This Homemade Dishwasher Detergent Powder is easy to make and cheaper compared to store-bought detergents. It’s made with just four ingredients and no harsh chemicals, so it’s better for you and your family too. 

One of the easiest ways you can save money is to make your own household cleaners. I’ve been making my own DIY cleaners for years to budget on our expenses and to prevent cleaners with toxic cleaners in our home. Check my top 10 Household Cleaners to Make.

I’ve been testing different dishwashing detergent powders and finally came up with a recipe that I know you’ll love! My dishes are coming out squeaky clean, and I’m saving so much money too.

Why Make Your Own Dishwasher Detergent

Let’s go over the three main reasons to swap out your regular detergent for your own homemade Dishwasher Detergent. 

It’s Cheaper 

Let’s break down the cost of the ingredients to make your own dishwasher detergent compared to store-bought versions: 

• Washing Soda: $4.52 for 55 oz 
• Baking Soda: $7.99 for 48 oz
• Citric Acid: $8.99 for 16 oz (you can get it cheaper if you buy 2 or 3 lbs)
• Kosher Salt: $12.99 for 48 oz

Total = $34.49 to make 6 full batches of this homemade dishwasher detergent.

Prices based on what I found on Amazon at the time of writing this blog post.

Each batch yields 3 cups or 24 oz = 48 uses 
6 batches x 48 uses = 288 uses total (about 144 oz)
$34.49 = 288 uses + you’ll have extra washing soda and citric acid to make your next batches

Let’s do a price comparison: 

• Seventh Generation Detergent Packs 45 tabs for $28.29 ($0.62 per tab)
• Molly’s Suds Dishwasher Detergent 120 count for $34.99 ($0.29 per use)
• Cascade Complete 60 oz for $14.60 ($0.24 per oz = 2 tbsp)

The only one that even comes close is Cascade Complete at $0.24/oz but this DIY dishwasher detergent comes in at $0.23/oz – so it’s just slightly cheaper than a conventional dishwasher detergent but way cheaper than natural versions. 

It’s Better for You

Aside from being cheaper, this homemade dishwashing detergent is better for you too. While more natural brands might be similar in ingredients, they may still have fragrances or other preservatives to get it a longer shelf life. 

Let’s look at the ingredients of a popular dishwasher powder: 

Amylase Enzyme/Enzyme Amylase, Colorants, Copolymer of Acrylic Maleic and Sulphonic Acids/Copolymere D’acides Acrylique, Maleique Et Sulfonique, Fragrances/Parfums, PEG/PPG/Propylheptyl Ether/Polymere a Base D’alcool C10, Ethoxyle, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Carbonate Peroxide, Sodium Silicate, Sodium Sulfate, Subtilisin, Transitional Metal Catalyst/Catalyseur De Metal De Transition, Water/Eau, Zinc Carbonate

The key ingredients to avoid are artificial fragrance (which might contain hundreds of different chemicals to make one fragrance scent) as well as PEG/PPG/Propylheptyl Ether. According to EWG.org, these ingredients may cause allergies, respiratory issues and skin irritation. 

It’s Better for the Environment 

You might not think much about it, but after each wash the water from your dishwasher ends up in your community’s sanitary sewer system (along with water flushed from your toilet or drained from your kitchen sink).

According to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), this wastewater is treated to reduce pollutants, and then the treated wastewater is released into local waterways. That water may be used for drinking water, irrigation, or in local waterways like lakes and rivers where fish and other aquatic animals live.

While they make every effort to remove and reduce pollutants, it’s possible some pollutants might be in treated wastewater that ends up back in your local communities. That should be reason alone to consider more natural options for washing your dishes. 

In addition, while dishwasher pods or tabs have a biodegradable layer made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) that holds the liquid detergent, it may not fully break down. 

When you skip the dishwasher detergent tabs and use your own dishwasher detergent, you can help to reduce the microplastics in wastewater. 

It’s Got More Uses

Lastly, not only is this detergent powder great for washing dishes in the dishwasher, it can be used as a scouring powder too. Sprinkle it in your kitchen sink, bathroom sink, tubs and showers to gently scrub surfaces of dirt and grime. 

Just be sure to spot test first to make sure it’s not too abrasive on surfaces. I usually find tubs and tiles to be great for this detergent.

How to Make Your Own DIY Dishwasher Detergent

There’s just 4 basic ingredients in this recipe. You have option to add essential oils to give it a natural scent. 

Ingredients 

• Washing Soda (sodium carbonate) – Helps to break down food and grease that sticks to dishes and glassware, removes stains and water softener (which is great if you have hard water). 
• Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate) – Helps to neutralize odors, remove stains, and remove grease on dishes. 
• Citric Acid – Helps to remove mineral deposits (descale) on dishes and removes stains. Learn more ways to clean with citric acid. 
• Kosher Salt – Helps to dissolve grease and food on dishes, glassware, and cutlery, and softens water to prevent hard water stains. 

Washing soda and baking soda work really well together as a natural cleaning agent. Washing soda is more alkaline so it’s great at degreasing and breaking down stains, while baking soda is mildly abrasive and works well to gently remove food and stains. Both help to soften water, which is great if your dishes are more prone to hard water stains. 

Optional Ingredients

Essential Oils help to provide the natural scent for this dishwasher detergent and can help to boost the cleaning power too. Citrus oils like Lemon, Orange, Lime and Grapefruit can help to degrease and clean, while oils such as Lemongrass and Tea Tree are great deodorizers. You can mix and match too. A great combo is Lemon Essential Oil and Lemongrass Essential Oil. 

Directions

1. Gather all your ingredients together.
2. Add all dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
3. Add 15-30 drops of essential oils (optional).
4. Mix well with a large spoon or whisk. Transfer mixture to airtight containers.

How to Use

Use just 1 tablespoon per load of dishes on a wash cycle. Add it to the detergent compartment in your dishwasher. 

Storage

Store this detergent in a dry, airtight container pr glass jar with a tight lid to prevent clumping. Add a tablespoon scooper into the container, and you’re all set. This dishwashing detergent has a shelf life of about 6 months. It can still be used after that but is most effective when used within that timeframe. 

Troubleshooting 

Clumping

It’s possible the detergent may clump after some time especially if it’s not an air-tight container. Just use a spoon or butter knife to break it up. If you have a silica packet from a supplement or medicine bottle, you can reuse it in the container to prevent clumping. 

Residue or Film

If you notice residue, film or hard water deposits on your glasses or dishes, add white vinegar to the rinse aid compartment or even 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar to a small bowl and put it in the top rack of the dishwasher.

This homemade detergent doesn’t have the rinse agent in commercial dishwasher detergents, so use vinegar to help. Check out these 4 Natural Rinse Aid options too. Another option may be to use less or more detergent. I’ve often used just 1/2 tablespoon of this detergent and find it works well. 

Tips & Tricks 

• Be sure to use kosher salt not regular table salt for this recipe. Kosher salt is more coarse and will help to clean dishes better, while table salt will dissolve too quickly. 
• Customize the scent of this DIY recipe with your favorite essential oil combinations. I suggest a citrus oil as it helps with degreasing and has a clean, fresh scent. 

More Posts You Might Like

• 4 Homemade Dishwasher Rinse Aid Recipes
• DIY Grout Cleaner
• DIY Degreasing Spray
• 7 Toxic Household Cleaners to Avoid

Did you try this homemade dishwasher detergent recipe? Don’t forget to comment below to let me know how it went. You can also FOLLOW ME on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.