Want to know how to make dishwasher detergent? It's easier than you might think! And it is a cost-effective alternative to store-bought products.
Homemade household cleaners have been around forever. However, nowadays there is a new rage to go green that you might have heard of. Using DIY household cleaners lets you go green in two ways... saving some green and doing a little less to damage the environment. Sounds like a win-win to me!
Recipes for Homemade DIY Cleaners
Laundry Detergent
Shower Cleaner- cleaning showers just got simpler
Window Cleaner
Household Uses for Vinegar
All of the ingredients for this DIY Dishwasher Detergent recipe can be found in the cleaning section at your local Target or Walmart store. In my experience they are normally hiding down on the bottom shelf because the retailers want you to spend money on the brand names that are at eye-level. Who can blame them, right? The citric acid can be found with canning supplies at grocery, department or hardware stores.
The trick with using citric acid it to make sure you shake the detergent up to prevent sticking and clumping. For this reason, I use a jar to store my DIY dishwashing detergent, and shake it up every time I get it out to use it. While it probably doesn't need it every time, this keeps the detergent clump-free and ingredients are well dispersed.
DIY Dishwasher Detergent
Ingredients
2 cups washing soda
½ cup borax
¼ cup kosher salt
¼ cup citric acid
Sprinkle rice
Directions
Mix all the ingredients together in a plastic tub or ½ gallon jar that you can seal and shake. Stir everything together until well mixed, but if you have a container with a lid that seals well, go ahead and shake it up too. The sprinkle of rice is to help prevent the dishwasher detergent from clumping together in the container. Give it a shake when you pull the dishwasher detergent out for a load of dishes. This will help keep the dishwasher detergent from the clumping that citric acid can cause.
Yields three cups. Use 1 tablespoon per dishwasher load.
pattyabreen
Is this homemade DIY Dishwasher Detergent for HAND Washing or Machine Washing?????????????????
Jessica
This is for the Dishwasher (machine). Thanks!
Tiffany Daumueller
Thanks for sharing this recipe on the Linky Party. I've been looking for a recipe that doesn't end up making the dishes all streaky. I'm looking forward to giving this one a shot!
T-
Thank you for posting what is sprinkle rice? Details please on this.
Thank you so very much for all you can tell me of this sprinkle rice....
Jessica
It's just a sprinkle of rice.... maybe a teaspoon to a tablespoon of rice, which is just enough to help to keep the dishwasher detergent from sticking too much.
T-
Thank you for clearing up the sprinkle rice...lol
In my head I thought?.. "surely she does not mean...rice...rice as what you eat?"
But, you did mean rice as in what one can eat!...lol...again 🙂
I know you probably already know that rice swells when it gets wet also gets heavy when wet and can stop the drains from draining over time.( specially a small dishwasher drain ) Do you ever see sticky rice residue left on your dishes?
I would think what does not go down drain (rice) getting wet- sticky- and heavy-then would be left in the small of the dishwasher drain would affect it because the drying (heat) time would settle there causing more draining problems?
I had a friend that had a mishap from rice in her drain- she had spilled some rice and some of it got down her sink causing a terrible clog in the drain.( few days later after it got more wet- swelled-then started sticking together and was just to heavy to get out of the shoot (curve in pipe).
Just curious if you have noticed any of the above happening? (even from the small amount) from build up?
I'am one of those that clean the dishes free from all food before loading the dishwasher.
Is there anythng else that can be used to keep the ingredients from caking-
that won't harm the drain over time?
Again Thank you very much for your response.
I appreciate you and your blog.
Respectfully, T-
Jessica
I have not noticed any problems at all from the little bits of rice that are added to the dishwasher detergent. Keep in mind that most dishwashers break down food, so they are used to dealing with stuck on foods like rice. The small amount of rice that is in the dishwasher detergent (mixed in amongst all the other ingredients) is so miniscule that I haven't even noticed it when adding the detergent to the dishwasher. Thanks!
Callie
Hi,
Are you sprinkling this in the bottom of the dishwasher, or placing it in the detergent space with cover? I have an additional space without a cover for the pre wash - do I ignore this when using powdered derergent? May be a silly question, but we always use the liquid. Thanks!
Jessica
Sorry to take so long to answer Callie- I'm on vacation. 😉 I always put it in the space with the cover but I think it would likely be effective either way. However, I know for sure it works great with the cover.
Dani
I made this per instructions & some dishes are coming out with food residue and a lot look cloudy/have a film. I'm using vinegar as rinse aid, what am I doing wrong??
Jessica McCoy
Hi Dani- it might have something to do with your dishwasher or the cycle you are washing on. I normally use the heavy cycle with my dishwasher and it works great for me.
Janet
Hi; Can I use lemon juice for the citric acid or is this a specific product that I need for this DIY. Please advice. Thank you.