I’ve wanted to tell you about this dishwasher detergent I threw together about 3 weeks ago, but I wanted to test drive it first. Once again, it’s a variation of another recipe found at Peace Creek on the Prairie. I took something she said in the post and ran with it. (I’ll explain what that something is in just a bit…)
Before I give you the recipe, I wanted to give you a brief history of dishwashing at my house. Dishes have always been the bane of my existence. When I finally went back to using the dishwasher, I used an old homemade recipe I’d been using with very little luck. (Someone want to tell me WHY I continue to use things that don’t work???)
Because I refuse to be a martyr to my frugality and natural products mentality, I broke down and bought dishwasher detergent from the store so I could actually have CLEAN dishes. However, I never quite gave up the quest to find a homemade alternative. When I saw the post on Peace Creek, I jumped on it. I had everything for it except the citric acid, so I bought the LemiShine she mentions instead and used it, since essentially IT is citric acid. Maybe someday I’ll get around to purchasing the citric acid, but until this bottle of LemiShine runs out, I’m good with things this way.
And the verdict?
My dishes are oh so clean! SCORE!
Here’s the recipe:
1/2 c LemiShine (in place of the 1/2 c citric acid)
1/2 c non-iodized salt (as you can see I used pickling salt because that’s what I had!)
1 c borax
1 c washing soda
Add all ingredients into a container (this small plastic one did just fine). Mix well and declump. I use approximately 3 TBSP per load. {I’ve also realized you really need to add 1/4 c. vinegar to your rinse cycle via the JetDry slot!}
The finished product
Try it and see what you think! I, for one, am thoroughly impressed!
This post is linked to:
It sounds good now we just need to see how many loads you get out of what you purchased versus how much you paid for all the supplies? Where were you able to purchase them all or did you have to make separate trips?
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
.-= Kathleen Smith´s last blog ..A Blogger Making A Difference! =-.
The lemishine I bought a block away from my house. The other ingredients I had on hand (and have on hand all the time). It would be good to price it out; however, I know it’s a better deal than the Ecover I usually buy!
thanks for sharing! i’ve not tried to make my own, but this sounds very appealing to me. and if it works great. all the better!!
((and in case you’re interested i’m doing a week of giveaways this week on my blog. :0) ))
Awesome! I have an automatic dishwasher that we will use on occasion. It would be nice to be able to have some homemade detergent on hand for it!
~traci
.-= Traci´s last blog ..One Thousand Gifts =-.
I am so going to try this. I make my own laundry soap so I have the washing soda and the borax on hand all the time any way.
Does it make your glasses look cloudy? I tried a similar recipe and it made my glasses look awful.
The recipe that used JUST borax and washing soda DID cloud my dishes terribly. I think the lemishine in there keeps that from happening.
This is very intriguing to me! I confess to being a Cascade snob, though I have very little brand loyalty about anything else.
I’ve never had success with any other detergent getting my dishes as clean (w/o my having to handwash them as well!)… I may have to give this a shot someday.
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Oooooo!
Can’t WAIT to try this!!
I’ve seen Lemi Shine before, but where would one purchase Citric Acid from???
Thanks for sharing!
.-= Sherri´s last blog ..Have you ever grated soap??? =-.
The only place I know of is a bulk food store 50 miles from here. I suppose you could mail order it too.
Citric acid can be found with the canning supplies in any store.
Ooh, I’m going to have to try this! Thanks for sharing!
.-= Sherry´s last blog ..Our Works for Me Wednesday Greatest Hits (Tips) =-.
Thanks for sharing! Since I’ve started making other homemade things, I’ve been wondering about making dishwasher detergent too.
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Oh, my, I am definitely going to have to try this!
.-= ali´s last blog ..7 Field Trips I Hope to Go On This Spring =-.
We use 1/2 cup vinegar instead of lemishine. It keeps the hardwater deposits out of the dishwasher and the dishes shine.
Do you just break up the clumps the liquid causes? Sounds like a great idea!
I wonder if this would work for me! The baking soda/borax recipe generally did not, and soap nuts liquid was…okay. Not good. I broke down and got some Seventh Generation which is working very well but it’s expensive. Hmm. I’ve never seen LemiShine so I’ll have to figure that out….
.-= Kate´s last blog ..Baby Steps in Personal Care, part 3 =-.
I really need to try this! I just stocked up on practically free (after coupons) dishwashing detergent so it may be a while….but I’m determined to try it! Thank you for linking up! I just love learning from you and everyone else!
.-= Christine (iDreamofClean)´s last blog ..Spring Cleaning: Get Down (Part 3) =-.
