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DIY Dishwasher Detergent Made With Essential Oils

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Making DIY Dishwasher Detergent is so easy and cost effective. Essential oils bring a delightful aroma to this detergent and it works really well at cleaning dishes.

DIY dishwasher detergent in a glass jar with a glass container and a lemon and oranges in the background

WHY MAKE YOUR OWN DISHWASHER DETERGENT

I am all about saving time and buying commercial dishwasher detergent at the store is definitely the route I have taken in the past. A friend told me how easy it is to make your own dishwasher detergent and that the cost is comparable.

I decided to give it a try and have been pleasantly surprised by the results.

Store bought detergents have a list of ingredients a mile long. There are SO many chemicals in these detergents that are probably not necessary.

This homemade dishwasher detergent recipe only has four ingredients and I know what they do!

It is nice to know exactly what is washing over my dishes!!

Plus if you buy the washing soda and baking soda in bulk this is a very cost effective way to get dishes cleaned.

WHY BAKING SODA WORKS SO WELL FOR DISHES

Baking soda is such a great cleaning agent. I use baking soda to clean all sorts of things around my house.

Baking soda is a natural substance that maintains the pH balance. I love that it actually eliminates odors instead of just covering them up like so many other products do.

One of the best reasons to use baking soda for cleaning dishes is that it is non-toxic. It is actually a food product so if I can add it to my cookies I can definitely clean the cookie sheet with it too!

It works so well to cause grease to dissolve in just water that it is perfect as a dish detergent.

INGREDIENTS FOR DIY DISHWASHER DETERGENT

I mentioned that there are only 4 ingredients in this simple dish detergent. The essential oils last SO long that you only have to buy them once in a long while.

baking soda, laundry booster super washing soda, and 2 jars of essential oil

HOW TO MAKE DIY DISHWASHER DETERGENT

The best part about making your own dishwasher detergent is that it only takes minutes to throw together. One batch of this DIY dishwasher detergent will last for approximately 64 washes.

STEP ONE: COMBINE DRY INGREDIENTS

In a large bowl pour 2 cups of the washing soda.

Add in 2 cups of the baking soda and stir to combine the dry ingredients well.

a hand pouring essential oil into a white bowl of washing soda and baking soda in a white bowl with a wooden spoon

STEP TWO: ADD ESSENTIAL OILS

Now you can add in the 15 drops of lemon essential oil and 15 drops of orange essential oil.

Stir the ingredients well until the oil has been incorporated into the powder mixture.

a white bowl with a wooden spoon in it full of dishwasher detergent and drops of essential oil

STEP THREE: STORE

You will want to store the DIY dishwasher detergent in an air tight container. I like to store mine in a large glass jar with a lid.

It is also possible to reuse an old plastic detergent container that has a snap on lid.

When it is time to wash dishes just add 1 tablespoon of the detergent mixture to the compartment in the dishwasher and wash as usual.

Remember every detergent works best when dishes are pre-rinsed before you put them into the dishwasher! Using only one tablespoon per load makes this recipe last a long time!

a glass jar filled with dishwasher detergent on a white table
DIY dishwasher detergent

DIY Dishwasher Detergent

Corinne Schmitt
This DIY Dishwasher Detergent is only 4 ingredients and takes minutes to make. This is a cost-effective way to wash dishes with safe ingredients!
4.50 from 2 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 64 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 c. Washing Soda
  • 2 c. Baking soda
  • 15 drops Lemon essential oil
  • 15 drops Orange essential oil

Instructions
 

  • Place 2 cups of washing soda into a large mixing bowl.
  • Add in 2 cups of baking soda to the mixing bowl. Combine the ingredients well.
  • Pour in 15 drops of lemon essential oil.
  • Add 15 drops of orange essential oil.
  • Stir the ingredients together until the oil has been incorporated well into the powder mixture.
  • Store the mixture in an airtight container of your choosing. When ready to use, place 1 tablespoon of the powder into the compartment in your dishwasher and set to wash as usual.
  • For best results, dishes should be pre-rinsed before placing into the dishwasher.

Notes

This should make about 64 tablespoons worth of detergent! 
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

If you loved this DIY natural cleaning product then be sure to check out these other ideas:

What do you use to clean your dirty dishes? Have you ever tried a homemade dishwashing soap? Leave me a comment and let me know!

a collage of DIY dishwasher detergent with title text reading DIY Dishwasher Detergent

5 thoughts on “DIY Dishwasher Detergent Made With Essential Oils”

  1. I made a similar recipe but with citric acid and salt. The mixture turned as hard as a rock and I had to toss it. Have you had this problem?

    Reply
    • I looked it up and found this tip: Put a little mesh or muslin bag filled with uncooked whole grain rice in the jar with the detergent. Another suggestion was to put one of those silica gel packs that are in the box when you buy shoes in the jar with the detergent. Moisture is what makes the detergent clump up and get hard, so make sure you keep it in an air tight jar.

      Reply
  2. 4 stars
    I really need to try this. I’m sure the essential oils make a great difference in the smell too. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty

    Reply
  3. I make a similar dishwasher detergent with washing soda, baking soda, lemon juice, and kosher salt and it makes tablets. I love the idea of not using harmful chemicals in my cleaning products. Thanks for inspiring us at the Weekend Blog Hop at My Flagstaff Home. –Jennifer

    Reply

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