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 natural cleaning recipes 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 dishwasher detergent 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.
So, 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.
The chemicals don’t go away when our dishwater flows back to the municipal treatment plant, either. Many of them are not filtered out when the water is processed and sent back into our homes.
Companies use these problematic additives because they’re not acidic like most natural rinse aids, which means they don’t neutralize the washing soda. Fortunately, there’s a 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.
The detergent recipe below calls for pure washing soda as the primary cleansing agent, which should be followed by one or both of my natural rinse aid recipes.
Really, just washing soda?
If this is what you’re thinking, you’re not alone. Other homemade recipes contain ingredients like borax, kosher salt, epsom 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 along with 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.
Important: Read Before Transitioning To Homemade Dishwasher Soap
Before using this recipe for the first time, it’s important to clear away mineral deposits and/or other residue from your dishwasher. Otherwise, the citric acid may loosen them and then redeposit them on your dishes.
To prepare your dishwasher, place 1/4- 1/2 cup citric acid in the bottom of your empty dishwasher and start a cycle. Allow it to run for 3-5 minutes and then turn the dishwasher off.
Let the water/citric acid solution soak for 3-4 hours and then allow the cycle to complete. Your dishwasher is now ready to run its first homemade detergent cycle!
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipe
Equipment
- mason jar (or other airtight container)
- mixing bowl
- spoon
Ingredients
- 4 cups washing soda (If you want to make your own, here's how to make washing soda from baking soda)
- 15-30 drops grapefruit essential oil (optional)
- 5-10 drops lemon essential oil (optional)
Instructions
To Make:
- Combine your ingredients and stir until there are no clumps. Pour into a mason jar or other airtight container and add a clay pouch to absorb moisture if desired. (This is only needed if you find that your dishwasher detergent is clumping. See the FAQ section below for details.)
To Use:
- Use approximately 2 tablespoons per load, or a little more for extra dirty dishes. See notes for details on which compartment to use.
Notes
- My dishwasher has a pre-rinse compartment that releases the first round of powder into the dishwasher. That’s where I put my dishwasher detergent.
- The main detergent compartment pops open later in the cycle – that’s where I put my rinse aid.
Tried this recipe?
Mention @mommypotamus or tag #mommypotamus!
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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.
This recipe seems to work well even without the rinse aid for some people, but personally I have found it to be essential.
It might be fine, but there’s a possibility that the vinegar could spill out at the same time the washing soda is released, which would neutralize both of their benefits. For that reason I opt not to use this approach.
Make homemade laundry detergent and scouring powder!
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Emy
This is a great blog. I came across it via wholesome mama blog and I’m loving it!
Sathya
Do you think just borax will work, instead of washing soda? Can it be used? I don’t have washing soda at the moment.
bobbie jo
i do dishes the old fashioned way, by hand, do u have a recipe for regular dish soap?
Darlene
Just 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
They’re helpful as a degreaser but not necessary. I often use just washing soda and it works beautifully. 🙂
Lucia Jacobs
I 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
Can I use “Super Washing Soda”?
Heather
Yes 🙂
Trisha
Great! 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
Hi 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
Yes you can, I use the same Arm & Hammer washing soda in my dishwasher detergent recipe.
Bill
Can I upcycle my used refrigerator baking soda into washing soda?
Michelle
Do you need to use a rinse aid or will it work to just use the washing soda?
Heather
In my experience you really need the rinse aid as well 🙂
Lisa
How do you make the rinse aid?
Heather
You can find the recipe here: https://mommypotamus.com/natural-dishwasher-rinse-aid/
Rick
I was just about to ask the same question – thanks for the link!
Jamie
I’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
When 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
Have you tried this homemade rinse aid?
Tonya
Thank 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
So glad it has worked well for you, Tonya!
Amira
Hi, do I need the rinse aid if using this recipe if I have soft water? Thanks in advance!
Kimberly Kelly
This 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
I 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
Ack, 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?
Ashley
Hello!
I have just tried this for the first time.
But my “pre-wash” section in my dishwasher, isn’t big enough for 2 table spoons of the washing soda. I tried to keep it in there the best I could, but much of the second table spoon overflows the compartment and spills out.
Will this be okay?? Should I use less? Or put what doesn’t fit into the bottom of my dishwasher?
Nichole Langham
You 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
What is a clay pouch?
Heather
To 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
I 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
HELP!!! 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
The 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
In 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?
Didi
Is this safe to use in stainless steel dishwasher
Nichole Langham
You 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
Heather:
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
Can you use OxiClean brand oxygen bleach on a dishwasher; or does it need to be like the one that is linked?
Heather
Based 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
Hi
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?
Heather Dessinger
I suggest replacing half of the washing soda with powdered oxygen bleach for extra cleaning power.
Russ
Best 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…
Linda
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! It is my go-to for dish washing. It works like a charm, smells beautiful, easy on the budget – what’s not to love?
