Borax-FREE Dishwasher Degergent

Borax-Free Dishwasher Detergent Recipe:

1    Cup Washing soda (NOT baking soda, located in laundry detergent aisle)

1/4 Cup Citric acid    (in the canning section)

1/4 Cup Coarse salt (NOT regular table salt because of the iodine content. I like Kosher Coarse Salt)

10-15 drops of citrus essential oil (Optional*Orange, grapefruit or lemon essential oils have great cleaning as well as antibacterial properties. I used Sweet Orange in mine)

Mix first 3 ingredients in an air tight container, shake it . Add essential oil.  Shake/Mix again.  I up-cycled a cleaned pasta sauce jar.

Use 1 tsp. detergent for average loads

Use 1 TBSP. detergent for extra greasy, dirty loads

The one on the left it Citric Acid, found in any canning isle. The one on the right... well, disregard that one. It is Pickling crisps NOT the same as "Pickling SALT" Big difference. That is what I made my first batch with...oops.

I always label, it will make things easier in the future when you are needing to make more & to reduce the urge to go out & buy something in the store.

--More is not better!  If you are having any build up issues use less! I rinse off my dishes reasonably well ever since I switched to chemical-free dishwasher detergents.  Rinsing off grease and baked-on food will help any cleaner, not just a homemade one.

Also, for MY dishwasher I have found that if I split up the 1 tsp between my 'closed' & 'open' detergent compartments it seems to work better. Play with it, see what works best for YOUR dishwasher.
I have found that the 'magic erasers' work well with getting those tough stains off of your dishes. I buy the 'off brands' & they are pretty cheap.

--Homemade citrus vinegar (my All Purpose Cleaner but Undiluted. Which is orange peels in jar with vinegar, then let to sit for @2 weeks-1 month) makes a GREAT rinse aid that is put in the rinse agent part of your dishwasher. Or just plain white vinegar would be great.

--Hard water: I don’t know if this would work in hard water or not because my water is soft.  However, research indicates that citric acid is often used in addition to regular dishwasher detergents to help prevent mineral deposits on the dishes.  Let me know what you think.

--Also, I made mine in an old glass pasta sauce jar & I would NOT recommend keeping it under the sink. It gets moist under there & it will cause your mix to clump & harden. Personally, I do not keep anything remotely hazardous under my sink. Too many "what-if's" when living with a toddler.