With more than 60 natural cleaning recipes for every room in your home, our Homemade Cleaners Book empowers you to make your own cleaners naturally. Save money and keep your family healthy & chemical-free.
“You get kisses from the Misses when you do the dishes!” – Unknown
Why do we make our own homemade products? It all started with our first batch of homemade laundry soap (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.
Homemade dishwasher detergent (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…
5 simple 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.
How to put it together
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 citric acid separately to each dishwasher load rather than adding it to the detergent.
If your dishwasher will accept blocks of detergent you can form blocks by using ice cube trays. Simply place desired amount of detergent into trays immediately after combining ingredients. Use 1 block for each load.
There you have it folks… simple, easy, and effective homemade dishwasher detergent.
What are you waiting for? Go get started.
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So the same recipe applies to those of us without dishwashers?
My question is: does all this kill germs/bacteria?
I’m a big germa-phob when it comes to doing my dishes. I figured the vinegar would help kill the bacteria, does anyone have any idea?
I buy chicken in bulk, freeze it and let it thaw on a plate and all that germy-mess goes in my dishwasher.
Vinegar on its own is not a disinfectant. Per the FDA, vinegar inhibits bacteria and mold growth (works great to keep shower mold to a minimum), but doesn’t eliminate germs to the level of being considered a disinfectant like chlorine, per se. I’ve come across some recipes that add tea tree essential oil to the mix since that has natural antibacterial properties.
However, I’ve read somewhere that if you mix vinegar with hydrogen peroxide, then you get a very effective disinfecting cleaner but I haven’t tried it myself and would be reluctant to try it on something I eat from.
Vinegar is recognized in regulations for use in restaurants as a disinfectant. Also, if you use vinegar and peroxide, it makes the other even more effective, that is, unless you mix the two. If you do this, it makes both less effective. You would have to spray the one, wipe, spray the other, wipe clean, then rinse.
You will find if you research it that the borax a disinfectant when mixed with water. Salt disinfects too.
Another note…if you put too much citric acid in your dishwasher, you can etch the finish and pattern off of Corelle dishes, but this does take a lot to do. My nephew/niece did this not too long ago.
I found a few other recipes online that were similiar except they did not have the salt. Can you tell me the role of the salt.
Thanks for the earlier laundry detergent recipe. I love it!
Also sorry, if this has already been commented on. –Judy
I am not understanding some of these comments about saving very little… I do at least 1 load each day, plus some handwashing, and with my math, I personally would be saving at least $35 a year changing to this… May be others live alone and only wash once a week or something. Great website, thanks for all the reads!
I can’t get this to clean very well. First I tried another recipe with kool aid instead of citric acid, it left white all over the dishes. Then I tried this one exactly with citric acid…no white residue but it just doesn’t clean as well as the Finish tabs. The dishes still are dirty. About 1/4 of the dishes (mostly the plates and pots) need to be redone every time. I have vinegar in the rinse aid receptacle. What can I do to fix this?
You’ve really got to play with the recipe a bit, depending on your water quality, age of washer, how well the dishes are “rinsed” before loading into the dishwasher, etc. I have hard well water and have found that doubling the citric acid is what works for me. I also make sure to make sure that there are no stuck on food particles left before putting them in the dishwasher. Some may say that seems redundant, but even with my brand new washer and expensive detergent, it still doesn’t remove food completely if it’s baked on. Also, using too much detergent can cause bad results. Again, you have to play with the recipe to find what works for you.
Thanks. I also read some information on natural cleaners and some of them used oxygen bleach (oxy) in them. Gonna try to throw a few scoops that in. I think I’d go broke doubling the citric acid though! That stuff isn’t cheap! Also, If I prewash the dishes any more than I already do, I think I might as well hand wash them.
My dishwasher isn’t that old. I’m sure it’s not top of the line since we rent though.
Also, I have started avoiding throwing the detergent right on the door because of the vinegar in the rinse receptacle, I can already hear it fizzling up before I start the wash! I guess it has a little left over vinegar from the rinse on the door or something.
