I’ve constantly had battles with our various dishwashers. Sometimes I needed a rinse aid, and sometimes I would not. Some detergents worsen rinse aid, and some detergents require it. Sometimes it doesn’t matter at all and I have to hand dry my dishes or wash them again. When I discovered that yes, you can make your own dishwasher detergent—and rather easily, I must add—I had to give it a try. The ingredients aren’t that expensive, I already own the Young Living Essential Oils, so why not give it a try?
It took me maybe 20 minutes tops to mix together the ingredients and pack the powder into ice cube trays, and that’s overestimating. Best part? It works.
My dishes come out clean, and I don’t need a rinse aid at all! It makes me wonder about conspiracy theories between dishwasher manufacturers, detergent companies, and makers of rinse aid. I’m not one for conspiracy theories, but I am convinced there is one between hot dog and hot dog bun companies.
This is where I got my recipe, but I’ve changed up the essential oils to include Thieves Essential Oil blend. I use Thieves because it’s antiviral, antibacterial, and antiseptic. I know my dishes are clean from the Thieves alone. The Thieves also gives the dishwasher a good antiseptic scrubbing as well. When combined with tangerine essential oil, your dishes and dishwasher both smell amazing.
Here is my recipe along with links where to buy the ingredients. (I actually have Super Washing Soda and citric acid in my Amazon dash buttons now.) Note that this recipe does NOT call for Borax. I’m not a fan of using Borax in general, especially if you read what is in it. That’s the biggest reason why it was this recipe that got me to attempt to make my own tabs—recipe had to be Borax-free.
This will make approximately 32 dishwasher tabs. The ice cube trays produce perfect-sized tabs to easily fit in your dishwasher detergent slot.
Thieves DIY Dishwasher Detergent Tabs
Combine the following in a large mixing bowl.
- 1 cup Super Washing Soda
- 1/4 cup salt (plain ol’ salt)
- 1/2 cup citric acid
- 20 drops Thieves
- 20 drops citrus oil (tangerine, orange, lemon, or Citrus Fresh essential oil blend)
Mix together with a wooden spoon.
Spray 2-3 tablespoons of water from a small spray bottle while stirring. If you dump in the water, you’ll create a chemical reaction too quickly and the mixture won’t clump together. Slow is best. Stir and spray until the mixture feels a bit like wet sand. You should be able to clump it together, but if you drop it, it will disperse.
Press firmly with your hand or the spoon into ice cube trays. Really pack it in. Leave the trays out overnight to harden, then pop them out and store them in an airtight container. I store mine in mason jars with the hinged lids.
And that’s it! It’s so easy, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do this before.
