Way back in November I posted about making and using homemade dishwasher detergent. I promised I would share the results with you and I am finally making good on that promise!
I should mention that I have a very basic dishwasher, no bells or whistles and it is probably a good 10 years old or more. I rarely do more than rinse dishes before loading them in the dishwasher and when I do scrub it's usually only casserole dishes or the crockpot- you know, baked on stuff.
The first few loads of dishes turned out perfect, clean and spot free. After that I noticed that particles of food were stuck to the plates and bowls. I decided to make sure to scrub the all dishes before loading them in the dishwasher. I figured it would be worth the extra time and effort to save money and and be gentler to the environment. The scrubbing took care of the food on the dishes but then I noticed that plastic items were greasy and glasses were foggy at the end of the wash cycle. I doubled the amount of soap and added white vinegar but nothing got the dishes clean enough.
Long story short, the homemade stuff sucked and I am back to using the electrasol tabs. You can't win them all, right?
Showing posts with label natural living. Show all posts
Showing posts with label natural living. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
homemade dishwasher detergent
I have been making my own laundry detergent for 18 months now! It doesn't feel like it has been that long but it has. I can't imagine switching back to the store bought stuff. It is easy, cheap and effective! Earlier this week I made six batches of laundry detergent. I should be set for at least a year or more!
So it probably isn't a surprise that I have been wanting to try my hand at homemade dishwasher detergent. I always buy Finish Powerball tablets at Costco. I usually use a 'buy one get one free' coupon but I am not sure if Costco is doing the coupons less often or if I am running the dishwasher more frequently but the last few times I have had to buy the tabs without a coupon. I really was tired of dropping almost $17 for dish soap so yesterday I decided was the day I would finally make my own!
Since the recipe calls for almost all the same ingredients as the laundry detergent the only thing I had to buy was the citric acid. I was able to get it at a local health food store for $12 or so per pound.
I used it last night for the first time and the dishes came out sparkling clean. I will reserve judgment for a couple of weeks though before I decide if it is effective long-term.
How about you? Have you made your own laundry detergent or dishwasher detergent? Did you love it or hate it?
So it probably isn't a surprise that I have been wanting to try my hand at homemade dishwasher detergent. I always buy Finish Powerball tablets at Costco. I usually use a 'buy one get one free' coupon but I am not sure if Costco is doing the coupons less often or if I am running the dishwasher more frequently but the last few times I have had to buy the tabs without a coupon. I really was tired of dropping almost $17 for dish soap so yesterday I decided was the day I would finally make my own!
Since the recipe calls for almost all the same ingredients as the laundry detergent the only thing I had to buy was the citric acid. I was able to get it at a local health food store for $12 or so per pound.
homemade dishwasher detergent
1/2 c. washing soda
1/2 c. borax
1/4 c. citric acid granules
1/4 c. kosher salt
Combine ingredients. Use 1 tablespoon detergent per load. *Use white vinegar in the rinse aid compartment.
I used it last night for the first time and the dishes came out sparkling clean. I will reserve judgment for a couple of weeks though before I decide if it is effective long-term.
How about you? Have you made your own laundry detergent or dishwasher detergent? Did you love it or hate it?
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
an update on homemade laundry detergent
i am still making my own laundry detergent. the clothes come out clean and smell fresh but not perfumed-- which i prefer actually.
i am doing one thing different though. after grating my fels naptha i run it through the food processor. it adds another step and more dishes to wash afterward but it is so worth it! the detergent now looks like this:
more like a traditional powder. the benefits of doing it this way are
1. the powder is more uniform so you are getting more even amounts of the ingredients.
2. i no longer have to make sure the fels naptha dissolves before adding the clothes. i turn on the water, add the two tablespoons of detergent, add the clothes. done.
since making the detergent is a little more time consuming with the added step of the food processor i double or triple the batch. it works really well and the detergent seems to last forever as long as you keep it in a airtight container.
have any of you made your own laundry detergent?
(i just have to add- use common sense!! make sure you wash all dishes and utensils very well. you don't want to eat this stuff. that would definitely ruin whatever delicious food you have whipped up!)
i am doing one thing different though. after grating my fels naptha i run it through the food processor. it adds another step and more dishes to wash afterward but it is so worth it! the detergent now looks like this:
more like a traditional powder. the benefits of doing it this way are
1. the powder is more uniform so you are getting more even amounts of the ingredients.
2. i no longer have to make sure the fels naptha dissolves before adding the clothes. i turn on the water, add the two tablespoons of detergent, add the clothes. done.
since making the detergent is a little more time consuming with the added step of the food processor i double or triple the batch. it works really well and the detergent seems to last forever as long as you keep it in a airtight container.
have any of you made your own laundry detergent?
(i just have to add- use common sense!! make sure you wash all dishes and utensils very well. you don't want to eat this stuff. that would definitely ruin whatever delicious food you have whipped up!)
Friday, May 15, 2009
homemade laundry detergent
When my friend Becca told me she had made her own laundry detergent I knew I had to try it. I love to make things myself, it gives me a great sense of accomplishment. More than that I love to save money. And best of all, making your own detergent is better for the environment- less chemicals and packaging.
This is the recipe I used:
1 bar Fels Naptha bar soap (about 4 cups grated)
2 cups 20 Mule Team Borax
2 cups washing soda
Grate the soap. This can obviously be done my hand but my parents gave me a fancy KitchenAid grating/slicing attachment for Christmas (thanks Mom and Dad!) and it made quick work of the grating.
Mix the grated soap with the borax and washing soda. Store in an air tight container. Use 2 tablespoons per load.
(I love how the grated soap looks like lemon zest. Makes me want to make lemon bars.)
My next way to save money is to stop using shampoo. Sounds gross, I know. Read this and you'll want to try it too!
***update: see this post for a new laundry detergent making tip!
This is the recipe I used:
1 bar Fels Naptha bar soap (about 4 cups grated)
2 cups 20 Mule Team Borax
2 cups washing soda
Grate the soap. This can obviously be done my hand but my parents gave me a fancy KitchenAid grating/slicing attachment for Christmas (thanks Mom and Dad!) and it made quick work of the grating.
Mix the grated soap with the borax and washing soda. Store in an air tight container. Use 2 tablespoons per load.
(I love how the grated soap looks like lemon zest. Makes me want to make lemon bars.)I also used 1/4 cup white vinegar in the rinse cycle in place of fabric softener (I usually use dryer sheets). The clothes didn't smell like vinegar but I think I might try adding lavender essential oils to the vinegar.
My next way to save money is to stop using shampoo. Sounds gross, I know. Read this and you'll want to try it too!
***update: see this post for a new laundry detergent making tip!
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