Home Health & Life The Ultimate Guide to Making Your Own Dishwasher Cleaner at Home

Health & Life

The Ultimate Guide to Making Your Own Dishwasher Cleaner at Home

25 January, 2025

Dishwashing liquid can be easily made at home if you have concerns about the quality of commercial products. Below is a detailed guide on how to make your own dishwashing liquid.

Even if you prefer well-known brands, it’s useful to know how to make your own dishwasher detergent in an emergency as a temporary alternative until you can purchase a new product. With just a few basic ingredients from your pantry, you can create either a powdered or tablet form of dishwasher detergent. The following is a simple and easy-to-follow guide.

Ingredients and Equipment

Equipment

Measuring cups and spoons
Air-tight container
Silicone mold or ice cube tray
Mixing bowl
Wooden spoon

Materials

1 cup soda
1 cup washing soda
1 cup food-grade citric acid powder
1 cup salt
1 cup lemon juice

Instructions for Making Dishwasher Detergent at Home

Mixing the Solution

In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of soda, 1 cup of washing soda, 1/2 cup of citric acid powder, and 1/2 cup of salt. Stir well with a wooden spoon.

Storing the Solution

Store the mixture in an air-tight container labeled with usage instructions. The detergent can last for several months if stored properly.

How to Make Dishwasher Tablets at Home

In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of soda, 1 cup of washing soda, 1/2 cup of salt, and 3/4 cup of lemon juice.
Stir well with a wooden spoon until everything is combined. Then, scoop about 1 tablespoon of the mixture into small silicone molds or an ice cube tray.
Let the tablets dry for 24 hours or until they are completely hardened.
Pop the tablets out of the molds and store them in an air-tight container with a label.

Using Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

You can use your homemade dishwasher detergent each time you run a cleaning cycle in your dishwasher. Here’s how to use it in both powdered and tablet forms.

Powdered Dishwasher Detergent

Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of the powdered detergent for each load of dirty dishes. Pour the powder into the detergent compartment of your dishwasher before starting the cycle to prevent clumping, which may not dissolve properly.

If the mixture hardens slightly, stirring it with a wooden spoon can soften it. However, if it forms clumps, discard the mixture. Note that clumps will not dissolve properly in the dishwasher.

Dishwasher Tablets

Place one homemade tablet into the detergent compartment of your dishwasher just before running a cleaning cycle.

Tips for Making Dishwasher Detergent

Do not mix more than 3 cups of dishwasher detergent at once, as it does not contain anti-caking agents like commercial brands and may not last as long.
If needed, substitute lemon juice with citric acid powder when making tablets.
Choose small silicone molds or an ice cube tray to create dishwasher tablets.
Select a mold that can hold about 1 tablespoon of mixture and forms tablets that fit comfortably in your dishwasher’s detergent compartment.