If you’ve ever tried making homemade dishwasher detergent and been disappointed with the results, chances are you were closer to a great recipe than you thought! Most do-it-yourself formulas use the same basic ingredients, but there’s a trick to getting them to work.
You see, cleansers like washing soda are considered a base, while buildup removers like citric acid are, well, an acid! While both of these components are essential to a good recipe, they neutralize each other if used at the same time. Many homemade recipes mix them together, when really they’re best left separate.
Here’s an analogy: Hot water is soothing and relaxing, while cold water is refreshing and invigorating. However, when you mix the two together you end up with tepid water and lose the benefits of both.
What makes a good dishwasher detergent recipe?
Most commercial detergents use at least 50% washing soda in their formulas, with the remaining ingredients usually being water softeners and rinse aids.
Unfortunately, the extra ingredients in most popular detergents – this one, for example – get an “F” from the EWG for things like developmental and reproductive toxicity, respiratory concerns, environmental toxicity and carcinogenicity. That’s not a problem that goes away when our dishwater flows back to the municipal treatment plant – many of these chemicals are not filtered out when the water is processed and sent back into our homes.
The reason companies use these chemicals is because they’re not acidic like most natural rinse aids and therefore won’t neutralize the washing soda. However, there’s another way to use washing soda without giving up a natural rinse aid, and that’s to introduce your cleanser and rinse aid during different points of the wash cycle so they don’t cancel each other out.
This detergent recipe calls for pure washing soda as the primary cleansing agent, which should be followed by one or both of the rinse aids I’ll be sharing later this week.
Really, just washing soda?
If this is what you’re thinking, you’re not alone. Other homemade recipes contain ingredients like borax, salt, and baking soda, which can make them seem more legitimate somehow. Truth be told, though, all three of these ingredients do the same thing as washing soda – raise pH and soften water – just less effectively.
The only exception is borax, which in addition to helping raise pH also combines with washing soda to create hydrogen peroxide. However, you can get the same effect – only stronger – simply by using a natural oxygen bleach in your formula. This can be helpful if you’re still experiencing hard water deposits after using this detergent plus one or both of the rinse aids.
For instructions on adding oxygen bleach to your recipe, see the troubleshooting section at the bottom of this post.
What to buy if you don’t want to DIY
I often get questions about what store-bought options I recommend for different products – even one-ingredient recipes like this one. When I set out to find a store-bought alternative to this dishwasher detergent, I thought for sure the best option would be another powdered detergent. Turns out, though, that this liquid gel is one of the highest rated for both safety and performance.
For a rinse aid, Eco-Me is made with just four ingredients – vinegar, citric acid, coconut-derived soap and plant-derived solubilizer. The soap and stabilizer both score a “1” with the Environmental Working Group, which is the safest rating possible, and vinegar and citric acid are what I use in my homemade rinse aid.
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipe
This is the recipe I use regularly because it’s simple and – more importantly – it works.
Ingredients
- 4 cups washing soda (here’s where to buy it)
- 15-30 drops grapefruit essential oil, optional (this is what I use)
- 5-10 drops lemon essential oil, optional (this is what I use)
To Make
Combine ingredients and stir until there are no clumps. Pour into a jar, add clay pouch if desired, and seal tightly with a lid.
To Use
Use about 2 tablespoons per load. See instructions on the next two pages for information on using this formula with a homemade rinse aid.
Troubleshooting
My dishwasher detergent is clumping. Help! – Add two tablespoons of bentonite clay in a pouch or small sock. This prevents the dishwasher detergent from clumping in high humidity areas. It’s placed in a pouch because it’s not meant to mix with the formula, just absorb excess moisture. However, it’s very rarely necessary. I never use the clay in my home and I have no issues with clumping.
I tried the homemade dishwasher detergent and I’m still experiencing hard water deposits. What do I do? – Instead of 4 cups washing soda, use just 2 cups washing soda and add in 2 cups powdered oxygen bleach that contains no fillers – I buy this brand on Amazon. It says it’s 99% pure oxygen bleach (Sodium Percarbonate), but it’s totally pure, non-toxic sodium percarbonate with nothing added. The other 1% is moisture.
