
- If you are a mom you definitely need this DIY Hand Sanitizer.
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipe
Make this super simple and inexpensive recipe to get sparkly clean dishes.
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Save This Recipe
We'll get it sent to your inbox! Plus, get new recipes from us every week.
Ingredients
- 2 cups Borax I use this kind
- 2 cups washing soda I use this kind
- 4 packets of sugar free lemonade Kool-aid or you can use citric acid
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients together and keep in some kind of container. It could be a super cute old mason jar like mine 🙂 or just an empty detergent box you have.
Notes
Is Borax Toxic?
This has been up for debate for some time. Katie over at the Wellness Mama has a great article here. Basically, there isn’t conclusive evidence of it being bad for you. Maybe one of these days I will try to come up with homemade dishwasher detergent that doesn’t have borax in it just in case you are concerned about that. I’m a mom and totally get that.
I’m getting water spots or cloudiness! What do I do?
You can add a few drops of dish detergent and fill the rinse aide container with vinegar. That should get rid of any water spots or cloudiness. You can also add a tsp of baking soda to the dishwasher to help against lime buildup.
Are there any good natural store bought dishwasher detergents?
You betcha. When I’m strapped for time… or just when I had my second child, I will frequently reach for Seventh Generation powder. Biokleen also scores an A on EWG, as does Ecos, Fit Organic, and Mama Suds.
Have you ever tried to make your own DIY dishwasher detergent?
I was doing a bit of research on this subject, and I am wondering if you could instead of adding citric acid to your detergent, use citrus infused vinegar as your rinse aid. That way you get that clean lemon smell. Also I read that vinegar can eat away the rubber components in your rinse compartment, and that its best to put some in a small cup or bowel on the top rack while you run it. Just some thoughts on how to change it up.
That might work great! Never thought of that idea thanks for sharing!
I can’t wait to try this, the only thing I’m worried about is that my dish washer doesn’t do we’ll with powder detergents, dose anyone know if you can make into a liquid detergent?
How much citric acid would you use in place of the kool-aid?
One good thing by Jillee has a recipe that is slightly different but it using citric acid. Also, her says 1/4 cup of citric acid for 2 packets of kool-aid. http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/02/homemade-dishwasher-detergent-revised.html
I have been wanting to try this for a LONG time. You are the inspiration I needed, and I just love your picture!! We are starting a link up party on Thursdays (today:), and we would love for you to join us with this post and/or any others you would like to include. We are at allthingswithpurpose.com. Hope to see you there!!
Ahh I’m sorry for some reason I just saw this! I will come by next week to linkup!
Is washing soda the same thing as baking soda?
nope its slightly different. You can make washing soda by baking baking soda or else you can find it in the laundry aisle
Yes – what IS washing soda?
It’s kind of like baking soda but you find it in the laundry aisle. You can actually make it too by baking baking soda
What is washing soda and where do you get it?
I googled it and found out that you can make it from baking soda…..dump your baking soda onto a cookie sheet and bake it for about a half hour at 400* Something about exposing the baking soda to heat releases a gas that transforms the soda into washing soap.
I’ve seen that too! Thanks for sharing!
Drugstore.com sells it, Arm and Hammer brand so does Menards lumber yard
Every Wal Mart sells it, but it’s in the stain removal section and VERY hard to find now that alot of people are making their own detergents now. It’s dirt cheap for a big box.
Great frugal DIY! I’d love to have you share this and your other green and frugal posts over on Tuesday Greens on http://www.craftygardenmama.com. Have a great week!
I love using this recipe at home in my dishwasher. I save so much money. ;o)
What is washing soda?
It’s similar to baking soda, also made by Arm and Hammer.
The answer is yes…You can make your own washing soda by placing baking soda on a cookie sheet and bake it for a half hour at 400* If you have a lot of baking soda on your cookie sheet you should stirr it about half way through to ensure even cooking.
Is there an alternative to the borax? I know it’s for dishes instead of laundry, but my mom used borax once in the laundry and I itched like crazy until she did the wash again. Because of that, I’d rather not use borax at all.
Here is a recipe I found that could help 🙂 It contains no borax and is still suppose to get the dishes clean! Hope that helps! http://theecofriendlyfamily.com/2011/10/diy-dishwasher-detergent-without-borax/
Dear Amy
Thank you so much for linking with my Wednesday Adorned From Above Blog Hop last week. I have listed your posting as one of my featured links for this week.
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/07/surf-spray-and-wednesdays-adorned-from.html
Copy and Paste the link from the post to show that you are a featured blogger on Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop. It says
I am a featured blogger at Wednesday Adorned From Above Blog Hop
Thank you again for participating, and I hope that you have lots of links for this week.
