RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By Mer (Guest Post)
(05/08/2008)
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I've seen lots of recipes for homemade dishwasher detergent that are all essentially the same: equal parts borax and soda. The problem is that some say WASHING soda and some say BAKING soda. These are very different, and I'm wondering if anyone knows for sure that to use the washing soda is safe for dishes. (I know it's fine for laundry.)
Thanks. -- Mer
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By karen (Guest Post)
(04/11/2008)
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If you are using bleach to economize, that is one thing. but if you are trying to "go green" and stay away from phosphate-filled commercial dishwasher soaps, re-think your strategy. bleach is one of the most toxic chemicals in our environment. Stay away from it. It may clean well, it may disinfect, it may whiten, it may be dirt cheap, but it is deadly. I recently saw a brand name dishwasher soap that is now offering an environmentally-friendly alternative to their original formulation. reading the label indicates that it is phosphate-free (good thing) but contains bleach (bad thing).
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By Dara (Guest Post)
(04/08/2008)
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I have a recipe from "Green clean" that calls for 1-1/2 cups of Borax with 1/4 cup of Citric acid, keep in plastic container with tight fitting lid. Use 1 to 1 1/2 table spoons per load and make sure to shake the container before use. This has been working fine for me.
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By Ash (Guest Post)
(03/18/2008)
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I have white film on my dishes as well. I am doing homemade dishwasher soap vs. bought dish washer soap as a science fair project and the white film is only on our plastic materials. I live on a farm with well water so I was wondering if that could be a factor in the film.
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By Nik (Guest Post)
(03/17/2008)
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You should avoid the use of bleach and/or hydrogen peroxide in any formulation of dishwasher detergent, or the separate use of these in the dishwashers. Nik
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By Shayna (Guest Post)
(02/22/2008)
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I have no idea how much bleach some of you are using, but it should only be a couple of capfuls. With so little, there will be no 'fumes', nor will you be able to smell anything.
In the restaurant industry, when you wash dishes by hand, bleach is required in order to disinfect. You use 1oz. of bleach to 1 gallon of warm (not hot) water.
I use bleach sometimes in my dishwasher if I'm in a pinch. My dishwasher washes in cold (this would be the cycle the bleach is used in), and then rinses in hot. The water gets so hot that you can barely touch the dishes. It's always worked fine for me.
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By Nadine (Guest Post)
(01/16/2008)
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I always use 1/2 cup of borax and 1/2 cup of washing soda (not baking soda) and mix in a jar and use 1 or 2 tablespoons for each load of dishes. I also use 1 teaspoon corn starch in the rinse cycle. All comes out clean & clear.
Now get a spray bottle,put one teaspoon corn starch in with cold water and shake. Now go get all your mirrors & windows looking like great. No more streaks,smears! Better than Windex. By the way get the dollar store baby powder (corn starch)for $1. Just be sure it's corn starch. 1 container will last a good while.
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By ***Nadine*** (Guest Post)
(01/16/2008)
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I also use 1 teaspoon corn starch in the rinse cycle. All comes out clean & crystal clear. I also always use 1/2 cup of borax and 1/2 cup of washing soda (not baking soda) and mix in a air tight jar and use 1 or 2 tablespoons for each load of dishes. Now get a spray bottle,put one teaspoon corn starch in with cold water and shake. Now go clean all your mirrors & windows, get them looking great. No more streaks, smears! Better than Windex. By the way get the dollar store brand baby powder(corn starch) for $1. Just be sure it's corn starch.1 container will last a good while.
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
I use 1 1/2 tsp each of borax and washing soda in the prewash cup. I don't use the main cup (that closes) at all. I start the dishwasher and once it has started filling with water I put 1/2 to 1 cup vinegar in the tub. When it starts filling for the rince cycle, I add 1/2-1 cup 35% food grade hydrogen peroxide and my glasses turn out beautiful! It's a bit of "baby-sitting" but I like the results!
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By Kevin P (Guest Post)
(12/04/2007)
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I've been using a 50/50 mixture of Borax & Washing Soda for the past month. I'm in Florida, so our water is hard.
