Homemade cleaners can work in your dishwasher.
Dishwasher detergent cleans tough grime on dishes, but doesn't create a lot of suds in the process. If you've ever run out of dishwasher detergent and tried to substitute dish detergent, you know that's a bad idea. The result is suds all over the floor and dishes that aren't really clean. Next time you find yourself out of dishwasher detergent with a load of dirty dishes, try these substitutes. You might decide to switch to homemade cleaners all the time if you like the job they do and the cost compared to ready-made brands.
Ingredients
Borax and washing soda are both natural cleaners that cut through grease without producing a lot of suds. Citric acid, in the form of ascorbic acid, citric acid or unsweetened lemon drink mix, also cuts grease and helps remove soap scum. Salt and baking soda serve as water softeners, increasing the effectiveness of the other cleaners. And adding essential oils, such as tea tree oil, peppermint or lavender oil, or oil of oregano, provides some anti-bacterial properties, as well as making the solution smell good.
Formula
One formula for homemade dishwasher detergent calls for ½ cup each washing soda and borax, a cup of baking soda, ½ cup salt, ½ cup citric acid or two packets lemon-flavored drink mix and 30 drops of essential oil. Combine all this and fill both of the detergent cups in your washer. Store the mixture in an air-tight container. You can experiment with different ratios of the basic ingredients to find which one works best for you. Results will vary depending on the age and effectiveness of your dishwasher and the hardness of your water.
Alternatives
You can try washing your dishes in baking soda alone, or baking soda with a splash of bleach in the bottom of the dishwasher to disinfect your dishes. Some people use equal parts borax and baking soda. All of these are fine for occasional use when you run out of your usual dishwasher detergent, but they may not get your dishes as clean as you like if you use them on a regular basis. Some homemade cleaners may also cause glassware to fog, or leave a residue on the dishes.
Considerations
Adding vinegar to the rinse agent compartment in the dishwasher will help prevent spotting on your glassware. Homemade dishwasher detergent lacks the powerful cleaners and enzymes that help dissolve food left on your plates, so if you're using a detergent substitute, you'll need to scrape and rinse your dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. For some people, washing the dishes by hand would be just as easy.
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