Get your dishes clean and shiny using homemade dishwasher detergent.
Keeping dishes clean and sparking can be expensive work when you use a store-bought dish detergent. However, you can make an inexpensive and even environmentally safe dishwasher detergent using simple ingredients from around the house. One ingredient to include in a homemade dishwasher detergent is citric acid, a natural substance found in citrus fruit, such as lemons.
Citric Acid's Function in Detergent
Citric acid is a safe, natural alternative to chemically formulated dish cleaners. Citric acid helps break down grease on dishes and remove stuck-on food particles. It also acts as a natural bleaching agent, making dish surfaces and glasses look cleaner and spot free. Another benefit of using citric acid is that it breaks down the hard water deposits in your dishwasher, helping it to run more efficiently and extending its life.
How Much Citric Acid?
The amount of citric acid used in your detergent depends on the type of wash you intend to use. For plain, unpatterned dishes and glasses, a straight citric acid wash may be used to give them an all-over, bleaching thorough clean. This type of wash may also be used for the dishwasher only as a maintenance procedure. A citric acid wash uses 3 to 4 oz. of citric acid crystals added to the detergent dispenser cup in the washing machine. Run the wash cycle as usual. For an everyday, all-purpose dishwasher detergent, use 1/2 cup citric acid combined with the other ingredients listed later in this article.
Citric Acid Alternatives
Citric acid is available in many grocery stores and drug stores, and even in some appliance stores. If it is not available, an equally safe and effective alternative is lemonade mix. There are a few ground rules to remember for substituting lemonade mix for citric acid. Always use sugar-free lemonade mix: Otherwise, the sugar leaves a sticky mess on plates and in the dishwasher. Although flavored lemonade mixes contain citric acid, they also contain colorants that may dye your dishes and dishwasher strange colors, so use only plain lemonade mix. When using lemonade mix, use the same amount you would use if using citric acid.
Other Ingredients
A basic recipe for homemade dishwasher detergent uses a combination of 1 cup washing soda, 1 cup borax, 1/2 cup salt and, as mentioned earlier, 1/2 cup citric acid. Washing soda, which is chemically different than baking soda, softens water to result in cleaner dishes. Borax is a natural brightener and deodorizer. Salt dissolves food particles and softens water. These ingredients should be placed together in a glass jar and shaken to thoroughly combine. If they are not properly combined, the end result may be a cloudy look. A natural rinse-aid --- placed in the rinse aid dispenser --- may be made of distilled white vinegar --- which naturally gives dishes a shiny, clear finish.
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