Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipe

Print Pin

4.60 from 77 votes

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Recipe

This homemade dishwasher detergent recipe is simple, affordable and – most importantly – it works.

Prep Time 5

Total Time 5

Servings loads of dishes

Calories

Author Heather Dessinger

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

In terms of loading the dish detergent and rinse aid into the dishwasher, here's how I do it:

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.

Putting them in different compartments so that they release at different times (with the rinse aid going last) ensures that the rinse aid does not interfere with the cleaning power of the detergent and vice versa.

Tried this recipe?

Mention @mommypotamus or tag #mommypotamus!