I'd been seeing recipes from this place and that for how to make your own dishwasher detergent for awhile. For some reason, as much as I am willing to make just about anything in the kitchen, I just couldn't get it through my head that this was possible to do with worthwhile results.
The day finally came when I was out of powdered detergent and decided to suck it up and just try it. Like any new recipe the challenge sounded good but the prospect of being out $$ if this all turned out wrong made me uncomfortable.
If you google it you'll find dozens of recipes. Some using baking soda, some with salt, etc. The one I tried was:
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda
1 package Lemi-Shine
Just dump the ingredients in a bowl and mix it up. You can keep it in a coffee can or plastic container. I use mine just like I used the store-bought. A word of warning though - it will clump. Try to shake it every time you use it to keep it mixed.
I'll admit that I added the last of my powdered detergent to this mixture also. I've been using this recipe for the last couple of weeks and am very impressed with how clean the dishes, and the dishwasher, have come out. From the reading I have done I realize this recipe may not work for everyone and is highly dependant on the water you have in your home (we are on city water).
You're asking if it saved any money right? Well, the Lemi-Shine was a bit pricey in my opinion, but the Borax and Washing Soda were really cheap. I suppose whether or not this is a money saver depends on availability of products. I came out of it with nearly twice the product at the same price as a store-bought box, and I have enough Borax and Washing Soda to make another batch. Next time I'll only need to buy the Lemi-Shine.
Another tip I'll pass along is for a rinse aid you can use plan old vinegar. I haven't tried this yet as I had just bought a big bottle of rinse aid right around Christmas, but once I'm out I'll give it a try.
That's it for now. Have a great day.
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