Everything comes out with a white grimey film on it. I've tried using as little as 2 tablespoons to filling both reservoirs with it.
I've tried using just vinegar in the rinse cycle and still gets the white film all over.
I can buy 7th Generation or another natural brand, but it's not cost effective at all. I'm trying to go green and save $$$ at the same time, but it doesn't appear I can do so for the dishes.
Any suggestions?
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By Moi (Guest Post)
(11/25/2007)
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I started with the 50/50 blend of borax and baking soda in the dishwasher...and the film was there like everyone above said. I also wasn't happy with the cleaning. Then I decided, the soda makes water softer..and we have soft water already....so I left out the soda..using just the borax and voila! the dishes are clean and streak free...
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By (Guest Post)
(11/18/2007)
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I used to use vinegar to help with spotting and film but then i read it is not good for the dishwasher and to use it only rarely to help keep its insides clean.
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By diane (Guest Post)
(11/04/2007)
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I haven't tried any of the ideas above but liked the idea of unsweetened lemonade. Is this all I need in the dispenser? How does this kill all bacteria? It may clean the dishes but wil it disinfect? Just wondering!
Diane
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By valleywalker (Guest Post)
(09/23/2007)
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Ok, so I've read through the posts, and am glad to know that the film left by baking soda/borax is not just MY problem. I like the other ideas posted, like the powdered lemonade, and the tiny bit of dishsoap with 1/2-1 cup of vinegar. It's good to know I could try plain bleach, but that it's not recommended in some cases too, but nice to know and keep in mind.
Right now I'm trying my homemade laundry soap in the dishwasher. It's the typical grated pure soap, borax and washing soda and lots of water recipe. I use vinegar in the rinse dispenser.
Thanks for all your ideas!
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Homemade dishwasher detergent
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Post By Laurie (Guest Post)
(09/13/2007)
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In addition to the on-going filmy residue "theme", I keep seeing that you are all putting vinegar into the rinse cycle! Who really hasd time to wait and notice a rinse cycle on the dishwasher? Why not just do the dishes by hand...that way you are saving money, getting it done right the first time and saving electricity!
Personally, I use my dishwasher on a regular basis TO ELIMINATE EXTRA TIME SPENT IN THE KITCHEN!!! i WOULD NOT BE HAPPY about having to sit there and wait for a rinse cycle.
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By guest (Guest Post)
(08/23/2007)
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Bleach is a terrible chemical to use in ANYTHING! it corrodes everything it touches, and it kills the good bacteria along with the bad. This is especially bad when it goes into the septic tank as a healthy septic tank has bacteria that clean up. if you smell it, you can feel it burning your throat and lungs. all you have to do is pay attention. i use a dishwasher detergent from M*laleuca (can't say their name here, hope you knows who I mean). It is expensive, but very concentrated. it says to fill your dispenser 1/2 full...i only fill it 1/3 full. and if i use borax/baking soda mix in the prewash, i can use only 1/4 dispenser full of soap. my dishes are cleaner than they've EVER been, no need for vinegar in every load anymore! i LOVE that stuff!
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By einmmills (Guest Post)
(08/22/2007)
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Re: Using vinegar as a rinse and still having cloudy film on dishes
Some rinse agent dispensers will not hold a liquid as thin as vinegar -- it leaks out. My new dishwasher will hold the creamy type but vinegar runs out too early in the cycle. My dishes were covered with film after using home-made detergent, so I waited until my dw was completely dry and then filled the rinse agent dispenser with vinegar and closed the door, then immediately reopened it to find the vinegar already in the bottom of the washer. I listen now for the last rinse and then add 1/4 to 1/2 cup vinegar at that point.
Thanks for all the interesting info.
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By Tracie (Guest Post)
(08/02/2007)
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Wow, alot going on here. I just use a little generic dishwasher soap and no rinse agents. I do not prerinse my dishes either. For the most part they always come out sparkling clean. On rare occasions, I need to spot clean a pot that had stuck on something dried in it. Maybe the problem is the dishwashers themselves. I've owned 2 Maytag portables and use the normal cycle. Voila, clean dishes.
