This is so easy and so frugal that I’m almost embarrassed that I haven’t tried it before now.
Less toxic, a whole lot cheaper, and so simple to make!
Since I already had all of these ingredients in my laundry room because I use them for our all-purpose kitchen spray and for our homemade laundry detergent, I whipped up a batch in just a few seconds and stored it in my old Cascade box.
How to Make Dishwasher Detergent
- Mix equal parts of borax and baking soda in a convenient container. I used three cups of each, secured the lid, and shook carefully til mixed.
- For each load of dishes, use two tablespoons detergent plus two tablespoons white vinegar as the rinse agent.
From what I’ve read, this works to varying degrees for different households, depending on whether they have hard water or not. It works great in our house, and I couldn’t be happier to have found another way to save AND use less chemicals in our home!
What do you use for dishwasher detergent? Do you have a homemade recipe that works?
I was JUST thinking that I wished there was a way to make this! I will definitely try it out… and btw your homemade cleaner and soap are on my to do list also.
Thanks for this! I’ve never seen some of these ingredients in stores before but from now on I’m on the lookout!
Have always used vinegar for a rinse agent in my dishwasher. We have hard/rust water & if not used the water leaves a dried on ‘gunk’ on all the dishes! Have to look into the Borax….where do you usually buy yours?
I buy my Borax at Walmart, usually. But I’ve also seen it at Ace Hardware with the laundry soda and fels-naptha.
This is a great post. People are always asking me how to make this stuff.
Thanks, Stacy! I was visiting your blog yesterday and watched your video of how you and your family became debt-free! So cool! Congrats!!!
Thank you! I too have been wanting to know this information too!
question for the homemade dish detergent do you put the vinegar in the dish washer the same time you put the dry ingredients or do you have to be around to open the dishwasher and add during the rinse cycle?
Mandi – I put it in at the same time.
So, do you put the vinegar in where you normally put something like Jet Dry? Or mix it in with the soap?
I just pour it into the door anywhere. I know….so precise…
If you keep vinegar in your rinse aid dispenser all the time you wouldn’t need to add it with the detergent each time, would you? Or would you still add it anyway?
That’s a really good question. But I think from what I’ve read, you need to add it each time to help dissolve all the powder.
I keep the vinegar in our rinse aid dispenser; it works great for us! I just have to remember to refill it when it gets low.
Have you ever made a homemade liquid dish soap? I would love to find a recipe that I can make at home!
I haven’t made this one, but I posted a link to it in the latest Green Home blogpost…..Check it out. I can’t wait to make it. I have all the stuff.