Emy
August 27, 2017 at 7:38 AMThis is a great blog. I came across it via wholesome mama blog and I’m loving it!
bobbie jo
August 27, 2017 at 1:22 PMi do dishes the old fashioned way, by hand, do u have a recipe for regular dish soap?
Darlene
August 27, 2017 at 5:00 PMJust wondering whether the essential oils are just for scent or for disinfecting as well. I’m severely allergic to the citrus oils (although not the citric acid used in the rinse aid). If its just scent I’d probably use lavender. If disinfectant, I’d probably add some bay, thyme, rosemary, and/or sage.
Heather
August 27, 2017 at 5:56 PMThey’re helpful as a degreaser but not necessary. I often use just washing soda and it works beautifully. 🙂
Lucia Jacobs
August 27, 2017 at 6:52 PMI have your ebook on cleaning products (which I love) – does home-made washing soda (baked baking soda, your recipe for laundry detergent) work as well as buying it? Thanks!
Samantha
January 27, 2019 at 6:01 PMCan I use “Super Washing Soda”?
Heather
January 30, 2019 at 7:32 PMYes 🙂
Trisha
August 28, 2017 at 11:32 AMGreat! My other dish detergent recipe contained epsom salt, washing soda and lemon juice. I’m about out, so I’ll try this simple recipe. Simple is always good. I also took your advice on laundry detergent, using hot water since my homemade stuff has borax in it. and started using Oxi-Clean. Another blog had recently posted an article about how homemade detergent doesn’t work (they were trying to sale some expensive, “natural” detergent, no thanks!) Thanks for the encouragement to not give up on homemade and telling me what really works! Our clothes have been looking and smelling cleaner:)
Mary
September 6, 2017 at 12:25 AMHi Heather, I have a big box of Arm & Hammer all natural super washing soda already on hand. The box doesn’t say anything about using it in the dishwasher but for using in the washing machine and cleaning around the house. Will this work as a good substitute for what you use? I just hate to buy more of something I already have. Thanks
Debbie
September 7, 2017 at 11:15 AMYes you can, I use the same Arm & Hammer washing soda in my dishwasher detergent recipe.
Michelle
September 12, 2017 at 6:12 PMDo you need to use a rinse aid or will it work to just use the washing soda?
Heather
September 12, 2017 at 6:51 PMIn my experience you really need the rinse aid as well 🙂
Lisa
January 2, 2018 at 8:27 PMHow do you make the rinse aid?
Heather
January 2, 2018 at 10:41 PMYou can find the recipe here: https://mommypotamus.com/natural-dishwasher-rinse-aid/
Jamie
January 8, 2018 at 12:13 PMI’ve been using this and the rinse-aid recipe for about a month now and it works beautifully. Much better than a previous homemade recipe I had found. There is no left-over residue as before, and this recipe is really simple. Thankyou so much for sharing it! 🙂
Tonya
April 9, 2018 at 2:07 PMWhen using this and a diluted vinegar rinse aid my dishes come out with a powdery film on them. Any advice you can give me to remedy this?
Heather
April 9, 2018 at 8:15 PMHave you tried this homemade rinse aid?
Tonya
May 6, 2018 at 6:03 PMThank you Heather, I have been using the rinse aid you suggested for a few weeks now and it really does make all the difference in the world. I have not used any essential oils in either the detergent or the rinse aid yet my dishes are clean and film free. Thank you again for another super simple recipe to help detoxify my home!
Heather
May 6, 2018 at 6:20 PMSo glad it has worked well for you, Tonya!
Kimberly Kelly
July 11, 2018 at 1:08 PMThis recipe works great in my dishwasher! I’ve tried 3 different recipes, and this is the best. I don’t even have to use a rinse aid. My dishwasher is running better since using this recipe and is cleaner inside that it’s been in a long time. Thank you, Heather, for researching on best safe products and for your great website!
