We all eat, so chances are, we all have dishes to clean. I used to be one of those people who absolutely refused to use a dishwasher; I would handwash everything, but eventually, life got busy, and I had to compromise. One thing I wasn’t willing to compromise on was the ingredients. There was no way I was using a product with ingredients such as:

Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Citrate, C12-15 Alcohols Ethoxylated Propoxylated, Sodium Percarbonate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Polyacrylic Acid Sodium Bisulfite Terminated, Taed, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Ethylene/Propylene Oxide Copolymer, Alcohol Polyglycolether, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Protease Enzyme, Amylase Enzyme, Manganese Catalyst, Colorants, and Fragrance.

Absolutely not! Think about how many times you’ve opened the dishwasher, and there is visible soap scum still on your dishes. Now think about all the times you may not see soap scum; those ingredients end up in your food and can cause detrimental health consequences.

I prefer to make my own as it’s much cheaper! And not to brag, but in my experience, my recipe cleans better than anything I’ve ever used, especially when used alongside my homemade rinse aid (recipe coming soon).

Personally, I add essential oils to this recipe for additional benefits. I like Plant Therapy’s Pink Grapefruit or Lemon Essential Oil, but those aren’t the only options. As discussed in my post, Essential Oils for Cleaning, quite a few essential oils have disinfecting properties to ensure your home looks and smells clean, so check it out if you haven’t already.

If you’re not quite ready to make your own, although I have never used them, I have heard good things about Molly’s Suds Dishwasher Pods. As mentioned in my post, 0 Swaps Towards Toxin-Free Cleaning their pods are powered by earth and plant-derived ingredients and naturally cut through grease and stuck-on food stains to leave dishes sparking with zero residue, streaks, or other mineral build-ups.

EQUIPMENT

• A large mixing bowl
• 0.5 oz. silicone mold ( I use these)
• An airtight jar or bag for storage

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup washing soda (I like Sky High Suds)
• 1 cup non-iodized salt (I use pink salt)
• 1 cup baking soda
• 3/4 cup lemon juice (I like Santa Cruz Organic)
• 2 tsp. essential oils for cleaning (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add all your dry ingredients (washing soda, salt, and baking soda) to a mixing bowl and combine well.
2. Add your wet ingredients (lemon juice and essential oil) into the mixing bowl with the dry ingredients. Combine well, ensuring everything is evenly moist.
3. Add 1 teaspoon of the mixture into each cube of the silicone mold (there should be enough for 50 to 60 tablets, depending on how tight you pack each cube) and let sit until the tablets are hardened and completely dry (about 30 to 60 minutes).
4. Remove the dishwashing tablets from the mold and store them in an airtight jar or bag in a cool, dry place.

NOTES

To use, add one tablet to your dishwasher’s soap dispenser and wash alongside a natural rinse aid.

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Homemade Dishwashing Tablets

You’re likely wasting money on mainstream dishwashing detergents brimming with toxic ingredients you can’t pronounce. Stop breaking the bank and try this simple and cheap recipe for all-natural homemade dishwashing detergent tablets with ingredients you know and can pronounce.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Servings 60 tablets

Recipe by: Sarena-Rae Santos (The Holistic Hipppie)

Equipment

• A large mixing bowl
• 0.5 oz. silicone mold ( I use these)
• An airtight jar or bag for storage

Ingredients

1x2x3x

• 1 cup washing soda I like Sky High Suds
• 1 cup non-iodized salt I use pink salt
• 1 cup baking soda
• 3/4 cup lemon juice I like Santa Cruz Organic
• 2 tsp. essential oils for cleaning optional

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

• Add all your dry ingredients (washing soda, salt, and baking soda) to a mixing bowl and combine well.
• Add your wet ingredients (lemon juice and essential oil) into the mixing bowl with the dry ingredients. Combine well, ensuring everything is evenly moist.
• Add 1 tablespoon of the mixture into the silicone mold (there should be enough for 60 tablets) and let sit until the tablets are hardened and completely dry.
• Remove the dishwashing tablets from the mold and store them in an airtight jar or bag.

Notes

To use, add one tablet to your dishwasher’s soap dispenser and wash alongside a natural rinse aid.

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