I haven’t made the dishwasher detergent yet but I am very excited about it as I really like my homemade laundry soap. I was a bit surprised to find salt in the recipe. Has anyone tried it with and without salt, what is the role of the salt?
Thanks in advance?
I have searched and cannot find the purpose of salt in the dish washer detergent. Can you explain it’s use in the recipe? I was trying to find out if it is an absolutely necessary component. Thanks!
Not absolutely necessary. It provides extra scouring action.
and salt softens hard water, helping prevent hard water stains on glassware…
I’m not sure where to get citric acid where I live. Can I substitute Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) or is it better to use Fruit Fresh or something like that?
Get it online (link in the article) or at your local brewery supply store. You can try ascorbic acid but I never have.
I altered your recipe slightly, due to the availability of citric acid. I used
1 package of lemonlime kool-aid (about 1 tbsp);
1 tbsp salt;
2 tbsp borax;
2 tbsp washing soda.
This combination works great. I was greatly surprised at it’s cleaning power. The citric acid in the kool-aid really keeps my glass and plastic from getting a residue on it. Thanks for your recipe!
I came up with the same recipe using unsweetened kool-aid and adding a little vinegar in the rinse cycle. I use a little more salt because the water here is very hard. Commercial dishwashing detergents and laundry detergents don’t work well where the water is hard.
I’ve heard and read how toxic Borax is. There is other concoctions that do as well without using the Borax. 11/2 C Baking Soda Wash, 11/2 C Lemi-Shine, 1/2 C Baking soda, 1/2 C Kosher Salt. Use White Vineager as rinse agent. Works ok and I have really hard water
Borax has the same toxicity level as table salt – ingest too much and you’ll get sick, but it’s not toxic to use in detergent like this.
I buy citric acid every year in 5 oz. containers, Mrs. Wages, when I can tomatoes. It is easy to find in our area in the grocery stores…no need to check with brewery as suggested in the instructions.
I have gnarly psoriasis…I’m going to try this to see if it helps! I am allergic to so many fragrances, this may be a great answer both to being more self reliant and to healing my skin.
Ref Borax toxicity…keep it away from your pets and children…if ingested it is harmful. Some people use Borax water to help remove the flesh from bones of wildlife when making displays for nature/education centers, etc. Our cat got into some poured off water from that scenario, (he was after the fleshy material) and ended up with ulcers all over the insides his mouth from the Borax. He needed veterinarian attention to get well.
Borax is also used in ant killers, like Tarro, ant a homemade ant killer solution using Borax and sugar water.
Like most things, if properly stored or disposed of, you remove some element of risk.
What Jackie is thinking of or panicking about is boric acid. This is different from borax which is sodium tetraborate. Take a look at earth clinic. com in the borax section if you want to learn more about how incredible borax is. Like Matt said elsewhere in the comments borax is as safe (safer) than table salt.
Anyone else having problems with the off-gassing when the vinegar and washing soda combine? Mine exploded out of the container even though I added it slowly
Are you adding the vinegar directly into the soap compartment? I put the vinegar in the rinse aid compartment…by the time it empties into the dishwasher, the baking soda is pretty much gone, I think. Just a thought.
Someone may have asked this already and I missed the answer.Could you substitute lemon juice for the citric acid?
We have salt water and was wondering if this works with that. Everything else leaves spots. Thanks for any help.
Something that might help with the film problem would be to run the dishwasher empty only adding washing soda. It’ll remove any calcium and magnesium buildup on the heating element and remove any residual soap scum, which should make the dishwasher more efficient and help with the film problem. I use a tbs in my coffee maker to clean it, because it works better than vinegar.
Is this OK to use in the dishwasher straight? I had talked w/ GE about filming issues and they said to use citric acid w/ the machine empty. Thanks!
Most companies and service repairmen will recommend citric acid to clean the elements. It works great. I use it often for this purpose. BTW, it is used industrially to clean out the inside of pipes.
