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Get Me Organized! (Cleaning too!)

DIY – Make Your Own Dishwasher Detergent

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A few years ago I bought a new dishwasher.  It was very exciting.  It is super quiet, which is really important to me.  I do so much cooking that there are often two loads a day.  After dinner we like to watch a little TV.  With my old washer I used to have to remember to start the dishwasher as we went to bed.  Otherwise it was so loud we couldn’t hear the TV.  Sometimes I forgot and would wake up to a dishwasher full of dirty dishes. My new dishwasher you have lean in close to tell it is even running.  I also love that it can do quick wash, or for a small load top rack only.  But after a few weeks of dishes I was getting that white film and water spots. And in my brand new, super-duper dishwasher!  It was depressing.   I kept changing detergents trying to see if that was my problem.  After some research I realized my problem was hard water.  That is when I found Finish Powerball Tabs. I purchased it at Costco for $15.69 per 100 tabs.

DIY dishwasher detergent 001

After seeing this pin from Matt Jabs on DIY natural, I wondered if I could get the same results for less on my own.  Here is how to make your own dishwashing detergent at home:

Make Your Own Dishwasher Detergent

Sherri
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Natural cleaning

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup Borax
  • 1 cup washing soda
  • 1/2 cup Kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup Lemi Shine the original instructions call for citric acid which is cheapest when purchased online. Otherwise it is available in the canning aisle during canning season at a higher price. It didn't work very well for me. On their FAQ page they mention that those with hard water problems may like to try Lemi Shine and I found it works perfectly. It is available at Walmart, which I found more convenient than trying to hunt down citric acid. You can play with increasing or decreasing the amount depending on how hard your water is. 1/2 cup worked for me.

Instructions
 

  • Mix everything together in a lidded container and shake.
  • Use 1 TBSP per load.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

 

DIY Dishwasher detergent w LemiShine (7)

Pour all these ingredients into a container with a lid and shake.

Homemade Dish Detergent (68)

Use 1 TBSP per load.

So, it works, but is it worth the effort? Here is the cost breakdown:

Borax – $3.38=76 ounces/8 ounces=$0.32 per batch

Washing soda – 3.24=55 ounces/8 ounces=$0.48 per batch

Salt – $1.99=48 ounces/4 ounces=$0.16 per batch

Lemi Shine – $3.66=12 ounces/4 ounces=$1.20 per batch

 

Cost comparison:

Finish Powerball tabs – $15.69/100 loads = $0.16

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent – $2.16/48 loads = $0.05  Wowie kazowie!  Even if you have to increase how much Lemi Shine you put in it is still a savings.  Um, yeah…

This Pin Rocks!

***Update 3/15/13***

I initially had great results with this dishwasher detergent. After using it for a longer period my dishes were not coming as clean as they should. I have switched back to my favorite detergent. Bummer, but we just gotta keep real. If you do not have any issues with hard water, this may still work for you. Feel free to let us know.

 

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45 Comments

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Comments

  1. Jeni says

    January 10, 2013 at 11:36 am

    Hi Sherri, I’m assuming you didn’t end up with hard water spots? Hard water issues has been our problem too with the dishwasher. I always add vinegar to the wash and that works beautifully. But for the cost savings you are talking about, it just might be worth the effort, especially if it rocks!

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      January 10, 2013 at 2:58 pm

      That’s right! The Lemi Shine does the trick for making sure you don’t get hard water spots. You can put the vinegar in the rinse dispenser where you would put the rinse agent. That adds to the savings as well. Much less expensive than commercial rinse agents.

      Reply
      • Nicole says

        April 15, 2013 at 5:03 pm

        Will the lemi shine work with my fiesta dishes?

        Reply
        • Sherri says

          April 16, 2013 at 5:52 am

          Nicole, this is straight from the bottle on Lemi Shine: “Check manufacturer’s cleaning instructions on all dishwasher safe items. Not recommended for painted glassware,painted mugs, aluminum, fine china or any enamel coated cutlery or cookware.”
          This is from the website http://www.fiestafactorydirect.com
          “Is my Fiestaยฎ Dinnerware oven/microwave/dishwasher/freezer safe?
          Yes. Your Fiestaยฎ is fully oven/microwave/dishwasher/and freezer safe. Our products are made to accommodate the food service/hotel industry professional consumer, providing a broad range of functionality. Features such as going from the freezer to the oven, oven to table, table to the dishwasher, and use in the microwave. So do not be afraid to use them!”
          I hope this info helps answer your question.
          Sherri (the Baby of the Family)

          Reply
  2. Angie B. says

    January 10, 2013 at 12:18 pm

    I think you just convinced me to try homemade dishwasher detergent! I love this blog, you all do an awesome job! Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      January 10, 2013 at 2:56 pm

      I am glad you are convinced. The Lemi Shine is the magic ingredient! Glad you came by!

