“You get kisses from the Misses when you do the dishes!”
Why do we make our own homemade products? It all started with our first batch of homemade laundry detergent, since then we’ve been hooked! Now we’re on a mission to make as many household products as we can. It saves money and gives a sense of joy and accomplishment. Up this week… homemade dishwasher detergent!
When we make products we focus on three things: 1) saving money, 2) easy to make, 3) effective.
Let’s see how easy it is.
Dishwasher soap recipe
- 1 cup borax
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1/2 cup citric acid
- 1/2 cup kosher salt
Fill rinse agent compartment with white vinegar.
Find detailed instructions, cost breakdown, and sources for ingredients below…
Note: To answer common questions we wrote a dishwasher detergent FAQ page to help you better succeed with this recipe.
Simple detergent ingredients
- 1 – 55 ounce box of Arm & Hammer® Super Washing Soda = $2.19
- 1 – 76 ounce box of 20 Mule Team® Borax = $4.29
- 1 – 48 ounce box of coarse Kosher Salt = $1.99
- 1 – 5 pound container of food-grade Citric Acid = $27.00 You can find this online or at your local brewery or specialty beer store. If you cannot find this you can substitute LemiShine. If you do not use some form of citric acid you may see a cloudy residue left like most “green” cleaners leave.
- 1 – gallon of White Vinegar = $1.79
Cost savings breakdown
Prior to making our own, we were using Palmolive eco+ liquid detergent. Here is the cost analysis:
- borax | 76oz = 4.29 | 8oz=.45/batch
- washing soda | 55oz = 2.19 | 8oz=.32/batch
- citric acid | 80oz = 27.00 | 4oz=1.35/batch
- kosher salt | 48oz = 1.99 | 4oz = .16/batch
- total for 24 oz = $2.28/batch
- white vinegar (as rinse agent) | 1gal = 1.79 | 4oz=.06/fill
Use 1 rounded tablespoon of this homemade detergent per load. If you feel it necessary use a heaping tablespoon, but we do not.
- Palmolive® eco+ gel 75 ounce detergent – $3.79 – 28 loads = $0.14 per load
- Homemade powder 24 ounce detergent – $2.28 – 48 loads = $0.05 per load
Here are the cost savings for the homemade rinse agent that goes along with this recipe:
- FINISH® JET-DRY® Rinse Agent 4.22 ounce solution – $3.99 – 1 fill = $3.99 per fill
- White Vinegar as a Rinse Agent 1 gallon solution – $1.79 – 1 fill = $0.06 per fill
That is a huge savings of 6650% on an effective rinse agent. Sounds too good to be true… but it is indeed true! The rinse agent costs just pennies and detergent only half as much.
Detergent directions
Each batch yields 24 ounces of resulting product which you should store in some type of container you were going to dispose of. We suggest something 1 gallon size or smaller so you can fit it under your kitchen sink; old coffee cans work great. Feel free to double the batch, or multiply it accordingly to create any amount you’d like.
1. Start with these 5 ingredients:
2. Into a 32 ounce container – add 1 cup of borax:
3. Add 1 cup of washing soda:
4. Add 1/2 cup of citric acid (double for hard water):
5. Add 1/2 cup of kosher salt:
6. Put the lid on and shake it up good:
7. As you know… my wife loves her some label maker:
8. Fill “Rinse Aid” compartment with white vinegar:
(You can also add lemon juice as a rinse agent)
Use 1 Tbsp per load (you can use a heaping tablespoon if you feel the need, but we do not).
Tips to avoid clumping
This detergent will clump because of the citric acid. Here are a few ways to make it clump less.
- Add a tsp of rice to the detergent to help absorb moisture.
- After combining ingredients, leave mixture out and stir several times each day for a day or two. (This is how we do it.)
- Add 1/2 tsp. citric acid separately to each dishwasher load rather than adding it to the detergent.