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RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
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Post By ead (Guest Post)
(07/17/2007)
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ya NEVER USE BLEACH WITH ANYTHING ELSE AND NEVER IN ANYTHING THAT WILL VAPORISE IT IE DISHWASHER + HOT WATER
for me i just use the electrosol 2 in 1 tabs with jet dry ball but i have found that the dishwasher still wont always work well for stuck on or baked on stuff.
for this when the washer drops the tab(covered dispenser) after it fills with water likely near the end of the wash cycle. I add about 1 gallon more water and if i do that no rinsing is needed just scraping the food off
If you do this wait tell its done filling and watch the overfill float. If it comes close to clicking(you can hear the sound if you pick it up) thats to full and may make a mess if you go further
this may not help if your water pressure is sufficient as dishwashers least none i have ever used have had a full empty switch only a overflow witch is for really high pressure. So filling is all timed based and rarely will your pressure be high enough to fill it far enough to prevent cavatation in the pump.
some aeration is good as the air bubbles will cause a vibration in the water jets helping to clean but the washer will do this without incomplete filling
at times i have also added a small ammount 1/2-1/4 a teaspoon of dawn to a rinse and hold this small ammount prevents stuff from drying and sticking but wont foam up baddly
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Tip: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
A while back, I asked if anyone had a tip on making homemade dishwasher detergent. I got the reply to use 1/8 cup bleach, to dissolve the grease, using no soap at all and 1/8 cup vinegar in the rinse cycle to alleviate the lime deposits and get streak free dishes and glasses. WOW, WOW, WOW, did it ever work. I will forever use this recipe. Thanks ever so much.
By Jamish from Ransom, Kansas
Editor's Note: Make sure you add the vinegar at the rinse cycle, as described in the tip, and not when you add the bleach or it will create a horrible gas.
Feedback:
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
I had trouble finding washing soda too until I went out to make some adjustments to my swimming pool water and read the label on the ph increase I got from litehouse pools, sodium carbonate 100%, same as the name brand washing soda!
By Tammy
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
I used to add bleach to the dishwasher. My daughter worked at whirpool in customer relations. She said the bleach ruins the gasket eventualy and causes leakage. just a heads up.
By Ariela
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Please don't use bleach in your dishwasher if you or anyone in your family has breathing problems like asthma or heart conditions. The fumes from bleach will trigger both of these problems. And the hot steam from the dishwasher (or washing machine) will make the fumes spread even more than if you were just using it in the sink.
By Karen
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
I simply use a very tiny bit of liquid dish soap ( not a dishwasher kind) and then add about 1/2 - 1 cup of vinegar at the beginning of each cycle. I set the dishwasher as usual and forget it. The dishes come out every bit as clean as they did buying commercial dishwasher detergants, which are very toxic according to a news broadcast that I heard. I am trying to go more natural in many areas of life.
By cathy
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Just a heads up... mixing ANY kind of acid based product (including vinegar), or ammonia, with bleach can create extremely toxic chloride fumes.
By Kat63
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
I tried the borax and baking soda recipe with vinegar as a rinse aid but my dishes came out horribly filmy, so I let vinegar soak in the dishwasher overnight and ran it empty, then I tried the recipe at the top of the page for a little normal dish soap and 1/2 C vinegar and my dishes came out beautiful. I'm not sure which one did the trick but it works.
By niboki07But
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
I just got my dishwasher 2007 model which I installed myself saving $200 bucks and pickup $3.00 part at Home Depot just to get the hot water connected. Don't need to spend $15 bucks on a kit if you 'already had a dishwasher hookup. Anyway the unit came with a sample of Cascade Complete and Cascade Glass Spotter. I had Jet Dry Costco Jumbo Size already to last me a very long time. I also had Costco Krikland Sigtinure Series Automatic Dishwashing Detergent. I've tested that in my new one by itself. I it didn't clean the stainless steel pots and fooks, spoons and knifes so well.