Adrienne and L,
There shouldn’t be a problem if you don’t overdose the dishwasher. I just used a couple of tbs and ran a couple of empty loads, about the same amount as you’d use for citric acid, until the discharge water ran clear. Washing soda, as soda ash, is also used industrially to clean pipes and boilers. Both work, but I’m not sure what the criteria is for chosing one over the other. To get rid of the film, I think it’s vital to remove the buildup on the heating element and inside the washer.
I am not sure if my issue is film. There are also glasses not getting clean. Sometimes I have to wash 1/3 to 1/2 of the top rack after a load is done. If I use the Finish tabs I don’t have that problem. I’ve tried the citric acid in the mix and tried doubling it, but it seemed to etch my dishes when I doubled it. I haven’t tried lemishine yet. My water is just borderline hard. I had it tested and the honest salesman said he didn’t think it was worth my buying a softener. I have whole house filtration and sediment removal and we are on city water. I appreciate any input you have. Thanks!
I looked up the chemical formula for Finish and it’s mainly baking soda, washing soda and sodium percarbonate (mixed with water this becomes hydrogen peroxide and washing soda). Also, before using lemishine look at the cautions about using it with painted glassware, aluminum and non-stick cookware.
Try this mix. I haven’t completely tested it, but so far it seems to do work.
2 parts baking soda
2 parts Super washing soda
2 parts oxygenated cleaner(that’s the name of the product I bought, an equivalent Oxo Brite is sold at Wal Mart)
1 part citric acid (I used 1 individual packet of unsweetened Crystal Light)
Let me know how it works.
1 part Kosher salt (optional scrubbing agent)
Use 1 rounded tablespoon per load.
I made this last week and it is amazing!! I have well water and its a constant battle to get my dishes clean. When I ran out of the store bought tablets, I looked for recipes to make my own. I had everything your recipe called for on hand and gave it a shot. I pressed the powder into ice cube trays, turned them out and dried them overnight. They are perfect! No more powder residue and with the vinegar rince aid, no more spots!!
is the white vinegar safe for stainless steel interiors?
yes
what can I substitute the kosher salt with? it is impossible to get in Europe, let alone our lil’ ol’ Slovenia
Would regular coarse salt work just as well?
yes!
I made the mix; couldn’t find citric acid so I got Lemi shine, but I’m not sure how much to use. Please help! Note: I have harrrrrddddd water.
Try it in small batches. Normal water would call for the same amount of LemiShine as citric acid, if you have hard water you may have to increase the dose.
I washed a load last night and ended up having to use 2 tbsp of Lemi shine. It worked great! The best part is that I added vinegar to the rinse compartment and that got rid of that weird store bought dishwashing detergent smell that’s been lurking in the dishwasher.
please please please dont think you know all the chemical reactions when you DIY things like this….Vinegar in a 10 % solution will sterilize any hard surface with 10 minutes of contact…. so it is has phenolic capabilities. Just as peroxide does…. it would be the particles that dont get loose from the dishes that would still be there…. you can’t make it any quicker or stronger to make it happen sooner….10% 10 mins.
Not sure I understand what you are getting at with this comment. Please explain.
What can I use in my toilet tank, we have hard water. And the toilet never looks clean.
Use denture tablets and leave set for a few minutes.
To clean my toilet tank and bowl I used a mild muriatic acid solution. It worked very well, but is a bit hazardous. Denture tablets work and sodium percarbonate (Oxi Clean or the product I got simply called oxygenated cleaner) works and is less tricky to use than the muriatic acid.
Just emptied my dishwasher from using DIY dishwashing detergent….AWESOME job!! I found citric acid for $2.65 a pound at my local Amish store. I used an entire cup because we have hard water, and used vinegar in the rinse. No stains, no food residue, no white particles….just clean dishes!! Thanks so much!!
I made this, but the longer I left it out open, stirring when I walked by, the more moisture it seemed to be absorbing. What am I doing wrong?
Keep the lid on and keep stirring occasionally, after a few days it will loosen up and you’ll be able to store it. It’s not moisture it’s the citric acid reacting w/the other ingredients.
