Comments on: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipes

By: Aubrey

Aubrey — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:03:45 +0000

I used this recipe but it won’t work unless you get every bit of food, grime, or slime off the dishes first. Is there something else I can add to the mix to get the dishes actually clean? I’m trying to save money and not to smell bleach or chlorine while they are washing. The smell is great, but the money part…. seems as though I am wasting. Can you help?

By: Christina

Christina — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:38:56 +0000

I agree on the viniger and baking soda, sue. My husband still uses baking soda and water for indigestion. Ants can die from it prob due to the fact that they cant burp? Just like the mean thing I heard from my dad of the pigeions and alka selzters. They would explode due to the fact they couldnt burp. I use a fabulous homade laundry detergent and would never buy store bought again. dont need fabric softner or dryer sheet except on a few items. Jeans, towels and most colors no need. They smell fresh and are very clean. I have had only two items that need static control. I tried the dishwasher recipies and they hit and miss with residue. My dishwasher is a new one..Bosh. I can seee how the different types of water in different areas could indeed effect the results. Prob several things. But i appreciate anyone willinging to share their recipies nevertheless!!! Thank you.

By: Bonita K Wilson

Bonita K Wilson — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:23:21 +0000

Hi,I have an old dishwasher that still works great.Probably 20 yrs old.We have very hard water as a lot of you do.I learned a long time ago from the back of the box I use for water softner for my clothes,which is “WHITE KING water softner”,it has a hint on the back of the box,on using 1 Tablespoon pr dishload in the bottom of the dishwasher, I also just put in 1 level scoop of dishwashing powder in the bottom at the start,is all I put in for all the cycles.My dishes are clean,it’s cheap,and it works.The scoop I use is from one of those drink mixes,it holds 2 Tablespoons.I never use the baskets to fill.That would take 1/2 cup or more of detergent.All I know is this works,and doesn’t use much soap.Doesn’t leave a film.Also my friends & neighbors do it too.It’s found in the laundry isle by the washing soda.I have a cottage cheese container with a TB spoon in it,with a lid on it sitting on the dishwasher.And I have another container with a lid and the scoop of the detergent in it.All I have to do is pop the lids,toss the white king,and DW detergent in the bottom of the washer, and start the wash.Really easy.Hope that helps,A box of cascade lasts 6 mo for me. Bonita

By: Leolalee

Leolalee — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:25:54 +0000

Most dishwasher soap, homemade or otherwise, will etch glasses if used in too high a concentrate. If the glasses are truly etched, nothing will clear them up, it is in the glass. If you are getting residue from your detergent, that should wash off. Only use enough detergent to clean the dishes, more in NOT better.

By: Barb

Barb — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 11:25:56 +0000

The BLACK in your dishwasher is caused from too much soap.
Drains get black from soap..not poo-poo.
I would suggest filling the soap dispencer with baking soda. Then 1/2 white vinegar in the bottom of the dishwasher. Then run through the cycles. Would even put more vinegar in the rinse thingy.
Should clean things up.

By: Gillie

Gillie — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:07:53 +0000

Thanks TipNut and Jacklen! I’ve been using Jacklen’s formula for a couple of weeks and am happy so far. We have very hard water here and I find I have to rinse the dishes before putting them in. It also helps to have vinegar in the rinse aid compartment or add some along the way.

By: Patrice C

Patrice C — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:58:32 +0000

When I got a new dishwasher I thought it would be interesting to actually read the how to load since I had been loading a dishwasher for over 25 years and it did say to use less detergent if you had a water softener. To much detergent could eat the etching off the glassware, That is usually what causes the cloudiness. Hope this is helpful.

By: MK Whittenburg

MK Whittenburg — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:12:15 +0000

I just read somewhere that you need to add citric acid to the mixture to avoid getting the etching/cloudiness (recipe follows):

Mix the following and use 1 rounded tablespoon per load:

1 – 55 ounce box of Arm & Hammer® Super Washing Soda
1 – 76 ounce box of 20 Mule Team® Borax
1 – 48 ounce box of coarse Kosher Salt
1 – 2 ounce container of food-grade Citric Acid — You can find this online or at your local brewery or specialty beer store. If you cannot find this you can substitute 10-15 lemon Kool-aid envelopes per batch **the small unsweetened ones**, if you use any other flavor you could easily color the inside of your dishwasher (you need 10-15 envelopes to equal the 1-2oz of straight citric acid.) If you do not use some form of citric acid… you will most likely have the cloudy residue left that most “green” cleaners leave.

Hope this helps clear the air (or dishes) on the cloudiness issue!

By: Dawn

Dawn — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:40:02 +0000

That is true the borax in the laundry isle is dif also if you are feeling so strong against it then don’t use it simple as that…… As in all recipies food or cleaning you need to make acceptions for your family and situations….. If you don’t agree with eating sugar then you don’t feed it to your family, right? Well, do the same with this! Everyone is entitled to your opinion….. Although me myself do believe it is safe and i am actually trying it now…. Thank you for the person that posted this because along with home made laundry soap i am hoping to really cut some costs…..and also one last note to the sceptic out there , most soaps have lye in them but lye in and of itself is dangerous however you still use it to was yourself right?

By: Sarah

Sarah — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 21:17:40 +0000

Adding Kosher or pickling salt (they’re courser than table) Is supposed to help prevent cloudiness and help clean.