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I’ve posted a lot of recipes for DIY natural cleaners in the past, but dishwasher detergent was one that I had trouble figuring out. I’d experimented with a lot of recipes, but all of them left a little residue, especially on glass. I wasn’t sure if I had too much of something or if I was missing an ingredient that would make it more effective.
Natural Dishwasher Detergent
Thanks to a little tip on Pinterest last week, I figured out what the missing ingredient was: Citric Acid.
Thankfully, I already had this on hand for making soothing salt bath bombs and after birth bath fizzies, so I was able to give it a try.
The result: clean and shiny dishes… finally (and naturally).
Much Ado…
I should mention that this recipe does include Borax, which has been the center of much online debate. In my personal opinion, Borax is very much on the low end of the scale when it comes to the potential toxicity of chemicals in cleaning products.
If not, I’ve also used enzyme cleaners like Biokleen and Tropical Traditions’ dishwasher soap and both seem to work well and do not contain borax.
DIY Dishwasher Detergent Recipe
Ingredients:
- 2 parts borax
- 2 parts washing soda
- 1 part citric acid
- 1 part salt
- essential oils for scent (completely optional)
Instructions:
- Combine all ingredients and store in an air tight container.
- Use 1 tablespoon per 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.
- You can also add white vinegar as the rinse agent, though honestly, I forget this most of the time and it still works.
Notes:
1 Part= Any Measure you want.
In other words, if 1 part=1 cup, you would use 2 cups each of borax and washing soda and 1 cup each of citric acid and salt. If 1 part was 1/4 cup, you’d use 1/2 cup of borax/washing soda and 1/4 cup of citric acid/salt.
Not Working for you?
Homemade powdered dish detergent can be tricky and depending on how hard/soft your water is and the temperature you wash dishes at, it can be really difficult to find a recipe that works.
If you aren’t up for the DIY option, here is my review of all the natural store-bought versions I’ve tried and which ones actually worked. Also, there are quite a few other homemade dishwasher detergent recipes floating around online, like this one from Crunchy Betty and this one from Kitchen Stewardship, so if you want to experiment with other recipes, check theirs out.
New to Natural Cleaning?
If you’re just starting out with DIY or natural cleaners, here are some other easy and inexpensive recipes:
Natural Stain Treatment Reference Sheet [Printable]
Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent
Natural All-Purpose Cleaner Recipe
Natural Oven Cleaning
Natural Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe
Easy Homemade Scouring Powder Recipe
Natural Cleaning and Organizing Checklist
Natural Bathroom Cleaning
Natural Kitchen Cleaning
What do you use in the dishwasher? Ever made your own dishwasher detergent? Share below!
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I’ve been making my dishwasher soap for a couple years. I use baking soda and not washing soda. Also, for citric acid, I use a packet of unsweetened lemonade kool aid. It works well. And of course the vinegar.
Where do you get the kool aid from? Do we have it here in Australia?
No dishwashers for me! I would rather only think about my dishes once. What do you use when you hand wash dishes?
I stopped using dish soap several months back when I purchased some high-quality microfiber cloths that pick up EVERYTHING. There are two brands you can choose from: Norwex and eCloth. The Norwex cloths are self-purifying so can be used for multiple days, but are much pricier. I would personally recommend buying seven eCloth rags, using a clean one each day, and laundering weekly. I still keep my dish soap around in case of a really greasy job (like after frying eggrolls), but 99% of the time I just wash my dishes with hot water and the rag.
After visiting the eCloth site, I have recognized that your use of eCloths is most certainly off label. These cloths were designed for home cleaning, not dishwashing. It says on the site that the cloths deposit 1% of bacteria back onto the surface you are cleaning. I would not trust these cloths for dishwashing purposes. They do, however look fantastic for other home uses.
I did that for awhile. I got sick. Use soap.
I don’t have a dish washer either so I make castile soap for hand/body and dish soap. If you’re not ready to make soap, you can extend the life of a purchased bar soap by turning it into liquid soap. Dr. Bronners works well. 1 bar = 1 gallon liquid soap. Search the interwebs for how to make liquid soap from bar soap.
I have been using a similar recipe for almost 2 years now and I’m never going back to the store bought junk. The citric acid is what makes the batch clump. But I use lemon juice instead of the acid because it is more readily available. Also I don’t have a problem with residue using lemon juice.
Forgot to be more specific : add the lemon juice separately from your powder mixture
How much powder and how much lemon juice? Mix them and then add to dishwasher? Or just add them in the dishwasher?
Thanks for sharing! I’m not keen on citric acid.
how much lemon juice do you use for the recipe above?
I fill my detergent slot that you close with the powder and other open slot with lemon juice. It comes to be about 1/4 cup each. Hope this helps
I fill my detergent slot that you close with the powder and other open slot with lemon juice. It comes to be about 1/4 cup each. Hope this helps
Way too much. This is designed to use only 1 tablespoon per wash.