      Reply
  3. Sarah Gallagher says

    January 26, 2013 at 1:00 pm

    Can’t wait to try it! I just removed the scum from my glassware by using the 1C bleach in the wash cycle, then cancelling before the dry cycle. Then I C white vinegar in a bowl on the bottom rack and let the dishwasher go – they are like new! Now i will try this as we have hard water and hope to not have to see scum and spots again!!!

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      January 27, 2013 at 4:34 pm

      Thanks Sarah. We would be glad to hear from you after you give it a shot.

      Reply
  4. Denise W says

    February 6, 2013 at 2:05 pm

    I was so excited to try this but I think that maybe our Las Vegas water is just too hard?!? The first couple of times just coated everything in a white film – but that all came off after a couple of vinegar runs. I tried adding more Lemon Shine – since we do add it to our regular detergent as well normally – but it still didn’t work ๐Ÿ™ I’m jealous of the others success. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      February 7, 2013 at 3:30 am

      Darn, Sorry to hear it. Are you putting vinegar in your rinse aid dispenser? That works for some people as well. There is a product from Lemi Shine for the rinse dispenser as well. Sorry it didn’t work for you. Darn hard water. Maybe those tips can help. Thank you for commenting.

      Reply
    • jody burgoyne says

      March 19, 2013 at 4:34 pm

      Mine came out with a white film too! I used citric acid because I had some on hand. What are we doing wrong??

      Reply
      • Sherri says

        March 19, 2013 at 5:16 pm

        Bummer, right? At first when I used the citric acid it didn’t work well. When I used Lemi Shine I got great results at first, but over time the white film came back. It is a hard water issue. Some have harder water than others. I am still on the hunt for a homemade dish detergent that will work well for those of us who have really hard water. Let me know if you find something that works for you.

        Reply
        • Tina Hardwick says

          March 31, 2013 at 6:50 pm

          I too have hard water – to the extreme I think. I resolved this issue by using a dish washer cleaner to rid my machine of old deposits, and then using my natural detergent formula with Lemishine and vinegar in the rinse. I also no do a weekly complete pots and pans cycle without dishes, with vinegar in all the cups. it seems to keep the film at bay

          Reply
          • Sherri says

            April 1, 2013 at 5:36 am

            Tina, I am glad to hear of your experience. I am testing out everyone’s advice and still tinkering to come up with a solution that will work for everyone. It is really helpful to me to get your feedback. Sherri (the baby of the family)

    • Alice says

      November 4, 2013 at 2:26 pm

      RE that hard water in Las Vegas… I’ve been testing soap recipes from many sites for the last month or so. The white film continued to be a problem. Finally a solution… Using ONLY washing soda in the pre-wash cup – and citric acid of some sort in the main wash cup. The citric acid affects the washing soda, so separating them helped. The citric acid rinses the residue off. The borax was a problem. The washing soda cleans and softens the water. Dishes are really clean with no film now. Now I have to deal with the water drops remaining after the cycle completes. Vinegar doesn’t help. Perhaps the Lemi shine rinse aid.

      Reply
      • Sherri says

        November 5, 2013 at 9:51 am

        Thanks for taking the time for such a thorough response. It helps to hear what is working and what isn’t Alice.

        Reply
  5. Cherie says

    March 8, 2013 at 8:35 am

    Thanks for sharing this, I just made a batch up and have my first load going!!! We have such hard water here that I started adding vinegar in the rinse dispenser a while back, it does help tons!! After reading your post I thought since I was already making my own laundry deterent that I wouled give this a try too!! Looking forward to more money saving posts from ya!! Take care and God bless!!

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      March 8, 2013 at 8:58 am

      I have been using it for a while now and keep getting good results. So glad you came by and took the time to comment.

      Reply
  6. kellyo says

    March 22, 2013 at 11:15 am

    I wonder if vinegar powder, added to the mixture, would help with hard water?

