I’ve posted a lot of recipes for DIY homemade cleaners, but dishwasher detergent was one I had trouble figuring out. After a little more digging, I finally figured out the secret! This homemade dishwasher detergent recipe uses natural ingredients to help you save money and get dirty dishes squeaky clean.

Powdered Dishwasher Detergent

I’d experimented with a lot of dishwasher powder recipes, but all of them left a little residue, especially on glassware. I wasn’t sure if I had too much of something or if I was missing an ingredient that would make it more effective.

Thanks to a little tip on Pinterest, I figured out the missing ingredient was citric acid. Even better, I already had some on hand from making bath bombs so I gave it a try. The result was clean, shiny dishes without residue buildup or grime.

The Magical Ingredient

As the name implies, citric acid is an acid and is naturally found in lemon juice. Adding fresh lemon juice to your homemade dishwasher detergent though isn’t really practical since it decreases the shelf life. For those with hard water (especially if you don’t have a water softener) citric acid provides natural cleaning power to beat filmy dish residue.

Most citric acid comes from fermented GMO-corn, so it’s important to check your source. The citric acid I use is food-grade, non-GMO, and fermented from cane sugar. Vinegar is made by using natural microbes to ferment fruit sugar (like apples) into acetic acid. Citric acid is made in much the same way as vinegar, except the end result of fermentation is citric acid.

I combine the citric acid with the rest of the ingredients and put the whole thing in the detergent compartment. Some people find though that it works best separately as a rinse aid. In this case, put a tablespoon of citric acid powder in the rinse aid compartment of your dishwasher.

Some people instead use vinegar in the liquid rinse dispenser or in a bowl in the top rack of the dishwasher. Over time though the white vinegar can break down the rubber gaskets and hoses in your dishwasher.

How Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Works

While the natural acidity of the citric acid prevents a film, the other ingredients in this homemade detergent help clean dishes.

Washing soda, the main ingredient here, raises water pH and helps soften water. It also removes stains and grease and works as a cleaning agent. Most store-bought detergents include it in their soap recipe so you’ll often see it on the label as sodium carbonate. You can even make it yourself from baking soda.

I’ve also added salt to the recipe which also helps clean and soften water. Most recipes call for Kosher salt since it’s pure sodium chloride without any other minerals. I haven’t had a problem using regular sea salt though.

Much Ado…

The final ingredient in this dishwasher blend is borax, which has been the center of some online debate. In my opinion, borax is very much on the low end of the scale when it comes to the potential toxicity of chemicals in cleaning products. It’s a naturally occurring ingredient that I feel comfortable using in my cleaning recipes.

If not, I’ve also used enzyme cleaners like Biokleen dishwasher soap which doesn’t have borax.

Where to Buy It

Don’t want to make your own dishwasher detergent but don’t want to resort to hand washing a load of dishes either? There are plenty of healthy dishwasher detergent options now! You can even find some of these at places like Walmart, Amazon, or your local grocery store. Here are some ones I’ve used before with good results:

Biokleen Dish Powder
Ecover Dishwashing Powder
Truly Free Dishwasher Soap and Dishwasher Booster and Rinse Aid

4.39 from 18 votes

DIY Dishwasher Detergent Recipe

This simple recipe is a great non-toxic alternative for cleaner dishes! Plus it takes mere minutes to make.

Prep Time3

Total Time3

Yield: cups

Author: Katie Wells

Equipment

Quart-size mason jar (or other glass container)

Materials

1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
½ cup citric acid
½ cup sea salt
20-30 drops lemon essential oil (or other citrus oil, optional)

Instructions

Stir all of the ingredients together and break up any clumps. You can use a fork to mash in the essential oils if using.
Use 1-2 tablespoons per dishwasher load as needed.
For an extra boost, add a few drops of dishwashing liquid (only a few!!!) to the powder before closing the soap container in the dishwasher.

Notes

Store the dishwasher detergent in an airtight container in a dry place.

Not Working For You?

Homemade powdered dish detergent can be tricky. Depending on how hard/soft your water is and the temperature you wash dishes at it can be difficult to find a recipe that works.

One easy fix to try is to omit the citric acid from this recipe and instead use it as a rinse agent. Put 1 tablespoon of homemade dishwasher detergent into the prewash compartment, and add 1 tablespoon of citric acid to the main wash compartment. This way, when you run the wash cycle the dish detergent will first wash the dishes, then the citric acid will help shine them.