Some people have had success forming blocks of detergent by using ice cube trays. We have never tried this so we can offer no help here; if you want to try it look to the comments for help.
Note: To answer other common questions we wrote a dishwasher detergent FAQ page to help you better succeed with this recipe.
There you have it folks… simple, easy, and effective homemade dishwasher detergent.
What are you waiting for? Go get started.
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References and Resources
- Borax on Wikipedia
- Toxicity reports for Borax on PesticideInfo.org
- Washing Soda (a.k.a. Sodium Carbonate or Soda Ash) on Wikipedia
- International Chemical Safety Card for Sodium Carbonate at the Center for Disease Control
- Sodium Carbonate on the National Center for Biotechnology Information PubChem
- Citric acid on Wikipedia
- Citric acid in the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database at CTDbase.org
- Kosher Salt on Wikipedia
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Does this work with stainless steel interior dishwashers?
Beautifully! Keeps them very clean, even if you have hard water.
is their a substitute for kosher salt as this variety is not easily available
thanks
You can use epsom salt.
1bx borax (76oz)
1 bx arm & hammer super washing soda (55oz)
24 pkg unsweetened lemonade drink mix OR citric acid (check canning aisle)
3 cups epsom salt
lemishine rinse aid OR vinegar (1 Tablespoon in bottom of dishwasher before each load start)
mix all and use 1 tablespoon per load
Is Kool aid or generic brand, the unsweetened lemonade drink mix you are talking about?
Any grocery store has Kosher salt in their baking aisle next to the regular table salt.
Ok. So I made this and it was getting a tiny bit clumpy so I added some uncooked organic basmati rice and now the whole thing is a giant block in my glass screw top canister. Help!!
Something in the ingredients caused my plastic glasses to come out of the wash with a white, powdery film…any idea why?
I’ve had the dishwasher detergent turn solid and I get the white film on everything. It would be nice if I had a fix for both issues. Would live to keep using this detergent but it is looking doubtful right now. Please Help!
Try keeping in the refrigerator.
This will not only prevent clumping, but will also make it more soluble when you put it in your dishwasher. Let me know what you think.
you could also try using silica packets. They are usually in vitamin bottles, and are great for absorbing excess moisture. Just put the packet in the mix (do not open the silica packs)!
I have been keeping it in the refrigerator for three days now and I’m clump free.
Thanks
I read somewhere that if you use a Silica packet it helps keep your dish detergent from clumping or getting hard (kinda the same idea as a clay disk for your brown sugar). Silica packets are what you find in a new purse, wallet, or pair of shoes….you know those tiny little bead filled pouches we chuck out after we purchase one of those items?? It helps keep the moisture out, and IT TOTALLY WORKS for me!!!!! Try it!
I found that you really have to watch the amount you use. If i get to liberal with the powder it causes a film. really try to stick with the tablespoon amount. One for the pre wash and one for the reg wash dose it for me! and I use the vinegar in the rinse spot. Hope that helps!
I love adding vinegar when I use anything with baking soda in it. I found powder vinegar online and added 1/8 cup to the recipe… it works great! When you add water it foams while it is reacting to the baking soda. Plus adding a handful of rice works to reduce clumping! Awesome recipe!
Where did you find powder vinegar?
I found a simpler concoction for dishwasher detergent To be: 1 cup washing soda, 1 cup borax and 2 packages of unsweetend lemonade mix. Use 2 tsp in main detergent hopper and 2 tsp in pre-wash hopper.
I am trying it with the LemiShine to see how it works because I couldent find citric acid, and lemonaid is for drinking in my house =) Ill let y’all know how it works.
I found the Citric Acid in the canning section of my Wal-Mart. They do not have it year round just in the spring and summer months. I hope that helps!
Thanks! I’ll have to get some next time I go to Walmart!
I like liquid detergents, can this be mixed with water like the homemade laundry soap detergent
I made mine a little different but I added equal parts water and it works the same.
