Homemade Dishwasher Soap

[Mackay]

Ha! thought you'd just open this page and find a recipe hey?

Well, I have tried a couple of times to track it down and somehow keep missing it.

Please post your recipe if you have a good one!

 

[Wifezilla]

Haven't found a formula that works yet. I have hard water and I know that is making thing difficult. For now I am using Cascade Complete. I will keeping an eye on this thread to see if we get any new ones for me to try.

 

[hennypenny9]

The general recipe is equal parts Borax and Washing Soda. Use 2 Tablespoons each load. I have also seen one with the addition of salt. Personally, I've tried the Borax/Washing Soda, and it worked fine the first couple of times. Then I got the dreaded white film! Even vinegar in the rinse aid dispenser won't take it off. I'm going to try adding some citrus acid, because I read that will take care of the film. Dunno if I can grate up orange peel or what.

My dishes DO come out clean of all food. The white film is a problem, though. I use my Cascade every other wash to stretch it.

 

[MorelCabin]

I haven't found one I really like either, the washing soda/borax does leave a film. I tried putting baking soda in there and it really makes a mess of your utensils.

 

[me&thegals]

Hi--I have been using about 1 T of borax and 1 T of washing soda per load. After 3-4 loads, then I use the commercial stuff with bleach, otherwise the inside of my dishwasher gets pretty cruddy.

 

[freemotion]

I've been using homemade in the prewash compartment, and the green stuff in the compartment with the little door. At least we can cut the use of the expensive stuff in half.

 

[VT-Chicklit]

I have been using a cheap, phosphate free dishwasher detirgent from Aldi's. The first time that I used it, it left the dreaded white film. I added some inexpensive powdered lemonade drink mix to the diswasher soap and . . . Voila . . . no more white film! Try adding a little of the dollar store powdered lemonade mix to your home made dish washer soap and tell us if it helps.

 

[Mackay]

Don't know if this is cost effective but you can buy citric acid here:

http://www.iherb.com/Search?kw=citric acid

 

[freemotion]

You can also get it through cheese making supply places, I've heard that your local pharmacy can order it, too, but haven't tried that.

I'll have to try my cube recipe again, fiddle with that some more. The citric acid is a good idea. I wonder how little of it you could get away with using for good results? It will likely still be cheaper than the green bottle, and not so toxic, to our families and to the environment.

 

[big brown horse]

I have been using a cheap, phosphate free dishwasher detirgent from Aldi's. The first time that I used it, it left the dreaded white film. I added some inexpensive powdered lemonade drink mix to the diswasher soap and . . . Voila . . . no more white film! Try adding a little of the dollar store powdered lemonade mix to your home made dish washer soap and tell us if it helps.

Very very cool. Thanks for the tip!!