HOMEMADE DISHWASHER DETERGENT

     

     Can you tell which glass was washed with Homemade Dishwasher Detergent?  Washing dishes by hand is our preferred method, but since I now have a dishwasher & have had a lot of company I have taken advantage of the time I save by letting my dishwasher do the work.  However, we have an old dishwasher and very hard water that you can't even drink, & when I ran the dishwasher for the 1st time I looked at my glasses and thought that maybe the old relic needed to be ran a few times to clean it out.  Each time company came I had a sink full of dishes that needed washing - each time they came out dingy or cloudy looking.  I surmised it was my detergent - Palmolive - that was a lot cheaper than Cascade.  We refused to pay $10 bucks for a better detergent so I went to work in search of Homemade Dishwasher Detergent & what-do-you-know -- not only was homemade cheaper, but our glasses came out cleaner.  The proof is in the pudding, we say.  (By-the-way, our Homemade is on the left.  Palmolive is on the right!)

     Lets compare the costs: 

           Cascade Powdered Fresh Scent 75 ounces - $10.75 - 28 loads = .38c per load

           Cascade Gel Lemon Scent 75 ounces - $8.75 - 28 loads = .31c per load

           Palmolive® eco+ gel 75 ounce detergent – $3.79 – 28 loads = .14c per load

           Homemade powder 24 ounce detergent – $2.28 – 48 loads = $0.05 per load

     Now, lets look at the initial cost which is what you are going to have to invest to get you started:

These are the ingredients you'll need:

1 – 55 ounce box of Arm & Hammer® Super Washing Soda = $2.19 (or .63c an ounce)

1 – 76 ounce box of 20 Mule Team® Borax = $4.29

1 – 48 ounce box of coarse Kosher Salt = $1.99

1 – 5 pound container of food-grade Citric Acid = $19.00   (Online at soap.com)  If you do not use some form of citric acid you may see a cloudy residue.

1 – gallon of White Vinegar = $3.79

I have pictured Baking Soda (at .49c a lb at Winco) because most recipes call for Baking Soda rather than Super Washing Soda.  (I have not tried Baking Soda yet, but will on my next batch because it is cheaper) 

Once you buy all your ingredients (hopefully on sale with a coupon & do not scrimp on brand name with the Borax or Washing Soda - brand is very important here), follow the recipe below for your Dishwasher Detergent.

In a bowl or pail mix:

• 1 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax
• 1 cup of Super Washing Soda OR 1 cup of Baking Soda (not both)
• 1/2 cup Citric Acid (I used Fruit Fresh because I had it on hand)
• 1/2 cup Kosher Salt (I used what I had on hand - Sea Salt)

 Mix it all up & pour it into a mason jar or whatever you have on hand.

The finished product with a bottle of vinegar for the rinse

 Use 2 Tablespoons per load.  Fill the rinse compartment with the Vinegar.   

                  

Thats it!  Easy and cheap!!