Homemade Dishwasher Detergent: Easy, Affordable, and Eco-Friendly Solution
Running out of dishwasher detergent can be a hassle, but don’t worry! You can easily make your own homemade dishwasher detergent with simple ingredients. This DIY detergent is not only budget-friendly but also eco-friendly, ensuring your dishes are clean without harsh chemicals. Follow this easy recipe and never stress about running out of dishwasher detergent again!
Why Choose Homemade Dishwasher Detergent?
We’ve all been there—reaching for that trusty dishwasher detergent only to find the container empty or down to the last pod. The usual reaction is to add it to the grocery list or dash to the store. But what if you didn’t have to?
In times when running to the store isn’t an option, knowing how to make your own supplies is empowering. This homemade dishwasher detergent recipe is a game-changer for your “Make It Myself” file. It’s simple, cost-effective, and gives you peace of mind knowing you can handle it yourself.
Essential Ingredients for Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Making your own dishwasher detergent is not only easy but also incredibly satisfying. Here’s what you’ll need:
An airtight container
A wide-mouth Mason jar is perfect for this homemade detergent. Its wide mouth makes it easy to scoop from and the lid keeps everything airtight. However, any plastic or glass container with a tightly fitting lid will work just fine. In a pinch, even a zip-type plastic bag will do the trick.
Baking soda
This is your ordinary baking soda, also known as bicarbonate of soda. It’s a common household item and can be found in the baking aisle of any grocery store or online.
Washing soda
Look for Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda in the laundry aisle of supermarkets, discount stores like Walmart and Target, or online. Washing soda is a close cousin to baking soda, known as sodium carbonate. The generic version, soda ash, is also available and is usually less expensive.
Borax
Borax is sold in various forms, with Twenty-Mule Team Borax being the most familiar brand, typically found in the laundry aisle near the washing soda. You can also find generic borax in larger, more affordable quantities.
Salt
Any type of table salt will work—whether it’s table salt, Kosher salt, or sea salt. Just make sure it’s not Epsom salt, which is completely different and not suitable for this recipe.
Citric acid
You can find citric acid in health food stores and online. An excellent and fun substitute is Unsweetened Lemon or Lemon-Lime Kool-Aid. Just ensure it’s unsweetened and lemon or lemon-lime flavored—no other flavors will do!
Lemon essential oil
This is optional, but if you have some Lemon Essential Oil on hand, it will give your detergent a lovely fragrance and a little extra cleaning boost.
Pro Tips for Storing and Using Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Washing soda and borax can sometimes get hard and clumpy. To ensure your detergent stays nice and powdery, avoid multiplying this recipe. Instead, make smaller batches as needed. Here’s a nifty trick: those little silica gel packs that come with shoes and bags? Toss one into your container of detergent instead of throwing it away. It will help keep your detergent loose and ready to use.
Step-by-Step Guide to Making Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Start by gathering your ingredients: baking soda, borax, washing soda, salt, and citric acid. Carefully measure and add each one to a container—just don’t include the white vinegar yet! Once all the dry ingredients are in, give them a good mix to ensure everything is well combined. Secure the lid tightly to keep your homemade detergent fresh.
When you’re ready to use it, simply add 1-2 tablespoons of the mixture to your dishwasher, just like you would with any commercial dishwasher powder. For an extra touch of sparkle on your glassware, place a small container filled halfway with white vinegar (about ½ cup) on the top rack. While this step is optional, it helps ensure your dishes come out super clean and shiny. And there you have it—clean dishes without the store-bought detergent!
Resources
While many of these items can be found at your local supermarket, we’ve included links and images from Amazon for your convenience and reference.
![SEWANTA Wide Mouth Mason Jars 32 oz [4 Pack] With Mason Jar Lids and Bands, Mason Jars 32 oz - For Canning, Fermenting, Pickling - Jar Decor - Microwave/Dishwasher Safe.](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/4107pM2hYKL._SL160_.jpg)
Homemade Automatic Dishwasher Detergent
Materials
- 2 cups baking soda (Note 2)
- 1 cup borax (Note 3)
- ½ cup washing soda (Note 4)
- ¼ cup salt (Note 5)
- ¼ cup citric acid (Note 6)
- 10 drops lemon essential oil (Note 7)
- ½ cup white vinegar per load of dishes, as you use the powder (Note 8)
Instructions
- Add baking soda, borax, washing soda, salt, and citric acid (NOT the white vinegar!) to the container. Mix well. Apply lid. Done.
- To Use: Add 1-2 tablespoons per dishwasher load, as you would any commercial dishwasher powder.
- Each load: Place a small container that is filled half-way with white vinegar (about ½ cup) on the top rack. While optional, this will assure that your glassware comes out super clean and sparkly.
Notes
- A wide-mouth Mason jar or similar is excellent for homemade dishwasher detergent because it's easy to scoop from that wide-mouth, and easy to replace the lid to keep it as airtight as possible. However, any container with a tightly fitting top will work.
