DIY All-Natural Dishwasher Detergent

I’ve been slowly going natural over the past year or two, and I recently started making my own dishwasher detergent and laundry detergent. At first, I was a little concerned that DIY options might not get things as clean as I like them. However, I honestly noticed no difference in this department! My recipes worked as well as the store-bought, chemical-laden products. And going DIY has been much cheaper.

You might be rolling your eyes thinking, “I don’t have time to make my own products! That’s for uber-crunchy people that have nothing better to do.” But seriously, it hardly takes me any time at all, and I feel much better knowing that what I’m using is safe and natural.

DIY All-Natural Dishwasher Detergent

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Borax
• 1 cup Washing Soda
• 1/2 cup Citric Acid
• 15 drops Grapefruit essential oil

Combine the ingredients in a bowl, mixing well to remove any clumps. The Grapefruit essential oil gives the mixture a nice smell. Feel free to add any essential oil you enjoy. Lavender, tea tree and wild orange are all really good essential oils for cleaning. I then place the mixture into a silicone mold. I found this mold online and I love it! It makes the perfect size mold for my dishwasher and they are right at my finger tips when I need them. To place the mixture into the mold, wet your hands slightly and then use your hands to wet the mixture. It will start to fizz a little because of the citric acid, that’s normal. Clump the mixture together and pack it into the mold, pressing down firmly. Continue until the mold is full. Leave the mixture in the mold overnight and they’ll pop out easily in the morning. This recipe will fill the entire mold I recommended, that’s 24 tabs. When you’re ready to do a load, simply place one mixture mold into your regular detergent slot.

Tip: If you struggle with hard water issues, add vinegar to the liquid compartment on your dishwasher. This will soften the water and eliminate water spots. 

A Note On Borax:

There is a debate on whether or not borax is safe to use in the home. I love this article from Crunchy Betty called “Getting to the Bottom of Borax: Is it Safe or Not?”. Wellness Mama also wrote a related article called “Is Borax Safe?” These articles helped me find an answer that I feel comfortable with. Read them for yourself and decide if you feel safe using borax in your home.

DIY All-Natural Liquid Dish Soap

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Water
• 1 cup Castille Soap
• 1 tbsp Vegetable Glycerin
• 15 drops Lemon essential oil
• 10 drops Eucalyptus essential oil

Combine the ingredients in a bowl and stir a few times to incorporate the liquids. I add vegetable glycerin to this recipe to keep hands nice and soft while washing dishes. You don’t have to sacrifice comfort for natural solutions! Also, you can use whatever essential oils you like in this recipe. Lemon and eucalyptus are good for cleaning, and they smell nice and fresh. Once mixed together, I use a funnel to pour the mixture into my glass soap dispenser. From there, I use this liquid dish soap to do the dishes, wash my hands and wipe up messes! It’s an all-in-one solution for your kitchen mess.

Tip: I love using TWIST Sponges for my dishes and kitchen cleaning. They are biodegradable, plant based, dye-free and contain no plastics or toxic adhesives.

Using all-natural products in your kitchen isn’t that hard. These recipes are pretty simple and once you incorporate them into your routine, it’ll be second nature to you. And you’ll feel better knowing that these products are better for your family and for our earth. Stay natural!

How do you keep your kitchen all-natural? What are your green kitchen tips?

This post contains Amazon and Mountain Rose Herbs affiliate links. However, all of my opinions are my own and are not swayed by being an affiliate.