New to Natural Cleaning?

If you’re just starting with DIY or natural cleaners, here are some other easy and inexpensive recipes:

What do you use in the dishwasher? Ever made your own dishwasher detergent? Share below!

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

262 responses to “Homemade Dishwasher Detergent”

Riette

July 21, 2014

Yeah my first load washed beautifully. I didn’t have greasy pots in there though – that’s another test for another time.
I did what others suggested and scooped the mixed powder into ice tray compartments but it did NOT want to ‘clog’ / firm! It must be the dry Johannesburg air. So I scooped everything back into a tub that can seal well. I also used maybe closer to 2 tablespoons but less might have worked too.
THANKS so much for another HEALTHIER and COST-SAVING solution!
xxx
Riette
Jhb, South Africa

Reply
1. Wellness Mama
  
  July 21, 2014
  
  I’m so glad it works for you! Thanks for reading!
  
  Reply
Heather

July 18, 2014

I wanted to test this out, so I mixed up a small quantity and stored it in a jar. Then I noticed the reviews complaining about clumping and thought, “Uh oh…” My fears were unfounded.

I know it’s not lack of humidity. I live in Chicago where humidity is a very real thing. I didn’t use any essential oils, and the jar I’m using is air tight. After a week of sitting in the jar in the darkness under my sink, there was only the slightest of clumping that completely broke apart when I vigorously shook the jar.

As to dishes, I filled the primary cleaner slot plus a small dash in the extra cleaner cup with the powder. I am using a store-bought eco-friendly rinse aid. Dishes look good. I won’t call them spotless, but then again, I don’t expect spotless dishes with my cheap, bottom-of-the-line dishwasher. But they are no more or less spotted than I was getting with store bought liquid dishwasher detergent. (I stopped using store-bought powdered detergent because the spots were really bad no matter how well I filled the rinse aid compartment.) Actually the real sign that it did well was that my plastic in the top rack was relatively spot-free, which has been rare, even with liquid detergent.

I declare this a DIY triumph.

Reply
Sarah M.

June 28, 2014

We just mixed this together but didn’t have any regular table salt, so we left salt out (didn’t want to use our Himalayan). There has been no chemical reaction yet and it is just a powder. We may try using it without salt and see how it cleans, or if we add salt will probably go the ice cube tray route. I agree with the others – if that is an expected problem it should probably be suggested up in the recipe itself (to use ice cube trays.) Will try to update once we see how it works.

Thanks for everything!

Reply
Tina B.

June 11, 2014

Does it matter what type of salt you use?

Reply
Edie

June 9, 2014

This does get dishes sparkling clean, BUT even in an air tight jar turns to a solid rock in the jar after a few days. I do like the way this cleans, so I’ll probably try making dishwasher tablets as others have suggested. Please edit your recipe directions to warn people before they waste money and ingredients.

Reply
Lisa D

June 6, 2014

Hi Katie,

A couple of questions and observations for you or any of your knowledgeable readers!

First off, I made a laundry detergent that I ultimately found in the comments section of your laundry detergent blog. It consisted of 3 tbs borax, 3 tbs washing soda and 3 tbs dawn dish soap. I added the borax and washing soda with 4 cups of super hot water and shook, then I added the dawn and shook a little more. I used this (2 tbs) in my super capacity Kenmore (about 10 years old) for about 15 loads and loved it tremendously! My clothes are super soft and scentless (which serves me well) – and I mean scentless! No fragrance but certainly no smell of dirty or worn laundry. I recently purchased a HE top loader and have been using the same soap in it with the same fabulous results!

I loved the way it worked so much (and have been reading about borax and washing soda) that I made a diluted version and keep in under my sink in the kitchen to clean my counters and sink (and occasional dish) and again I love it. My stainless steel sink is super clean and I have no complaints about my countertops and it makes my hands soft.

So here are my questions –

1. Should I be using this mixture in my kitchen? From everything I’ve read, it seems okay and in line with some homemade cleaners and I haven’t noticed any residue or ill effects from using it.