When you use the lemon juice instead of the citric acid are you making them into tabs or just puring the powder in the dishwasher spot with the lid and adding the lemon juice there too?
I just made my 1st batch using lemon juice because of that very reason! Much easier to get my hands on,cheap.
I have been using this recipe and I have cloudy dishes all the time and sometimes they don’t get very clean. I have added vinegar and it does not seem to help. Any other suggestions??
I have been using this recipe for over a year an must use the few drops of dish soap, vinegar and a Jet Dry basket. The basket may not be all natural, but it lasts a couple months and it still quite cost effective. It helps me with my hard water. ;0)
Try lemon juice as a citric acid substitute to help with the cloudiness
How much lemon juice did you use to substitute for the citric acid?
Three drops of DAWN dish soap, plus the vinegar. Mine come out great!
NEVER use dish detergent in ur washer or dishwasher! This could damage your machine with build-up as well as voiding your factory warranty.
That is why you only use two or three drops. It will not create enough suds because it is well diluted.
I’m having the same problem- a dull residue on dishes. We use collected rain water which should be good. I used this recipe last summer with excellent results.
Last year, I did put dissolved Washing Soda in my collection tanks which seems to soften the water, and have done the same this summer. Very frustrating.
I recently read that pouring vinegar into the rinse hole is not a good idea, which is what I have been doing. It breaks down the rubber gaskets. The new idea was to put a glass upright in the top rack filled with vinegar, this would seem to work the same as just pouring it in the bottom!
I believe that vinegar breaks ALL of the seals down, not just the dispensing unit. I don’t think putting a glass of vinegar in the top rack is going to solve that problem.
Do you have a clumping problem? I made mine and half of it is pretty solid on the bottom of my mason jar… I’m going to have to stab at it with a knife to break it up. :/ Any thoughts on how to prevent this in the future batch?
I do love the way it cleans though! Much cheaper than commercial stuff! I also put some distilled vinegar in the bottom of the washer before running, works as the rinse agent and makes my glass sparkle!
We had that problem as well. DH broke it up (with my good bread knife ????) and put it in the fridge. It stopped clumping after that.
Thanks, I’ll have to try that! With a crappy knife!!
just saw your post. i will try this too.
same problem…not sure what to do. it’s solid and i don’t use my dishwasher often enough to break it up regularly. it works great, though. may have to go back to the store bought stuff. 🙁
I made a second batch and pushed it into ice cube trays (not full or it won’t fit in the detergent slot). Let it harden for a day or so and it works fabulously!
It just hardens on its’ own? Do I put it in the tray and sit out?
I tried this and it didn’t harden in a few days…took a couple weeks. I’m at 43 north, in the fall, so not super humid here. Also always a little bit of powder, so I have to keep them stored i the ice cube tray and then dig one out with a butter knife when it’s wash time.
has anyone tried making these in ice cube trays?
Yes! Just don’t fill it all the way or it won’t fit in the tray. It took about a day or so to completely harden. I just left them out in the sun.
Recycle those silica packs you get in packages in your container to keep it dry.
Hi,
put some rice in an old sock, tie it up and let that sit inside the container where you store the powder. That’ll take care of the humidity that’s making the powder harden.
It works well for me.
mine has not only gone as a lump but to a solution!?!? when mixing ingredients together, what have i done wrong?!?
mine has done the same, and it just keeps on expanding! if i put it in an airtight container i’ll have an explosion!! i think it might be the humidity here today- its currently at 60%, (i hate humid weather)
Mine has done the same and when I was shaking the mixture in the container, I did have an explosion. The explosion and me wearing a face/dust mask was quite a picture for my partner – his comment related to mad scientist!
I take a couple of those cartridges that you find in pill bottles and throw those in the container. That keeps the moisture at bay and maintains the consistency. Either that or the silica packets that you find in packaging, like shoe boxes. Third option, put some rice in the toe of old panty hose and tie it off. Trim the excess hose and throw that in the container. I have hard water and add a little extra citric acid.
I’ve tried using an old sock filled with rice and it seems to help with the caking.
I used one of those “Brown Sugar Bears” from Bed Bath & Beyond ($3.99) it works 🙂
washing soda?
It can be found right next to the borax in your big box store’s laundry isle
it is also the same as PH stabilizer in pool stores.
You can make it by cooking baking soda in the oven at 450 for 1 hour. Stir a couple times during cooking. It makes a fine powder when done. Be careful it can make a nice dust on everything when you transfer it to a jar. I make batches and store in a mason jar for making laundry detergent, and such.
This turns sodium bicarbonate to sodium monocarbonate?? Very cool tip!