I used
1 cup borax
1 cup baking soda
1 cup water
You can also make your own washing soda if it’s hard to find in your area, or more expensive than baking soda. All you have to do is cook baking soda in a 400 degree oven and it will turn into washing soda. I found the explanation and the recipe here:
http://www.pennilessparenting.com/2011/01/homemade-washing-soda.html
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0039CZIOY/ref=aw_d_detail?pd=1
Is this something I could use? It is cheaper, but I am not sure if it will do the same thing.
I made a batch of this dish washing detergent and it doesn’t seam to do the trick. My plastics always have a powdery film on them. While my glass and plate sparkle beautifully. I also use vinegar as the rinse agent any suggestions? I hate the film on the plastics… (cups picnic plates etc)
Thanks
Norbina
I put about a half cup of vinegar in a wide mouthed glass in the upper rack when I load the dishwasher and vinegar as the rinse agent. Hopefully this helps.
Also try increasing citric acid.
Look for the Citric acid in the canning asile.
My son lives in town with very HARD water and must run CLR through it at least once a month, (tried white vinegar as a friend said but didn’t work), I was wondering, before purchasing all the ingredients would this help with that too!
It’s definitely worth trying Debbie, since hard water is usually what keeps people from having great success. Try it and let us know!
I’m on my fourth batch and love it!! I have to double the citric acid because we have hard water, but I get it at an Amish store for $2.40 a pound. I double the recipe and put it in a plastic bag. I’ve also put some rice in old pair of pantyhose and then tied the end…this keeps the clumps down. Using this and vinegar in the rinse, I’ve NEVER had a problem with dirty dishes. Thanks for the great recipes. Buying your book this week!!
If you add the citric acid separate, do you just a Tbsp per load? The recipe calls for 1/2 a cup but I’m assuming you don’t use that much per load…. I tried the dishwasher soap that had you use lemonade and epsom salt and it doesn’t do the job for us. I’m hoping maybe this might?
This recipe doesn’t call for anywhere near a 1/2 cup, only 1 Tbsp. If you add the citric acid separate add approximately 1/2 tsp. (and 1/2 tsp less of the main detergent).
I had to go back up and double check this…. Matt, the recipe does call for 1/2 cup of citric acid….is this a typo??
Not per load Cindy, for the whole batch.
Got it!!! Thanks, Matt.
So, I just tried this recipe in my dishwasher last night. I went to put them away this morning and the “soap” had formed a clump in the soap dispenser. I used a paper towel to get it out. What did I do wrong? I did use vinegar in the rinse aid compartment.
Thanks!
Did you let it sit in the dispenser for a long time before running the load?
I did not let it sit before running. However, after trying it two more times, I use less detergent and the extra heat boost. That seems to do the trick! I’ll keep fussing with it until it works perfectly. Thanks!
Good to hear Anna. Tweaking until it works does the trick every time.
We just add it to the door itself rather than using it in the dispenser. We had the same problem. Just pouring it on the door works fine.
Yes it does. It says to 4. Add 1/2 cup of citric acid (double for hard water). I understand that you only use a tbsp of the batch per load but my question was how much citric acid do you use per load if you add it seperate. You answered my question already but I asked because the only thing was adding the 1/2 cup of citric acid to the batch.
Im looking for a recipe that will be safe for silver plate silverware or china with gold trim. What do you think about this recipe?
Hi Ellen, we have never tried this recipe on either of those so I cannot give an experienced opinion.
My mom’s been running her gold trimmed china through the dishwasher for 40 years and hasn’t had any issues with it at all.
I wouldn’t suggest the silver plate though. I think it does tend to come off, based on a spoon we’ve washed.
Can’t speak from personal experience, but a friend of mine told a story once about not knowing that the dishes she was washing (for a friend) were gold rimmed, put them in the dishwasher and the whole pattern came off. SO GLAD that didn’t happen to your mom, Tami!
