Monday, July 19, 2010

Dishwasher Detergent finally perfected!


So I have been trying to figure out homemade dishwasher detergent for a month now. I had decided to give it a try after running out of store bought and already having things on hand to make it (since I had made laundry detergent). My first attempt was a flop. All of my dishes came out foggy and I was completely disappointed, but determined to figure it out, since I knew it would be so much cheaper to do the homemade. So I got online and researched and came up with a new recipe that was a combination of ideas I had found on other blogs and such. My first recipe I will share first (remember this one didn't work for me):

1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
2 packs koolaid lemonade packets
*you use 1 Tbsp. in each compartment--so 2 Tbsp. total each wash.

I discovered after my own research that the compartment door to the main wash cycle was not openning at the right time, possibly due to the detergent getting wet during the pre-wash and turning into a paste-like mix that made the door stick. I found 2 solutions to this online, and decided to go for this new recipe:

1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
2 packs koolaid packets (all like before recipe)
2 Tbsp. salt--this is suposedly helpful in getting rid of the clouding
*I use 1 Tbsp. in the pre-wash part and do not put it in the main wash part. I open the door at the rinse cycle and add in 1/2-1 cup vinegar to the tub (again to get rid of cloudyness).


So far, this recipe has worked best for me and is SO SO much cheaper than the electrosol packs I was buying before (even with coupons).


For fun, my mother-in-law, came up with a cute idea during the unpacking at our new house to store the detergent in a mason jar on the window seal over my sink. *Thanks, Theresa! It looks cute and is easily acessible.


Hope someone finds this idea useful! just thought I would share :)

1 comment:

  1. I will definitely give this a try.... thanks for sharing!!! I just love mason jars for everything... glad it worked for you.
    Love ya'll hugs and kisses!
    Theresa

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