So I gone back with Cascade 2-in-1 Pacs with Dawn did try that with one pad, but found out the hard way you need to use two of those. That did a very good job, but I did add Cascade Complete to the pre-rinse even though that product tells you you don't need to do it. Yeah, yeah. Pots and pans and everything else came out super duper clean. I ran out of the 2-in-1 pads they seem expensive to keep on adding them in. Costco has them for $12 for 90 pads, Wal-Mart 80 pads for $12, 50 pads for $8. I just got the biggest box of Cascade Complete at Costco for $7 bucks..
That cleans everything I put in the dishwasher even cast iron with oil. If it can't clean that then forget it. Which id did clean it so well maybe too well but hey just have to oil the iron and I back in business.
I use the Cascade Complete in both places also add a pre-wash. Just to play it safe. I'll stick with this product I did see the Bleach version but don't know if that's a good idea to smell bleach flumes during the drying cycle..
Good luck, making your own still cheaper to buy the ready made product.
By tipstir
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
I use 1/2 cup borax (can find at walmart, foodlion or publix) and 1/2 cup washing soda (can find at publix or kroger),and vinegar in the rinse.
By tanya
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Tip: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
I tried making my own laundry detergent with Zote Laundry soap and Borax. I did not have any washing soda and was dying to make the detergent, so I experimented.
I used 1/3 bar Zote and 1 cup borax powder. I covered the Zote with water and melted it in the microwave until smooth then added the borax to almost 2 gallons of water. I split this between two ice cream buckets (5 quart size). Next, I divided the Zote soap liquid between the buckets and stirred well.
After the stuff gelled up, I tried it for laundry and it worked pretty well, I did have some things that needed stain treated after washing once, but it worked pretty well for a pretreat gel.
Since the Borax and Zote are both recommended for dishes and the detergent is non-sudsing, I tried it in my dishwasher, and it worked well, but be sure to use a rinse agent or vinegar in the rinse because of possible residue.
Cost = 48 Cents Per 2 Gallons
Even if you use 1 cup per load for laundry, this is a lot cheaper than anything else!!
Just as good for dishwasher and easier to store:
1 cup baking soda
1 cup borax
2-3 tablespoons citric acid (I used Fruit Fresh)
Use about 2 tablespoons per wash, this left no residue.
Cost = Around a penny per load
I bought my fruit fresh after season and got a mark-down. It will last more than 10 loads. I was buying detergent on sale that was 10 cents per load.
Feedback:
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
I am debating on making some dishwasher detergent for us to use. Why the fruit fresh (the citric acid)? With the borax, baking soda and fruit fresh do you need to use a rinsing agent, like vinegar? (10/19/2004)
By valleyrimgirl
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Honestly, it's kinda funny. After having it sitting around for a long time and then reading about cleaning out your dishwasher by using Tang because it has citric acid, I figured it might be a good addition.
I figured it may cut out the rinse agent, but I filled my rinse agent well just a few days before my *big idea*, so I'll have to wait and see. So far, there is no residue,
Also, I was using way too much (filling the compartment) and it was leaving white dusty residue behind... use ONLY a tablespoon or two at most!! I have hard water, and two is sufficient for me.
(10/20/2004)
By breezeetew
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Rethinking the Fruit fresh idea. It's causing my detergent to get kinda moist and clumpy. It is ok for me, but wanted to warn you that my *big idea* is not working out like I had hoped! (10/21/2004)
By breezeetew
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
I use the 2 TBSP baking soda/borax mix and vinegar in the JetDri cup and am still getting residue.
How about putting the vinegar straight in the tub with the detergent? or adding it directly to the rinse cycle? how much vinegar? (11/26/2004)
By fratze
Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Several years ago I discovered a tip for when you run out of automatic dishwashing soap. In the dishwasher dispenser - mine was in the door of the dishwasher - make a thick paste of 2 parts baking soda to one part liquid dish soap (Joy, Dawn, etc.). Run your dishwasher as normal.
