*UPDATED* with test results at end: Dishwasher detergents and water pollution

[QuilterMom]

http://www.tristatecouncil.org/pages/phos.htm

[QuilterMom]

http://www.mecprotects.org/MER/APR04/amber.htm

[forestdale]

thanks kim.

[kimmee]

Kim - do you have a recipe for a homemade dishwashing machine detergent - the link on the first site wasn't working (Kitchen)
I have been wanting to make my own since one of my weezils got poisoned from Cascade but I have never been able to find a recipe.

[QuilterMom]

Here's a recipe from the first link (actually it's the only recipe I've found online so far on all the sites I've looked at).....

Mix 250 ml (1 cup) of borax with 125 ml (1/2 cup) of baking soda. Fill the machine's detergent dispenser as usual. (Borax, or sodium borate, is a mineral salt. It is used as a degreaser, deodorizer, mild antiseptic and water softener. Look for it in the laundry section of the grocery store.) For best results, rinse dishes — especially mugs and cups — with cold water before stacking in the dishwasher.

[kimmee]

Thats so easy!! Do you use it??  What if you add maybe vinegar or lemon juice to the rinse cycle thingie??
Thankyou!!

[Ellise]

Thanks Kim!

[QuilterMom]

Kimmee - We're in the process of switching a lot of what we use! I haven't tried this yet, but plan to. We'll also be using vinegar for the rinse agent.

[QuilterMom]

Ok, I'm testing this right now with vinegar as the rinse. I'll post again on how it does.

[QuilterMom]

This worked wonderfully! I used one tablespoon of the mixture (I have soft water plus a new dishwasher with a very small detergent cup) and all the dishes look great! Definitely cheaper than Cascade and all those others and environmentally friendly to boot!

[forestdale]

I'm going to try this. Thank you madam.