Do you know what comes after every great homemade meal?
A great big pile of dirty dishes!
It doesn’t matter what you cooked and how you cooked it. Your kitchen sink is always calling your name, even after you have eaten up every last morsel on your plate. The pile gets even higher when you have company over.
If you have a dishwasher, then there is a high chance that it is brimming with a stack of dishes. You know the sauce-splattered saucers, the sticky crumbs, and all those greasy pans from last week’s dinner. They are all in there.
Today’s dishwasher detergent has so many harsh chemicals in them that you often wonder if they are harming you, especially knowing that we put our food on these very same dishes.
Why Do We Hate Dishwashing?
Cleaning dishes has to be the most exhausting chore, next to laundry. What’s worst is that some spills and stains are so stubborn that they tend to stick around even after the dish has gone through several dishwashing cycles.
What Is Our Solution?
Now, we can’t help you out with the dish quantity, but we can help minimize or rather soften the stubborn stains, as well as introduce you to a more natural recipe for a dishwashing detergent.
The Benefits of a DIY Homemade Dishwasher Detergent?
You should consider this as an option because:
- It means
less chemicals touching your dishes - It can help remove those hard-to-clean greasy dishes
- Eco-friendly and cost-effective
- You are familiar with the ingredients in it
This recipe is very easy to make and we will show you how to make it in a powder and also a tablet form, similar to the commercial pods, but without the price and packaging.
The Recipe: How Do You Make a more Natural Dishwasher Detergent?
Ingredients:
- 1 cup washing soda – (removes food and grease, reduces spotting)
- 1/2 cup citric acid – (booster to help with stuck on foods)
- 30-40 drops of Lemon, Orange or Citrus Fresh essential oil – (cuts grease and
makes your dishes and dishwasher smell great) - 1/4 cup sea salt – (softens water to rid of any water deposits or spotting)
- water – (for use in tablets to firm)
Powder Form Directions:
- Put all ingredients (except water) in a large bowl
- Whisk the ingredients until they are well blended
- Store the detergent in an air-tight container
- Use about 1 tablespoon for each load
If you prefer to make this recipe in tablet form then you only need to add one more ingredient to the mixture, which is water.
After preparing your mixture with the above ingredients, spray about 2-3 tablespoons of water, stirring as you spray.
Once the mixture is similar to the consistency of damp sand, and clumps together when you squeeze it, then it is ready to be molded into your ice cube or silicone mold trays. If you see it is not sticking together, spritz a little more water till you get this consistency. If the mixture is too watery, then add a little more washing soda.
Tip: Be careful not to add the water too quickly or the ingredients will tend to fizz up before you have a chance to mold it.
Tablet Form Directions:
- After you have mixed the ingredients, and you have the desired consistency, scoop about 1 tablespoon into each of the ice cube trays, or similar size silicone mold
- Wait for about 5-10 minutes and then level the mixture up
- Place your mold in a cool dry spot and let sit overnight to harden
- Remove the tabs and store them in an air-tight container, such as a mason jar
Pro-tip: We suggest that you use one tablet per load. You can also add a little vinegar into the rinse aid compartment. This can keep any residue from forming on your glasses and keep your dishes shiny.