Sabrina Dolci
August 9, 2018 at 5:47 PMI made a 1/2 batch of this last night (2 cups washing soda, 15 drops of grapefruit EO, and 5 of Lemon EO). I used 2T in my dishwasher per the instructions and woke up super excited to unload my dishwasher this morning, only to find every single one of them covered in a white film that I cannot get off. I have run it 2 additional times with no detergent, only using the seventh gen (brilliant shine rinse) because I still have some. So I’m wondering what can I do? Why did this happen? How can I get this off without manually scraping every single dish?! ?
Heather
August 23, 2018 at 1:55 PMAck, I’m sorry to hear that! I wonder if the washing soda reacted with detergent residue that was on the dishes or perhaps the water?
Nichole Langham
September 29, 2018 at 12:05 PMYou have to run a load with a few cups of vinegar to get the gunk off. Adding citric acid to your rinse will definitely help So you don’t have to do vinegar again.
Brenda
August 12, 2018 at 4:54 PMWhat is a clay pouch?
Heather
August 23, 2018 at 1:52 PMTo make one, add two tablespoons of bentonite clay in a pouch or small sock. This prevents the dishwasher detergent from clumping in high humidity areas. It’s placed in a pouch because it’s not meant to mix with the formula, just absorb excess moisture. However, it’s very rarely necessary. I never use the clay in my home and I have no issues with clumping.
Deb
August 12, 2018 at 7:23 PMI was told my new dishwasher has to have enzymes in the detergent; will this work? Will it harm a stainless steel lining? I switched to using your recipe in the old dishwasher and it worked really well – til it malfunctioned and flooded our kitchen!
Sabrina Dolci
August 12, 2018 at 10:57 PMHELP!!! I made this detergent, and was so excited to use it – only to find my dishes [and the dishwasher] covered in a white powdery type of residue after using it. I have run it again, three more times. It’s still there. I used the remainder of the seventh generation rinse aid I had on hand, just water, and oxy on the 3 washes after. What happened? Is there anything I can do to fix this?
Miray
August 18, 2018 at 3:18 AMThe same thing happened to me. I think our glass dishes are etched by the washing soda and I am afraid they are permanently damaged. This would be the first and last recipe I will try from this blog.
Nancy Wise
September 2, 2018 at 5:11 AMIn her homeaid rinse aid post, she mentions preping the dishwasher first because deposits may be loosened and redeposited to dishes. I wonder if this is what happened?
Nichole Langham
September 29, 2018 at 12:08 PMYou need to run citric acid or vinegar in the dishwasher to remove the builduo. Running it with the dishes will help get the hard water sum off too. Use a few cups of vinegar once your dishwasher gets going. If that doesn’t do it I’ve read to use a whole gallon, I inever had to though.
Fredia
September 1, 2018 at 5:13 PMHeather:
You’ve mentioned here, and an a email you sent tht you use only washing soda in your dishwasher.
You email also contains a link to where to buy washing soda.
Do you know that you can make washing soda?
Just spread baking soda on a foil lined cookie sheet and bake at 400 for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Voila = baking soda becomes washing soda. Even better, baking soda has many other uses and is inexpensive when bought at Costco — about $12.00 for a 13 lb bag.
Yvonne
January 20, 2019 at 11:13 PMCan you use OxiClean brand oxygen bleach on a dishwasher; or does it need to be like the one that is linked?
Heather
January 22, 2019 at 6:56 PMBased on the MSDS sheets I’ve found, unscented Oxyclean is not just washing soda: it’s a mix of washing soda (sodium carbonate), sodium percarbonate and powdered hydrogen peroxide. I am not sure if that combination is dishwasher safe, but you could check with them and see.
Merin Cherian
March 12, 2019 at 10:58 PMHi
I have tried your recipe with washing soda and citric acid as the rinse aid but my cups are not coming out clean as they still have tea stains. What can I do for that? Do you have any suggestions?
Russ
April 5, 2019 at 11:32 PMBest simple one that works well is 3 parts Baking Soda (Turns to washing soda, CO2) and Sodium Percarbonate (Turns to washing soda, and H2O2 ‘hydrogen peroxide’) with about 10 drops of Dawn liquid.
You can tell it really works, because once you have used it a few times, you will realize you have not seen the inside of your dishwasher that clean in years…