A simple recipe for safe, green dishwasher powder that effectively cleans even the dirtiest dishes with no residue or streaking.
One product you absolutely should get rid of in your home is automatic dishwashing powder or tablets.
This stuff is one of the most toxic chemical concoctions people use in their homes, using it day after day, year after year…usually without giving it a second thought.
Is this stuff safe to use on the very dishes and utensils we use to eat?
What good is buying everything organic, local, and nutrient-dense if the kitchenware you serve it on has dangerous residue?
While companies that make these products assure us that the chemicals rinse clean and clear, I don’t believe their corporate claims (and never have).
Even the ingredients in “green” dishwashing powders I’ve examined are toxic …. although much less so than supermarket brands.
Some of them contain glycerin, which is sticky and increases the chances of residue on your dishes. It does not rinse off easily!
It is important to remember that the marketing term “eco-friendly” does not necessarily mean “human-friendly”.
I have yet to find a brand of dishwasher powder that is 100% safe that I feel comfortable using.
If you think you have found one, please share it along with a list of ingredients in the comments!
However, it is so easy and inexpensive to make your own, I don’t know why more people don’t do it.
Another tip…I do not recommend 100% trust in the ingredient safety database from Environmental Working Group.
While it is a good source of information, it is sometimes wrong too.
A couple of the ingredients I’ve researched using it have come up “green”, however, when I searched them further they were far from safe!
I’m not saying don’t use it, just avoid using it as the only or final authority on a particular chemical you might be investigating.
Give it a try making your own dishwashing powder! The formula below works well even for the very hard well water we have in our home. It is also safe for septic tanks.
Does it work as well as commercial brands?
No, it doesn’t. But, it works well enough in my experience.
Just be sure to scrape the dishes before starting a load.
This is a little extra work I would far prefer doing compared to using a product that will remove everything under the sun but potentially leave toxins on our plates, cups, and utensils!
Homemade Dishwashing Powder
Ingredients
- 2 cups washing soda
- 1/2 cup citric acid food grade, nonGMO
- white vinegar optional
Instructions
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Mix washing soda and citric acid in a small container with a tight fitting lid.
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Add 1 tablespoon of the dry mixture per dishwasher load to the main detergent compartment. Use 2 tablespoons if the load is heavy or especially dirty.
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Fill the dishwasher rinse compartment with the white vinegar. This is optional, but recommended if you have hard water.
Isn’t citric acid made from mold?
Hi Sarah,
I had high hopes for this DIY dishwasher detergent as I have been looking for a very long time for a non-harmful product. I followed your recipe, but unfortunately, when I opened my dishwasher after the cycle, most of the “detergent” was stuck inside the detergent compartment, all soggy and stuck together. I had to hand wash all of the dishes. Not sure if anyone else has had this problem? Any clue as to what could have gone wrong?
I’m so sorry to hear this! I have not had this issue myself before. Perhaps the compartment door was a bit stuck? Some white vinegar could hopefully fix it so that it opens properly with the next load.
Hi, again, I first made the recipe in our condo in FL, but used a plastic yogurt container…my son said it was hard as rock…we live in Greece most of the year, so when I made the recipe there, I used a glass container with a tight sealing lid and was shocked by how hard it became. We have air conditioning in FL but we rarely use it in Greece, as I thought it may have been due to the humidity, but it happened in both places. I will try it again, but even with the little sack bag that one adds to things to absorb humidity, the powder was still hard as rock. Very strange.
That is surprising to me as I have not had this problem also in FL. Try stirring it every time you use it. If you run a dishwashing load every day or every few days, this should hopefully resolve it for you.
Hi, I have a problem with the dishwasher powder become hard as a rock…I tried putting in a moisture absorbing bag but it helps only a little….any suggestions?
That is odd. I have not had that problem at all and it is the most humid time of year here in FL.
Did you put it into a container with a tight fitting lid? Mine is easily scoopable without any issue for weeks until I use it up and make another batch.
One thing I do is mix it with the dispensing spoon I use each time I use some for a load of dishes. Perhaps that keeps it from clumping for me because this is done at least every other day?
I just want to say thank you for checking all these detergents. I really appreciate all your hard work and time and effort to be a safe place we can receive true information. May God Richly Bless You.