30 Superior DIY Dishwasher Detergent Recipes for Clean Dishes (2024)

Have you ever taken a look at all those mysterious ingredients in your dishwasher detergent? Well, studies show that even after being rinsed, a thin layer of soap residue is left on your dishes after being washed. Who wants to eat off a plate that still has chemicals on it? Not me!

Making your own DIY dishwasher detergent is the best way to know precisely what ingredients you’re putting on your dishes. It’s simple to do, easy-to-use, and on average cheaper too!

The internet has provided us with various unique recipes so you can find the perfect one that works for you! If you prefer to know what chemicals are used around your house, give a few of these ideas a try and see which one makes your dishes sparkle more and gives you peace of mind.

30 Superior DIY Dishwasher Detergent Recipes for Clean Dishes (1)

DIY Dishwasher Detergent

1. Lemony Fresh

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When life gives you lemons… Make toxin-free all-natural lemony fresh dishwasher soap!

2. Dishwashing Powder

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A lot cheaper than commercially-bought detergent, you can make this simple detergent without breaking your budget!

3. 3-Ingredient Dish Tablets

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Only three ingredients to make these effective dish tabs that leave your dishes sparkly and clean.

4. DIY Dishwasher Detergent – Lemon Thieves

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A non-toxic liquid dish soapuses the sweet essences of lemon and thieves oil.

5. Borax-Free Detergent

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These (borax-free) tabs will do the job of making your dishes shine! Plus, they’re cheap to make!

6. Easy-to-Make

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Only moments of your time and a small amount of effort before you’re washing your dishes with your own homemade detergent!

7. Lemon Vinegar30 Superior DIY Dishwasher Detergent Recipes for Clean Dishes (8)

Your dishes will be squeaky clean with this homemade recipe! Lemony fresh.

8. Epsom Salt

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Use the cleaning effects of Epsonsalt to create this hard-working detergent tabs.

9. Label Included

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Another variation of a homemade dishwasher detergent that includes a super cute printable label!

10. Sparkly Clean

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Want your dishes to shine and sparkle? Here’s the recipe for you to try today!

11. Citrus Fresh

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Citrus Fresh essential oils will make your dishes glow and smell amazing!

12. Copycat Finish

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Not ready to give up your commercial detergent? Here’s a copycat that you’ll be happy with!

13. Grapefruit

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The delicious scent and cleaning power of grapefruit makes this an excellent recipe to try!

14. Soap Nuts

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A liquid laundry detergent using the ever-so-talked-about soap nut! Give it a try and see for yourself!

15. Lavender

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The sweet scent of lavender will breeze over your dishes, and Castille soap will make them clean.

16. Lemon Tabs

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Give your dishes that lemony fresh cleanliness with an easy-to-use homemade dishwasher tab.

17. Kool-Aid

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Did you know you can use lemon Kool-Aid as a dishwasher detergent ingredient? Check it out!

18. Arm & Hammer

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You can use Arm and Hammer to create a very active dishwasher detergent with a boost of lemon.

19. Unique Shapes

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Put your homemade dishwasher detergent tabs into fun molds and get creative with this craft.

20. Bentonite Clay Desiccant

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If you’re like me, you might have a lot of bentonite clay around the house from other DIY projects. Let’s use it up!

21. Lemon Juice and Castile Soap

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If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! Lemon and Castile soap are two ingredients we’ve seen in most of these recipes, and there’s a reason for that!

22. Dishwasher Powder

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Citric acid, baking soda, washing soda, lemon essential oil, these are some of the basic ingredients for this recipe!

23. Kosher Salt

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This detergent recipe calls for kosher salt to help scrub away grease and grime off your dishes.

24. Lemon, Orange, Tangerine

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Give your dishes all the citrusy freshness they can get with lemon, tangerine, and orange essential oils.

25. And Another

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Another useful dishwasher detergent tab recipe that will leave your dishes shining bright and beautiful.

26. Lemongrass

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Lemongrass essential oil is what makes these adorable heart-shaped detergent tabs smell so great!

27. 3-Ingredients

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Did you know three simple ingredients are all you need to make a homemade dishwasher detergent? And you probably already have them somewhere inthe house!

28. Citrus Fresh Tangerine

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A wicked combination of essential oils:Citrus Fresh and Tangerine. Then add some power-cleaning ingredients like Arm & Hammer washing soda, and you’ve got yourself an excellent detergent!

29. Vegan Lavender Lemon

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All-natural vegan dishwasher detergent that smells wonderfully of lavender and lemon. Your dishes will sparkle!

30. Budget-Friendly

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Dishwasher detergent can be unnecessarily expensive, but you don’t have to put up with it anymore! Make your own and save some money!

There we have it! 30 powerful cleaning detergents to make your dishes sparkle and shine. Whether you’re looking to find an all-natural replacement for your store-bought soap or you’re just looking to save a few bucks, there’s a recipe here for you!

Give a few different ones a try before you settle down with your new go-to DIY dishwasher detergent.

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30 Superior DIY Dishwasher Detergent Recipes for Clean Dishes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best homemade dishwasher detergent? ›

In a mixing bowl, add one cup of washing soda, one cup of borax, one-half cup of powdered citric acid, and one-half cup of Kosher salt. Stir well with the wooden spoon to mix and transfer to an airtight container. Label the container.

