This Easy and Affordable Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Makes Your Dishes Sparkle

Making your own dishwasher detergent is one of those homemade cleaners that is so easy to make, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start making it a long time ago! The ingredients are inexpensive, and I already had all of them on hand from making my homemade laundry detergent and other homemade cleaners. 🙂 The detergent works really […]

Making your own dishwasher detergent is one of those homemade cleaners that is so easy to make, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start making it a long time ago! The ingredients are inexpensive, and I already had all of them on hand from making my homemade laundry detergent and other homemade cleaners. 🙂

The detergent works really well, battles my hard water, and also works as a scouring powder! Just sprinkle a little in a dirty kitchen sink and give it scrub. It whitens the sink and leaves it super clean – plus it smells great!

Powdered Dishwasher Detergent/Scouring Powder:

• 1/4 cup citric acid (You can find citric acid online, at a health food store, or you can use two packets of lemonade-flavored koolaid — only lemon and only unsweetened!)
• 15 drops Lemon Essential Oil

Dishwasher Detergent

Combine and store in airtight container. If you have a leftover silica gel packet from a bottle of medicine or a shoe box, throw the packet in the container with the detergent – it will help prevent clumping!

Dishwasher Detergent

Add 1-2 tablespoons per load along with a splash of white vinegar as a rinse agent to prevent spots. (Place a small cup half full of white vinegar on the top rack.) The vinegar makes a HUGE difference! Makes the glasses shine!

Breathe Jar

The baking soda, washing soda, and borax are all natural disinfectants and mild abrasives. Borax has some surprising uses including softening the washing water and acting as a stain-remover so it is a great addition to this homemade detergent. The lemon essential oil and citric acid also disinfect, and they smell so clean! The kosher salt is great for hard water, and the vinegar rinse makes glasses sparkle!

Dishwasher Detergent

I like storing it in this container, because it works well as a dispenser whether using as a detergent or a scouring powder!

Dishwasher Detergent

You may need to tweak the recipe to suit your individual needs, but at this cost, it is totally worth it! One of my favorite things about making cleaners myself is that I customize every batch. 🙂