The baking soda prevents the sudsing over that happens when you use liquid soap by itself. It also aids in getting your dishes really clean. You might like it well enough to use all the time! (03/06/2005)
By Elizabeth
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
For those of you who are Costco members, they are offering "buy one-get-one free" Electrasol 2 in 1 Tabs with Jet dry powerball. (This week only coupon item). Thats 150 days worth of dishwashing (why mess with making detergent?). Also I put vinegar in my rinse cycle instead of Jet dry. (great savings!) and no water marks. (03/07/2005)
By pbcml
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
I always use 1/2 cup of borax and 1/2 cup of washing soda (not baking soda) and mix in a jar and use 1 or 2 tablespoons for each load of dishes. I also use vinegar in the rinse cycle. (03/18/2005)
By smathis123
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
I have tried Borax & baking soda and vinegar in the rinse cyle, my dishes come out with this film on them. Then I tried Borax & Washing Soda with the vinegar in the rinse, and still the same! There is still lipstick prints on the glasses when they come out! (05/15/2005)
By Tresses
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
I use white vinegar as a laundry rinse after using my homemade laundry liquid (made with little scraps of soap grated, washing soda and borax), but I put herb sprigs into the vinegar first to make it smell nicer. I like to stuff sprigs of lavender into the vinegar, but mint is also nice, or rosemary. (08/25/2005)
By ecoangel
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
HI all. Just reading over these posts and I see a common "filmy residue" theme occurring.
First, only a rinse agent or pure white vinegar (nothing else) should ever go in your rinse agent dispenser. Baking soda will leave a film if used in quantity as will Borax as a rinse agent.
These ingredients listed seem fine for washing. The citric acid simply helps with dissolving calcium and lime (hard water!) during washing and drying cycles.
A better alternative to actual citric acid, which is caustic, than fruit fresh is a packet of unsweetened lemonade powder. Walmart sells them for less than 10 cents apiece. Put one of these in your powder if you like.
Also, use 3 packets of lemonade powder (unsweetned) into your dishwashing dispenser and run and empty cycle. This cleans your dishwasher and heating element of deposits and grime and costs less than 30 cents vs. other expensive "dishwasher cleaners". It's also cheaper than Tang.
Finally, if you are using homemade detergent and a vinegar or rinse agent (again, never use any soda or borax, etc in your rinse dispenser), you may simply have a hard water or dirty dish problem.
Check your water softener or simply that you are rinsing dishes well before loading (I dont' care how well dishwashers promise to work, I have never been able to load a dish that is not well rinsed haha). Lipstick is full of waxes and oils and fats and a quick rinse and rub may elminate this residue problem.
I made my own dishwashing gel before but wasn't happy with the results. It didn't gel just right, then when it did gel, it wouldn't mix with the water and was clumpy. I may try your suggestion, but so far I find the electrasol tabs most convenient. I always use vinegar in my rinse dispenser and our dishes are always sparkling. No need to buy Jet Dri or other expensive agents.
(09/10/2005)
By Missy
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
I am still filmy. I used all the above recipes and one that was liquid 1/2 c castile soap. 1/2 c water and a little lemon juice and tea tree oil, just a drop and still filmy yes there is vinager in the rinse compartment. Any ideas? Otherwise it back to 7th generation brand (09/12/2005)
By jsjamr
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Try this: 1/8 cup bleach for the wash cycle, nothing else - no soaps, borax or anything. Just bleach. Then, 1/8 cup white vinegar for the rinse, nothing else. The bleach is alkaline and disintegrates grease. The vinegar is acid and disintegrates lime deposits. You should end up with clean, grease free, disinfected dishes without water spots and film. Glass will become permanently filmed over when using most commercial dishwasher products, and soda, too, because of the "grit". Soda is gritty. I use it to clean marks on my linoleum just as I might use powdered cleanser like Ajax or Comet. Soda actually etches fine lines into glass. Castille soap can be used only in very soft water, so if you want to use it you'll need a water softener, not a softener that is added at the time of washing. (12/08/2005)
By Kathleen Rounds
RE: Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
Does the bleach hurt stainless steel/copper? Sometimes I throw my pot/pans in to save time (i know!) (01/29/2006)
By camo_angels
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