What can you use instead of dishwashing detergent in the dishwasher? ›

Known for its gentle abrasive qualities, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a good cleaner and helps to control odors. Fill the detergent cup with baking soda, and run the cleaning cycle as usual.

How to make a homemade dishwasher cleaner? ›

Pour one cup of white vinegar into a dishwasher-safe mug. The mug should be about 2/3 full of vinegar. Place the mug upright on the top rack of your dishwasher and then close the door of the appliance. Run the dishwasher on the normal cycle with hot water for extra sterilization.

Is it cheaper to make your own dishwasher detergent? ›

Commercial detergents cost as much as 30 cents per load. If you run your dishwasher every day, that adds up to $110 per year. Homemade dishwasher detergents, made with common ingredients found in your grocery store, can cost as little as 4 cents per load, which adds up to only $15 per year with everyday use.

What is the best natural product to clean a dishwasher? ›

Cleaning a dishwasher with vinegar, baking soda, and dish soap will eliminate dirt and odors without harsh cleaners. Distilled white vinegar is a natural cleaner, deodorizer, and disinfectant. Baking soda is a non-toxic cleaner, whitener, and deodorizer. Plus, the mild abrasiveness cuts through grime.

Is vinegar or baking soda better for dishwasher? ›

A vinegar rinse will strip away any grease buildup, and the baking soda rinse will remove lingering odors. When the first cycle is finished, sprinkle 1 cup of baking soda on the inside floor of the dishwasher. Run a short hot water rinse cycle (skip the drying cycle).

What can I use if I run out of dishwasher detergent? ›

Instead, you can add one to two tablespoons of baking soda or an oxygen boost product, up to one teaspoon of standard dish soap, plus a teaspoon of salt (if you have hard water) to your dishwasher's soap container. To help cut grease, fill a cup with white vinegar and place it in the top rack of the machine as well.

How do you improvise dishwasher detergent? ›

Just put three drops of liquid dishwashing soap (Dawn, Palmolive, Fairy, that kind of thing) in the soap slot of your dishwasher. Then, fill the slot the rest of the way with baking soda and close it. Your dishes will come out just as clean as if you used a dishwasher tab.

What is a good substitute for dishwasher liquid? ›

Open your dishwasher's detergent compartment. Squeeze in two to three drops of regular dish soap, the kind you'd use to hand-wash your dishes normally. Next, pour in baking soda until the compartment is full. Then run your dishwasher on the normal cycle.

How to make your own dishwashing liquid? ›

Ingredients
  1. Heatproof mixing bowl.
  2. Spoon.
  3. Glass storage bottle with pump attachment or repurpose an old plastic bottle of commercial dishwashing liquid.
  4. Funnel.
  5. 300ml (1¼ cups) boiling water.
  6. 1 tablespoon soda crystals (washing soda)
  7. 100ml (½ cup) liquid castile soap.
  8. ½ teaspoon glycerine.
Jul 14, 2021

How do you make dishes cleaner in the dishwasher? ›

9 Tips for Cleaner Dishes in the Dishwasher
  1. 1.) No Need to Rinse. ...
  2. 2.) Load Dishes From Back to Front. ...
  3. 3.) Arrange Plates Facing Inward. ...
  4. 4.) Delicate Items on the Top Rack. ...
  5. 5.) Mix-up the Silverware Basket. ...
  6. 6.) Don't Overload. ...
  7. 7.) Close the Door with Care. ...
  8. 8.) Give the Top Rack a Rattle.
Dec 29, 2017

How to make homemade dishwasher tablets? ›

Method:
  1. Mix washing soda, sodium percarbonate, citric acid in a bowl. Add lemon juice and allow the mix to bubble. ...
  2. Use a spoon to mix thoroughly.
  3. Pack a silicone-based ice cube tray with the mixture. ...
  4. Turn the ice cube tray upside-down and push out each tablet.
  5. Store tablets in an air-tight container in the cupboard.
Sep 5, 2022

What works as homemade dishwasher detergent? ›

Materials
  1. 1 cup borax.
  2. 1 cup washing soda.
  3. ½ cup citric acid.
  4. ½ cup sea salt.
  5. 20-30 drops lemon essential oil (or other citrus oil, optional)

Can you use Castile soap in the dishwasher? ›

Dishwasher Detergent

Try using Dr. Bronner's Castile soap in place of your normal dishwasher detergent for a natural clean that will leave your dishes sparkling. Combine eight ounces of Dr. Bronner's Castile soap with one cup of warm water and three tablespoons of lemon juice and stir together.

Is it OK to use vinegar as a dishwasher rinse aid? ›

White vinegar can be used as a rinse aid in the dishwasher, especially to combat hard water staining. Speaking from personal experience, it's extremely frustrating to run the dishwasher only to open it to dishes that are far from sparkling. Hard water stains leave spots on dishes and can make glasses cloudy.

Does vinegar work as dishwasher detergent? ›

Furthermore, despite how much you might love vinegar, you don't want to use it in lieu of dishwasher detergent to clean your dishes. Vinegar can wreak havoc on your dishes. Just stick to something safe and effective, like Cascade Platinum ActionPacs for regularly washing your dishes.

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