Dishwasher Detergent Recipe

**Jill B.** · 04-30-2009, 04:10 PM

I got a recipe for dishwasher detergent off of here and finally tried it out. We stopped buying Cascade and now only use this recipe:

1TBS of Borax
1 TBS of baking soda

to a load.

However it didn't do a very good job. Glasses were spotted and cloudy. Coffee and Tea cups were very stained. Sometimes food stuck on still to dishes and silverware. I decided to add a half TBS of powdered laundry soap to the mix. That seems to have done the trick! I make a 5 c. batch up and we use 2 TBS to a load.
Just thought I would share. Anyone else have similar experiences with the home made dishwasher detergent?

**Cricketlegs** · 04-30-2009, 05:17 PM

I mix equal parts borax, baking soda, and powdered dishwasher soap in a huge bucket and it works great. I use a scoop though for mine. Maybe I overdo but my dishwasher works in a way that you don't pre rise and it gets some pretty crusted food off my dishes.

I do find the vinegar in the jet dry despenser is a great idea.

**Grainlady** · 05-04-2009, 09:52 AM

There are recipes that include salt or citric acid that may work better than just Borax and baking soda or washing soda alone.

Recipe #1

1-1/2 c. Borax
1-1/2 c. baking soda
1 c. table salt

Recipe #2
1 c. Borax - 80-cents
1 c. washing soda - 80-cents
1/4 c. citric acid - ($1.00)
(The web site I got this recipe from also had a cost breakdown of 7-cents per load. They were paying way too much for citric acid. I purchase 8-pounds of citric acid for making bath bombs from www.soapmakingsuppliesstore.com for $18.25. A quarter cup weighs 2-ounces = 29-cents per quarter cup.

Recipe #3
1 c. Borax
1 c. Washing Soda
1/2 c. sea salt

**MyMelody** · 05-04-2009, 08:02 PM

I've seen recipes before that used a packet of dry, unsweetened lemonade flavored drink mix added with other dry ingredients to help with spotting and streaking.