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      March 22, 2013 at 12:51 pm

      Thanks for the suggestion Kellyo. I have never heard of vinegar powder. I will investigate!

      Reply
  7. Nancy says

    March 23, 2013 at 9:34 am

    This sounds awesome!!! I will try it!!!

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      March 23, 2013 at 5:00 pm

      Great to hear from you Nancy. Let us know how it works for you.

      Reply
  8. Deborah says

    March 25, 2013 at 2:50 pm

    Borax is a water softener so you may want to increase your ratio of borax to washing soda.

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      March 26, 2013 at 5:47 am

      Thanks for the info Deborah. I appreciate the tip. Sherri

      Reply
  9. Krista Williams says

    April 1, 2013 at 12:54 pm

    Question, I like the way it cleans, but it turns hard as a rock in my container. Does anyone else have this problem? If so what do you do? I have tried to put it in 2 different container, and also tried to put in different spot in the kitchen. Don’t know what to do. I do make a big batch when I do it to just save time and use all the lemon shine up, maybe I will try making a small batcht the next time. Please help!! Thanks

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      April 2, 2013 at 6:49 am

      Krista, First off I am so happy to hear that it is working for you! I make mine in small batches, so I haven’t had any problem with that. A few suggestions I have seen on the web are to put a few tablespoons of rice in the detergent to absorb the moisture. Another is to give it a quick stir it each time you use it. One person I read about makes a batch and leaves it open for a few days, stirring it to prevent clumping. The moisture evaporates and then they put the lid on and have better results. Thank you so much for your feedback and I hope you will come back and let us know which method worked best for you.
      Sherri (the baby of the family)

      Reply
    • Gwen West says

      November 9, 2016 at 5:46 pm

      5 stars
      When you make the batch up do it in a large container without a lid. Let this sit out for a few days stirring it a couple of times a day to break up large clumps. After several days store this in air tight container, i use old coffee canister. This allows all moisture to escape and works great.

      Reply
  10. Robin S says

    April 3, 2013 at 11:54 am

    I had this same problem with homemade detergent that was close to this same recipe. I read somewhere that too much soda will do that, so I cut back the amount of detergent I was using per load (rather than try to remix what I had). The dishes still got just as clean, without the residue. Hope you get it ironed out!

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      April 3, 2013 at 1:16 pm

      Thanks Robin, I am trying out every tip I get! Sherri (the Baby of the Family)

      Reply
  11. Elizabeth says

    May 15, 2013 at 8:12 am

    If you have hard water, vinegar only aggravates the issue and doesn’t always help. I cloth diaper one child and vinegar can be added to your washing machine for issues but have found it makes any issue worse, not better. Once in awhile it’ll help the dishes, but we found not every cycle does it work. We have pretty hard water in South Tx.

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      May 15, 2013 at 9:02 am

      Hard water can be such a pain, right? I am still experimenting and working on a homemade dish detergent that I can endorse.Wish me luck!

      Reply
  12. thriftygreenmom says

    June 14, 2013 at 4:06 pm

    I made this a few weeks ago and have been using it fine but has anyone had the problem of it turning into a hard clump in the container? It’s been sealed and everything but I need an ice pick to break up enough to use it!! Any tips??

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      June 17, 2013 at 4:26 pm

      Hi Thrifty Green Mom. I am thrilled it is working for you. I have heard some people make it in smaller batches, or stir it every day, or make a little sachet bag from cheesecloth and fill it with rice to absorb the moisture. Hope one of those will work for you.

      Reply
  13. Margaux R. says

    September 24, 2013 at 10:27 pm

    To add to the savings, your Borax and Washing Soda can also be used for your homemade laundry detergent as well. To me, the convenience of buying these ingredients and being able to fully use the boxes up for multiple cleaning supplies saves me precious time…and money!

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      September 25, 2013 at 3:27 am

      Glad it works for you. I have been wanting to try homemade laundry detergent. It is on my list of things to do. Thanks for letting us know!

      Reply
  14. Bethany Giles says

    December 19, 2013 at 5:58 pm

    I’ve read other recipes that call for Baking Soda instead of Washing Soda. I use the Washing Soda in my laundry detergent recipe, but how do they differ in regards to the dishwasher detergent? Thanks for the post!