Do you find your glass is clear now and not cloudy looking? Thanks for the tip! Can’t wait to try this!
yep
Hey can it be sea salt? Or only iodised table salt? Having trouble buying table salt in bulk but can get sea salt easily. For this is salt just salt? Thank you
sea salt is great
Tell me how you are getting your glasses clear because mine are coming out cloudy. I use a combo of borax, citric acid, and baking soda. I’m also using vinegar as a rinse agent.
Not baking soda, washing soda.
Hello! I just made your liquid laundry detergent recipe and I love it. As this is really similar to the dishwasher detergent recipe, could I add citric acid to some of the laundry soap and just use that in the dishwasher? I usually use liquid detergent in the dishwasher. Thanks!
I haven’t yet tried this recipe. Looking forward to it when I’m finished with the store bought stuff I have. But wondering for all of you with cloudy dishes, is your water hot enough. We have to run our tap water at kitchen sink until it’s hot, then start dishwasher, or we have similar problems…
Thanks for this…I too have been trying and failing with the natural dishwahser route, can’t wait to get some citric acid and give this a try.
I too have been having unfavorable results with making my own dishwashing soap until I added dry bleach and find the results to be very good. I found Smart Bleach Crystals at Wal-Mart, added two packets and am quite happy with the results. Glasses and plastics are very clear and shiny. I do also use white vinegar in the rinse dispenser.
could you please send me your recipe for dishwashing soap, I’m tired of having tea stains on my plastic cups.
Try Magic Eraser on cups for tea stains, works on plastics and ceramic. Removes them in seconds.
Thank you! Great idea.
Isn’t this toxic?
Magic Eraser is not toxic but I would think it might scratch a very fine finish. But sounds like a good idea.
This looks great! In step three, you’re adding drops of what to the powder?
Dishwashing liquid
I don’t recommend putting any dishwashing liquid in as, I did this a long time ago and it causes a problem with my dishwasher and was costly to fix , dishwashers are not made to use dishwashing liquid, It caused. A bubble in the hoses because of the agitation it froths up, dishwasher powder doesn’t do this,
That’s why Katie stresses using only a few drops. I do this if the dishes are extra greasy and haven’t had any problems.
Hi Katie,
I hope this finds you and your family thriving and happy! I enjoy your site so much and am working to making a number of your recipes including the toothpaste. I use the deodorant and it is the best I have EVER used!
I am wondering if you might have a recipe for all natural dish soap, please? Not dishwasher soap…as I don’t have one…but one that lathers enough (like the bad stuff) when used in a sink full of water (rather than just sponging one dish at a time).
Thank you for your help, and Happy Easter!
Warmest wishes, Muriel
I’ve experimented with a few different recipes over the years, and here’s the best one I’ve been able to create: https://wellnessmama.com/267150/liquid-dish-soap/
Hi Katie,
Thanks so much for the quick reply! I will give it a go. Someone said try 20/80 castille soap and water.
Have a wonderful day.
Warmest wishes,
Also, I noticed in many of the comments their mixture wasn’t working and leaving the dishes oily, dirty, etc. It might be that they used “baking soda” instead of “washing soda”.
I use Dr. Bronners liquid soap and dilute at least 4 to 1 with distilled water and put in a foaming pump dispenser. Really goes a long way and they have several natural scents and a non scented options. I use this at every sink and even in the shower to shave with.
However, I must note that when I shave a sensitive area like the bikini line. I use oil instead of soap and it prevents razer burn. I mix a little castle oil into some coconut oil or I just use a little olive oil. Couple drops is all it takes. Sometimes I use a whole teaspoon of an oil and rub it onto my whole body while it is wet before getting out and then I just blot dry. Natural lotion. Oh, if you want to use essential oils this is a perfect time to add a drop or two. I am not left greasy. That means that you used to much. Damp skin helps it spread very thin.
I don’t even turn the water off – start high and work down to your feet avoiding your hair.
God Bless
Do not add a few drops of dish washing soap! It ruined our dishwasher. Add white vinegar!
This recipe did not work for me after the first use. It left white residue all over all my dishes, streaky & greasy. I tried adding the vinegar to the rinse, still gross. I tried using 1/2tbs, 1 tbs and 1 1/2 tbs. Fail for me.
Did you ever get this to work? I’ve been using it too, and it leaves my dishes murky and filmy…
I had the same problem until I used more. I fill up the soap container in the dishwasher and it cleaned great.
Mine too, sadly. I tried it for 2 weeks hoping it would work….it was as if I’d washed them in olive oil..the greasy film was so bad. I also got a huge cold sore, so know it did not killed germs as the 6 times I’ve had one in the last 20 years was either when living with roommates who didn’t wash dishes properly..or when travelling and same Mcause I believe. Major fail.
Do not add the powder. Add to the dishwasher “soap dispenser”.