Out of dishwasher detergent and in a pinch? Or maybe you just want something a little less toxic and a bit more natural. Either way this DIY powdered dishwasher detergent has you covered. It is really easy to make and very cost effective. The citric acid in the recipe has antibacterial properties and helps cut through grease, which is the key player in our dishwashing woes right? Just use some vinegar as a rinse aid to keep the dishes from getting cloudy and you will have fresh and squeaky clean dishes without the chemical additives in commercial detergent and as long as you have the ingredients, you can make more anytime you need to. Love that!
So here you go…
DIY Natural Powdered Dishwasher Detergent
Ingredients:
1 Cup washing soda
1 Cup baking soda (or Borax if you prefer)
1 Cup citric acid
1/2 Cup kosher salt
Read about the “issues” with Borax here. For this recipe I chose to do without.
Directions:
Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Transfer to a sealed storage container. I like these large glass jars. Use 1-2 tablespoons of the detergent per load along with vinegar as a rinse aid. If you prefer not to use vinegar in your dishwasher try a more natural brand like Seventh Generation or Lemi Shine.
You can find almost all ingredients in a regular grocery store. If you don’t want to order the citric acid online you can also use unsweetened lemonade mix packets.
Hot Tip: Want to transfer this detergent into tablet form? You can! Just add 1 cup of water to this recipe and allow it to bubble for a few minutes. Mix until it becomes clumpy with a texture like moist sand. Use a spoon to transfer it to ice cube trays and pack it down firmly into each cube. Let the cubes sit in a cool dry place for 12-24 hours until they are dried out. Store subes in a sealed storage container.
