Cost Cutting: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

Today I made a new batch of dishwasher detergent.

Many of the recipes that you will find online call for washing soda instead of baking soda. I had trouble finding washing soda when I first started this, so I looked it up and found out that there is a difference between the two, but it is in the manufacturing. From what I read if you combine baking soda with boiling water, it will chemically change to the same product as washing soda when it is dehydrated. (Does anyone know where to find this article? I’d love to properly cite it but can’t remember where I read it.)

Now, I admit–I’m too lazy to do that. So I decided to give baking soda a try instead (knowing that it is going to get to be at least 120 degrees inside my dishwasher anyway). It worked perfectly–and has been working perfectly for months. A word of caution: don’t expect miracles–you can’t toss baked-on crusted-on dishes in the dishwasher with this stuff and expect it to come out sparkling (or for your dishwasher to keep running for very long for that matter). However, if you rinse your dishes lightly before placing them in this dishwasher, this is a super easy way to save. It takes me about 2 minutes to make several months worth of detergent and a side benefit: I never have to worry about running out!

To make:

Mix 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup borax, and 1 package of lemonade or lemon-lime flavored kool-aid packet (this helps to cut grease – DO NOT use a red or dark colored kool-aid! Your dishes WILL stain!). Store in your old detergent box or a plastic container will do. I store mine in the last dishwasher detergent box that I bought sometime last year for now.

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