2. Would this be acceptable to try in my dishwasher? I would just throw it in there and try but I know there is some chemistry and whatnot behind these cleaners and I’m a bit leary of ruining my dishwasher or dishes. If it’s just a matter of preference, I’ll just try it 🙂

3. You stated that you occasionally add a couple of drops liquid dish soap to your load. I’ve done this in the past and thoughts the results were great and have even used it when I’ve run out of detergent. Does anyone just use a few drops instead of detergent? What are the results?

Reply
Faith

June 5, 2014

I tried this and I have to rewash my dishes each time. Totally bummed. I’ve read through all the comments and nothing helps…

Reply
Sarah

May 21, 2014

im about to make this, but I have no idea if my water is hard/soft as I am moving in a few days. Instead of citric acid, can I use those lemon aid packets people talk about? I may make a tiny bit and see how it goes. 🙂

Reply
Jennifer Laskowski

May 21, 2014

Hello, as others have mentioned this becomes a rock solid mass. Apparently from the citric acid. I now know to add that separately but can anyone give tips to ‘un’ harden it? I quadrupled the recipe as I do a couple loads per day and don’t want to waste it all. I’ve got it all in a very large 3 pint mason jar (that is airtight). The only way to loosen up the detergent is a spoon and hammer!!!! However I do love the recipe… Just would have been nice if that would have been pointed out in the directions!! Thanks for the recipe and please reply if you have any ideas for me!!! Thanks!!
Ps Katie I’ve used several of your homemade creations like laundry soap, bug spray, skinny wraps (which kicks tarted a 10# weight loss out of the blue), and the sun block!!! So thank you for your website!!!!! I love it!

Reply
1. trish
  
  September 24, 2015
  
  Hi,
  
  Just wondering what is the skinny wraps recipe? Tried searching on the site to no avail!
  
  thanks!
  
  Trish
  
  Reply
2. jen P
  
  February 19, 2016
  
  I mix it for a long time when I make a batch. I leave it out in a big open container and stir it every time I walk by for 2-3 days. When you fill your pint jar, give the back stock a stir.
  
  Reply
Jane

May 19, 2014

Loved the end result- clean glasses and dishes, so thanks for the ‘recipe’.
I had the same issue with it fizzing up and liquefying. Everything was dry as a bone. There was definitely no moisture in any part of it. I’ve put it in the freezer in an ice cube tray- thanks for that tip.
Am very happy that it cleans things well!

Reply
deborah

March 10, 2014

I made this for the first time today, I am desperate for it to work as my son is have allergic reactions to the shop stuff. When i mixed the powders together they audibly fizzed and now it its just getting wetter and wetter… is this normal???

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  March 11, 2014
  
  Did you use the exact ingredients? Did any water come in contact with it?
  
  Reply
  1. Deborah
    
    March 12, 2014
    
    Hi-thank you for your reply. i did use the exact ingredients but i was in a rush so there might of been a bit of stray water in the bowel or spoon, they were taken out of dry clean cupboards but i didn’t check for moisture before starting… do you think that’s could of caused it, my mixture is getting wetter all the time but still working? Also i mixed with a metal spoon would that of caused a reaction?
    
    Reply
    1. Katie – Wellness Mama
      
      March 12, 2014
      
      I’m not sure what caused the reaction, but it should still work. You could also try pressing in to an ice cube tray or mold if it starts to harden and use as dishwasher tablets
      
      Reply
      1. Deborah
        
        April 8, 2014
        
        Just made my second batch and was sure no moister around but did the exact same thing! Definite chemical reaction!!! Realised i using Dead Sea bath salt must be that i presume?
        Deborah
      2. Shelly
        
        October 1, 2017
        
        Deborah, I think it is more likely to be the humidity in your house. You will need to keep the mix in an air tight container with a bag of rice or one of those dehydrator silica
        packets that come in vitamin jars.
2. Cary
  
  July 11, 2016
  
  It’s the citric acid and washing soda reacting together and pulling moisture from the air. They are making sodium citrate and CO2. The moisture from the air makes the powder clump and when it evaporates the clumps harden. The CO2 from the reaction causes bubbles and containers swelling and popping. The sodium citrate is desirable, it’s a good cleanser. If you leave the lid off and let the reaction run its course, and run the hard clumps through a food processor, the powder will remain in powder form from then on.
  
