Homemade Dishwasher Detergent – A Failure
I got inspired to try out a homemade dishwasher detergent. Every recipe I looked at on the Internet recommended Borax and Baking Soda 1:1. Okay, no problem. I’ve had Borax downstairs on top of my freezer for about 5 years now, waiting for some use I’ve quite forgotten. Of course, baking Soda was in my cupboards as well.
My first attempt was unsatisfactory. Dishes had some particles of food, smudges and a fine film covering the surface.
Second attempt adding vinegar as a rinse aid was unsatisfactory. Same problem. Dishes had particles of food, smudges and a fine film. Now I’ve used vinegar plenty in the past as a rinse aid for hard water and it works excellently but in this case it did not.
The next time my son put liquid dish soap in unbeknownst to me. Too much. I’m sure you’ve read about what happens right? Soap and water was coming out on to the floor as well as rust from who knows where. It was a surprise to me; I didn’t know my dishwasher had rust!
Result – floor was clean, dishwasher purged itself of any nasty things hidden in its dark spots and dishes were shiny but had to go through another wash cycle to get any extra soap that might have dried on. In the meantime, the dishes are piling up on the counter waiting for their turn in the dishwasher and their chance to shine.
My advice – don’t bother with this common recipe of Borax and Baking Soda.
20 Comments
Rachel R.
Actually, you can use liquid hand dishwashing detergent – but you have to add it in amounts of a couple of *drops*, not teaspoons or tablespoons!
Anonymous
I just came across your blog as I was googling homemade dishwashing detergent. I just noticed one thing. It's not BAKING soda that you use, it's called Arm and Hammer SUPER WASHING Soda. They are two different products. I also noticed that one website talked about using distilled white vinigar as the rinse agent to get the spots off. Maybe that makes the difference, don't know- Just some thoughts…
christschild
Hello, my name is Elizabeth and I wanted to post this dishwasher recipe. I have yet to try it out but will in the next few days. Hopefully it works better. I've had the same problems with my old recipes too. God Bless.1/2 cup Dr Bronners Sal Suds (a balanced biodegradable formulation of natural derived surfactants with natural fir pine needle oil)OR1-2 cups castile liquid soap (Dr. Bronners or Mountain Rose Herbs are good choices as they are organic and the main ingredients are coconut oil & olive oil) You will have to experiment with the quantity of castile soap depending upon the hardness of your water.1/2 cup water1 tsp lemon juice3 drops tea tree oil1/2 cup white vinegarCombine all ingredients and store in a covered container. A glass quart jar with lid works perfectly. Use approximately 1 Tbsp per load. Try experimenting with the quantities of soap depending upon the hardness of your water. In the NW, the water is very hard, so the 1/2 cup Sal Suds works for me.UPDATE: I originally tried this recipe with Dr. Bronners Sal Suds and found it more concentrated and has a far more effective cleansing power than the standard castile soap (and far cheaper as well two 32 oz bottles for $16). Sal Suds works effectively for all household cleaning as well (including in homemade laundry detergent). It does contain Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), but they give full disclosure of their ingredient as follows:SLS -This surfactant cuts grease and dirt, generates copious suds, and biodegrades quickly and completely. SLS is made by combining a sulfate group with lauryl alcohol from coconut oil, then attaching sodium. If improperly formulated, SLS can irritate skin, but our superb formula uses coconut oil betaine and lauryl glucoside to counter this.Using Sal Suds, this recipe makes enough detergent for approximately 12-15 loads, costing $0.05-0.06 per load.
Heather
i got that nasty film from a store bought detergent once. it was impossible to get off – still haunting some of my glasses. thanks for the post!
Anonymous
You almost had the right recipe. The missing ingredient is citric acid. You can get the recipe here…http://www.debtfreeadventure.com/2009/07/simple-effective-jabs-homemade-dishwasher-detergent-rinse-agent/
Anonymous
I believe you should be using "washing soda"it is different than baking soda
Anonymous
I am planning to try making my own dish detergent after having great results with homemade laundry detergent. I found this link first http://www.debtfreeadventure.com/2009/07/simple-effective-jabs-homemade-dishwasher-detergent-rinse-agent/ and one of the ingredients it includes (that I don't find in many others) is Citric Acid which is supposed to combat the cloudiness I hear about with homemade detergents. "1 2 ounce container of food-grade Citric Acid = $1.15 You can find this online or at your local brewery or specialty beer store. If you cannot find this you can substitute 2 lemon Kool-aid packets per batch **the small unsweetened ones**, if you use any other flavor you could easily color the inside of your dishwasher. If you do not use some form of citric acid you will most likely have the cloudy residue left that most green cleaners leave." I am going to try making a batch with Kool Aid
Katinagj
I found a recipe that says you have to use citric acid or there will be film on the dishes. I haven't tried it yet but will be posting it on my blog soon and will update how it works for me. You also are supposed to use washing soda(found in the laundry aisle) not baking soda. The recipe calls for 8 oz each of borax and washing soda, 2 oz citric acid, 2 oz kosher salt. Then about 4 oz vinager to use as the rinsing agent. On the website I found this they stated "If you do not use some form of citric acid you will most likely have the cloudy residue left that most green cleaners leave."