- This is ordinary baking soda, also known as bicarbonate of soda. You can find this in any grocery or supermarket in the baking aisle or online.
- Sold in several forms, you are probably most familiar with Twenty-Mule Team Borax in the laundry aisle often shelved near the Super Washing Soda. Or you can find generic borax in larger quantities, but much cheaper.
- Find Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda in the laundry aisle of some supermarkets, in discount department stores like Walmart and Target, and online. This is not the same as baking soda, but a distant cousin. It is also known as sodium carbonate. The generic version of washing soda is known as soda ash, which is generally a lot less expensive.
- Any type of table salt works here—table salt, Kosher salt, sea salt—whichever you have on hand. This, however, is not Epsom Salt, which is completely different and not used in this recipe.
- You can find citric acid in health food stores and online. An excellent substitute is Unsweetened Lemon (or Lemon-Lime) Kool-Aid! But it must be lemon or lemon-lime only, and unsweetened—no substitute Kool-Aid, please.
- This is an optional ingredient, but if you have Lemon Essential Oil it will give your detergent a boost and lovely fragrance.
- Each load: Place a small container that is filled half-way with white vinegar (about ½ cup) on the top rack. This will assure that your glassware comes out super clean and sparkly.
Question: Have you ever tried making your own cleaning products at home? What’s your favorite DIY recipe for homemade dishwasher detergent? Let us know in the comments section below.
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I didn’t see an answer to the question about stainless steel interior dishwashers. Is vinegar, citric acid and lemon oil safe for them?
yes! All are fine to use on stainless steel.
Hi, Mary! I’m a long-time fan; I love and use many of your DIY recipes! Tho I need some help with this dishwasher detergent recipe. I made a half recipe, and I made it and am storing it in a glass canning jar. It clumps a lot and hardens a lot especially on the bottom of the jar. Any ideas on what I can do to prevent clumping and hardening? Thanks so much!
You had an older dishwasher detergent recipe that I’ve used for a couple of years. It has just 2 ingredients: 1/2borax and 1/2baking soda. It’s not that great, so I’ll try the new formula.
When do we add the lemon eo?
Add it when you add the white vinegar. it’s optional but will add a nice smell.
Started by using 2T and no vinegar but it turned out to be too much product. Silverware was spotty and plastic was covered in a film. We added vinegar and the silverware looked better but glassware was still dull. Dropped the dose down to 1T with vinegar without much improvement and the plastic items were still covered in film. After a bit of research it seems our water may be too hard to make this work. Pretty disappointed.
Hi Mary – love all your articles and DIY recipes. I use a liquid dishwashing detergent and wondered if you had a special recipe for that as well as the powder form?
I don’t, Betty. I don’t think I could beat the price or do any better than Blue Dawn. Now that it comes so highly concentrated (4x, 5x … ) I dilute it 5:1 and sometimes even more than that. It goes a long way and does a magnificent job in so many ways around the house!
Mary, have you ever done a cost comparison on homemade vs. store bought?
I see that it is sold at Walmart for $5.97 for 75 oz or .07 cents an ounce. It’s beyond MYy math skills! Thanks.
Mary, I just wanted you to know that I made up a recipe of your dishwasher detergent this afternoon. Everything was already on hand although I didn’t have quite enough lemonade packets to make up the full 1/4 cup—I think I used 5 or 6 packets—but apparently it was enough! I also didn’t have the lemon essential oil to add as a booster, but I couldn’t be happier about how clean my dishes, pots, and glassware came out. (I did add the 1/2 cup of vinegar in a dish on the top rack per your directions.) My dishes were cleaner tonight using your dishwasher detergent than they were the night before when I used a store brand. Awesome! Thank you so much!
I’ll just wait and get some on my next shipping. If I’m out if dish detergent, god knows I only have one or two of the homemade ingredients.
This looks great! Is it safe to use inside a dishwasher with stainless steel inside?
When do you add the essential oil?
With the powder or in the vinegar?
Thanks!
Thank you! I love all your DIY recipes, and I will need this one very soon!
I cannot find the packet of lemon kool aid to save my life. Not at King Soopers not Safeway. Any other suggestions?
I found mine at the dollar store, next to the powdered Tang and lemonade. I’ve also seen them at Publix supermarket.
How many packages of Kool-Aid would you need for this recipe?
I used 7 packets and it smelled nice and dishes came out okay.
Mary, I intend to try this! But, I will make very small amounts. I recently moved to Baton Rouge and am not savvy to southern living. Within a few months my Cascade turned into a brick. Sugar in an unopened bag, also became a cinder block. Now, all things powder (dishwashing soap, Borax and Washing Soda, sugars) reside in tupperware. I love all my Mary Hunt-inspired homemade cleaners! And, when this Coronavirus outbreak occurred, yours truly was STOCKED to the gills with rubbing alcohol!