Happy Monday All!
I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend.
I am here today to share with you something AMAZING!
I am a freqenter of MoneySavingMom.com.
It is a fabulous websiter dedicated to helping people save money which we need to do!
On there she highlighted a blog that discussed how to make your own dishwasher detergent.
Is it just me or is detergent really expensive, even if you use coupons! Some people I know have made their own and said that it was successful. So I went out and purcased what I needed.
Here is the breakdown in what you need to make your own:
1 Cup of Borax (Target and Walmart do carry this!)
1 Cup Baking Soda (I used Washing Soda)
1/2 Cup Kosher Salt
1/2 Cup Citric Acid (You can purchase "Fresh Fruit" in the canning isle. It is a produce protector or you can puchase 15 packets of lemon Kool-aid, the unsweetened kind, and that works as well.)
Mix all ingredients in a container and voila! dshwasher detergent!
Use 1 Tbsp per load PLUS add some vinegar to the rinse aid portion of your dishwasher (this keeps the plastic from getting a cloudy look) and wash away!
I have done it several times and am very happy with the product!
Check out my side bar for link parties I join!
Tuesday
Dish soap?! Awesome, I usually make my own laundry soap, this is something I'm going to have to try (especially since I have most of the ingredients on hand) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHave you had a problem with your "detergent" reacting and getting caked together? I tried a similar recipe and within a week it was a rock. Maybe it's the difference between pure citric acid and fruit fresh?
ReplyDeleteLeave it out on your counter for two days and stir with a knife when you walk by and this will stop it from getting hard or when you make it put 1 tbsp in a ice cube tray and make tabs then put it in whatever you store it in.
DeleteWith the clumpy stuff i added some rice to it and it has kept it from clumping and it wash's away in the dishwasher..
DeleteI can't wait to try this! I've given you an award. Check out this post: http://bisforboycreations.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-first-award.html
ReplyDeleteHappy Tuesday!
Erica
hello love this idea because YeS it is so expensive and we are a family of 6. Is this really cheaper?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the kosher salt supposed to do in the mix? I've seen similar recipes without the salt.
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ReplyDeleteTerrific idea! I've made handmade laundry detergent but not dishwashing detergent. I'm interested to see how this turns out. http://www.soapdelinews.com
ReplyDeleteHey Amy - I have a question for you if you don't mind. I followed this recipe and put vinegar in my rinse aid chamber, but I am still getting a pretty substantial residue left on the dishes after they dry. Did you ever experience this? I'm starting to think my rinse agent chamber is broken and not dispensing the vinegar.
ReplyDeletemine all clumped together but I used LemiShine instead of fruit fresh (I found another recipe before this one). Is there anything I can do to fix it?
ReplyDeleteOK ladies this is what I have found to work. Mine clumped together pretty bad as well so I got ride of the first batch. Lemon is what is supposed to fix the problem so I do this instead: I mix the soda, borax and salt together; when I put it in the dishwasher I add the dry mix to the dish detergent cartridge then I fill it with lemon juice. It will start to bubble. I add the vinegar to the rinse compartment. I found that adding the juice to the detergent reduces the amount of residue left on the dishes. I hope that works!
ReplyDeletesweet! i'm gonna try this! <3
ReplyDeleteSo is the lemon juice supposed to help with the rinse cycle and help not leaving a reside? I've tried in the past but the residue on all the dishes was too much. A friend said to put a "glug" of vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher and she hasn't ever had a problem. Hmm..I guess I can try again. And what does the salt do?
ReplyDeleteThe salt reacts with the acidity of the mixture (due to the lemon juice/citric acid) and enhances the cleaning power. Try soaking a dirty penny in lemon juice and compare it to one soaking in lemon juice and salt. The penny with salt added will end up much shinier more quickly.
ReplyDeleteHow much lemon juice are you adding?
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ReplyDeleteNote Borax is toxic. Sharing because everyone and their brother think they are being non-toxic doing this and FYI, it's not cheaper for everyone. With that said, I am still tweaking something that is actually non-toxic and cheaper. Worth doing your research as there are many alternatives to Borax.
ReplyDeleteI actually just pour some in with then detergent. It will start to bubble, probably a Tablespoon or so.
ReplyDeleteBorax is very toxic indeed - it was suggested by our exterminator to sprinkle in our yard and inconspicuous areas of the home to kill unwanted insects, and especially cockroaches!
ReplyDeletefrom what I understand, Borax is not toxic to humans. It is an antifungal agent and can kill insects when ingested but we don't ingest it, it's a natural product and is not toxic.
DeleteI think you are thinking of Boric Acid, which I also use to kill bugs and is definitely not meant for humans. Borax is a safe cleaning agent and like any soap should be rinsed off (i.e. rinse cycle of dishwasher).
Deleteit's dish soap, not cake....don't eat it!!! cascade is toxic as well, and this is a cheaper alternative!