  Reply
Bren

March 10, 2014

This recipe works just so long as you keep the whole dishwasher clean. each week or so take out the grease trap and filters and clean them. They can be super gross and greasy but if you dont clean them regularly this gunk goes through the machine and your dishes each time you use it. Run the machine with a cup of vinegar and a cup of bicarb on a hot cycle. Much safer than the awful cleaner they advertise on the TV.

Reply
1. Karolyn
  
  January 16, 2015
  
  What is a cup of bicarbonate?
  
  Reply
  1. Genafer
    
    April 30, 2015
    
    Baking Soda
    
    Reply
  2. Genafer
    
    April 30, 2015
    
    Adding this info somewhere conspicuous would be very helpful to some of the newer finders (like me) who seem to have the same questions over and over again:
    
    1. Cloudy dishes = hard water issue. Add more citric acid to your detergent. Be sure to use a white vinegar rinse (or Lemi-Shine rinse agent, but vinegar is cheaper) FYI: Brambleberry sells and EXCELLENT citric acid for $22/10lbs.
    
    2. Clumping/hardening issue = citric acid/washing soda reaction
    YES these ARE chemicals (the official chemical name of citric acid will probably scare you). YES these DO react with each other leaving behind sodium citrate when exposed to air and humidity. Unless you live in Phoenix, the clumping is pretty much inevitable. The good news is once it has clumped, you can run it through a food processor or blender to powder it back up again and it’s done. I just leave it out open and stir it several times a day for a few days before I put it up. I will try the rice sachet/silica gel packet idea, though! (Why didn’t I think of that!?!)
    
    3. Don’t like having sodium citrate laying around your house = Store the citric acid separately and add them separately to the dishwasher just before running. The sodium citrate is what is doing most of the washing work. Don’t believe me? Try running the load without the citric acid.
    
    4. Don’t like citric acid = substitute lemon juice or lemi-shine. SURPRISE! Besides water, lemon juice = citric acid. Lemi-shine is primarily citric acid.
    
    5. Just remember: going DIY does NOT mean going chemical-free. It just means being EDUCATED and IN CHARGE of the chemicals in your home. And that is A LOT MORE IMPORTANT than being afraid of using the right ones!
    
    From your friendly neighborhood chemistry teacher, homesteader, soaper, and DIY fan. 🙂
    
    Reply
Ali

February 23, 2014

Cheryl, I am sorry but you got ripped off! Amazon sells citric acid in 5 lbs bags for less than $20 w/ prime free shipping. I see one brand, Milliard, on there that is $17.99. Wow, I just looked it up on Walmart and see a brand called Suppentown that is $31.22 for 2.1 oz. Is this what you bought? They should be ashamed of themselves to sell such an expensive product! That is insane! People need to complain to Walmart to get this product pulled from their shelves. I can’t believe the company who markets this gets away with this, but some prey on ignorance and slap a label on something making you think it is such an awesome,special thing! You could have even just bought a 7.5 oz Ball brand container in the canning section for $3 there. If I were you, I would bring it back if you still have the wrapper. Buy some other citric acid and replace in the bag, if you dont want to bring it back empty. You shouldnt be a dissatisfied customer! This is such a shame and I am sorry you had this experience.

Reply
Elizabeth

February 20, 2014

Hi Katie,
I just made up a huge batch of this. The citric acid from Amazon, that weighs 1 lb, is 2 cups. I used a 1 gallon glass jar, and nearly filled it up with the ingredients. I’m not sure what the citric acid from Walmart is, but that is a very pricey 2 oz bottle!

Katie, is this working for you? What are you doing about the clumping? Are your dishes getting clean? I feel stupid that I hadn’t carefully read all the comments before making this. Above Dave claims the detergent formed a giant mess in his drain. Has anyone else had that problem? I love the idea of this, and want it to work! I wish I had a better picture of the how and they why it fails.