I’d love to use white vinegar in my dishwasher. Did you notice any difference using the white vinegar in terms of damage to the heating elements or anything like that? I’d love to try this, but it’s my aunt’s dishwasher and not mine…so I have to be careful about what I use. Greetings from the ocean shores of California, Heather
Nope, we’ve been using it for 3 years now with no problems and great results!
Has anyone made this in liquid form? My dishwasher does not like powdered detergents, they just clump and don’t seem to clean my dishes. Thanks all!
I like the laundry detergent a lot. I like that this is the only dishwasher soap that seems to be able to get dried milk out of glasses. However, I’ve been using the dishwasher soap for about 6 months and noticed that my dishwasher is beginning to get what looks like brown mold. I never had that problem before. Now I alternate it with store and homemade dishwasher soap. It makes me wonder.
By the way Jess, we found when we put the dishwasher soap in the door, it just clumps there and doesn’t come out, but if we pour the soap right onto the dishwasher door and then just run it, it does just fine.
what about using soap nuts?
Have never tried so can’t say whether or not they work. Give it a shot and let us know.
I have used both receipes for the dishwasher and clothes washer and neither seem to get my dishes or clothes clean. Food is left on the dishes and heavily soiled pants(son and husband) don’t seem to get clean either. Any suggestions?
You’ll have to experiment with different types of soap and amounts of different ingredients, like citric acid.
Is the citric acid what gets the clothes/dishes cleaner? I didn’t use that in my receipe. I did however use a whole bar of Fels Naptha soap in mine.
There is no soap called for in this dishwasher recipe. Be sure to follow the recipes for each closely for best results. Also, be sure to tweak for best results with your water (all water sources are different).
I guess I should have been more clear…….I used the soap in the clothes washing receipe.
In the Laundrey Detergent I use Zote. It seems to get out more staines.
I use Zote and it seems to get out more stains.
Thanks….I’ll see if I can find that soap. Where did you buy yours?
I use Ivory soap for my laundry and a little bit of oxygenated cleaner helps get out extra tough stains
Dishwashers aren’t even meant to remove crusted on food. They sanitize your dishes. You aren’t going to have good success overall (with any detergent) running the dishwasher with a lot of food on your dishes since the hot water will tend to blast the food particles from the lower rack onto the dishes in the upper rack where it will form a hard crust.
I don’t think many people realize this and blame their dishwasher as a result. Your dishwasher is NOT a garbage disposal.
Has anyone found unscented washing soda? I have tried Arm & Hammer and VIP brands, and they are both scented. Those are the only brands that I have found so far in my area, but if I knew the name of another one I could look online or have family in other areas look for it.
The main reason I want to make my own is so that I can make unscented products. We have several family members with serious sensitivities to scented product.
I actually found out that the bag of VIP washing soda that I bought had been accidently contaminated at the factory and VIP sent me a new, unscented bag by courier!
I need help! I just made my first batch, and when my washer was on the final (steam) cycle my kitchen filled with steam….. WAY more steam than it normally generates. I thought it was smoke at first. It has a funky almost metalic smell to it. I am pregnant, due in a few weeks, so I called posion cintrol to be safe. They said since Im not coughing or having trouble breathing I should be OK. My question is: has anyone else had this happen? I checked the recipie. My measurements were correct. Doee anyone know what could have caused this? I used Lemi Shine, not citric acid. I do have vinegar in the rinse aid spot. If anyone knows Id appreaciate it! Thanks all
You should know that Lemi Shine make a rinse agent as well as a powder. The powder is what helps with the hard water film. I have a stainless interior in my dishwasher and we have a well with very hard water. Lemi Shine powder not only makes the dishes sparkle, but keeps the dishwasher interior free of hard water deposits, even the drying elements stay clean.
