How to Make Your Own Liquid Dishwasher Soap

Dishwasher soap combines with hot water and steam to sanitize dishes.

You can make your own liquid dishwasher soap from a couple of common household cleaners. Liquid dishwasher soap is a cleaning product required by most automatic dishwashing machines. The dishwashing detergent is sprayed out of the open compartment and onto the dishes by powerful internal water jets. Minerals in the dishwasher soap dissolve oils and release food particles from the soiled dishes. Save on detergent, and avoid a trip to the store by mixing up a batch of homemade dishwasher soap.

Things You'll Need

• Funnel
• Plastic squeeze bottle
• 1 cup borax
• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup water
• 3 drops citrus essential oils (optional)
• Masking tape
• Permanent marker

Instructions

1. Insert a funnel into the open top of an empty plastic squeeze bottle. Hold the bottle and funnel so they stay upright.

2. Pour 1 cup of borax, 1 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of water into the funnel. Add three drops of citrus essential oils to give the cleaned dishes a light scent.

3. Remove the funnel. Seal the squeeze bottle. Shake the bottle vigorously for 10 seconds to dissolve the ingredients in the water.

4. Squeeze 3 tbsp. of the liquid dishwasher soap into the soap compartment in the dishwasher door. Run the dishwasher on a regular wash cycle. Reduce the quantity of soap used by 1 tbsp. if you notice soap left in the dispenser compartment once the wash cycle has completed.

5. Apply a strip of masking tape to the front of the squeeze bottle. Write "dishwasher detergent" on the masking tape with a permanent marker. Store the sealed squeeze bottle in a cool and dark area like under the sink.

Tips & Warnings

• Fill the rinse agent compartment with distilled white vinegar to remove detergent residue in the rinse cycle.

• Exposing skin to borax may cause skin irritation and redness.

References

• Maid 2 Order House Cleaning: Green or Natural Cleaning