Homemade Dishwasher Detergent (Powdered)

Even when armed with a coupon and a store savings club card, it seems that automatic dishwasher detergent is never cheap enough. By using this homemade dishwasher detergent, I have been able to save tons of money while still maintaining virtually spotless dishes without using harsh chemicals, fragrances, or phosphates.

 

 

 

 

What You’ll Need:

1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (not the same as baking soda)

1 cup Borax

1/2 cup Kosher or coarse salt

4 pkgs. Unsweetened lemonade flavored Kool-Aid drink mix (DO NOT use any other flavor)

 

Mix It Up:

Pour all ingredients together in a jar or plastic container with a lid. Place lid on container and shake several times to mix ingredients thoroughly.

 

Usage:

Use 1 tablespoon per load. If load is heavily soiled, use 2 tablespoons. Yields up to 40 loads.

 

 

Kool-Aid in the dishwasher?  Crazy, right? Well, the magic behind this tip is that the Kool-Aid contains citric acid, which is excellent for helping to keep dishes sparkly, the inside of the dishwasher clean, and preventing lime deposits and rust stains from forming.

If you have a white film on your dishes, try adding a ¼-cup of vinegar in the rinse compartment. It works just as good in helping to prevent residue as Jet-Dry or similar store bought products.

Hope you like this homemade dishwasher detergent recipe. If you try this or have an alternate version, do share.  I would love to try out some of your homemade cleaning recipes and tips.

 

Related articles by Zemanta

• Help! My Dishwasher Leaves a White Residue on My Dishes (apartmenttherapy.com)