I had the realization a few days ago (on the heels of my discovery that Yes, Virginia, you CAN make your own laundry detergent) that my friend, MB, has been making her own for a while and that I may not be as organic as she is…but I probably can too! So off to the internet and library to gather resources! My friend, AR, says she used to make her own as well so now that I know two people who make their own and have yet to don a denim jumper with sneakers, a turtleneck, and a bun…I’m going to go for it. (My apologies to anyone who has just been offended by my comment on their fashion choice.) I think the most important part of my desire to make dishwasher detergent is to try and save money as well as eliminate some of the chemicals (baby steps) in my home. My concern is that my dishwasher is not great and powders tend to simply clump together…usually on my dishes. Since my friend, JL, has the same one maybe I will discover a detergent mixture that will work since I see on her blog that she is also looking to detox her cleaning!
Many of the recipes use white vinegar, Borax, and/or washing soda so there will be overlap with some ingredients I’ve found in the laundry detergent recipes so there is a chance to save some money there! A major concern from a lot of bloggers is that there is a white or cloudy film on dishes although many responses say that adding white vinegar to the rinse aid cup in the dishwasher will eliminate this!
Of course I am not sure how much money saving I will do since I feel the strong urge to go and buy antique (or super cute new) jars and little shelves on which to put them so I can display (and have access to, of course) my upcoming cleaning supplies!
Dishwasher Rinse-Aid
Like using distilled white vinegar for fabric softener in the washer, you can also use it as a rinse aid in the dishwasher. How much cheaper could rinse aid be? I’m excited not to be putting all the chemicals on my dishes AND saving money because I am using only a few products to make several different cleaners!
Dishwasher Detergent
Recipe 1: My Dear Friend’s Recipe
MB’s recipe
For dish washing detergent I use this:
1/2 cup Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds
1/2 cup water
1 tsp lemon juice
3 drops tea tree oil
1/2 cup white vinegar
Combine all ingredients and store in a glass container. Use 1-2 Tbsp per load…start with one and see if you need to use a little more.
**This is the recipe I’ve been using. I actually modified it a little bit and instead of the Sal Suds I used Dr. Bronner’s Orange Castile Soap (because I couldn’t find Sal Suds at first)…and I like both versions! I think I like MB’s original recipe a little better but part of that is because when I used the Castile soap there was a chemical reaction and the mixture got really cloudy and then separated. It works great I just have to shake it up before I use it whereas with MB’s original recipe the detergent looks like water and you don’t have to mix it up before you pour it out! Either way works great! I like that I can use the Sal Suds and Castile Soap for other cleaning products as well!!!**
Recipe 2: Washing Dishes for Pennies
I can’t reproduce her recipe here, but here’s the link:
http://www.suite101.com/content/washing-dishes-for-pennies-a24015
Recipe 3: Jabs Homemade Powdered Dishwasher Detergent
Using some of the same ingredients as many laundry detergent recipes, Matt Jabs has a great step-by-step guide to making powdered dishwasher detergent…with pictures! I can’t use powdered dishwasher detergent because it doesn’t work with our water/in our dishwasher for some reason. But I wanted to link this for those of you who like a powder version better!
http://diynatural.com/simple-effective-jabs-homemade-dishwasher-detergent-rinse-agent/
Recipe 4: The New Homemaker’s Dishwasher Powder
This is her powdered dishwasher detergent recipe plus some links from her site to favorite green cleaning books/sites.
http://www.thenewhomemaker.com/dishwasherpowder
The formula
Here, after much experimenting, is the formula for dishwashing powder.
In a plastic container with a firmly fitting lid, mix:
1 cup borax (20-Mule-Team Borax, available in any supermarket)
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup citric acid (available in brewing stores among other places–if you haven’t tracked it down yet but must try this formula, use two packets of Lemonade-Flavored Kool-Aid, ONLY lemon, or you’ll dye your dishwasher! and ONLY unsweetened Kool-Aid!)
30 drops citrus essential oil–lemon, grapefruit, orange, tangerine, or a mixture
Put all of it in the container, shake it up.
To use, put a tablespoon or so into each cup of your dishwasher. I’ve found I no longer have to use the scrubbing cycle but can get by fine with the short cycle, thus saving even more money. On average, it looks like this is about 8 cents a load compared with Cascade at 22 cents a load. Compare it with EcoVer or Seventh Generation and it’s a steal. I have also started putting some of this in a shaker canister–the one I have we got at a restaurant supply, it’s aluminum and was made for popcorn salt. I use it to clean my sink and anything else that I’d normally use Bon Ami on. Works great, and the essential oil makes it smell fantastic.
If you experiment with this, add to the comments on this page, I’d love to know what your experiences are.
By the way: These are some of the best guides available if you want to make your own cleaners and such:
- Speedy Green Cleaning–techniques and cleaning supplies to make your home both green and clean
- The Green Clean Book–dozens of recipes for natural cleaners you can make yourself, cheap
- 101 Uses for Peroxide–along with vinegar, baking soda and washing soda