ReplyDeleteExactly. ;)
DeleteAs a chemistry major, I can tell you that anything can be toxic...even water. If you consume too much, it can cause a chemical imbalance in your brain and kill you. With that said, lavender essential oil kills ants too...as does vinegar. ;) There are many naturally occurring ingredients that should not be consumed by humans. Borax is one. LOL It IS, however, much safer for the environment than many of the chemical alternatives. Just like everything else, you have to use it correctly.
ReplyDeletei wish there was a like button...how about this...AMEN!
DeleteI found you on Pinterest with the intent to 'someday' try to same money by making my own dish detergent....well that time came sooner than later. I posted a link to your blog on mine:
ReplyDeletehttp://laundrywillwait.blogspot.com/
Thanks for sharing such a helpful post!
~Jen
I solved the clumping problem by mixing a few of those little packets that you find in shoes and purses that say "do not eat". My product never clumped. I am not quite sold on this product. My glasses seem cloudy and I feel a build up on my plates after about months of usage. I also have added vinegar as a rinse agent as well as pouring a bit in the washer. I think I may try this next using Jet Dry. I hate to do it but I am not too happy with the results. I also use Lemishine. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep my glassware sparkly?
ReplyDeleteI made my own dish detergent as well, and it cleaned well enough, but left a residue too bad to ignore. I tried using white vinegar no improvement. I went back to using jet dry, and that wkrks very well.
DeleteI was so gung-ho about doing this until all that talk about its toxitity. Should your rinse well after they come out? Or is it the same as any other detergent?
ReplyDeleteYou can get citric acid really cheap at a health food store. Much cheaper than buying fruit fresh or kool-aid.!
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ReplyDeleteI've tried this and am very dissatisfied. Even with the addition of the vinegar and lemon juice in my wash cycle, my dishes are cloudy and a build up has happened on all of my glass ware. What a bummer. I'm going back to store bought for this reason :0(
ReplyDeleteI buy giant bags of baking soda at Sam's Club and whenever I run out of dish detergent I just put in a handful of soda, a 1/2 cup or so of vinegar (I try to keep a gallon under my sink)and turn on the machine. No borax, and my dishes come out great. Occasionally I have noticed a slight soda/salty taste on plastic cups when I've used less or no vinegar. I think I will try the recipe sans the Borax, even though I know my regular detergent is also toxic and not meant to be ingested. I love this money saving idea but have heard studies have linked Borax to weird stuff like possible infertility and endocrine issues (usda link: http://www.fs.fed.us/foresthealth/pesticide/pdfs/022406_borax.pdf )and don't want to risk that w/my kiddos with residue on dishes. I do use it in my homemade laundry soap.
ReplyDeleteBe careful with the use of citric acid in this compound as it can etch your glassware. Most automatic dishwasher manufacturers recommend use of "plain" dishwashing powder, not the lemon scented for this very reason.
ReplyDeleteNice tips thanks for sharing...your blog really inspired me. Actually I generally use the same procedure to make my own home made dish wash detergent and using few ingredients 1 cup of baking soda in a bowl add 1 cups of borax, ¼ cup of kosher salt, ¼ cup of citric acid and add 3 drops of dawn dish washer liquid after that mix up in a plastic container now it is ready to use.
ReplyDeletechicago emergency roof tarping
People the stuff you buy from the store for example cascade is JUST as toxic if not more so than borax if you eat it...You don't have to do anything special after you wash your dishes with toxic cascade just like you don't have to with this homemade version.
ReplyDeleteGreat recipe seems to work good for me :) thanks
ReplyDeleteSame here! No problems and happy to be saving some money! :)
Deletemy daughter just puts dawn dish soap into her dishwasher and says her dishes come out cleaner than they ever did. Less expensive...no mixing. probably about 1/8-1/4 tsp per load.
ReplyDeleteI have heard that if you up the citrits acid, it works better.
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ReplyDeletePlease do not use Citric Acid or Lemon Koolade or any type of citrus in your dishwasher as an ingredient. These additives over time will cause tiny pits in the finish and allow corrosion to begin on your silver/flatware and cookware, and they will eventually rust EVEN IF THEY'RE STAINLESS STEEL. I have been selling housewares and doing bridal registries for many years and this has been a "no,no" in the sales literature of several of the largest makers of utensils and cookware sold in the United States. I've seen this happen to relatives too who were heartbroken over their ruined items. Why do you think that there are still liquids, powders and tablets on the market that don't contain citrus acids or juices? These were never added to automatic dishwashing soaps until the late 1980's when one brand decided they needed to increase their sales. So they did some marketing and the best overall scent (that wasn't a perfume) was lemons. There born was the lemon scented dishwasher powder! Smells great but eats away the finish on your metal items. If you want to err on the safe side, leave the citrus out all together ladies (and gentlemen too...don't want to leave any one out!). That's what I will be doing.
ReplyDeleteLisa
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