Even if you prefer commercial brands, it helps to know how to make a DIY dishwasher detergent in a pinch as an emergency alternative if you find your dishwasher detergent container empty. All it takes are a few basic ingredients from your pantry to make a powdered or tablet form. Here are simple instructions for homemade dishwasher detergent.
Instructions
How to Make Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
- Store IngredientsStore the mixture in an air-tight container labeled with directions about how much to use for each load of dishes. The mixture should last for a few months if stored properly.
How to Make Dishwasher Detergent Tablets
- Add 1 cup of washing soda, 1 cup of borax, 1/2 cup of kosher salt, and 3/4 cup of lemon juice to a mixing bowl.
- Stir well with a wooden spoon to mix. Then, place 1 tablespoon of the mixture into small silicone molds or ice cube tray sections.
- Allow the molded tablets to dry for 24 hours or until hardened.
- Remove the tablets from the molds and transfer them to a labeled airtight container.
How to Use Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Homemade dishwasher detergent can be used each time you run a dishwasher wash cycle. Here’s how to use it in powdered and tablet form.
Powdered Dishwasher Detergent
Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of powdered detergent for each load of dirty dishes. Place the powder into the dishwasher dispenser before you begin the cycle to prevent clumps that may not dissolve well.
If the mixture has hardened slightly, stirring well with a wooden spoon may soften it. However, if it has formed clumps, discard the batch. Keep in mind that the clumps will not dissolve correctly in the dishwasher.
Dishwasher Detergent Tablets
Place one homemade detergent tablet in the dishwasher detergent dispenser immediately before you run a wash cycle.
Tips to Make Dishwasher Detergent
- Make no more than 3 cups of a homemade dishwasher detergent because it does not contain the anti-caking ingredients of commercial brands and may not keep as well long term.
- Substitute lemon juice for the citric acid powder when making tablets if necessary.
- Choose small silicone molds or an ice cube tray to form dishwasher tablets.
- Select a mold that will hold about 1 tablespoon and create a tablet that will fit in the dishwasher detergent dispenser in your appliance.