Kaycee
Thank you for the wonderful recipe. It appears that your purpose is to help people live more holistically, self sufficiently and free from the corporate box. Can i ask, no beg, that you not promote Amazon. Too many do not understand how they take (or we give it) that lifestyle away from us. Be well. It’s worse than promoting Walmart
Cherie Suzette
Heather, we live in Arizona and have both a soft water tank and water filter tank which makes our water very good. What would you suggest we use in our dishwasher instead of store bought?
Heather Dessinger
Hi Cheri, I’ve never lived in an area with soft water and therefore haven’t tested any recipes under soft water conditions, so unfortunately I’m just not sure.
Joelle
I have extremely soft water and find that I can just use less of the homemade recipe. I use about a teaspoon and a half of the dish detergent which is a very similar recipe to the one given here. Try a much smaller amount and play around with it until you decide on the right amount for your softened water.
Greta
If anyone has any advice I need it. I tried this recipie (after cleaning out my dish washer). I then added the powdered oxygen bleach. I then tried the rinse aid. Then I tried more vinegar to re-clean the dishwasher and then added it to loads of dishes to try and salvage them. I need suggestions. I can not get the resulting film off of a single one of my dishes and they feel and look terrible even after several rounds of hand washing. Im a) very angry that several of my dishes are seemingly ruined and b) very frustrated that I bought all the ingredients to make these and now all that money and material is wasted. If anyone can offer any help to salvage my dishes or what to do with the pre-mixed dishwasher powder I’m desperate for it.
Jenns
I would try powdered barkeeper’s friend. It gets hard water residue off of glass and is great for many cleaning applications
Susan Dobrowney
How does this work when the inside of the dishwasher is stainless steel?
Anna
Hi All,
I seem to have a problem with the dishwasher detergent. All dishes are covered with white film and you can actually feel the powder under your fingers. I really want to make it work so I would appreciate for your suggestions and comments. Here is what I did:
-I made washing soda as per instructions without essential oils (we don’t like strong smells)
-meanwhile, I cleaned my dishwasher with citric acid crystals, as per instructions
-i used vinegar as a rinse aid (we only have compartment for liquid)
-I run the dishes with washing soda and all the dishes, especially top compartment had a white film
-I did cleaning with citric acid again (now I spread it at the bottom of the dishwasher and put some more into detergent compartment)
-still glasses come out white and powdery
I would appreciate your help and suggestions!
Anna
H
I’m venturing to try this, but I am a bit nervous after reading some of the reviews. I’m curious as to what brand / types of dish washers you guys use and if there seems to be a coloration with the results on that basis? Also wondering if for those making their own washing soda from baking soda, how much would results differ if the soda was baked a little too long or too short?
Julie
I tried this recipe, making the washing soda from baking soda. I have the same problem as many others here – powdery film covering my dishes. But what I don’t understand is how you can use this powder without breathing it? It gets in the air, however carefully I’m scooping it, and ends up everywhere. My face and lips were burning after I baked the soda, put it in a jar and then scooped some in my dishwasher, and I kept having to blow my nose. Plus I had to clean a layer of dust on everything in my kitchen. Must be really bad for sinuses. I will have to use it since I don’t want to waste the batch I made, but I definitely won’t make more after that.
Carol L
To those having powdery film: you may just be using way too much of the product. I had that issue and just used less. Problem solved. What material are your dishes made of, for those of you not able to get the film off? I use only glass, ceramic, or stainless steel and have not had issues. I would assume that using malamine or plastic based dishes would result in not being able to get it off.
tiranda
Carol, I was seeing somewhat the opposite: clear glass items got the film, plastic dishes (tupperware, I don’t use melamine), no film. I ran an acidic powder in the machine as Heather instructed and it seems to have worked. I have been using less anyway–the prewash section only takes about 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon, if I am saving the big cup for the rinse agent.
Carol L
You know, I have a recipe that uses only washing soda in the tub of the dishwasher, and citric acid in the dishwasher pod compartment or whatever it’s called. I then add a couple of tiny squirts of a liquid castile soap to help with grease… (Just don’t add TOO MUCH! I did once, squirted a bit over the top and bottom baskets as there were some really greasy dishes, then added some where I usually put it on the washing soda…YIKES! Soap running all over the floor.) I never have issues. UNLESS I use too much. … this has worked extremely well for me. I rarely have film issues, and if I do, I just cut back on the two ingredients. I still fill the rinse compartment with ACV, but it often goes ‘dry ‘ without me knowing and I still don’t have issues.
Ashley Christensen
My pre rinse slot only holds 1 tablespoon of the detergent and I was just wondering if I should just throw the other tablespoon in the dishwasher or how I can get 2 tablespoons in the load. Thanks for the recipes!
Chantal
I have the same question!
Joe Q.