Thanks so much for being on the front lines of natural home care. I appreciate your willingness to try new things and work them out! –Elizabeth

Reply
cheryl

February 18, 2014

Hello, I posted an email yesterday and haven’t seen it. I really need to know if I am doing something wrong. It cost $32.00 for 2.1 oz of citric acid from Walmart. So 2.1 oz is about 1/4 cup, so I added 1/4 cup of salt, 1/2 washing soda and 1/2 cup of Borax. All I got out of this is 1 1/2 cup of detergent. This cannot be right. Please advise.
Thank you

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  February 18, 2014
  
  I”m not sure how the ounces convert since I did it all in cups/etc
  
  Reply
2. Sarah
  
  March 7, 2014
  
  @Cheryl – Your recipe looks right – 1 part citric acid, 1 part salt, 2 parts Borax, 2 parts washing soda… I do think you are buying the wrong citric acid. I get my citric acid from the canning supply section at my local Walmart, it costs less than $3.00 and I think the container holds around 8 ounces. Citric acid is sold pretty much anywhere Ball/Mason jars or other canning supplies are sold.
  
  Reply
3. Kristy
  
  September 14, 2014
  
  I paid $2.97 for Citric Acid in the canning section of Walmart.
  
  Reply
4. Stephanie
  
  November 21, 2014
  
  I bought Citric Acid on Amazon
  5lbs Citric Acid – Food Grade, Non-GMO, organic, 100% pure for $17.49 (free shipping with Prime)
  
  Reply
cheryl

February 17, 2014

I just made some of this dishwasher detergent . The citric acid for 2.1 oz. at Walmart cost me over $30.00 dollars and it only made 1 1/2 cups of detergent. Who said this was inexpensive or am I buying the citric acid wrong?.

Reply
1. Katie – Wellness Mama
  
  February 18, 2014
  
  I buy over a pound of Citric Acid from Amazon for much less than that!
  
  Reply
  1. Nicole
    
    March 13, 2014
    
    Just wanted to chime in and say that in a pinch LemiShine will work. It’s comprised of citric acid and natural citrus oils. One container of LemiShine is 12 oz. ( 1.5 cups ) so just add 1.5 cups salt, 3 cups borax and 3 cups washing soda. LemiShine can be found at Walmart and other stores for just a few dollars. The clumping can be solved with silica packets or a sachel of dry rice, like someone else mentioned. We have a water softener in our rental, which is not my favorite from a health standpoint, but that probably helps a lot with potential residue. Thanks so much for the great recipe!
    
    Reply
2. Fergus
  
  September 8, 2015
  
  Oh no!! 1 lb of (food grade) citric acid is $3.85, and 8 lbs is $15.84 ($1.98/lb) at the Bulk Apothecary.
  
  Reply
Jonathan

February 9, 2014

I see a potential chemical reaction here. The washing soda and the citric acid, when in the presence of water, will be converted to sodium citrate and carbon dioxide. It’s not a harmful reaction; in fact, sodium citrate is an ingredient in typical commercial dishwasher detergent.

Just wanted to point out that the ingredients you put in aren’t necessarily the ones doing the work. And if you were thinking sodium citrate was one of those nasty chemicals that you don’t want to subject your family to, I’m sorry to inform you that you have been wrong. 🙂

Reply
HEIDI

February 8, 2014

I really wanted this to work for me – even met a woman in the detergent isle who had been making it for years and loves this recipe!
I used LemiShine – not sure if the citric acid works better?
My issue – food didn’t et completely washed off.
Glassware is all cloudy/gritty…
I put the deterent in the bottom of washer (3rd time)
and vinegar in rinse…not sure what the issue is or how to adjust the recipe to fix this?
Any ideas would be appreciated, thanks1

Reply
Melissa B

January 26, 2014

I’ve tried so many of your home recipes and love them all! For some reason, this one isn’t working out so well for me. It seems my dishes keep coming out with a white film on them. I’ve tried adding some vinegar to the rinse cycle, but that hasn’t done anything. Do you have any other ideas of how I can fix this? Thanks so much!!

Reply
1. HEIDI
  
  February 8, 2014
  
  I’m having the same issue, and I don’t believe we have hard water where I live – hope we get a response 🙂
  
  Reply
  1. Dave
    
    February 14, 2014
    
    Same here….you better check down under the filter and the drain area. That white film was like concrete sand under the drain. It had created an abrasive mess and ruined our drain assembly. Not worth it unfortunately…..
    
    Reply
Angela Wade

January 26, 2014

After much research, I am very happy with this recipe! To prevent clumping and hardening, I simply add the citric acid when I start my dishwasher. I do not mix it in with other ingredients. Works great! Thanks Wellness Mama!

Reply