Anonymous
you could try this one:http://www.debtfreeadventure.com/2009/07/simple-effective-jabs-homemade-dishwasher-detergent-rinse-agent/it is that super washing soda, borax, salt, a citris mix, and then vinegar as the rinsing agent…
Anonymous
i use the 1:1 baking soda to borax and it doesn't clean as well as i'd like… but, i think we have a horrid dishwasher. i always pre-wash the dishes in the sink first. i can just do a pre-rinse (getting all the chunks off) if i'm ready to load the washer and turn it on right away. if the food sticks for any period, it won't come off. also, the milk glasses are foggy unless i pre-wash them. i still figure it's saving me lots compared to store-bought dishwasher detergent even if i have to pre-wash the dishes. AND i have always felt like the heat that the dishwasher makes disinfects the dishes, if nothing else!
Anonymous
I use equal parts of WASHING SODA (not baking soda) & Borax. When I fill the dispenser with this , I also add 2 or 3 drops of regular dish detergent (Pamolive or similar). It works BEAUTIFULLY. I have a water softener installed so I don't know how it would work with hard water….Also, I fill the rinse-agent reservoir with Jet Dry or (usually) vinegar.
Anonymous
Did you that combing dishwashing soap & diswasher messes up your. Meaning some plates shrinks, others get bigger because it copies the plate that is right next to it. Take out your plate and see if they are alined.
Anonymous
You need to add citric acid to get rid of the film. 🙂 Some kosher salt helps, too! Hope that helps.
Anonymous
Any recipes that actually include common household ingredients? Borax, tree oil, and items like that are not in my pantry. I've never even heard of borax!
Anonymous
Just a thought – before you add vinegar to your rinse agent dispenser – clean it out. I use a turkey baster, cups of hot water and keep doing this until it is coming out clear. I found the rinse agent was making my dishes filmy. Now I will try one of the recipes.Further to this, I make my own laundry detergent.- Shave about 1/4 bar of ivory soap into 1 cup hot water over medium heat until melted, stiring frequently. Add 1/4 cup borax and 1/4 cup Washing Soda. (Do not inhale fumes). Let cool, I place this in a 4 litr ice cream bucket and add water to about 1 inch from top of pail. Stir well. I use about 2 Tbspns per load! I have a septic system so do hope it doesn't harm the system.
Rachel Shoemaket
This is the recipe I use for dishwasher soap an d it works great for me! I like it much better than even the good stuff such as Cascade. It didn't spot at all1/4 cup citric acid 1/4 cup course kosher salt 1/2 cup borax 1/2 cup washing soda (not baking soda) Put in a seal tight container and shake/mix well. Use 1 Tablespoon per load.
Anonymous
You can get food-grade citric acid at Indian or Arabic food stores in the spice aisle usually. I also use in for silk dyeing and for when I run out of lemon juice. I have my first batch in the dishwaher with the homade concoction…..You are right-some recipies call for baking soda, which most of us have around, but others call for washing soda. I tried the baking soda since the whole point is avoiding a trip to the store….
Anonymous
What about lemi-shine can that be used instead of citris acid? My dishes have a sandy grit on them and a cloudy film and I have a brand new dishwasher.
Realtor4u
i am thinking maybe just go to the local dollar store to buy a dollar container of dishwashing soap. by the time i drive around looking for all these ingredients and mixing them I just wasted gas and time. if you have a dollar store they usualy carry dishwashing soap for a buck. it will last me a month for a family of 4. that comes to 3 pennys a day to wash dishes. not to bad. a penny a meal.
Anonymous
Good day Ladys…..I got in a pinch with no dishwasher liquid just yesterday…I thought about the borax and the baking soda washing powder as a salution….then while standing there in the laundry room "thinking" I spoted the jug of homemade liquid laundry soap I use everyday. It is the Duggar Family recipe…which consist of Borax, Baking Powder Washing Soap, and Sunlight bar soap…BINGO!! It doesn't make sudds!!..The perfect salution to my problem…So here goes nothign I say to myself…It worked just fine, No food "stuff" left on the dishes and no "film" either…the second load is on the go as we speak…I'm hoping to find the same results. If it continues to work I wont be needing to buy more dishwasher liquid and will awlays have it on hand. But next time I think I will try the vinigar in the rinse just for good measure… Oh and by the way I have been useing the Duggar Family laundry soap for over a year and it work just fine..plus I use my favorite fabric soften in the rinse :o)