The white cloudy film on glassware is not usually from etching, but rather from residue left by hard water. You can remove it by running the dishwasher again with just citric acid or vinegar (the former should work better), or maybe by soaking the dishes in vinegar or citric acid.
Most commercial dishwasher powders are made with sodium percarbonate plus sodium carbonate, along with an activator, some kind of water softening agent, and some enzymes. The sodium percarbonate plus sodium carbonate combo is basically OxyClean, and generates hydrogen peroxide when mixed in water. The activator boosts the power of that peroxide. Without the sodium percarbonate, it’s hard to get deep stains (coffee, tea, tomato sauce, etc.) off the dishes. The enzymes are there primarily to chemically break up grease.
The comment in this article about borax plus washing soda (sodium carbonate) making hydrogen peroxide is incorrect. That chemical reaction can’t happen.
Shradha
Hi,
Your recipe uses just washing soda. I have seen more recipes that add Baking Soda along with Citric Acid and Kosher Salt to soften the hard water?
Is that good too?
Would Baking Soda, Citric Acid and Salt ruin the machine parts by any chance?
I am concerned about that before starting to use home made dishwasher soap. Can you advise?
Melissa Posey
I read your article on homemade dishwasher detergent. I followed your advice and used just washing soda…it works great!! The first couple of times the dishes didn’t seem as clean, but it’s great now! Excited that I was able to make such an easy change toward a more natural home! Thanks!
Gail
I was given a recipe of 2 Cups Washing Soda, 2 Cups Borax and 8 oz. citric acid to use as a pre-wash in my dishwasher. Is this a viable recipe?
Ika
It’s great idea. Thanks for sharing this 🙂
tiranda
Due to a snowstorm and icy roads I couldn’t get to the store for more dishwasher detergent so I made up half the recipe of this. Glass items turned out white after the first couple of times. I added more vinegar to the rinse agent dispenser (couldn’t find my citric acid). Glass items still came out translucent, but not as bad. Uh, not a win.
For one thing, 2 tablespoons of powder will not fit into my machine’s “prewash” slot. I don’t know how you determined it had to be 2 tablespoons but that is what I used. I may try a couple more runs with as much as will fit and putting vinegar in the detergent compartment, since I have this and it snowed and froze again.
Likely I’ll just switch back to the commercial cleaner when the roads are clear. This is an intriguing idea, it just may not be working for me. Luckily I’m not stuck with unusable stuff yet, if my next trials aren’t successful I can move on to try your laundry and scouring powder recipes!
Thanks to commenter Joe for discussing some points of chemistry. Maybe I will try pouring some hydrogen peroxide in the machine. Maybe not.
You have an awesome blog!
Heather Dessinger
HI Tiranda, I’m so glad you the blog! You mentioned that you couldn’t find your citric acid, so I’m thinking you probably didn’t use it to clear away built-up mineral deposits before using the detergent for the first time. I highly recommend that step as you try a few more runs.
tiranda
Okay. Trying it now (the citric acid jar surfaced finally). My DW doesn’t seem to have a “pause in midcycle” setting so the door is just off the latch and the machine is cheeping every so often to let me know. We’ll see which one gives in first…
tiranda
looping back to report success. I just turned up some music and let it cheep:) while the citric did its work and now clear glass comes out clear. Thanks for this recipe, I will move on to some of your others now, but will follow your instructions more diligently!
Amy Hernandez
Oh my word… THANK YOU FOR THIS!! Over the years, I’ve tried “natural” dishwasher detergents and honestly, they either didn’t work (left a film if I didn’t include a few drops of Dawn) or were too complicated to quickly whip up a batch. My hubby was adamant that I needed to just “run to Wal-Mart” to get more of what we’d been using.. which, unfortunately was NOT natural.
I already had everything on hand, since I use washing soda in my DIY laundry detergent, so on Wednesday night, I did the citric acid “cleanout” of our dishwasher. Yesterday, I loaded it, and last night, ran a load. I used citric acid in the “other” dispenser, as well as vinegar in the rinseaid area. I added a few drops of orange essential oil in with the washing soda, just to scent it a bit.
I went to put the dishes away while ago and they were sparkling clean! Absolutely NO residue!! And it’s a pretty old dishwasher that’s seen better days (we live in a rental). SO, off to eBay I went to order a 10lb bag of non GMO citric acid. This will be my dishwasher detergent from this point forward. So again, THANK YOU!!
Heather Dessinger
I’m so glad it worked well for you, Amy!
Gandhimathi
Hi,
The cleaning recipes are very useful. Thanks for sharing them.
I would like to receive the FREE ebook of non-toxic cleaning recipes pdf.
Thanks
Gandhimathi
Stephanie
I just used this for the first time this week. The first load was decently washed. But the second, it just did not seem to cut the grease on some items. And the top rack seems to get forgotten a bit. Something I haven’t had an issue with when using store bought pods. Any ideas? I did not use the rinse aid, but have just vinegar in my washers rinse aid compartment.