How to Clean Dishes W/ Own Dishwasher Detergent and Rinse

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How to Clean Dishes W/ Own Dishwasher Detergent and Rinse

With Salt, this Detergent batch cost $1.57 to make....so each load cost only 2 cents! Now that's a bargain. 😄

Lucy Hudnall

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Step 1 of 20

Gather supplies. For hard water or extra scrub..need salt. Vinegar for later.

Step 2 of 20

Measure out 2 cups Borax.

Step 3 of 20

Add 2 cups Baking Soda.

Step 4 of 20

Add 4 packets of Lemonade.

Step 5 of 20

Be sure it is the small sugar free packets.

Step 6 of 20

Why lemonade? See Citric Acid as first ingredient? That's what we want.

Step 7 of 20

For hard water or "extra strength" formula add salt.

Step 8 of 20

1/2 cup salt fine textured. Can use table salt or canning salt.

Step 9 of 20

Sift and mix.

Step 10 of 20

Why sift? You don't have to. But as you can see...😉

Step 11 of 20

Label with your formula.

Step 12 of 20

Use 2 Tablespoons per load. I'm reusing a scoop I had in a drink mix container that is exactly 2 Tablespoons! ♻

Step 13 of 20

If your dishwasher starts to show with a white powder on sides or door. You're adding too much. Clean with vinegar.

Step 14 of 20

For Rinse Aid...

Step 15 of 20

You need Vinegar. I reuse a store bought bottle. ♻

Step 16 of 20

Yep, just pour it in.

Step 17 of 20

Label and its ready!

Step 18 of 20

😗💨 Dishes to do! Add 2 Tablespoons of Homemade Dishwasher Detergent.

Step 19 of 20

And Vinegar to the Rinse pod.

Step 20 of 20

All ready for Clean Dishes✨ Enjoy!

You're Done

Check out other guides by this author!

Lucy Hudnall

Commonwealth of Kentucky

Married to my Best Friend, Mother of Three Wonderful Children, Nurse at a Children's Hospital and Love..Love Getting a Bargain!

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2 Cups Borax

2 Cups Baking Soda

½ Cups Fine Salt (optional)

4 Packets Lemonade

Vinegar

If I do & it works, I will. :)

Amy Taylor 3 months ago

I've not tried to Amy. But if you do, you should make a guide on it.

Lucy Hudnall (author) 3 months ago

Can this be turned into a liquid detergent?

Amy Taylor 3 months ago

Great idea Jenny!

Lucy Hudnall (author) 5 months ago

Coffee cans! For everyone wanting to store this without worry of clumping No matter the humidity-Coffee cans/ I have had some awful things clump & my mother told me along time ago to use coffee cans for Everything I didn't want bugs or water to get into- it works- Flour,sugar,homemade Detergent, baking soda,baking powder, Dry noodles, Rice, anything & everything- also we decorate the cans label them and to be honest store nicely & stack easily! Give it a try,its worth it

Jenny Smith Woodruff 5 months ago

Thank you Amanda for the link. I read it..You're right..I don't buy it. Dishwasher detergent has sulfuric acid in it which is thousand times more acidic and my owner's manual says in troubleshooting section to run with white vinegar before calling for service. But it's a personal choice for you and your appliance. Do what you feel is right for you. :)

Lucy Hudnall (author) 6 months ago

I see.

Lucy Hudnall (author) 6 months ago

So my solution was to avoid using anything where I even so much as suspect I'm not supposed to. This leaves me to still wondering how much vinegar I should use, so I did a little research and found an article that tells why you shouldn't put vinegar in the rinse aid compartment. I realize you may disagree with me on this, and that's fine. :) I just thought you might like to read the article, then decide if you still want to use it in the rinse aid spot. Here's the link: http://wholenewmom.com/whole-new-budget/natural-dishwasher-rinse-aid-important-update/

Amanda Greensworth 6 months ago

Hi again, :) Earlier today after you replied to my questions, I went online to see if I could find out how much vinegar to use as a rinse aid (without the use of the rinse aid compartment). I didn't want to risk using the special compartment because our dishwasher is old, we do not have the owner's manual and we rent the apartment we are living in. Moreover, if it happens to be decided that it is our fault that the D.W. needs to be replaced because it broke down due to the use of vinegar in the wrong place, we don't have the money to replace it.

Amanda Greensworth 6 months ago

Oh and for how much vinegar I fill up my rinse aid with just vinegar. :)

Lucy Hudnall (author) 6 months ago

Yes it does, thank you!!

Amanda Greensworth 6 months ago

For the clumping..comes from moisture. Make sure in a tight sealed container. Can put some uncooked rice in a clean sock or stocking to absorb the moisture. Or it could be too damp where it's at like a basement. Can run a dehumidifier to fix that. About the vinegar, I haven't found the reasoning for nor that could be harmful. Check owner's manual to be sure for your dishwasher. Hope that helps!😃

Lucy Hudnall (author) 6 months ago

So I made this last week, and so far we like it; but I have a few (more) questions. How can I keep it from clumping and becoming one hard brick? We won't use the two 32oz. containers fast enough before it becomes so hard we can't use it anymore. Also, I heard on Pinterest that adding vinegar to the little hole where the store bought rinse agent goes is bad for the dishwasher; it can harm it so that its either difficult to repair or not able to be saved. So instead a pinner suggested putting vinegar in the bottom of dishwasher before turning on. What I'm wanting to know is how much vinegar should I use?

Amanda Greensworth 6 months ago

Lucy Hudnall (author) 7 months ago

Really?! That's amazing!!! I'm willing to give it a try then!! For it to cost only 2 cents per wash, you can't beat that!!! Now what about a dish soap recipe?! ;))

Amanda Greensworth 7 months ago

Honestly my dishwasher cleans just as well as the Cascade Action Packs. I coupon also and get bags free sometimes. So I have about 8 bags for back up. But I use this formula usually. :)

Lucy Hudnall (author) 7 months ago

If you were to HONESTLY compare this homemade recipe to something store bought like Cascade or Finish, would you say it works just as well? Or better? :-D

Amanda Greensworth 7 months ago

Yes mam!

Lucy Hudnall (author) 7 months ago