I’m probably one of the few people in this world who loves doing dishes — I love to load up the dishwasher and forget them, that is! Washing dishes by hand is an annoying and time-consuming task.
And did you know it often uses more water than dishwashers? Handwashing dishes can use up to 27 gallons of water while ENERGY STAR® approved dishwashers use as little as 3 gallons per load.
When it comes to dishwasher detergent, I like pods because they’re convenient, but they’re also pricey and not great for the environment. That’s the case with a lot of store-bought detergent options. Many of them aren’t environmentally-friendly or biodegradable. Some detergents also contain harsh ingredients that can cause skin reactions and leave behind residue on your precious dinnerware.
Related Post: DIY Soap Recipes
If you’re worried about the effects of using store-bought detergent, why not consider a DIY solution? There are a variety of household ingredients you can use to make soap for your dishwashing machine. Here are some of the most popular ingredients.
- Borax
- Baking Soda
- Washing Soda
- Citric Acid
- Vinegar
- Epsom Salts
Thankfully, making your own detergent at home is really easy. Below you’ll find a total of 17 DIY dishwasher detergents that will leave your dishes with a sparkly shine.
1. Simple DIY Dishwasher Detergent
Ingredients
- Salt
- Dish Soap
- Baking Soda
This DIY recipe from HuffPost has just three simple ingredients including a few drops of dish soap. Don’t pour in much more, though, or you’ll end up with a floor full of suds.
2. Lemon-Scented DIY Dishwasher Detergent Tabs
Ingredients
- Washing Soda
- Baking Soda
- Unsweetened Lemonade Mix
- Kosher Salt
If (like me) you’re a sucker for the convenience of detergent pods and tabs, this recipe is for you. Even better? These tabs have a fresh lemon scent and require a lot less effort than you’d expect to make. Plus, you probably have all the ingredients right in your cupboard.
3. Homemade Dishwasher Detergent With Borax
Ingredients
- Borax
- Washing Soda
- Citric Acid
- Salt
This recipe includes borax which some people prefer to avoid.* If using it doesn’t bother you, this homemade detergent provides exceptional cleaning power.
Related Post: 12 Ingenious Everyday Borax Uses
*That said, borax is safe as long as it’s used as directed. As with any DIY projects, do your own research before making an informed decision about what is best for your family. For more information on boric acid and borax, check out this article.
4. DIY Dishwasher Detergent And Rinse Agent
Ingredients
- Borax
- Washing Soda
- Citric Acid
- Kosher Salt
In addition to their homemade dishwasher detergent, DIY Natural has recipes for homemade dish soap — if you prefer to wash your dinnerware by hand. All you need is a single tablespoon of this detergent to get your dishes super clean.
5. Fresh Citrus DIY Dishwasher Detergent
Ingredients
- Washing Soda
- Grapefruit Essential Oil
- Lemon Essential Oil
My favorite thing about this DIY dishwasher detergent recipe is the way she chose to store her detergent. How could I resist an attractive jar and cute label? I’m also a fan of essential oils.
6. Fresh Lemon Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Ingredients
- Diced Lemon
- Water
- White Vinegar
- Kosher Salt
This recipe uses real lemons to impart a fresh scent to your finished load of dishes. I love that the author took a recipe with a few downsides and improved it with clever tweaks.
7. Streak-Free Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Ingredients
- Washing Soda
- Borax
- Citric Acid
- Kosher Salt
This recipe includes the addition of citric acid to help prevent streaks from appearing on dishes.
8. Natural DIY Dishwasher Detergent Tablets
Ingredients
- Washing Soda
- Baking Soda
- Kosher Salt
- Citric Acid
- Water
This is the ideal recipe for anyone who prefers a quick and convenient cleaning solution. I hate measuring out ingredients. I’m never precise enough and way too clumsy.
9. 3-Ingredient DIY Dishwasher Detergent
Ingredients
- Washing Soda
- Borax
- Vinegar
A super simple and effective recipe for those who aren’t keen on spending money on commercial detergents.
10. Dishwasher Detergent Tabs
Ingredients
- Washing Soda
- Borax
- Epsom Salt
- Vinegar
- Lemon Essential Oil
You won’t be able to resist these ultra-cute DIY dishwasher detergent tabs. With the use of an adorable mold, you too can enjoy fun dishwasher detergent tab shapes.