Amy, you can delete the first one that I sent you. I put the wrong name in it accidentally. Thank you so much for sharing. You had the most page views. You had 12 pageviews. I am going to try making your recipe this week.
Sincerely,
Debi Bolocofsky
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
Thanks so much for featuring me! l really appreciate it!
Amy,
I am going to have to try this. I was nominated for the Liebster award, and I want to pass it along to you! <3
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/07/cilantro-lime-vinaigrette-from.html?showComment=1342192720911#c2558012304404038741
Debi
I like this. Thanks for the info. I have a Blog Hop, and I would love it if you would link this post. You can find it at
http://www.adornedfromabove.com/2012/07/3-face-masks-from-your-kitchen-and.html
It is called Wednesdays Adorned From Above Blog Hop.
I hope to see you there. Have a great Day.
Debi Bolocofsky
Adorned From Above
http://www.adornedfromabove.com
Thanks you for the invite Debi I just linked up!
Hey Amy,
Thank you so much for linking with Wednesdays Adorned From Above’s blog Hop.
Debi
hmmm…thanks for the tip about the dish soap. We tried this for a while but eventually quit because of the film.
I hope the dish soap makes the difference!
using less dishwasher soap helps the film
I have never had such clean dishes.
We just recently started using this recipe for dishwasher detergent. Unfortunately we have really hard water because our dishes come out clean (cleaner than with commercial dishwasher detergents) but with a white film on many of the dishes. Any suggestions? I think I read somewhere that increasing the borax would help with it…
I found another recipe and the blogger said this worked for her and she has really hard water. Its 1 cup borax, 1 cup washing soda, 1/2 cup citric acid (she said she used 1 cup of lemon shine instead) and 1/2 cup kosher salt. I hope this helps and works for you!!
I hope this works for me also. I am tired of all the film on my dishes.
Here is a line to some dishwasher sauce. It’s the borax that leaves a film on the dishes. Also here is a recipe that i sometimes ues to make tablets for my dishwasher. 1 cup of borax 1 cup of washing soda 1/4 cup of epsom salt, 1/8 cup of lemon juice, 1/8 cup of equate brand of dishwasher rinse aid and mix well together until moist but not to wet it just needs to hold a shape u can press the mixture into ice cube trays and let dry completely dishes come out sparkly but eventually u get a film on the inside of your dishwasher but as i stated above here is a link to some dishwasher sauce which works and does not leave a file on dishes or dishwasher.
http://www.budget101.com/myo-household-items/mom-s-super-dishwasher-detergent-4215.html
I found your recipe on Pinterest. I do not have an offical blog, but I really want to know where I can get a heart shaped scoop like you have on your ball jar.
I have a set of measuring spoons, and the tablespoon-sized one looks very similar to the heart shaped scoop she shows on her Ball jar. I got them a couple years ago at Bed Bath & Beyond and have seen them there more recently. Now I want to know where to get Ball jars in that turquoise like hers….I only seem to find clear mason jars, and not Ball brand ? :/
I got mine a few years ago also. I think from my mother-in-law as a bridal shower gift. And the jar is vintage from an antique store. I’ve seen them at tons of antique stores so hopefully that will narrow your search
That is where the vinegar in the rinse agent should help. I have used it and never noticed any vinegar smell on my dishes. Also my dishwasher manual says to use the least amount of DW soap that you can and still get dishes clean-it says too much soap causes the film. Hard water is the pits isn’t it!
I put a very small amount in and have never had a problem. My husband on the other hand had it happen to him the other day. My guess is just adding too much dish soap. It still was pretty funny and you can clean the floors with the bubbles 🙂
The last time I used dish soap in my dishwasher I had a bubbly mess. And I only put a few drops in cause I was out of dishwasher soap. The kids thought it was cool though lol
Putting dish soap in your dishwasher can damage the machine. If you double the amount of citric acid, and possibly add some salt, it won’t be necessary to use dish soap to get sparkling dishes.
Michelle I believe you can find citric acid in the dish cleaning aisle, but I’m not sure I’ve only used the Kool-aid. Your laundry soap is almost the same as mine except I use washing soda instead of baking soda! Thanks for the comment I hope you can find citric acid!
you can also get citric acid wherever you find canning supplies
This is very similar to the laundry soap I make. But instead of kool-aid, I use a bar of soap. You can read it here: http://www.simplifylivelove.com/2011/07/homemade-laundry-soap.html
Any ideas where to find citric acid? 🙂
You can find citric acid in the canning supply section of most stores. Ours is in the produce section.
I purchased Food Grade Bulk (3#) Citric Acid on-line for a fraction of cost in the canning section.
-Carol H.
U can get citric acid in the canning section of a store someplace or online its the stuff that make fruit tart acidy or whatever. It is natural in citrus fruits but like i said the canning section department of any store that sells canning stuff. Hope this helps