I LOVE my homemade dishwasher detergent. I use the same recipe except, I substitute lemonaide Kool Aid (the little packets) for the citric acid. Works great and is VERY inexpensive!!
I never in a million years would have thought KoolAid! How ingenious!
Question: where do you get borax?! i’ve been looking everywhere i grocery shop and can’t find it!
I’m able to get it at WalMart and Kroger stores in the area. The box at WalMart I noticed is bigger and white instead of blue. The washing soda is what I have a hard time getting my hands on.
I’m glad to hear that there is a recipe out there that won’t leave that nasty white film on my dishes! I’m gonna try this! I gave up a while back, but it sounds like you’ve found something worth trying! Thanks Amy
.-= Grace Wheeler´s last blog ..Just LOOK at all of you!!! =-.
This is great! I definitely want to try this. Both my kids have had reactions to different store bought ones (just touching a cup after it’s washed will make them break out). Thanks for the tip!
.-= mandi@itscome2this´s last blog ..Laundry done faster! =-.
Thanks for sharing Amy… I’d like to give this a try sometime. I always feel a bit guilty with Cascade, but sometimes life takes over and you gotta do what you gotta do to keep things going…. This sounds like a pretty good alternative.
True, Tami…life does sometimes take precedence over other not-as-important things. Give it a try and let me know!
I actually want to give this a try! I’ve never wanted or felt any desire to try clothes detergent but this one appeals to me!
this is on my to-do list. i love homemade laundry soap!
Hello I was just reading your dishwasher detergent recipe and wondered where to buy the lemishine?I have never heard of it before.Nikki
I had never heard of it before either. I found it in my local Kroger store.
Walmart also sells it. : )
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I used regular salt and it worked! My dishes are the cleanest ever.
Excellent! Thanks for letting me know!
That sounds great! I’m used to using whatever brand of powdered store bought soap, but it seems like following the directions you need almost a cup to fill the little dispenser for the machine. If you used 2 tablespoons, did you just sprinkle it in the floor of the machine or put it in the dispenser? I’m all about using less for more and 2 tablespoons is way better that a cup or so…. Thanks for posting!!
I have two dispenser areas in mine. One is open and I put about a TBSP there and the other is closed and another TBSP goes in there. So, yes, they are not full, but it seems to be plenty.
I have always used lemi shine but I also use dishwasher detergent in the other cup. I have just made your recipe and Is this the only thing you use in the dishwasher without additional detergent?
Yes, I only use that recipe and nothing else.
This works REALLY well! I was using the same recipe with the citric acid and it did not work as well in my opinion – plus FYI the citric acid is much more expensive than the lemishine! Thanks for the post!
Great! I went to pick up some citric acid and realized the same thing! I didn’t end up buying it because of the expense. Thanks for sharing!
This is a good recipe. For those wondering about price, it appears to be ~$6 to make 24 oz (3 cups). Using 3 Tbsp/load, should get around 16 loads per recipe ($0.37/load).
Cascade is about $4 for 44oz. Ironically enough, some of the main ingredients in Cascade are salt and citric acid. The difference is in the detergent mode of action. Lots of commercial detergents use Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS), a very good foaming detergent that also acts as a surfactanat. The only problem is that it can cause skin irritation.
To the rescue comes washing soda (sodium carbonate) and borax (sodium borate). Individually not as powerful as SLS, but combined and in large enough amounts, are able to do pretty much the same job.
Do you mind if I quote you with the price breakdowns? Thank you so much for going to that work!
I can’t wait to try it! I have made homemade dishwashing detergent before, but it made my dishes look dirtier than they were before I put them in!!
I found Citric Acid online at Amazon.com. a 5lb bulk container for $27.14. I am so excited to try this recipe!
Trying to go natural and save money at the same time. Not an easy task but this should be fun!
Hi Amy,
I had a question about the dishwashing detergent…does yours clump up? I make mine following the recipe and it seems to be clumping.
I just got back from the market and needed to pick up Dishwashing Detergent. Our cost is only 2 dollars -but it kills me that we can get stuck w/o it. We make our own soaps for other uses – it would be cool to put this together also. I just need the lemon “stuff”.
I made this and I love it! Thank you so much for the recipe! I only have one question. How do you keep it from cluping up? The first batch I made turned into a solid rock, so I used a different container, one that I thought was air-tight and it is still clumping. Not as bad, but still trapping moisture somehow. Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Every time I use it, I break it up with a fork or spoon. Hope that helps!
I’m going to be needing a recipe for homemade liquid dish soap soon if you have one, I have a dispenser i use in my counter and like to keep it filled with the liquid. Thanks.