11. Powdered DIY Dishwasher Detergent
Ingredients
- Baking Soda
- Washing Soda
- Epsom Salt
- Citric Acid
- Lemon Essential Oil
On this website, you’ll find a recipe for dish tabs along with a guide on how to clean your dishwasher’s interior.
12. Natural Liquid DIY Dishwasher Detergent
Ingredients
- Liquid Castile Soap
- Water
- Distilled White Vinegar
- Citric Acid
- Essential Oils
If you prefer a liquid formula over powdered, consider this recipe or check out the additional pod recipe on the same page.
13. Streak-Free Dishwasher Detergent
Ingredients
- Borax
- Washing Soda
- Lemi Shine®
- Kosher Salt
- White Vinegar
The photos on the page are all the proof you’ll need to choose this dishwasher detergent recipe. It’s billed as an excellent mix for getting rid of hard water stains.
14. Powdered Dishwasher Detergent With Borax
Ingredients
- Borax
- Washing Soda
- Lemi Shine®
- Epsom Salt
This recipe includes the use of Epsom salts. The author cautions that the powder hardens even when sealed in an airtight container which may make this formula suitable for creating tabs.
15. Borax And Washing Soda Dishwasher Detergent
Ingredients
- Borax
- Washing Soda
- Citric Acid
- Kosher Salt
This recipe includes both borax and washing soda for added cleaning power. It does tend to clump over time, so it’s essential to store it in a cool, dry place.
16. Homemade Dishwasher Detergent With Essential Oils
Ingredients
- Baking Soda
- Borax
- Kosher Salt
- Unsweetened Lemonade Mix
- Essential Oils
This is another recipe with lots of cleaning power that also includes essential oils. It’s optional, but I’d definitely recommend choosing your favorite scent and adding a few drops.
17. All-Natural Dishwasher Pods
Ingredients
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Distilled vinegar
- Natural Dish Soap
Why not get your kids involved in creating dishwasher pods? Make it a family activity, and turn it into a science lesson.
Tips For Getting Your Dishes Sparkly Clean
Of course, your homemade dishwasher detergent won’t be useful if you don’t take the time to make sure your dishwasher is getting your dishes as clean as they can be. Here are some tips to make sure your dishes are sparkly clean.
- Scrape off large pieces of food, but don’t bother rinsing your dishes. In many cases, rinsing can actually reduce cleaning power.
- Add the right amount of detergent. Too much can leave unwanted residue on your dishes. Too little, and the dishes won’t come out clean.
- You may have to try several recipes. Depending on the composition of the water where you live (hard or soft), you may have to experiment with different detergent recipes to find the right one.
- Washing soda and baking soda are two different things. Don’t get mixed up! Washing soda is infinitely better for cleaning purposes and is stronger than both baking soda and borax.
- Behold, the power of vinegar! Add vinegar to your dishwasher rinse compartment if you notice residue after the cycle.
- Turn on the hot water tap in your kitchen before starting your dishwasher. It’ll take less time for the water to heat up in your appliance.
My final tip has nothing to do with detergent or cleaning your dishes, but I think it’s a simple yet important one that’s helped my routine immensely. Unload your dishwasher at night before bed, and you’ll never wake up frustrated you’ve left yourself an appliance full of dishes.
Do you make your own dishwasher detergent at home? What are your tips for ensuring streak-free, sparkly clean dishes? Let us know in the comments below!
Really chemically odd mixtures. You can’t put washing soda with citric acid or vinegar and not have them react and release carbon dioxide and make a salt of the two combinations. if you mix it with vinegar you get sodium acetate if you mix it with citric acid you get sodium citrate. Your recipe sound more like bath bombs than dishwashing detergent.
My thoughts exactly. Whatever cleaning ability the individual components have are neutralized upon mixing. The result of any acid/base combination is a salt and water.
Interestingly, there is a formula for removing skunk smell that combines quantities of both vinegar and baking soda – along with 3% H2O2… Having taught Chemistry for many years, I thought the combination suspect from the get-go. Surprisingly, it worked like a charm!
I followed the recipe that calls for powered citric acid to the tee. My dishes came out with a dusty film on them and I had to run everything through the dishwasher again. This time I used three drops of Dawn soap and white vinegar. Worked great.