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      December 20, 2013 at 7:46 am

      I have done a little research and this is what I found on the Arm and Hammer website on FAQ. Their answer to your question is: Baking Soda is made of 100% Sodium Bicarbonate. Super Washing Soda is made of 100% Sodium Carbonate. While they sound similar, they are not the same. Both products can be used to improve liquid laundry performance for cleaner, fresher clothes. Both products can also be used for cleaning around the house. Baking Soda can be used in baking, as a dentifrice and as an antacid, Super Washing Soda cannot. Super Washing Soda should never be ingested. Be sure to check product packaging for specific uses and recommendations.

      Here is my two cents – make a small batch of both and see which you like best. I think baking soda is less expensive, so you may find that a great alternative. Good luck!

      Reply
  15. beingretired says

    February 18, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    Just read that adding sodium tripolyphosphate takes care of problems associated with hard water in a dishwasher. Trouble is that’s a phosphate banned by many states because it is costly to take out of waste water and, if not, will pollute streams and lakes. Commercial users are allowed to use the product, so you can still buy the chemical and buy restaurant type dishwasher soaps with phosphates. That would be a irresponsible use at home and is why most of us try the eco-friendly soaps and additives on the grocery shelves. We moved to Las Vegas recently and our rental house has a water softener, but we have no idea how to use the thing with the huge bags of salt that must be purchased at the grocery and added to the machine. Our only experience with salt was in the East for ice melting and I thought that was blamed for problems in the waterways, as well. So now wondering if using salt in water softeners is a good idea in Las Vegas and why is it allowed.

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      February 19, 2014 at 3:35 am

      It is a bit of a confusing mess, isn’t it? We will keep testing and when we find something that works, we will definitely share it. Until then, Finish dishwasher detergent works best for me with our hard water.

      Reply
  16. Chris says

    March 4, 2014 at 10:14 am

    5 stars
    Lemi Shine has a detergent now too. You can find it at Walmart and a few regional grocery store chains. I think Albertson’s may have it too? By the way, they have a rinse too. Remember, modern dishwashers have three opportunities to put hard water deposits on your dishes. Two wash cycles and a rinse cycle. The Lemi Shine rinse has some essential citrus oil that help prevent hardwater deposits too. I have used all four of their products, the machine cleaner, detergent, booster and rinse aid too. Really happy with the results ๐Ÿ™‚ Oh, and none of those harsh chemicals are used and no chemical residues like the other big brands have.

    Reply
    • Debbie says

      March 5, 2014 at 7:22 am

      I LOVE Lemi Shine!!!! Thanks for stopping by Chris! Sherri – The Youngest Sister

      Reply
  17. Shala Cripps says

    March 26, 2014 at 9:42 am

    Thank you Alice I’m gonna have to try this as we have hard water here in Lebanon Tn at least at our house and I keep getting the white residue on everything one thing that I noticed that did help was using Seventh Generation Liquid Dishwashing Detergent with 1/4 of a tab of homemade dishwasher detergent tabs that I mixed up from someone else’s recipe even using vinegar in the rinse dispenser doesn’t help and I’m not sure how long the liquid detergent and the homemade tab will last for spot free dishes. I’m gonna try separating them like you suggested. Also I’ve tried the Hydrogen Peroxide as an alternative to bleach for my whites in the laundry and it’s just not whitening my clothes at all, I have tried baking soda mixed in with the detergent and still nope! I don’t have a clothesline to hang the clothes outside to dry would love one but I don’t know where to put it as we don’t have alot of space left in our yard, ( I heard that helps with the Hydrogen Peroxide whitening that’s why I mentioned ) but does anyone else have any ideas as I don’t want to use bleach but I want white clothes. Also needing a good Homemade Stain Remover Recipe for stains that have remained on clothes that I forgot to check before putting in the dryer Any Suggestions on these things anyone?

    Reply
    • Sherri says

      March 26, 2014 at 9:54 am

      Definitely try our Super Stubborn Grease Stain Remover. Works like a charm for me, I always have some mixed up ready to go. Hard water can be such a pain! Glad to get all your input, Shala.

      Reply
  18. Laura says

    January 19, 2016 at 11:57 am

    This is an old discussion, but I thought I would jump in anyway. I don’t care about the mix in my dishwasher, but I do love cleaning around my bathroom faucets and other places with hard water build up. Maybe it is the sizzle that takes place after you sprinkle it on and wet it, but it does take off more of the deposits than the commercial cleaners I have tried.

    Reply

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