Matt and Betsy, I tried the dishwasher soap and struggled like others with dishes not really getting cleaned. I bought your Household Cleaners book and made the dish soap recipe and used it in the dishwasher. Love it so far. I’m still playing a bit with on how much I “really” need to use but we are liking how it works so far.
Awesome Heather!
I made this soap with citric acid and my dishes aren’t coming clean. I have to handwash before they go in, and if i don’t they need scrubbed after they come out. Please help!
Your dishwasher is not a garbage disposal. Treating it as such is going to necessarily require extra strong cleaning agents to completely dissolve your leftover food.
I used this recipe for the first time a few days ago! Citric acid around here is WAY too expensive, so I just bought packets of the Wal-Mart brand unsweetened lemonade mix. So far so good! My daughter loves the way the detergent fizzles when it combines with water. lol I see in other comments how the detergent becomes solid, and I am experiencing that as well. I see that you suggest adding rice into the container. My question is, do I add the rice directly to the detergent? Or, do I place the rice into something and then add it into the container?
Just found citric acid in the canning section of Walmart. Just over $3 for 7.5 oz. thought I’d share
Canning section?
Hi! I tried this recipe (using a portable dishwasher) and my kitchen floor is now covered with foam :S. Any thoughts on what I did wrong? Thanks for sharing these awesome recipes!
The recipe has no soap in it, so I have no idea what went wrong.
If you used baking soda and and vinegar it would foam.. the recipe suggests washing soda not baking soda..big difference. Just wondering.
Just a thought. Maybe there was a residual soap buildup in your dishwasher that caused the foam?
Thanks for the feedback. I did use washing soda, not baking soda. The dishwasher was second hand and it was the first time I had used it. I ran it once without any detergent after the foam incident (my floor is now sparkling clean, btw – lol) and have decreased the amount to a heaped teaspoon. The dishes are coming out just fine and no more super clean floors! So it could very well be that there was some buildup that needed to be eliminated (didn’t see anything but I sure did smell a lot of chemicals when the dishwasher came iinto the house) Thanks again for a great recipe
I noiced everyone with comments are using baking soda and not the washing soda that is suggested…there is a difference. I also was wondering if this could be used for hand washing dishes, since I do not own a dishwasher. Thank you.
I occasionally use it to hand wash dishes. I just dissolve a bit in warm water and voila.
Some of the commercial dishwasher detergents, such as Finish, use both baking soda and washing soda. Some go the other way using lye and chlorine bleach etc., but almost all of the major brands use washing soda. Baking soda is a wonderful product with many uses.
If I still have some rinse agent left in the dishwasher can I still go ahead and put in the vinegar?
Yeah, mixing the two won’t hurt anything… or you could just wait, either is fine.
HELP!!! I haven’t tried using my dishwasher soap yet (mostly because I was waiting on my store bought to run out), and I’m not sure I’ll be able to! I used borax, washing soda, kosher salt, and powdered LemiShine (as I couldn’t find citric acid). Well… I left the top off of the container and stirred it several times for a few days – I thought it was good to go, so I put the top back on and I went to grab the container just now and it’s one big block! I can’t even break it up. I don’t know what to do!!! I do not want my money to go to waste, so can someone please tell me what I can do to bring it back to it’s powder-form…?
Something that may have influenced it turning into a block so fast (I’m guessing) is that I had it sitting on my dryer… I have a bad feeling that the heat from the dryer did something to cause it to clump into one big block. Oooops!!! I have it in the refrigerator right now, hoping I can break it up after it cools, but I dunno…
Suggestions please!!!!!!!!!!!
Grind it up in a food processor or a blender, or dissolve it in water and use it as a liquid.
THANK YOU for putting the price breakdown!!! So very many bloggers are posting “homemade” cleaning products that may be better on the environment, are CRAZY expensive to actually make! KUDOS to you!
You’re welcome Crystal. We try to make all our recipes fit 3 criteria vs. their store bought counterparts: 1) cheaper 2) work just as good or better 3) made of natural ingredients.
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