I made the recipe with 1 cup borax, 1 cup washing soda and 1 or 2 TBS of regular salt. I didnt have citric acid. I also added vinegar to the rinse compartment. I’ve used the recipe twice adding one tablespoon of the mix the first time and 2 TBS of the mix the second time. Both resulted in a dirty film on my plastic bowls and some glasses. I ended up washing half of the top rack the first time and then running it again on rinse only for the second attempt. I’m not sure if I’m doing something wrong or I need to clean my dishwasher??? I feel very uneasy about the left behind film. I’m not sure I want my kids to eat off dishes with potential chemical film. Even if it’s rinsed off. Any suggestions?? I’m pretty sure we have hard city water. Thanks!!
To check if my dishwasher needed cleaning, I put a couple of wide mouthed clean glasses in the top rack and ran the washer without adding any detergent. When the glasses came out filmy, it had to be either the water or my dishwasher needed cleaning. I ran it again empty adding washing soda, then repeated the process with with the glasses and they came out pretty clean. That told me it was mostly a gunk buildup in my dishwasher. Hopefully this helps. Maybe somebody else has a better suggestion.
What about yucca as a non ionic surfactant as opposed to vinegar in the rinse? Granted you would have to work out ratios but I’m wondering if yucca and borax together is some ratio would be a good rinse.
Any thoughts?
I have tried this receipe several times and am struggeling a bit. I don’t know if it’s my dishwasher or the soap. My dishes do not all come out clean. I still have food and residue on things. Please help with ideas.
SO where and what department do you find the citric acid. I also found a recipe on here calling for lemonade koolaid, Just wondering if Real Lemon lemon juice would help with cutting grease.
Ok everybody, how are you all storing your Borax and Washing Soda? Do most of you leave it in the original box with the punch out pourer or do you transfer to another container?
Lizz, I have been making laundry detergent and using these items for a few years and I have always left them in their cardboard boxes. I keep all cleaning agents (even the ‘safe’ ones) in a cabinet away from too much humidity, in my utility room (although we don’t use the air conditioner much in the summer and the room gets warm due to it’s small size and the washer and dryer running regularly). I haven’t had any issues with effectiveness or clumping (moisture in the air) or package deterioration (I’ll have a box for around 9 months before I use it all up). I hope this helps you…
I used this detergent today on my 24 hr old dishes and they came out even cleaner than with the Cascade tablets. Thank you for sharing this!
I didn’t have citric acid readily available so I squirted a little lemon juice in the detergent compartment after adding the detergent. It worked great!
I love your recipe! I haven’t been happy for some time with commercially available dishwasher detergent so I’ve been handwashing for nearly a year. I ran across your article and thought I’d give it a try. I didn’t have all the ingredients so I tried a slight variation. I’m thrilled!
See my testing of the recipe here http://poppyjuice-poppy.blogspot.com/2012/02/truly-amazing-homemade-dishwasher.html
Thanks so much!
I made the detergent tonight, added the vinegar to the rinse aid dispenser, dropped in my tablespoon of detergent- and I am highly impressed! Even the dish racks felt cleaner!
Thanks, guys. The URL is going up on my Pinterest board and my FB account.
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Matt
Any problem with turning this recipe into a liquid……adding water in the appropriate proportions?
I don’t see why not David, give it a shot and let us know.
Matt,
I think if you add water to the washing soda and citric acid it’ll foam the washing soda and won’t work as well?
Oh yes… Steve is correct. I’m surprised I didn’t think of this since I often wash out my water bottle by putting a tiny bit of the detergent in it, and adding some hot water. It fizzes quite a bit and I just shake it up.
OK…here goes nothing!! I had all of the ingredients except the citric acid..but after reading about it’s purpose I remembered I had some packs of powdered something that goes to my coffee pot, (for descaling) and it turned out to be citric acid and aluminum sulfate. So I thought why not?? It is in the middle of the wash cycle right now…I’ll letcha know how it turns out!
Thanks for the help!
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