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Your dishwasher is an angel when it comes to helping you keep the kitchen spotless. However, it’s also a known fact that commercial dishwashing agents are quite pricy, and if you’re running low on budget, spending more than $15 on your dishwashing detergent simply won’t do. This recipe for a homemade dishwasher detergent won’t cost you more than $12, and this amount of soap can already last for several months.
Making the detergent
If you’ve made a homemade laundry detergent in the past, the main ingredients for this homemade dishwasher detergent might seem familiar. You will need these items:
- One cup of borax
- One cup of washing soda or baking soda
- Half a cup of kosher salt
- Half a cup of citric acid.
You will also need a small yoghurt container with a secure lid. Simply put all the ingredients in the container, secure the lid on again, and shake everything so that they’re blended well. After shaking the contents for about five minutes or so, your homemade dishwasher detergent should be ready to use. Simply put one tablespoon of the detergent on the dishwasher’s detergent compartment and you’re almost ready to wash your dishes.
What else is missing?
While the homemade variant of dishwashing detergents works just as well in cleaning your dishes, it does have a downside. If you wash clear glass or plastic in the dishwasher, you may notice the surface of the glasses/containers getting cloudy. Compared to the commercial variant, the homemade solution does leave more “debris”. You can solve this problem by adding white vinegar to the “rinse aid” compartment of your dishwasher. This should prevent further build-up from happening.
More notes
Once a month, it is recommended for you to use a regular or commercial dishwashing detergent just to “clean up” the system. As cheap and efficient as the homemade dishwashing soap may be, it can clog up your dishwasher if you use it all the time. Keep a commercial dishwashing solution handy just to “wipe the slate clean,” so to speak. Most systems, including sinks, need “cleaning up” when you let detergents or soaps run through it. This is also the reason why even hand washing detergents for dishes are citrus scented. Aside from removing the odor of the food, it helps to soften debris which could clog up your home’s drainage systems.
Storing your materials
You won’t be using your soap-making materials all at the same time. At most, you would probably be making your dishwashing detergent every two weeks, or even every month if you live alone. Keep the left over ingredients in a cool, dry, clean, and secure place so they won’t expire so easily. Put them in plastic containers, if possible, seal them up, and label them properly so you won’t have trouble distinguishing which is which when you’re about to make a fresh batch. You can make two batches at once if you think you need to consume a lot of dishwashing detergent. Make sure you keep your homemade dishwashing detergent in a secure container, and out of reach of children and pets.